enviroment/environment
The second N in “environment” is seldom pronounced distinctly, so it’s not surprising that it is often omitted in writing. If you know the related word “environs,” it may help remind you.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Friday, June 29, 2012
individual/person: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, June 29, 2012
individual/person
Law-enforcement officers often use “individual” as a simple synonym for “person” when they don’t particularly mean to stress individuality: “I pursued the individual who had fired the weapon at me for three blocks.” This sort of use of “individual” lends an oddly formal air to your writing. When “person” works as well, use it.
Law-enforcement officers often use “individual” as a simple synonym for “person” when they don’t particularly mean to stress individuality: “I pursued the individual who had fired the weapon at me for three blocks.” This sort of use of “individual” lends an oddly formal air to your writing. When “person” works as well, use it.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
say/tell: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, June 28, 2012
say/tell
You say, “Hello, Mr. Chips,” to the teacher and then tell him about what you did last summer. You can’t “tell that” except in expressions like “go tell that to your old girlfriend.”
You say, “Hello, Mr. Chips,” to the teacher and then tell him about what you did last summer. You can’t “tell that” except in expressions like “go tell that to your old girlfriend.”
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
doggy dog world/dog-eat-dog world: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, June 27, 2012
doggy dog world/dog-eat-dog world
The punning name of the popular rap star Snoop Doggy Dogg did a lot to spread this misspelling. The original image is of a cannibalistically competitive world in which people turn on each other, like dogs eating other dogs.
The punning name of the popular rap star Snoop Doggy Dogg did a lot to spread this misspelling. The original image is of a cannibalistically competitive world in which people turn on each other, like dogs eating other dogs.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
all for not/all for naught: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, June 26, 2012
all for not/all for naught
“Naught” means “nothing,” and the phrase “all for naught” means “all for nothing.” This is often misspelled “all for not” and occasionally “all for knot.”
“Naught” means “nothing,” and the phrase “all for naught” means “all for nothing.” This is often misspelled “all for not” and occasionally “all for knot.”
Monday, June 25, 2012
slog it out/slug it out: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, June 25, 2012
slog it out/slug it out
Slogging is a slow, messy business, typically tramping through sticky mud or metaphorically struggling with other difficult tasks. You might slog through a pile of receipts to do your taxes. If you are engaged in a fierce battle with an adversary, however, you slug it out, like boxers slugging each other. There is no such expression as “slog it out.”
Slogging is a slow, messy business, typically tramping through sticky mud or metaphorically struggling with other difficult tasks. You might slog through a pile of receipts to do your taxes. If you are engaged in a fierce battle with an adversary, however, you slug it out, like boxers slugging each other. There is no such expression as “slog it out.”
Sunday, June 24, 2012
overtake/take over: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, June 24, 2012
overtake/take over
When you catch up with the runners ahead of you in a marathon, you overtake them; but when you seize power, you take over the government.
When you catch up with the runners ahead of you in a marathon, you overtake them; but when you seize power, you take over the government.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
choose/chose: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, June 23, 2012
choose/chose
You chose tequila last night; you choose aspirin this morning. “Chose” is the past tense, “choose” the present.
____________
Not exactly a screed: Paul Brians' latest blog post discusses an unusual mishearing of a common phrase.
You chose tequila last night; you choose aspirin this morning. “Chose” is the past tense, “choose” the present.
____________
Not exactly a screed: Paul Brians' latest blog post discusses an unusual mishearing of a common phrase.
Friday, June 22, 2012
medium/median: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, June 22, 2012
medium/median
That strip of grass separating the lanes going opposite directions in the middle of a freeway is a median. But if you’re trying to achieve a balance between extremes, you’re trying to strike a happy medium.
That strip of grass separating the lanes going opposite directions in the middle of a freeway is a median. But if you’re trying to achieve a balance between extremes, you’re trying to strike a happy medium.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
advance/advanced: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, June 21, 2012
advance/advanced
When you hear about something in advance, earlier than other people, you get advance notice or information. “Advanced” means “complex,” “sophisticated” and doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the revealing of secrets.
When you hear about something in advance, earlier than other people, you get advance notice or information. “Advanced” means “complex,” “sophisticated” and doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the revealing of secrets.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
rhetorical questions: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, June 20, 2012
rhetorical questions
A rhetorical question implies its own answer; it’s a way of making a point. Examples: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” “What business is it of yours?” “How did that idiot ever get elected?” “What is so rare as a day in June?” These aren’t questions in the usual sense, but statements in the form of a question.
Many people mistakenly suppose that any nonsensical question, or one which cannot be answered, can be called a rhetorical question. The following are not proper rhetorical questions: “What was the best thing before sliced bread?” “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” “Who let the dogs out?”
Sometimes speakers ask questions so they can then proceed to answer them: “Do we have enough troops to win the war? It all depends on how you define victory.” The speaker is engaging in rhetoric, but the question asked is not a rhetorical question in the technical sense. Instead this is a mock-dialogue, with the speaker taking both roles.
____________
How about words that change meaning? Paul Brians' latest blog post looks into that phenomenon.
A rhetorical question implies its own answer; it’s a way of making a point. Examples: “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” “What business is it of yours?” “How did that idiot ever get elected?” “What is so rare as a day in June?” These aren’t questions in the usual sense, but statements in the form of a question.
Many people mistakenly suppose that any nonsensical question, or one which cannot be answered, can be called a rhetorical question. The following are not proper rhetorical questions: “What was the best thing before sliced bread?” “If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound?” “Who let the dogs out?”
Sometimes speakers ask questions so they can then proceed to answer them: “Do we have enough troops to win the war? It all depends on how you define victory.” The speaker is engaging in rhetoric, but the question asked is not a rhetorical question in the technical sense. Instead this is a mock-dialogue, with the speaker taking both roles.
____________
How about words that change meaning? Paul Brians' latest blog post looks into that phenomenon.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
heroin/heroine: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, June 19, 2012
heroin/heroine
Heroin is a highly addictive opium derivative; the female main character in a narrative is a heroine.
________________
Enough with the heroics—Paul Brians' latest blog entries tell us when not to use "peon" and what the meaning of "soda speak" might be.
Heroin is a highly addictive opium derivative; the female main character in a narrative is a heroine.
________________
Enough with the heroics—Paul Brians' latest blog entries tell us when not to use "peon" and what the meaning of "soda speak" might be.
Monday, June 18, 2012
differ/vary: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, June 18, 2012
differ/vary
“Vary” can mean “differ,” but saying “our opinions vary” makes it sound as if they were changing all the time when what you really mean is “our opinions differ.” Pay attention to context when choosing one of these words.
“Vary” can mean “differ,” but saying “our opinions vary” makes it sound as if they were changing all the time when what you really mean is “our opinions differ.” Pay attention to context when choosing one of these words.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
historic/historical: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, June 17, 2012
historic/historical
The meaning of “historic” has been narrowed down to “famous in history.” One should not call a building, site, district, or event “historical.” Sites may be of historical interest if historians are interested in them, but not just because they are old. In America “historic” is grossly overused as a synonym for “older than my father’s day.”
The meaning of “historic” has been narrowed down to “famous in history.” One should not call a building, site, district, or event “historical.” Sites may be of historical interest if historians are interested in them, but not just because they are old. In America “historic” is grossly overused as a synonym for “older than my father’s day.”
Saturday, June 16, 2012
breath/breathe: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, June 16, 2012
breath/breathe
When you need to breathe, you take a breath. “Breathe” is the verb, “breath” the noun.
When you need to breathe, you take a breath. “Breathe” is the verb, “breath” the noun.
Friday, June 15, 2012
censor/censure/sensor/censer: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, June 15, 2012
censor/censure/sensor/censer
To censor somebody’s speech or writing is to try to suppress it by preventing it from reaching the public. When guests on network TV utter obscenities, broadcasters practice censorship by bleeping them.
To censure someone, however, is to officially denounce an offender. You can be censured as much for actions as for words. A lawyer who destroyed evidence which would have been unfavorable to his client might be censured by the bar association.
A device which senses any change like changes in light or electrical output is a sensor. You car and your digital camera contain sensors.
A censer is a church incense burner.
To censor somebody’s speech or writing is to try to suppress it by preventing it from reaching the public. When guests on network TV utter obscenities, broadcasters practice censorship by bleeping them.
To censure someone, however, is to officially denounce an offender. You can be censured as much for actions as for words. A lawyer who destroyed evidence which would have been unfavorable to his client might be censured by the bar association.
A device which senses any change like changes in light or electrical output is a sensor. You car and your digital camera contain sensors.
A censer is a church incense burner.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
discreet/discrete: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, June 14, 2012
discreet/discrete
The more common word is “discreet,” meaning “prudent, circumspect”: “When arranging the party for Agnes, be sure to be discreet; we want her to be surprised.” “Discrete” means “separate, distinct”: “He arranged the guest list into two discrete groups: meat-eaters and vegetarians.” Note how the T separates the two E’s in “discrete.”
The more common word is “discreet,” meaning “prudent, circumspect”: “When arranging the party for Agnes, be sure to be discreet; we want her to be surprised.” “Discrete” means “separate, distinct”: “He arranged the guest list into two discrete groups: meat-eaters and vegetarians.” Note how the T separates the two E’s in “discrete.”
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
hear/here: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, June 13, 2012
hear/here
If you find yourself writing sentences like “I know I left my wallet hear!” you should note that “hear” has the word “ear” buried in it and let that remind you that it refers only to hearing and is always a verb (except when you are giving the British cheer “Hear! Hear!”). “I left my wallet here” is the correct expression.
__________________
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, here was the entry from Friday, June 8, which came through via e-mail as white-on-white:
If you find yourself writing sentences like “I know I left my wallet hear!” you should note that “hear” has the word “ear” buried in it and let that remind you that it refers only to hearing and is always a verb (except when you are giving the British cheer “Hear! Hear!”). “I left my wallet here” is the correct expression.
__________________
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, here was the entry from Friday, June 8, which came through via e-mail as white-on-white:
isn’t it/innit
In
South Asia you often hear people end sentences with “isn’t it?” in
contexts where traditional English would require “doesn’t it,” “won’t
it,” “aren’t you,” and related expressions. In Britain and among
American Indians, among others, this “invariant isn’t” is reduced to
“innit,” and may be used even more broadly as a general emphatic
exclamation at the end of almost any statement.
This interesting pattern is liable to puzzle, amuse, or annoy those who aren’t used to it, isn’t it?
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
snuck/sneaked: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, June 12, 2012
snuck/sneaked
In American English “snuck” has become increasingly common as the past tense of “sneak.” This is one of many cases in which people’s humorously self-conscious use of dialect has influenced others to adopt it as standard and it is now often seen even in sophisticated writing in the US. But it is safer to use the traditional form: “sneaked.”
In American English “snuck” has become increasingly common as the past tense of “sneak.” This is one of many cases in which people’s humorously self-conscious use of dialect has influenced others to adopt it as standard and it is now often seen even in sophisticated writing in the US. But it is safer to use the traditional form: “sneaked.”
Monday, June 11, 2012
sentence fragments: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, June 11, 2012
sentence fragments
There are actually many fine uses for sentence fragments. Here’s a brief scene from an imaginary Greek tragedy composed entirely of fragments:
Menelaus: Aha! Helen!
Helen (startled): Beloved husband!
Menelaus: Slut!
Paris (entering, seeing Menelaus): Oops. ’Bye.
Menelaus: Not so fast! (stabs Paris).
Paris: Arrggh!
But some people get into trouble by breaking a perfectly good sentence in two: “We did some research in newspapers. Like the National Inquirer.” The second phrase belongs in the same sentence with the first, not dangling off on its own.
A more common kind of troublesome fragment is a would-be sentence introduced by a word or phrase that suggests it’s part of some other sentence: “By picking up the garbage the fraternity had strewn around the street the weekend before got the group a favorable story in the paper.” Just lop off “by” to convert this into a proper complete sentence.
There are actually many fine uses for sentence fragments. Here’s a brief scene from an imaginary Greek tragedy composed entirely of fragments:
Menelaus: Aha! Helen!
Helen (startled): Beloved husband!
Menelaus: Slut!
Paris (entering, seeing Menelaus): Oops. ’Bye.
Menelaus: Not so fast! (stabs Paris).
Paris: Arrggh!
But some people get into trouble by breaking a perfectly good sentence in two: “We did some research in newspapers. Like the National Inquirer.” The second phrase belongs in the same sentence with the first, not dangling off on its own.
A more common kind of troublesome fragment is a would-be sentence introduced by a word or phrase that suggests it’s part of some other sentence: “By picking up the garbage the fraternity had strewn around the street the weekend before got the group a favorable story in the paper.” Just lop off “by” to convert this into a proper complete sentence.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
flustrated/frustrated: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, June 10, 2012
flustrated/frustrated
You may be flustered when you’re frustrated, but there is no such word as “flustrated.”
You may be flustered when you’re frustrated, but there is no such word as “flustrated.”
Saturday, June 9, 2012
marshall/marshal: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, June 9, 2012
marshall/marshal
You may write “The Field Marshal marshalled his troops,” but you cannot spell his title with a double L. A marshal is always a marshal, never a marshall.
You may write “The Field Marshal marshalled his troops,” but you cannot spell his title with a double L. A marshal is always a marshal, never a marshall.
Friday, June 8, 2012
isn’t it/innit: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, June 8, 2012
isn’t it/innit
In
South Asia you often hear people end sentences with “isn’t it?” in
contexts where traditional English would require “doesn’t it,” “won’t
it,” “aren’t you,” and related expressions. In Britain and among
American Indians, among others, this “invariant isn’t” is reduced to
“innit,” and may be used even more broadly as a general emphatic
exclamation at the end of almost any statement.
This interesting pattern is liable to puzzle, amuse, or annoy those who aren’t used to it, isn’t it?
Thursday, June 7, 2012
cast dispersions/cast aspersions: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, June 7, 2012
cast dispersions/cast aspersions
“Aspersions”
is an unusual word whose main meaning is “false or misleading
accusations,” and its only common use is in the phrase “cast
aspersions.” To disperse a crowd is to break it up and scatter it, which
perhaps leads some people to mistakenly associate “cast” (“throw”) with
“disperse” but the expression is “cast aspersions.”
__________
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
duck tape/duct tape: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, June 6, 2012
duck tape/duct tape
A commercial firm has named its product “Duck Tape,” harking back to the original name for this adhesive tape (which was green), developed by Johnson & Johnson during World War II to waterproof ammunition cases. It is now usually called “duct tape,” for its supposed use in connecting ventilation and other ducts (which match its current silver color). Note that modern building codes consider duct tape unsafe for sealing ducts, particularly those that convey hot air.
A commercial firm has named its product “Duck Tape,” harking back to the original name for this adhesive tape (which was green), developed by Johnson & Johnson during World War II to waterproof ammunition cases. It is now usually called “duct tape,” for its supposed use in connecting ventilation and other ducts (which match its current silver color). Note that modern building codes consider duct tape unsafe for sealing ducts, particularly those that convey hot air.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
forceful/forcible/forced: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Tuesday, June 5, 2012
forceful/forcible/forced
These words sometimes overlap, but generally “forceful” means “powerful” (“he imposed his forceful personality on the lions”) while “forcible” must be used instead to describe the use of force (“the burglar made a forcible entry into the apartment”). “Forced” is often used for the latter purpose, but some prefer to reserve this word to describe something that is done or decided upon as a result of outside causes without necessarily being violent: “a forced landing,” “a forced smile,” “forced labor.”
These words sometimes overlap, but generally “forceful” means “powerful” (“he imposed his forceful personality on the lions”) while “forcible” must be used instead to describe the use of force (“the burglar made a forcible entry into the apartment”). “Forced” is often used for the latter purpose, but some prefer to reserve this word to describe something that is done or decided upon as a result of outside causes without necessarily being violent: “a forced landing,” “a forced smile,” “forced labor.”
Monday, June 4, 2012
dangling and misplaced modifiers: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, June 4, 2012
dangling and misplaced modifiers
Dangling and misplaced modifiers are discussed at length in usage guides partly because they are very common and partly because there are many different kinds of them. But it is not necessary to understand the grammatical details involved to grasp the basic principle: words or phrases which modify some other word or phrase in a sentence should be clearly, firmly joined to them and not dangle off forlornly on their own.
Sometimes the dangling phrase is simply too far removed from the word it modifies, as in “Sizzling on the grill, Theo smelled the Copper River salmon.” This makes it sound like Theo is being barbecued, because his name is the nearest noun to “sizzling on the grill.” We need to move the dangling modifier closer to the word it really modifies: “salmon.” “Theo smelled the Copper River salmon sizzling on the grill.”
Sometimes it’s not clear which of two possible words a modifier modifies: “Felicia is allergic to raw apples and almonds.” Is she allergic only to raw almonds, or all almonds—even roasted ones? This could be matter of life and death. Here’s a much clearer version: “Felicia is allergic to almonds and raw apples.” “Raw” now clearly modifies only “apples.”
Dangling modifiers involving verbs are especially common and sometimes difficult to spot. For instance, consider this sentence: “Having bought the harpsichord, it now needed tuning.” There is no one mentioned in the sentence who did the buying. One way to fix this is to insert the name of someone and make the two halves of the sentence parallel in form: “Wei Chi, having bought the harpsichord, now needed to tune it.” If you have a person in mind, it is easy to forget the reader needs to be told about that person; but he or she can't be just “understood.”
Here’s another sentence with a dangling modifier, in this case at the end of a sentence: “The retirement party was a disaster, not having realized that Arthur had been jailed the previous week.” There is nobody here doing the realizing. One fix: “The retirement party was a disaster because we had not realized that Arthur had been jailed the previous week.”
Using passive verbs will often trip you up: “In reviewing Gareth’s computer records, hundreds of hours spent playing online games were identified.” This sort of thing looks fine to a lot of people and in fact is common in professional writing, but technically somebody specific needs to be mentioned in the sentence as doing the identifying. Inserting a doer and shifting to the active voice will fix the problem. While we’re at it, let’s make clear that Gareth was doing the playing: “The auditor, in checking Gareth’s computer records, identified hundreds of hours that he had spent playing online games.”
Adverbs like “almost,” “even,” “hardly,” “just,” “only,” and “nearly” are especially likely to get stuck in the wrong spot in a sentence. “Romeo almost kissed Juliet as soon as he met her” means he didn’t kiss her—he only held her hand. True, but you might want to say something quite different: “Romeo kissed Juliet almost as soon as he met her.” The placement of the modifier is crucial.
Dangling and misplaced modifiers are discussed at length in usage guides partly because they are very common and partly because there are many different kinds of them. But it is not necessary to understand the grammatical details involved to grasp the basic principle: words or phrases which modify some other word or phrase in a sentence should be clearly, firmly joined to them and not dangle off forlornly on their own.
Sometimes the dangling phrase is simply too far removed from the word it modifies, as in “Sizzling on the grill, Theo smelled the Copper River salmon.” This makes it sound like Theo is being barbecued, because his name is the nearest noun to “sizzling on the grill.” We need to move the dangling modifier closer to the word it really modifies: “salmon.” “Theo smelled the Copper River salmon sizzling on the grill.”
Sometimes it’s not clear which of two possible words a modifier modifies: “Felicia is allergic to raw apples and almonds.” Is she allergic only to raw almonds, or all almonds—even roasted ones? This could be matter of life and death. Here’s a much clearer version: “Felicia is allergic to almonds and raw apples.” “Raw” now clearly modifies only “apples.”
Dangling modifiers involving verbs are especially common and sometimes difficult to spot. For instance, consider this sentence: “Having bought the harpsichord, it now needed tuning.” There is no one mentioned in the sentence who did the buying. One way to fix this is to insert the name of someone and make the two halves of the sentence parallel in form: “Wei Chi, having bought the harpsichord, now needed to tune it.” If you have a person in mind, it is easy to forget the reader needs to be told about that person; but he or she can't be just “understood.”
Here’s another sentence with a dangling modifier, in this case at the end of a sentence: “The retirement party was a disaster, not having realized that Arthur had been jailed the previous week.” There is nobody here doing the realizing. One fix: “The retirement party was a disaster because we had not realized that Arthur had been jailed the previous week.”
Using passive verbs will often trip you up: “In reviewing Gareth’s computer records, hundreds of hours spent playing online games were identified.” This sort of thing looks fine to a lot of people and in fact is common in professional writing, but technically somebody specific needs to be mentioned in the sentence as doing the identifying. Inserting a doer and shifting to the active voice will fix the problem. While we’re at it, let’s make clear that Gareth was doing the playing: “The auditor, in checking Gareth’s computer records, identified hundreds of hours that he had spent playing online games.”
Adverbs like “almost,” “even,” “hardly,” “just,” “only,” and “nearly” are especially likely to get stuck in the wrong spot in a sentence. “Romeo almost kissed Juliet as soon as he met her” means he didn’t kiss her—he only held her hand. True, but you might want to say something quite different: “Romeo kissed Juliet almost as soon as he met her.” The placement of the modifier is crucial.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
directions: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, June 3, 2012
directions
Compass points like “north,” “east,” “south,” and “west” are not capitalized when they are mere directions: the geese fly south for the winter and the sun sets in the west.
Capitalize these words only in the names of specific places identifiable on a map: Alabama is in the Deep South (the region which includes the Southern States) and Santa Claus lives at the North Pole.
The same pattern holds for the adjectival forms. It’s a southern exposure, but Southern hospitality. Note that “The Westward Movement” (now often called the “Westward Expansion”) refers to a specific series of migrations toward a specific region in the western part of the US.
Compass points like “north,” “east,” “south,” and “west” are not capitalized when they are mere directions: the geese fly south for the winter and the sun sets in the west.
Capitalize these words only in the names of specific places identifiable on a map: Alabama is in the Deep South (the region which includes the Southern States) and Santa Claus lives at the North Pole.
The same pattern holds for the adjectival forms. It’s a southern exposure, but Southern hospitality. Note that “The Westward Movement” (now often called the “Westward Expansion”) refers to a specific series of migrations toward a specific region in the western part of the US.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
canvas/canvass: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, June 2, 2012
canvas/canvass
Heavy cloth, whether in the frame of a painting or on the floor of a boxing ring, is canvas, with one S.
To survey ballots or voters is to canvass them, with two S’s.
Heavy cloth, whether in the frame of a painting or on the floor of a boxing ring, is canvas, with one S.
To survey ballots or voters is to canvass them, with two S’s.
Friday, June 1, 2012
accede/exceed: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, June 1, 2012
accede/exceed
If you drive too fast, you exceed the speed limit. “Accede” is a much rarer word meaning “give in, agree.”
If you drive too fast, you exceed the speed limit. “Accede” is a much rarer word meaning “give in, agree.”
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