dual/duel
“Dual” is an adjective describing the two-ness of something—dual carburetors, for instance. A “duel” is a formal battle intended to settle a dispute.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
install/instill: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, July 30, 2012
install/instill
People conjure up visions of themselves as upgradable robots when they write things like “My Aunt Tillie tried to install the spirit of giving in my heart.” The word they are searching for is “instill.” You install equipment; you instill feelings or attitudes.
People conjure up visions of themselves as upgradable robots when they write things like “My Aunt Tillie tried to install the spirit of giving in my heart.” The word they are searching for is “instill.” You install equipment; you instill feelings or attitudes.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
g/q: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, July 29, 2012
g/q
Lower-case “q” strongly resembles lower-case “g” in many typefaces, and the two are often confused with each other and the resulting misspelling missed in proofreading, for instance “quilt” when “guilt” is intended.
Lower-case “q” strongly resembles lower-case “g” in many typefaces, and the two are often confused with each other and the resulting misspelling missed in proofreading, for instance “quilt” when “guilt” is intended.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
exceptional/exceptionable: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, July 28, 2012
exceptional/exceptionable
If you take exception (object) to something, you find it “exceptionable.” The more common word is “exceptional,” applied to things that are out of the ordinary, usually in a positive way: “These are exceptional Buffalo wings.”
If you take exception (object) to something, you find it “exceptionable.” The more common word is “exceptional,” applied to things that are out of the ordinary, usually in a positive way: “These are exceptional Buffalo wings.”
Friday, July 27, 2012
key: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, July 27, 2012
key
“Deceptive marketing is key to their success as a company.” “Careful folding of the egg whites is key.” This very popular sort of use of “key” as an adjective by itself to mean “crucial” sets the teeth of some of us on edge. It derives from an older usage of “key” as a metaphorical noun: “The key to true happiness is an abundant supply of chocolate.” “Key” as an adjective modifying a noun is also traditional: “Key evidence in the case was mislaid by the police.”
But adjectival “key” without a noun to modify it is not so traditional. If this sort of thing bothers you (as it does me), you’ll have to grit your teeth and sigh. It’s not going away.
“Deceptive marketing is key to their success as a company.” “Careful folding of the egg whites is key.” This very popular sort of use of “key” as an adjective by itself to mean “crucial” sets the teeth of some of us on edge. It derives from an older usage of “key” as a metaphorical noun: “The key to true happiness is an abundant supply of chocolate.” “Key” as an adjective modifying a noun is also traditional: “Key evidence in the case was mislaid by the police.”
But adjectival “key” without a noun to modify it is not so traditional. If this sort of thing bothers you (as it does me), you’ll have to grit your teeth and sigh. It’s not going away.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
verb tense: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, July 26, 2012
verb tense
If the situation being described is an ongoing or current one, the present tense is needed, even in a past-tense context: “Last week she admitted that she is really a brunette” (not “was”).
Pairs of verbs that go together logically have to be kept in the same tense. “Patricia described her trip to China and writes that the Great Wall really impressed her.” Since “described” is in the past tense, and the writing contains her descriptions, “writes” should be “wrote.”
Lots of people get into trouble with sentences that describe a hypothetical situation in the past: “If he would have packed his own suitcase, he would have noticed that the cat was in it.” That first “would have” should be a simple “had”: “If he had packed his own suitcase he would have noticed that the cat was in it.” Also, “The game would have been more fun if we had [not “would have”] won.” This sort of construction consists of two parts: a hypothetical cause in the past and its logical effect. The hypothetical cause needs to be put into the past tense: “had.” Only the effect is made conditional: “would have.” Note that in the second example above the effect is referred to before the cause.
Students summarizing the plot of a play, movie, or novel are often unfamiliar with the tradition of doing so in the present tense: “Hester embroiders an A on her dress.” Think of the events in a piece of fiction as happening whenever you read them—they exist in an eternal present even if they are narrated in the past tense. Even those who are familiar with this pattern get tripped up when they begin to discuss the historical or biographical context of a work, properly using the past tense, and forget to shift back to the present when they return to plot summary. Here’s how it’s done correctly: “Mark Twain’s days on the Mississippi were long past when he wrote Huckleberry Finn; but Huck’s love for life on the river clearly reflects his youthful experience as a steamboat pilot.” The verb “reflects” is in the present tense. Often the author’s activity in writing is also rendered in the present tense as well: “Twain depicts Pap as a disgusting drunk.” What about when you are comparing events that occur at two different times in the same narrative? You still have to stick to the present: “Tom puts Jim through a lot of unnecessary misery before telling him that he is free.” Just remember when you go from English to your history class that you have to shift back to the past tense for narrating historical events: “Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo.”
If the situation being described is an ongoing or current one, the present tense is needed, even in a past-tense context: “Last week she admitted that she is really a brunette” (not “was”).
Pairs of verbs that go together logically have to be kept in the same tense. “Patricia described her trip to China and writes that the Great Wall really impressed her.” Since “described” is in the past tense, and the writing contains her descriptions, “writes” should be “wrote.”
Lots of people get into trouble with sentences that describe a hypothetical situation in the past: “If he would have packed his own suitcase, he would have noticed that the cat was in it.” That first “would have” should be a simple “had”: “If he had packed his own suitcase he would have noticed that the cat was in it.” Also, “The game would have been more fun if we had [not “would have”] won.” This sort of construction consists of two parts: a hypothetical cause in the past and its logical effect. The hypothetical cause needs to be put into the past tense: “had.” Only the effect is made conditional: “would have.” Note that in the second example above the effect is referred to before the cause.
Students summarizing the plot of a play, movie, or novel are often unfamiliar with the tradition of doing so in the present tense: “Hester embroiders an A on her dress.” Think of the events in a piece of fiction as happening whenever you read them—they exist in an eternal present even if they are narrated in the past tense. Even those who are familiar with this pattern get tripped up when they begin to discuss the historical or biographical context of a work, properly using the past tense, and forget to shift back to the present when they return to plot summary. Here’s how it’s done correctly: “Mark Twain’s days on the Mississippi were long past when he wrote Huckleberry Finn; but Huck’s love for life on the river clearly reflects his youthful experience as a steamboat pilot.” The verb “reflects” is in the present tense. Often the author’s activity in writing is also rendered in the present tense as well: “Twain depicts Pap as a disgusting drunk.” What about when you are comparing events that occur at two different times in the same narrative? You still have to stick to the present: “Tom puts Jim through a lot of unnecessary misery before telling him that he is free.” Just remember when you go from English to your history class that you have to shift back to the past tense for narrating historical events: “Napoleon lost the battle of Waterloo.”
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
sometime/some time: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, July 25, 2012
sometime/some time
“Let’s get together sometime.” When you use the one-word form, it suggests some indefinite time in the future. “Some time” is not wrong in this sort of context, but it is required when being more specific: “Choose some time that fits in your schedule.” “Some” is an adjective here modifying “time.” The same pattern applies to “someday” (vague) and “some day” (specific).
“Let’s get together sometime.” When you use the one-word form, it suggests some indefinite time in the future. “Some time” is not wrong in this sort of context, but it is required when being more specific: “Choose some time that fits in your schedule.” “Some” is an adjective here modifying “time.” The same pattern applies to “someday” (vague) and “some day” (specific).
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
footnotes/endnotes: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, July 24, 2012
footnotes/endnotes
About the time that computers began to make the creation and printing of footnotes extremely simple and cheap, style manuals began to urge a shift away from them to endnotes printed at the ends of chapters or at the end of a book or paper rather than at the foot of the page. I happen to think this was a big mistake; but in any case, if you are using endnotes, don’t call them “footnotes.”
About the time that computers began to make the creation and printing of footnotes extremely simple and cheap, style manuals began to urge a shift away from them to endnotes printed at the ends of chapters or at the end of a book or paper rather than at the foot of the page. I happen to think this was a big mistake; but in any case, if you are using endnotes, don’t call them “footnotes.”
Monday, July 23, 2012
pundint/pundit: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, July 23, 2012
pundint/pundit
“Pundit” is one of those words we get from India, like “bungalow” and “thug.” It comes from pandit, meaning “scholar,” “learned person.” The first premier of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was often referred to respectfully as “Pandit Nehru.”
In English it has come to refer to opinionated commentators on public affairs, but it is often mispronounced and misspelled “pundint” or “pundant.”
“Pundit” is one of those words we get from India, like “bungalow” and “thug.” It comes from pandit, meaning “scholar,” “learned person.” The first premier of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was often referred to respectfully as “Pandit Nehru.”
In English it has come to refer to opinionated commentators on public affairs, but it is often mispronounced and misspelled “pundint” or “pundant.”
Sunday, July 22, 2012
pedal/peddle: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, July 22, 2012
pedal/peddle
If you are delivering newspapers from a bike you can pedal it around the neighborhood (perhaps wearing “pedal-pushers”), but when you sell them from a newsstand you peddle them.
If you are delivering newspapers from a bike you can pedal it around the neighborhood (perhaps wearing “pedal-pushers”), but when you sell them from a newsstand you peddle them.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
lighted/lit: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, July 21, 2012
lighted/lit
Don’t fret over the difference between these two words; they’re interchangeable.
Don’t fret over the difference between these two words; they’re interchangeable.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Catch-22: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, July 20, 2012
Catch-22
People familiar with Joseph Heller’s novel are irritated when they see “Catch-22” used to label any simple hitch or problem rather than this sort of circular predicament: you can’t get published until you have an agent, and you can’t get an agent until you’ve been published. “There’s a catch” will do fine for most other situations.
People familiar with Joseph Heller’s novel are irritated when they see “Catch-22” used to label any simple hitch or problem rather than this sort of circular predicament: you can’t get published until you have an agent, and you can’t get an agent until you’ve been published. “There’s a catch” will do fine for most other situations.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
evidence to/evidence of: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, July 19, 2012
evidence to/evidence of
You can provide evidence to a court, even enough evidence to convict someone; but the standard expression “is evidence of” requires “of” rather than “to” in sentences like this: “Driving through the front entrance of the Burger King is evidence of Todd’s inexperience in driving.” You can also omit the pronoun altogether by using “evidences” or “evidenced”: “his driving evidences (or evidenced) his inexperience.”
________
Paul Brians' latest blog post discusses the value of Elton John's lip service.
You can provide evidence to a court, even enough evidence to convict someone; but the standard expression “is evidence of” requires “of” rather than “to” in sentences like this: “Driving through the front entrance of the Burger King is evidence of Todd’s inexperience in driving.” You can also omit the pronoun altogether by using “evidences” or “evidenced”: “his driving evidences (or evidenced) his inexperience.”
________
Paul Brians' latest blog post discusses the value of Elton John's lip service.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
o/zero: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, July 18, 2012
o/zero
When reciting a string of numbers such as your credit card number it is common and perfectly acceptable to pronounce zero as “oh.” But when dealing with a registration code or other such string of characters which mixes letters and numbers, it is important to distinguish between the number 0 and the letter O. In most typefaces a capital O is rounder, fatter, than a zero; but that is not always the case. What looks unambiguous when you type it may come out very unclear on the other end on a computer which renders your message in a different typeface.
In technical contexts, the distinction is often made by using zeros with slashes through them, but this can create as many problems as it solves: those unfamiliar with the convention will be confused by it, numbers using such characters may not sort properly, and slashed zeros created in some fonts change to normal zeros in other fonts.
If you work for a company that requires registration codes you do a disservice to your customers and yourself by including either zeros or O’s in your codes where there is any possibility of confusion.
When reciting a string of numbers such as your credit card number it is common and perfectly acceptable to pronounce zero as “oh.” But when dealing with a registration code or other such string of characters which mixes letters and numbers, it is important to distinguish between the number 0 and the letter O. In most typefaces a capital O is rounder, fatter, than a zero; but that is not always the case. What looks unambiguous when you type it may come out very unclear on the other end on a computer which renders your message in a different typeface.
In technical contexts, the distinction is often made by using zeros with slashes through them, but this can create as many problems as it solves: those unfamiliar with the convention will be confused by it, numbers using such characters may not sort properly, and slashed zeros created in some fonts change to normal zeros in other fonts.
If you work for a company that requires registration codes you do a disservice to your customers and yourself by including either zeros or O’s in your codes where there is any possibility of confusion.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
song/work or composition: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, July 17, 2012
song/work or composition
When you’re writing that cultural event report based on last night’s symphony concert, don’t call the music performed “songs.” Songs are strictly pieces of music which are sung—by singers. Instrumental numbers may be called “works,” “compositions,” or even “pieces.” Be careful, though: a single piece may have several different movements; and it would be wrong to refer to the Adagio of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as a “piece.” It’s just a piece of a piece.
When you’re writing that cultural event report based on last night’s symphony concert, don’t call the music performed “songs.” Songs are strictly pieces of music which are sung—by singers. Instrumental numbers may be called “works,” “compositions,” or even “pieces.” Be careful, though: a single piece may have several different movements; and it would be wrong to refer to the Adagio of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata as a “piece.” It’s just a piece of a piece.
Monday, July 16, 2012
palate/palette/pallet: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, July 16, 2012
palate/palette/pallet
Your “palate” is the roof of your mouth, and by extension, your sense of taste. A “palette” is the flat board an artist mixes paint on (or by extension, a range of colors). A “pallet” is either a bed (now rare) or a flat platform onto which goods are loaded.
Your “palate” is the roof of your mouth, and by extension, your sense of taste. A “palette” is the flat board an artist mixes paint on (or by extension, a range of colors). A “pallet” is either a bed (now rare) or a flat platform onto which goods are loaded.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
interesting: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, July 15, 2012
interesting
The second syllable is normally silent in “interesting.” It’s nonstandard to pronounce the “ter,” and definitely substandard to say “innaresting.”
The second syllable is normally silent in “interesting.” It’s nonstandard to pronounce the “ter,” and definitely substandard to say “innaresting.”
Saturday, July 14, 2012
once and a while/once in a while: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, July 14, 2012
once and a while/once in a while
“Once and a while” is based on a mishearing of the traditional expression “once in a while.”
“Once and a while” is based on a mishearing of the traditional expression “once in a while.”
Friday, July 13, 2012
old wise tale/old wives’ tale: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, July 13, 2012
old wise tale/old wives’ tale
An absurd superstition is an “old wives’ tale”: according to sexist tradition a story popular among credulous old ladies. It’s not an “old wise tale” or—even worse—an “old wives’ tail.”
An absurd superstition is an “old wives’ tale”: according to sexist tradition a story popular among credulous old ladies. It’s not an “old wise tale” or—even worse—an “old wives’ tail.”
Thursday, July 12, 2012
chalk-full/chock-full, chuck-full: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, July 12, 2012
chalk-full/chock-full, chuck-full
Originally a person or thing stuffed to the point of choking was “choke-full.” In modern speech this expression has become “chock-full,” or in less formal American English, “chuck-full.” Chalk has nothing to do with it.
Originally a person or thing stuffed to the point of choking was “choke-full.” In modern speech this expression has become “chock-full,” or in less formal American English, “chuck-full.” Chalk has nothing to do with it.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
everyone/every one: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, July 11, 2012
everyone/every one
“Everyone” means “everybody” and is used when you want to refer to all the people in a group: “Everyone in my family likes spaghetti carbonara.”
But if you’re referring to the individuals who make up a group, then the phrase is “every one.” Examples: “God bless us, every one” (may each individual in the group be blessed). “We wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas” (every single one of you). In the phrase “each and every one” you should never substitute “everyone.”
_______________
Paul Brians' latest blog post addresses the history of tendonitis, or at least the spelling of "tendonitis."
“Everyone” means “everybody” and is used when you want to refer to all the people in a group: “Everyone in my family likes spaghetti carbonara.”
But if you’re referring to the individuals who make up a group, then the phrase is “every one.” Examples: “God bless us, every one” (may each individual in the group be blessed). “We wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas” (every single one of you). In the phrase “each and every one” you should never substitute “everyone.”
_______________
Paul Brians' latest blog post addresses the history of tendonitis, or at least the spelling of "tendonitis."
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
English/British: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, July 10, 2012
English/British
Americans tend to use the terms “British” and “English” interchangeably, but Great Britain is made up of England plus Scotland and Wales. If you are referring to this larger entity, the word you want is “British.” Britons not from England resent being referred to as “English.”
Americans tend to use the terms “British” and “English” interchangeably, but Great Britain is made up of England plus Scotland and Wales. If you are referring to this larger entity, the word you want is “British.” Britons not from England resent being referred to as “English.”
Monday, July 9, 2012
incidence/incidents/instances: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, July 9, 2012
incidence/incidents/instances
These three overlap in meaning just enough to confuse a lot of people. Few of us have a need for “incidence,” which most often refers to degree or extent of the occurrence of something: “The incidence of measles in Whitman County has dropped markedly since the vaccine has been provided free.” “Incidents,” which is pronounced identically, is merely the plural of “incident,” meaning “occurrences”: “Police reported damage to three different outhouses in separate incidents last Halloween.” Instances (not “incidences”) are examples: “Semicolons are not required in the first three instances given in your query.” Incidents can be used as instances only if someone is using them as examples.
These three overlap in meaning just enough to confuse a lot of people. Few of us have a need for “incidence,” which most often refers to degree or extent of the occurrence of something: “The incidence of measles in Whitman County has dropped markedly since the vaccine has been provided free.” “Incidents,” which is pronounced identically, is merely the plural of “incident,” meaning “occurrences”: “Police reported damage to three different outhouses in separate incidents last Halloween.” Instances (not “incidences”) are examples: “Semicolons are not required in the first three instances given in your query.” Incidents can be used as instances only if someone is using them as examples.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
gonna/going to: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, July 8, 2012
gonna/going to
How do you pronounce “going to” in phrases like “going to walk the dog”? “Gonna,” right? Almost everyone uses this slurred pronunciation, but it’s not acceptable in formal writing except when you’re deliberately trying to convey the popular pronunciation. In very formal spoken contexts you might want to (not “wanna”) pronounce the phrase distinctly.
How do you pronounce “going to” in phrases like “going to walk the dog”? “Gonna,” right? Almost everyone uses this slurred pronunciation, but it’s not acceptable in formal writing except when you’re deliberately trying to convey the popular pronunciation. In very formal spoken contexts you might want to (not “wanna”) pronounce the phrase distinctly.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
conflicted/conflicting feelings: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, July 7, 2012
conflicted/conflicting feelings
Phrases like “conflicted feelings” or “I feel conflicted” are considered jargon by many and out of place in formal writing. Use “I have conflicting feelings” instead, or write “I feel ambivalent.”
Phrases like “conflicted feelings” or “I feel conflicted” are considered jargon by many and out of place in formal writing. Use “I have conflicting feelings” instead, or write “I feel ambivalent.”
Friday, July 6, 2012
primevil/primeval: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, July 6, 2012
primevil/primeval
The existence of a music group and a comic book using the deliberately punning misspelling “Primevil” helps to further confusion about this word. Something ancient and primitive is “primeval.” The “-eval” sequence comes from a root having to do with ages, as in “medieval.” It has nothing to do with the concept of evil. The word can also be spelled “primaeval.”
The existence of a music group and a comic book using the deliberately punning misspelling “Primevil” helps to further confusion about this word. Something ancient and primitive is “primeval.” The “-eval” sequence comes from a root having to do with ages, as in “medieval.” It has nothing to do with the concept of evil. The word can also be spelled “primaeval.”
Thursday, July 5, 2012
money is no option/money is no object: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, July 5, 2012
money is no option/money is no object
The expression “money is no object” means that cost is no obstacle: you’re willing to pay whatever is required to get what you want.
People who don’t understand this unusual meaning of “object” often substitute “option,” saying “money is no option,” which makes no sense at all.
The expression “money is no object” means that cost is no obstacle: you’re willing to pay whatever is required to get what you want.
People who don’t understand this unusual meaning of “object” often substitute “option,” saying “money is no option,” which makes no sense at all.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
emphasize on/emphasize: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, July 4, 2012
emphasize on/emphasize
You can place emphasis on something or you can emphasize it, but you can’t emphasize on it or stress on it, though you can place stress on it.
You can place emphasis on something or you can emphasize it, but you can’t emphasize on it or stress on it, though you can place stress on it.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
pedal to the medal/pedal to the metal: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, July 3, 2012
pedal to the medal/pedal to the metal
When you depress the accelerator all the way so that it presses against the metal of the floorboards you put the pedal to the metal. You get no medals for speeding.
___________
For the interesting history of "hazard a guess," read Paul Brians' latest blog post.
When you depress the accelerator all the way so that it presses against the metal of the floorboards you put the pedal to the metal. You get no medals for speeding.
___________
For the interesting history of "hazard a guess," read Paul Brians' latest blog post.
Monday, July 2, 2012
issues/problems: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, July 2, 2012
issues/problems
An “issue” used to be a matter for consideration or discussion. For instance, a group might discuss the issue of how best to raise funds for its scholarship program. But people could also disagree with each other by saying “I take issue [disagree] with you on that point.”
But then mental health professionals began to talk about “child-rearing issues” and “relationship issues,“ and such. In this context the meaning of “issues” began to blur into that of “problems” and cross-pollinate with “take issue,” leading ordinary folks to begin saying things like “I have tendonitis issues” or “I have issues with telemarketing.” This very popular sort of expression is viewed with contempt or amusement by many traditionalists, who are truly appalled when it’s extended to the inanimate world: “these laptops have issues with some wireless cards.”
An “issue” used to be a matter for consideration or discussion. For instance, a group might discuss the issue of how best to raise funds for its scholarship program. But people could also disagree with each other by saying “I take issue [disagree] with you on that point.”
But then mental health professionals began to talk about “child-rearing issues” and “relationship issues,“ and such. In this context the meaning of “issues” began to blur into that of “problems” and cross-pollinate with “take issue,” leading ordinary folks to begin saying things like “I have tendonitis issues” or “I have issues with telemarketing.” This very popular sort of expression is viewed with contempt or amusement by many traditionalists, who are truly appalled when it’s extended to the inanimate world: “these laptops have issues with some wireless cards.”
Sunday, July 1, 2012
gamut/gauntlet: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, July 1, 2012
gamut/gauntlet
To “run a gamut” or “run the gamut” is to go through the whole scale or spectrum of something. To “run the gauntlet” (also “gantlet”) is to run between two lines of people who are trying to beat you. And don’t confuse “gamut” with “gambit,” a play in chess, and by extension, a tricky maneuver of any kind.
To “run a gamut” or “run the gamut” is to go through the whole scale or spectrum of something. To “run the gauntlet” (also “gantlet”) is to run between two lines of people who are trying to beat you. And don’t confuse “gamut” with “gambit,” a play in chess, and by extension, a tricky maneuver of any kind.
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