09-09-2015, 02:01 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-16-2017, 07:01 PM by Tearen Wover.)
Hello Omniverse! Nealaphh here.
Some of you may know that I have a background in Graphic Design, but what you may not know is that means I am also experienced in the ways of precision communication and message conveyance.
Part of my curriculum during college was learning about common language pitfalls that the English language possesses. Most of these result from either an attempt to over-communicate an idea, or, simple mutations in the common vernacular. Being that we are all authors who possess (I hope) a desire for better writing, I thought I'd share some of what I learned from one of my books.
Below I will list the example word or phrase in bold, and follow it with an explanation of how to resolve common misconceptions of their use. Read these to your heart's content, but keep in mind that some of these elaborations pertain primarily to formal writing, which is not always effective in entertaining literature, such as what we write. Still, I feel it is good to consider them when I am typing.
I will add more as I have time.
Without further ado...
Aggravate vs. Irritate. The first means "to add to" an already troublesome or vexing matter or condition. The second means "to vex" or "to annoy" or "to chafe".
All right. Idiomatic in familiar speech as a detached phrase in the sense "Agreed," or "Go ahead," or "O.K." It is properly written as two words - all right.
Allude. Do not confuse with elude. You allude to a book; you elude a pursuer. Note, too, that allude is not synonymous with refer. An allusion is an indirect mention, a reference is a specific one.
Alternate vs. Alternative. The words are not always interchangeable as nouns or adjectives. The first means every other one in a series; the second, one of two possibilities. As the other on of a series of two, an alternate may stand for "a substitute," but an alternative, although used in a similar sense, connotes a matter of choice that is never present with alternate.
Example: As the flooded road left them no alternative, they took the alternate route.
Among vs. Between. When more than two things or persons are involved, among is usually called for: "The money was divided among the four players." When, however, more than two are involved but each is considered individually, between is preferred: "an agreement between the six heirs."
And/Or. A device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often leads to confusion or ambiguity.
Examples: "First of all, would an honor system successfully cut down on the amount of stealing and/or cheating?"
versus
"First of all, would an honor system reduce the incidence of stealing or cheating, or both?"
Anticipate. Use expect in the sense of simple expectation.
Examples: "I anticipated that he would look older." versus "I expected he would look older."
also compare with:
"My brother anticipated the upturn in the market." versus "My brother expected the upturn in the market."
In the second example, the word anticipated is ambiguous. It could mean simply that the brother believed the upturn would occur, or it could mean that he acted in advance of the expected upturn - by buying stock, perhaps.
Anybody. In the sense of "any person," not to be written as two words. Any body means "any corpse," or "any human form," or "any group." The rule holds equally for everybody, nobody, and somebody.
Anyone. In the sense of "anybody," written as one word. Any one means "any single person" or "any single thing."
As good or better than. Expressions of this type should be corrected by rearranging the sentences.
Example: "My opinion is as good or better than his." versus "My opinion is as good as his, or better (if not better)."
As to whether. Whether is sufficient.
As yet. Yet nearly always is as good, if not better.
"No agreement has been reached as yet." versus "No agreement has yet been reached."
Being. Not appropriate after regard ... as
"His is regarded as being the best dancer in the club." versus "He is regarded as the best dancer in the club."
But. Unnecessary after doubt and help.
"I have no doubt but that..." versus "I have no doubt that..."
"He could not help but see that." versus "He could not help seeing that."
The too-frequent use of but as a conjunction leads to the fault discussed under the former example. A loose sentence formed with but can usually converted into a periodic sentenced formed with although.
Particularly awkward is one but closely following another, thus making a contrast to a contrast, or a reservation to a reservation. This is easily corrected by rearrangement.
"Our country had vast resources but seemed almost wholly unprepared for war. But within a year it had created an army of four million."
versus
"Our country seemed unprepared for war, but it had vast resources. Within a year it had created an army of four million."
Can. Means "am (is, are) able." Not to be used as a substitute for may.
Care less. The dismissive "I couldn't care less" is often used with the shortened "not" mistakenly (and mysteriously) omitted: "I could care less." The error destroys the meaning of the sentence and is careless indeed.
Case. Often unnecessary.
"In many cases, the rooms lacked air conditioning." versus "Many of the rooms lacked air conditioning."
"It has rarely been the case that any mistake has been made." versus "Few mistakes have been made."
Certainly. Used indiscriminately by some speakers, much as others use very, in an attempt to intensify any and every statement. A mannerism of this kind, bad in speech, is even worse in writing.
Character. Often simply redundant, used from a mere habit of wordiness.
"...acts of a hostile character." versus "...hostile acts."
Claim (verb). With object-noun, means "lay claim to." May be used with a dependent clause if this sense is clearly involved: "She claimed that he was the sole heir." (But even here claimed to be would be better.) Not to be used as a substitute for declare, maintain, or charge.
"He claimed he knew how." versus "He declared he knew how."
Clever. Note that the word means not thing when applied to people, another when applied to horses. A clever horse is a good-natured one, not an ingenious one.
Compare. To compare to is to point out or imply resemblances between objects regarded as essentially of a different order; to compare with is mainly to point out differences between objects regarded as essentially of the same order. Thus, life has been compared to a pilgrimage, to a drama, to a battle; Congress may be compared with the British Parliament, Paris has been compared to ancient Athens; it may be compared with modern London.
Comprise. Literally, "embrace": A zoo comprises mammals, reptiles, and birds (because it "embraces," or includes them). But animals do not comprise ("embrace") a zoo–they constitute a zoo.
Consider. Not followed by as when it means "believe to be."
"I consider him as competent." versus "I consider him competent."
When considered means "examined" or "discussed," it is followed by as:
"The lecturer considered Eisenhower first as soldier and second as administrator."
Contact. As a transitive verb, the word is vague and self-important. Do not contact people; get in touch with them, or look them up, or phone them, or find them, or meet them.
Cope. An intransitive verb used with with. In formal writing, one doesn't "cope," one "copes with" something or somebody.
"I knew they'd cope." (jocular) versus "I knew they would cope with the situation."
Currently. In the sense of now with a verb in the present tense, currently is usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved through a more precise reference to time.
"We are currently reviewing your application." versus "We are at this moment reviewing your application."
Data. Like strata, phenomena, and media, data is a plural and is best used with a plural verb. The word, however, is has largely gained acceptance as a singular.
"The data is misleading." versus "These data are misleading."
Different than. Here logic supports established usage: one thing differs from another, hence, different from. Or, other than, unlike.
Disinterested. Means "impartial." Do not confuse it with uninterested, which means "not interested in."
"Let a disinterested person judge our dispute." (an impartial person)
"This man is obviously uninterested in our dispute." (couldn't care less)
Divided into. Not to be misused for composed of. The line is sometimes difficult to draw; doubtless plays are divided into acts, but poems are composed of stanzas. An apple, halved, is divided into sections, but an apple is composed of seeds, flesh, and skin.
Due to. Loosely used for through, because of, or owing to, in adverbial phrases.
"He lost the first match due to carelessness." versus "He lost the first game because of carelessness."
In correct use, synonymous with attributable to: "The accident was due to bad weather"; "losses due to preventable fires."
Each and every one. Contemporary jargon. Avoid, except in dialogue.
"It should be a lesson to each and every one." versus "It should be a lesson to every one of us." (to us all)
Effect. As a noun, means "result"; as a verb, means "to bring about," to accomplish (not to be confused with affect, which means "to influence").
As a noun, often loosely used in perfunctory writing about fashions, music, painting, and other arts: "a Southwestern effect"; "a charming effect was produced." The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refuge in such vagueness.
Enormity. Use only in the ensue of "monstrous wickedness." Misleading, if not wrong, when used to express bigness.
"It was difficult to grasp the enormity of the ship." versus "Amid the fire and the screaming, it was difficult to grasp the enormity of the situation."
Enthuse. An annoying verb growing out of the word enthusiasm. Not recommended.
"She was enthused about her new car." versus "She was enthusiastic about her new car."
"She enthused about her new car." versus "She talked enthusiastically (expressed enthusiasm) about her new car."
Etc. Literally, "and other things"; sometimes loosely used to mean "and other persons." The phrase is equivalent to and the rest, and so forth, and hence is not to be used if one of these would be insufficient–that is, if the reader would be left in doubt as to any important particulars. Least open to objection when it represents the last terms of a list already given almost in full, or immaterial words at the end of a quotation.
At the end of a list introduced by such as, for example, or any similar expression, etc. is incorrect. In formal writing, etc. is a misfit. An item important enough to call for etc. is probably important enough to be named.
Fact. Use this word only of matters capable of direct verification, not of matters of judgement. That a particular event happened on a given date and that lead melts at a certain temperature are facts. But such conclusions as that Napoleon was the greatest of modern generals, or that the climate of California is delightful, however defensible they may be, are not properly called facts.
Facility. Why must jails, hospitals, and schools suddenly become "facilities"?
"Parents complained bitterly about the fire hazard in the wooden facility." versus "Parents complained bitterly about the fire hazard in the wooden schoolhouse."
"He has been appointed warden of the new facility." versus "He has been appointed warden of the new prison."
Factor. A hackneyed word; the expressions of which it is a part can usually be replaced by something more direct and idiomatic.
"Her superior training was the great factor in her winning the match." versus "She won the match by being better trained."
"Air power is becoming and increasingly important factor in deciding battles." versus "Air power is playing a larger and larger part in deciding battles."
Farther. Further. The two words are commonly interchanged, but there is a distinction worth observing: farther serves best as a distance word, further as a time or quantity word. You chase a ball farther than the other fellow; you pursue a subject further.
Feature. Another hackneyed word; like factor, it usually adds nothing to the sentence in which it occurs.
"A feature of the entertainment especially worthy of mention was the singing of Allison Jones."
As a verb in the sense of "offer as a special attraction," it is to be avoided.
Finalize. A pompous, ambiguous verb.
Fix. Colloquial in America for arrange, prepare, mend. The usage is well established. But bear in mind that this verb is from figere: "to make firm," "to place definitely." These are the preferred meanings of the word.
Flammable. An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning "combustible" is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means "not combustible." For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.
Folk. A collective noun, equivalent to people. Use the singular form only. Folks, in the sense of "parents", "family," "those present," is colloquial and too folksy for formal writing.
"Her folks arrived by the afternoon train." versus "Her father and mother arrived by the afternoon train."
Fortuitous. Limited to what happens by chance. Not to be used for fortunate, or lucky.
Get. The colloquial have got for have should not be used in any writing aside from dialogue. "The preferable form of the participle is got, not gotten.
"He has not got any sense." versus "He has no sense."
"They returned without having gotten any." versus "They returned without having got any."
Gratuitous. Means "unearned," or "unwarranted."
"The insult seemed gratuitous." (underserved)
Hopefully. This once-useful adverb meaning "with hope" has been distorted and is now widely used to mean "I hope" or "it is to be hoped." Such use is not merely wrong; it is silly. To say, "Hopefully I'll leave on the noon plane" is to talk nonsense. Does one mean they will leave on the noon plain in a hopeful frame of mind? Or do they mean they hope they'll leave on the noon plane? Whichever sentiment one intends, it hasn't been said clearly.
However. Avoid starting sentences with however when the meaning is "nevertheless." The word usually serves better when not in first position.
"The roads were almost impassable. However, we at last succeeded in reaching camp." versus "The roads were almost impassable. At last, however, we succeeded in reaching camp."
When however comes first, it means "in whatever way" or "to whatever extent."
"However you advise him, he will probably do as he thinks best."
"However discouraging the prospect, they never lost heart."
Imply. Infer. Not interchangeable. Something implied is something suggested or indicated, though not expressed. Something inferred is something deduced form evidence at hand.
"Farming implies early rising."
"Since she was a farmer, we inferred that she got up early."
Importantly. Avoid by rephrasing.
"More importantly, he paid for the damages." versus "What's more, he paid for the damages."
also compare
"With the breeze freshening, he altered course to pass inside the island. More importantly, as things turned out, he tucked in a reef."
versus
"With the breeze freshening, he altered course to pass inside the island. More important, as things turned out, he tucked in a reef."
In regard to. Often wrongly written in regards to. But as regards is correct, and means the same thing.
In the last analysis. A bankrupt expression.
Inside of. Inside. The of following inside is correct in the adverbial meaning "in less than." In other meanings, of is unnecessary.
"Inside of five minutes I'll be inside the bank."
Insightful. The word is a suspicious overstatement for "perceptive." If it is to be used at all, it should be used for instances of remarkably penetrating vision. Usually, it crops up merely to inflate the commonplace.
"That was an insightful remark you made." versus "That was a perceptive remark you made."
In terms of. A piece of padding usually best omitted.
"The job was unattractive in terms of salary." versus "The salary made the job unattractive."
Interesting. An unconvincing word; avoid it as means of introduction. Instead of announcing that what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so. For example, rather than starting a new passage with "An interesting story is told of...", introduce the story without the preamble.
Irregardless. Should be regardless. The error results from the failure to see the negative in -less and from a desire to get it in as a prefix, suggested by such words as irregular, irresponsible, and, perhaps especially, irrespective.
-ize. Do not coin verbs by adding this tempting suffix. Many good and useful verbs do in in -ize: fraternize, summarize, harmonize, fertilize. But there is a growing list of abominations: containerize, prioritize, finalize to name three. Be suspicious of -ize; let your eye guide you. Never tack -ize onto a noun to create a verb. Usually, you will discover that a useful verb already exists. Why say "utilize" when there is the simple, unpretentious word use?
Kind of. Except in familiar style, not to be used as a substitute for rather or something like. Restrict it to its literal sense: "Amber is a kind of fossil resin." ; "I dislike that kind of publicity." The same holds true of sort of.
Lay. A transitive verb. Except in slag ("Let it lay"), do not misuse it for the intransitive verb lie. The hen, or the play, lays an egg; the llama lies down. The playwright went home and lay down.
lie, lay, lain, lying
lay, laid, laid, laying
Leave. Should not be misused for fewer.
"They had less workers than in the previous campaign." versus "They had fewer workers than in the previous campaign."
Less refers to quantity, fewer to number. "His troubles are less than mine" means "His troubles are not so great as mine." "His troubles are fewer than mine." means "His troubles are not so numerous as mine."
Like. Not to be used for the conjunction as. Like governs nouns and pronouns; before phrases and clauses the equivalent word is as.
"We spent the evening like in the old days." versus "We spent the evening as in the old days."
"Chloe smells good, like a baby should." versus "Chloe smells good, as a baby should."
The use of like for as has its defenders; they argue that any usage that achieves currency becomes valid automatically. This, they say, is the way the language is formed. It is and it isn't. An expression sometimes merely enjoys a vogue, much as an article of apparel does. Like has been widely misused by the illiterate; lately it has been taken up by the knowing and the well-informed, who find it catchy, or liberating, and who use it as though they were slumming. If every word or device that achieved currency were immediately authenticated, simply on the ground of popularity, the language was chaotic as a ball game with no foul lines. For the student, perhaps the most useful thing to know about like is that most carefully edited publications regard its use before phrases and clauses as simple error.
Line. Along these lines. Line in the sense of "course of procedure, conduct, thought" is allowable but has been so overworked, particularly in the phrase along these lines, that a writer who aims at freshness or originality had better discard it entirely.
"Mr. B also spoke along the same lines." versus "Mr. B spoke to the same effect."
"She is studying along the line of French literature." versus "She is studying French literature."
Literal. Literally. Often incorrectly used in support of exaggeration or violent metaphor.
"A literal flood of abuse." versus "A flood of abuse."
"Literally dead with fatigue." versus "Almost dead with fatigue."
Loan. A noun. As a verb, prefer lend.
"Lend me your ears."
"The loan of your ears."
More to come!
Some of you may know that I have a background in Graphic Design, but what you may not know is that means I am also experienced in the ways of precision communication and message conveyance.
Part of my curriculum during college was learning about common language pitfalls that the English language possesses. Most of these result from either an attempt to over-communicate an idea, or, simple mutations in the common vernacular. Being that we are all authors who possess (I hope) a desire for better writing, I thought I'd share some of what I learned from one of my books.
Below I will list the example word or phrase in bold, and follow it with an explanation of how to resolve common misconceptions of their use. Read these to your heart's content, but keep in mind that some of these elaborations pertain primarily to formal writing, which is not always effective in entertaining literature, such as what we write. Still, I feel it is good to consider them when I am typing.
I will add more as I have time.
Without further ado...
Aggravate vs. Irritate. The first means "to add to" an already troublesome or vexing matter or condition. The second means "to vex" or "to annoy" or "to chafe".
All right. Idiomatic in familiar speech as a detached phrase in the sense "Agreed," or "Go ahead," or "O.K." It is properly written as two words - all right.
Allude. Do not confuse with elude. You allude to a book; you elude a pursuer. Note, too, that allude is not synonymous with refer. An allusion is an indirect mention, a reference is a specific one.
Alternate vs. Alternative. The words are not always interchangeable as nouns or adjectives. The first means every other one in a series; the second, one of two possibilities. As the other on of a series of two, an alternate may stand for "a substitute," but an alternative, although used in a similar sense, connotes a matter of choice that is never present with alternate.
Example: As the flooded road left them no alternative, they took the alternate route.
Among vs. Between. When more than two things or persons are involved, among is usually called for: "The money was divided among the four players." When, however, more than two are involved but each is considered individually, between is preferred: "an agreement between the six heirs."
And/Or. A device, or shortcut, that damages a sentence and often leads to confusion or ambiguity.
Examples: "First of all, would an honor system successfully cut down on the amount of stealing and/or cheating?"
versus
"First of all, would an honor system reduce the incidence of stealing or cheating, or both?"
Anticipate. Use expect in the sense of simple expectation.
Examples: "I anticipated that he would look older." versus "I expected he would look older."
also compare with:
"My brother anticipated the upturn in the market." versus "My brother expected the upturn in the market."
In the second example, the word anticipated is ambiguous. It could mean simply that the brother believed the upturn would occur, or it could mean that he acted in advance of the expected upturn - by buying stock, perhaps.
Anybody. In the sense of "any person," not to be written as two words. Any body means "any corpse," or "any human form," or "any group." The rule holds equally for everybody, nobody, and somebody.
Anyone. In the sense of "anybody," written as one word. Any one means "any single person" or "any single thing."
As good or better than. Expressions of this type should be corrected by rearranging the sentences.
Example: "My opinion is as good or better than his." versus "My opinion is as good as his, or better (if not better)."
As to whether. Whether is sufficient.
As yet. Yet nearly always is as good, if not better.
"No agreement has been reached as yet." versus "No agreement has yet been reached."
Being. Not appropriate after regard ... as
"His is regarded as being the best dancer in the club." versus "He is regarded as the best dancer in the club."
But. Unnecessary after doubt and help.
"I have no doubt but that..." versus "I have no doubt that..."
"He could not help but see that." versus "He could not help seeing that."
The too-frequent use of but as a conjunction leads to the fault discussed under the former example. A loose sentence formed with but can usually converted into a periodic sentenced formed with although.
Particularly awkward is one but closely following another, thus making a contrast to a contrast, or a reservation to a reservation. This is easily corrected by rearrangement.
"Our country had vast resources but seemed almost wholly unprepared for war. But within a year it had created an army of four million."
versus
"Our country seemed unprepared for war, but it had vast resources. Within a year it had created an army of four million."
Can. Means "am (is, are) able." Not to be used as a substitute for may.
Care less. The dismissive "I couldn't care less" is often used with the shortened "not" mistakenly (and mysteriously) omitted: "I could care less." The error destroys the meaning of the sentence and is careless indeed.
Case. Often unnecessary.
"In many cases, the rooms lacked air conditioning." versus "Many of the rooms lacked air conditioning."
"It has rarely been the case that any mistake has been made." versus "Few mistakes have been made."
Certainly. Used indiscriminately by some speakers, much as others use very, in an attempt to intensify any and every statement. A mannerism of this kind, bad in speech, is even worse in writing.
Character. Often simply redundant, used from a mere habit of wordiness.
"...acts of a hostile character." versus "...hostile acts."
Claim (verb). With object-noun, means "lay claim to." May be used with a dependent clause if this sense is clearly involved: "She claimed that he was the sole heir." (But even here claimed to be would be better.) Not to be used as a substitute for declare, maintain, or charge.
"He claimed he knew how." versus "He declared he knew how."
Clever. Note that the word means not thing when applied to people, another when applied to horses. A clever horse is a good-natured one, not an ingenious one.
Compare. To compare to is to point out or imply resemblances between objects regarded as essentially of a different order; to compare with is mainly to point out differences between objects regarded as essentially of the same order. Thus, life has been compared to a pilgrimage, to a drama, to a battle; Congress may be compared with the British Parliament, Paris has been compared to ancient Athens; it may be compared with modern London.
Comprise. Literally, "embrace": A zoo comprises mammals, reptiles, and birds (because it "embraces," or includes them). But animals do not comprise ("embrace") a zoo–they constitute a zoo.
Consider. Not followed by as when it means "believe to be."
"I consider him as competent." versus "I consider him competent."
When considered means "examined" or "discussed," it is followed by as:
"The lecturer considered Eisenhower first as soldier and second as administrator."
Contact. As a transitive verb, the word is vague and self-important. Do not contact people; get in touch with them, or look them up, or phone them, or find them, or meet them.
Cope. An intransitive verb used with with. In formal writing, one doesn't "cope," one "copes with" something or somebody.
"I knew they'd cope." (jocular) versus "I knew they would cope with the situation."
Currently. In the sense of now with a verb in the present tense, currently is usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved through a more precise reference to time.
"We are currently reviewing your application." versus "We are at this moment reviewing your application."
Data. Like strata, phenomena, and media, data is a plural and is best used with a plural verb. The word, however, is has largely gained acceptance as a singular.
"The data is misleading." versus "These data are misleading."
Different than. Here logic supports established usage: one thing differs from another, hence, different from. Or, other than, unlike.
Disinterested. Means "impartial." Do not confuse it with uninterested, which means "not interested in."
"Let a disinterested person judge our dispute." (an impartial person)
"This man is obviously uninterested in our dispute." (couldn't care less)
Divided into. Not to be misused for composed of. The line is sometimes difficult to draw; doubtless plays are divided into acts, but poems are composed of stanzas. An apple, halved, is divided into sections, but an apple is composed of seeds, flesh, and skin.
Due to. Loosely used for through, because of, or owing to, in adverbial phrases.
"He lost the first match due to carelessness." versus "He lost the first game because of carelessness."
In correct use, synonymous with attributable to: "The accident was due to bad weather"; "losses due to preventable fires."
Each and every one. Contemporary jargon. Avoid, except in dialogue.
"It should be a lesson to each and every one." versus "It should be a lesson to every one of us." (to us all)
Effect. As a noun, means "result"; as a verb, means "to bring about," to accomplish (not to be confused with affect, which means "to influence").
As a noun, often loosely used in perfunctory writing about fashions, music, painting, and other arts: "a Southwestern effect"; "a charming effect was produced." The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refuge in such vagueness.
Enormity. Use only in the ensue of "monstrous wickedness." Misleading, if not wrong, when used to express bigness.
"It was difficult to grasp the enormity of the ship." versus "Amid the fire and the screaming, it was difficult to grasp the enormity of the situation."
Enthuse. An annoying verb growing out of the word enthusiasm. Not recommended.
"She was enthused about her new car." versus "She was enthusiastic about her new car."
"She enthused about her new car." versus "She talked enthusiastically (expressed enthusiasm) about her new car."
Etc. Literally, "and other things"; sometimes loosely used to mean "and other persons." The phrase is equivalent to and the rest, and so forth, and hence is not to be used if one of these would be insufficient–that is, if the reader would be left in doubt as to any important particulars. Least open to objection when it represents the last terms of a list already given almost in full, or immaterial words at the end of a quotation.
At the end of a list introduced by such as, for example, or any similar expression, etc. is incorrect. In formal writing, etc. is a misfit. An item important enough to call for etc. is probably important enough to be named.
Fact. Use this word only of matters capable of direct verification, not of matters of judgement. That a particular event happened on a given date and that lead melts at a certain temperature are facts. But such conclusions as that Napoleon was the greatest of modern generals, or that the climate of California is delightful, however defensible they may be, are not properly called facts.
Facility. Why must jails, hospitals, and schools suddenly become "facilities"?
"Parents complained bitterly about the fire hazard in the wooden facility." versus "Parents complained bitterly about the fire hazard in the wooden schoolhouse."
"He has been appointed warden of the new facility." versus "He has been appointed warden of the new prison."
Factor. A hackneyed word; the expressions of which it is a part can usually be replaced by something more direct and idiomatic.
"Her superior training was the great factor in her winning the match." versus "She won the match by being better trained."
"Air power is becoming and increasingly important factor in deciding battles." versus "Air power is playing a larger and larger part in deciding battles."
Farther. Further. The two words are commonly interchanged, but there is a distinction worth observing: farther serves best as a distance word, further as a time or quantity word. You chase a ball farther than the other fellow; you pursue a subject further.
Feature. Another hackneyed word; like factor, it usually adds nothing to the sentence in which it occurs.
"A feature of the entertainment especially worthy of mention was the singing of Allison Jones."
As a verb in the sense of "offer as a special attraction," it is to be avoided.
Finalize. A pompous, ambiguous verb.
Fix. Colloquial in America for arrange, prepare, mend. The usage is well established. But bear in mind that this verb is from figere: "to make firm," "to place definitely." These are the preferred meanings of the word.
Flammable. An oddity, chiefly useful in saving lives. The common word meaning "combustible" is inflammable. But some people are thrown off by the in- and think inflammable means "not combustible." For this reason, trucks carrying gasoline or explosives are now marked FLAMMABLE. Unless you are operating such a truck and hence are concerned with the safety of children and illiterates, use inflammable.
Folk. A collective noun, equivalent to people. Use the singular form only. Folks, in the sense of "parents", "family," "those present," is colloquial and too folksy for formal writing.
"Her folks arrived by the afternoon train." versus "Her father and mother arrived by the afternoon train."
Fortuitous. Limited to what happens by chance. Not to be used for fortunate, or lucky.
Get. The colloquial have got for have should not be used in any writing aside from dialogue. "The preferable form of the participle is got, not gotten.
"He has not got any sense." versus "He has no sense."
"They returned without having gotten any." versus "They returned without having got any."
Gratuitous. Means "unearned," or "unwarranted."
"The insult seemed gratuitous." (underserved)
Hopefully. This once-useful adverb meaning "with hope" has been distorted and is now widely used to mean "I hope" or "it is to be hoped." Such use is not merely wrong; it is silly. To say, "Hopefully I'll leave on the noon plane" is to talk nonsense. Does one mean they will leave on the noon plain in a hopeful frame of mind? Or do they mean they hope they'll leave on the noon plane? Whichever sentiment one intends, it hasn't been said clearly.
However. Avoid starting sentences with however when the meaning is "nevertheless." The word usually serves better when not in first position.
"The roads were almost impassable. However, we at last succeeded in reaching camp." versus "The roads were almost impassable. At last, however, we succeeded in reaching camp."
When however comes first, it means "in whatever way" or "to whatever extent."
"However you advise him, he will probably do as he thinks best."
"However discouraging the prospect, they never lost heart."
Imply. Infer. Not interchangeable. Something implied is something suggested or indicated, though not expressed. Something inferred is something deduced form evidence at hand.
"Farming implies early rising."
"Since she was a farmer, we inferred that she got up early."
Importantly. Avoid by rephrasing.
"More importantly, he paid for the damages." versus "What's more, he paid for the damages."
also compare
"With the breeze freshening, he altered course to pass inside the island. More importantly, as things turned out, he tucked in a reef."
versus
"With the breeze freshening, he altered course to pass inside the island. More important, as things turned out, he tucked in a reef."
In regard to. Often wrongly written in regards to. But as regards is correct, and means the same thing.
In the last analysis. A bankrupt expression.
Inside of. Inside. The of following inside is correct in the adverbial meaning "in less than." In other meanings, of is unnecessary.
"Inside of five minutes I'll be inside the bank."
Insightful. The word is a suspicious overstatement for "perceptive." If it is to be used at all, it should be used for instances of remarkably penetrating vision. Usually, it crops up merely to inflate the commonplace.
"That was an insightful remark you made." versus "That was a perceptive remark you made."
In terms of. A piece of padding usually best omitted.
"The job was unattractive in terms of salary." versus "The salary made the job unattractive."
Interesting. An unconvincing word; avoid it as means of introduction. Instead of announcing that what you are about to tell is interesting, make it so. For example, rather than starting a new passage with "An interesting story is told of...", introduce the story without the preamble.
Irregardless. Should be regardless. The error results from the failure to see the negative in -less and from a desire to get it in as a prefix, suggested by such words as irregular, irresponsible, and, perhaps especially, irrespective.
-ize. Do not coin verbs by adding this tempting suffix. Many good and useful verbs do in in -ize: fraternize, summarize, harmonize, fertilize. But there is a growing list of abominations: containerize, prioritize, finalize to name three. Be suspicious of -ize; let your eye guide you. Never tack -ize onto a noun to create a verb. Usually, you will discover that a useful verb already exists. Why say "utilize" when there is the simple, unpretentious word use?
Kind of. Except in familiar style, not to be used as a substitute for rather or something like. Restrict it to its literal sense: "Amber is a kind of fossil resin." ; "I dislike that kind of publicity." The same holds true of sort of.
Lay. A transitive verb. Except in slag ("Let it lay"), do not misuse it for the intransitive verb lie. The hen, or the play, lays an egg; the llama lies down. The playwright went home and lay down.
lie, lay, lain, lying
lay, laid, laid, laying
Leave. Should not be misused for fewer.
"They had less workers than in the previous campaign." versus "They had fewer workers than in the previous campaign."
Less refers to quantity, fewer to number. "His troubles are less than mine" means "His troubles are not so great as mine." "His troubles are fewer than mine." means "His troubles are not so numerous as mine."
Like. Not to be used for the conjunction as. Like governs nouns and pronouns; before phrases and clauses the equivalent word is as.
"We spent the evening like in the old days." versus "We spent the evening as in the old days."
"Chloe smells good, like a baby should." versus "Chloe smells good, as a baby should."
The use of like for as has its defenders; they argue that any usage that achieves currency becomes valid automatically. This, they say, is the way the language is formed. It is and it isn't. An expression sometimes merely enjoys a vogue, much as an article of apparel does. Like has been widely misused by the illiterate; lately it has been taken up by the knowing and the well-informed, who find it catchy, or liberating, and who use it as though they were slumming. If every word or device that achieved currency were immediately authenticated, simply on the ground of popularity, the language was chaotic as a ball game with no foul lines. For the student, perhaps the most useful thing to know about like is that most carefully edited publications regard its use before phrases and clauses as simple error.
Line. Along these lines. Line in the sense of "course of procedure, conduct, thought" is allowable but has been so overworked, particularly in the phrase along these lines, that a writer who aims at freshness or originality had better discard it entirely.
"Mr. B also spoke along the same lines." versus "Mr. B spoke to the same effect."
"She is studying along the line of French literature." versus "She is studying French literature."
Literal. Literally. Often incorrectly used in support of exaggeration or violent metaphor.
"A literal flood of abuse." versus "A flood of abuse."
"Literally dead with fatigue." versus "Almost dead with fatigue."
Loan. A noun. As a verb, prefer lend.
"Lend me your ears."
"The loan of your ears."
More to come!
And, we dream of home I dream of life out of here Their dreams are small My dreams don't know fear I got my heart full of hope I will change everything No matter what I'm told How impossible it seems We did it before And we'll do it again We're indestructible Even when we're tired And we've been here before Just you and I
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
Don't try to rescue me I don't need to be rescued
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