whereabouts are/whereabouts is
Despite the deceptive S on the end of the word, “whereabouts” is normally singular, not plural. “The whereabouts of the stolen diamond is unknown.” Only if you were simultaneously referring to two or more persons having separate whereabouts would the word be plural, and you are quite unlikely to want to do so.
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Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Monday, December 30, 2013
strong suite/strong suit: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Monday, December 30, 2013
strong suite/strong suit
“Strong suit” is an expression derived from card-playing, in which hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades are the suits. When you put your best foot forward you play your strong suit.
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“Strong suit” is an expression derived from card-playing, in which hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades are the suits. When you put your best foot forward you play your strong suit.
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Sunday, December 29, 2013
root/rout/route: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Sunday, December 29, 2013
root/rout/route
You can root for your team (cheer them on) and hope that they utterly smash their opponents (create a rout), then come back in triumph on Route 27 (a road).
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You can root for your team (cheer them on) and hope that they utterly smash their opponents (create a rout), then come back in triumph on Route 27 (a road).
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Saturday, December 28, 2013
tradegy/tragedy: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Saturday, December 28, 2013
tradegy/tragedy
Not only do people often misspell “tragedy” as “tradegy,” they mispronounce it that way too. Just remember that the adjective is “tragic” to recall that it’s the G that comes after the A. Also common is the misspelling “tradgedy.”
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Not only do people often misspell “tragedy” as “tradegy,” they mispronounce it that way too. Just remember that the adjective is “tragic” to recall that it’s the G that comes after the A. Also common is the misspelling “tradgedy.”
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Friday, December 27, 2013
old-timer’s disease/Alzheimer’s Disease: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Friday, December 27, 2013
old-timer’s disease/Alzheimer’s Disease
I’ve always thought that “old-timer’s disease” was a clever if tasteless pun on “Alzheimer’s Disease,” but many people have assured me that this is a common and quite unintentional error.
Some medical authorities prefer the form “Alzheimer Disease,” though that is seldom used by nonprofessionals.
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I’ve always thought that “old-timer’s disease” was a clever if tasteless pun on “Alzheimer’s Disease,” but many people have assured me that this is a common and quite unintentional error.
Some medical authorities prefer the form “Alzheimer Disease,” though that is seldom used by nonprofessionals.
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Thursday, December 26, 2013
perse/per se: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Thursday, December 26, 2013
perse/per se
This legal term meaning “in, of, or by itself” is a bit pretentious, but you gain little respect if you misspell per se as a single word. Worse is the mistaken “per say.”
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This legal term meaning “in, of, or by itself” is a bit pretentious, but you gain little respect if you misspell per se as a single word. Worse is the mistaken “per say.”
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Wednesday, December 25, 2013
aswell/as well: Common Errors in English Usage Entry for Wednesday, December 25, 2013
aswell/as well
No matter how you use it, the expression “as well” is always two words, despite the fact that many people seem to think it should be spelled “aswell.” Examples: “I don’t like plastic trees as well as real ones for Christmas.” “Now that we’ve opened our stockings, let’s open our other presents as well.”
No matter how you use it, the expression “as well” is always two words, despite the fact that many people seem to think it should be spelled “aswell.” Examples: “I don’t like plastic trees as well as real ones for Christmas.” “Now that we’ve opened our stockings, let’s open our other presents as well.”
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