Strunk/Word Usage JRNL 1100
sewage
(Use this term, not sewerage, for both the waste matter and the drainage system)
Accused
(a person is accused of, not with, a crime) Example:To avoid any suggestion that an individual is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as accused slayer John Jones, use John Jones, accused of the slaying.
gay
(acceptable as popular synonym for both male and female homosexuals (n. and adj.), although it is generally associated with males, while lesbian is the more common term for female homosexuals. Avoid references to gay, homosexual or alternative "lifestyle")
till
(acceptable for until. Do not use 'til or 'till)
agnostic, atheistic
(an agnostic is a person who believes it is impossible to know whether there is a God. An atheist is a person who believes there is no God)
assassin, killer, murderer
(an assassin is a politically motivated killer) A killer is anyone who kills with a motive of any kind. A murderer is one who is convicted of murder in a court of law.
bologna, baloney
(baloney is foolish or exaggerated talk. The sausage or luncheon meat is bologna)
biannual, biennial
(biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word semiannual. Biennial means every two years)
head up
(chair is not synonymous) People head committees; they don't head up committees. Don't use up as a verb. Wrong: They will up the price.
Reared
(children may be reared or raised; animals are raised, but never reared)
flack, flak
(flack is slang for press agent. Flak is a type of anti-aircraft fire, hence figuratively a barrage of criticism)
flair, flare
(flair is conspicuous talent). Flare is a verb meaning to blaze with a sudden, bright light or to burst out in anger. (It is also a noun meaning a flame)
grits
(ground hominy. The word normally takes plural verbs and pronouns: Grits are to country ham what Yorkshire pudding is to roast beef)
widow, widower
(in obituaries: A man is survived by his wife) A woman is survived by her husband.
dean''s list
(lowwer case in all uses) Example: He is on the dean's list. She is a dean's list students
nauseated, nauseous
(nauseous is an adjective meaning sickening or disgusting. If you're nauseated, you're sick; if you're nauseous, you make others sick.)
naval, navel
(naval pertains to a navy. A navel is a bellybutton. A navel orange is a seedless orange, so named because it has a small depression, like a navel)
balance
(not synonymous with remainder or rest of)
whose, who's
(possessive pronoun), who's (contraction of who is)
insinuate
(suggest, usually negative or unflattering)
Hispanic
(the preferred term for those whose ethnic origin is in a Spanish-speaking country) Latino is acceptable for Hispanics who prefer that term.
impeach
(to accuse or bring charges against; doesn't mean to try or convict)
arrest
(to avoid any suggestion that someone is being judged before a trial, do not use a phrase such as arrested for killing. Instead, use arrested on a charge of killing)
Refute
(to disprove. Not a synonym for denied or disputed)
decimate
(to reduce drastically especially in number; to destroy a small part of; not synonymous with widespread destruction)
alumnus, alumni, alumna, alumnae
(use alumnus -- alumni in the plural) -- when referring to a man who has attended a school. Use alumna -- alumnae in the plural -- for similar references to a woman. Use alumni when referring to a group of men and women.
room numbers
(use figures and capitalize room when used with a figure: Room 2, Room 211)
presently
(use it to mean in a little while or shortly, but not to mean now)
persons, people
(use person when speaking of an individual: One person waited for the bus). The word people is preferred to persons in all plural uses. For example: "thousands of people attended the fair. What will people say? There were 17 people in the room. Persons should be used only when it is in a direct quote or part of a title as in Bureau of Missing Persons. People also is a collective noun that takes a plural verb when used to refer to a single race or nation: The American people are united.
hangar, hanger
A hangar is a building. A hanger is used for clothes.
accept, except
Accept means to receive. Except means to exclude.
demolish, destroy
Both mean to do away with something completely. Ex:Totally destroyed and totally demolished are redundant phrases. Partially destroyed and partially demolished are incorrect. Use instead: damaged (or heavily damaged)
that, which
Do not use interchangeably. That is used to introduce a restrictive clause and is not preceded by a comma: Gwen liked the book that I gave her. which should be used to introduce a nonrestrictive clause (providing additional information about the subject that has already been identified) and is preceded by a comma: The book I gave Gwen, which she liked, was written by Mark Twain. In some cases, it is permissible to use which to introduce a restrictive clause to avoid repetition of the word that in the preceding phrase: I gave Gwen that book which I thought she would like.
she
Do not use this pronoun in references to ships or nations. Use it instead)
elicit, illicit
Elicit: seek Illicit: illegal
flier flyer
Flyer is the preferred term for a person flying in an aircraft, and for handbills: He used his frequent flyer miles; they put up flyers announcing the show. Use flier in the phrase take a flier, meaning to take a big risk.
Temperature
Gets higher or lower, but they don't get warmer or cooler. Temperature is not synonymous with fever
part- time, part time
Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier: She has a part-time job. But: She works part time.
drowned, was drowned
If it was an accident, the person drowned. If an assailant held the victim's head under water, he was drowned.
incidence, incidents
Incidence: range of rate of occurrence Incidents: events The incidence of rabies was greater in this year than last year. The two incidents led to his dismissal.
Islam, Quran
Islam (followers are called Muslims).Their holy book is the Quran, which according to Islamic belief was revealed by Allah (God) to the prophet Muhammad in the seventh century in Mecca and Medina. Their place of worship is a mosque. Their weekly holy day, equivalent of the Christian Sabbath, is Friday.
lose, loose
Lose is a verb meaning "to misplace." Loose is an adjective meaning "unrestrained" or "not tight."
Marshall, marshal
Marshall: person's name marshal: verb and titles
over, more than, under, less than
Over and under refer to spatial relationships and are not interchangeable with less than. However, it is now accepted to use over and more than interchangeably. The plane flew over the lake. The dog ran under the car. More than 100 people attended. Over 100 people attended. This country produced less than its share of scientists in the 1930s.
Muslim
Preferred term to describe adherents of Islam
adopt, approve, enact, pass
Resolutions are adopted. Amendments are passed or enacted. Bills are passed or approved. Laws are enacted, usually when a governor or president signs them. Rules are enacted, created or ordered. Enact can mean making a bill or amendment, or it can mean act out on stage.
flammable, inflammable
They mean combustible. Use inflammable
different from
Things and people are different from each other, not different than.
unique
This means one of a kind. If two or more exist, it can't be unique. Don't use almost unique, rather unique, somewhat unique. Use unique, unusual or rare.
each and every one
Use each one or every one
as to whether
Whether is enough
litany
a prayer or repetitive chant-- not a list
adverse, averse
adverse:unfavorable averse: opposed. Example:He predicted adverse weather. He received the adverse decision without comment. She is averse to change. She was averse to the plan.
advice, advise
advice: opinion, recommendation advise: to give advice
affect, effect
affect: verb: to influence. effect: verb: to cause, to bring about, effect: noun: result
aggravate, irritate
aggravate:(to add to, to increase), irritate:(to annoy)
Aid, Aide
aid (to help), aide (an assistant)
All right
all right (two words, never use alright). satisfactory, agreeable
Allude, elude, refer
allude to (speak of something without specifically mentioning it), elude (dodge, escape), refer to (to mention it directly)
allusion, illusion
allusion (an indirect reference), illusion (an unreal or false impression) Example:The allusion was to his opponent's war record. The scenic director created the illusion of choppy seas.
meaningful
almost never necessary
altar, alter
altar (in a church), alter (change)
altogether, all together
altogether (adv: wholly, entirely), all together (adj: in a group)
a lot
always two words
among, between
among: more than two, between: two
angel, angle
angel (has wings, financial backer), angle (mathematics, point of view)
anxious, eager
anxious (implies worry, concern), eager (in anticipation or desire)
about, approximately
around is not a substitute. about:on the subject of,used to express location. approximately:used to show that something is almost accurate or exact; roughly.
arrangement, arraignment
arrangement (settle, adjust, proper order), arraignment (answer an indictment)
as yet
as usually is unnecessary
assistance, assistants
assistance (to help), assistants (helpers)
afterward
at a later time. (not afterwards)
avocation, vocation
avocation (hobby, pleasure), vocation (business, profession, occupation)
finalize
avoid using the pretentious word. produce or agree on a finished and definitive version of
award, reward
award (honor), reward (payment)
a while, awhile
awhile (adverb) a while : he plans to stay awhile (adv.) Example: he plans to stay for a while
bare, bear
bare (to expose), bear (animal, or to carry the weight of something)
beside, besides
beside (by the side of, next to), besides (in addition to, other than)
bimonthly, semimonthly
bimonthly (means every other month. Semimonthly means twice a month)
biweekly, semiweekly
biweekly (means every other week. Semiweekly means twice a week)
bizarre, bazaar
bizarre (unusual) A fair or marketplace is a bazaar.
bloc, block
bloc (a coalition of people, a group with the same goal. Don't confuse with block)
Blond, blonde
blond (noun for males and as the adjective for all applications: he had blond hair.) blonde (noun for females)
bridal, bridle
bridal (with wedding), bridle (horse headgear, restrain, an expression of pride, scorn or pique)
bug, tap
bug, tap (a concealed listening device designed to pick up sounds in a room, an automobile, or such is a bug. A tap is a device attached to a telephone circuit to pick up conversations on the line)
byte
byte (a computer "word" made up of bits. The most common size byte contains eight bits, or binary digits)
can't hardly
can't hardly, a double negative is implied. Better is: can hardly.
canon, cannon
canon (law), cannon (gun) A cannon is a weapon. A canon is a law or rule, particularly of a church.
canvas, canvass
canvas (cloth), canvass (to solicit, seek out, sift)
capital, capitol
capital (city, money, major), Capitol (building in Washington, Montgomery, Atlanta, etc. Also Capitol Hill or Capitol Green or Capitol Concourse. Statehouse is one word.)
center on
center on (discussion centered on, not centered around or revolved around)
choose, chose
choose (present tense), chose (past tense)
cite, site, sight
cite (single out, bring forward), site (location), sight (see, view)
clause, claws
clause (part of a sentence), claws (animal toenails)
cleanup, clean up
cleanup (noun, adj.), clean up (verb)
coarse, course
coarse (texture, not refined), course (direction, study of)
collide
collide (to collide, both objects must be in motion. Frequently used incorrectly for struck)
compliment, complement
compliment (admire, praise), complement (full quantity, number)
conscience, conscious, conscientious
conscience (moral sense), conscious (awake, aware), conscientious (sincere, faithful)
contemptible, contemptuous
contemptible (worthy of contempt, despicable), contemptuous (expressing contempt or disdain). Example:It was a contemptible act. She was contemptuous of the chairman.
cop
cop (be careful in the use of this colloquial term for police officer) It may be used in lighter stories and in casual, informal descriptions, but often is a derogatory term out of place in serious police stories.
corps, corpse
corps (organized group of people), corpse (human or animal body)
council, councilor, counsel, counselor, consul
council (assembly or group), councilor (member of assembly), counsel (noun: advice, adviser), counsel (verb: advise, recommend), counselor (noun: adviser), consul (government representative with State Department)
cover up, cover-up
cover up (verb), cover-up (noun and adj.) Example:He tried to cover up the scandal. He was prosecuted for the cover-up.
crawfish
crawfish (not crayfish. An exception to Webster's New World based on the dominant spelling in Louisiana, where it is a popular delicacy)
crime, sin, vice
crime (violation of governmental law), sin (violation of religious law), vice (violation of moral law, also vice president, vice chairman)
damage, damages
damage, damages (damage is destruction: Authorities said damage from the storm would total more than $1 billion. Damages are awarded by a court as compensation for injury, loss, etc.: The woman received $25,000 in damages)
decent, descent, dissent, dissension
decent (competent, having good qualities), descent (ancestry, drop, fall), dissent (to disagree), dissension (discord, lack of harmony)
desert, desert, dessert
desert (noun: dry and sandy), desert (verb: to abandon), dessert (food)
in spite of
despite means the same thing and is shorter
disabled, handicapped, impaired
disabled: A general term used for a physical, mental, developmental or intellectual disability. Handicapped: disabilities. Impaired: having a disability of a specified kind.
prison, jail
do not use the two words interchangeably
dominant, dominate
dominant: adj dominate: verb
don't, doesn't
don't (contraction of do not), doesn't (contraction of does not)
toward
don't use towards
drunk, drunken
drunk, drunken (drunk is the spelling of the adjective used after a form of the verb to be. Drunken is the spelling of the adjective used before nouns) Example:He was drunk. A drunken driver, drunken driving
dual, duel
dual:two duel: a contest between two people
user friendly
easy to use
ecology, environment
ecology (the study of the relationship between organisms and their environment), environment (surroundings) Example: the scientist is studying the ecology of man and the desert
eminent, imminent
eminent (great, famous), imminent (to occur shortly)
entitiled
entitled (use it to mean a right to do or have something. Do not use it to mean titled) Right: She was entitled to the promotion. Right: The book was titled "Gone with the Wind."
Envelope, envelop
envelope (for letters), envelop (surround, enclose)
Faint, Feint
faint (pass out), feint (fake, pretend)
fair, fare
fair (weather, an event), fare (menu, cost)
farther, further
farther (physical distance), further (extension of time or degree)
faze, phase
faze means to embarrass or disturb: The snub did not faze her Phase: denotes an aspect or stage: They will phase in a new system
fewer, less
fewer (refers to individual items) less (refers to bulk or quantity)
final, finale
final (last), finale (concluding act, concluding number in a performance)
flout, flaunt
flout (mock, scoff, show disdain for), flaunt (display ostentatiously or conspicuously)
follow up, follow-up
follow up (verb) follow-up (noun or adj.)
foreword,forward
foreword (beginning of a book), forward (move ahead, don't use forwards)
formally, formerly
formally: formal manner formerly: previously
foul, fowl
foul - offensive, out of line fowl - bird
gorilla, guerrilla
gorilla:ape guerrilla:irregular warfare
he is a man who, she is a woman who
he usually is enough she usually is enough
hoping, hopping
hoping: wishing hopping:jumping
hurdle, hurtle
hurdle (barrier, to leap over), hurtle (to rush suddenly or with violence, throw violently, fling) He hurdled the fence. She hurtled the vase at him.
full-time, full time
hyphenate when used as a compound modifier) "She has a full-time job." But: "He works full time."
immigrate, emigrate
immigrate (come into), emigrate (leave from). Also immigrant, emigrant
infer, imply
infer (assume, draw from; the hearer infers), imply (suggest, signify; the speaker implies)
intern, internship
intern (noun; an advanced student gaining practical, supervised experience) internship (the period of time a person serves as an intern)
underway
is one word in all cases. started or began usually are better than underway
and/or
is poor construction and should not be used Wrong: The penalty is a $25 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Right: The penalty is a $25 fine or 30 days in jail or both
isle, aisle
isle: island aisle: walkway
hopefully
it means in a hopeful manner, do not use it to mean "it is hoped", "let us hope", or "we hope" Right: It is hoped that we graduate in June. Wrong: Hopefully, we will graduate in June.
either
it means one or the other, not both
its, it's
its (possessive pronoun), it's (contraction of it is or it has)
later/latter/ladder
later (succeeding at another time), latter (second of two), ladder (climb it)
lay, lie
lay, (means to place something down and takes an object, an intransitive verb); lie (means to recline or be situated and does not take an object, an intransitive verb). Lie down on the bed and lay your head on the pillow. Adding to the confusion is that the past tense of lie is lay, and the past tense of lay is laid: He lay down on the sofa after he laid the book on the table.
lead, lead, led
lead (metal), lead (leader), led (out in front, persuaded)
lectern, podium
lectern: stand behind podium: stand on
lesson, lessen
lesson: in learning lessen: decrease
libel, liable
libel: a false publication as in writing, print, signs or pictures that damages a person's reputation: "the newspaper was charged with *libel* by a political candidate" liable: likely, responsible for: if you dent the rental car, you are *liable* for damage incurred
loan, lend
loan (noun) lend (verb)
in the final (or last) analysis
lousy phrases
marital, martial
marital: marriage martial: military
media, medium
media: plural and takes plural verb medium (singular of media also average)
metal, medal
metal (steel, copper), medal (ornament worn or displayed)
might, mite
might (power, possibly), mite (a small amount, a tiny insect)
miner, minor
miner (digs for something), minor (not of legal age, not as important as major)
irregardless
not an accepted word; use regardless
cannot
one word
fundraising, fundraiser
one word in all cases
anyone, anybody, somebody, nobody, everyone, everybody
one word when used as an indefinite reference), any one, any body, some body, no body, every one, every body (two words when used to single out a specific element) Example: Anyone can do that. Any one of them could win first prize. Everybody loves a winner. Every body of water in the county contains alkali.
ordinance, ordnance
ordinance (regulation), ordnance (military supplies, weapons)
patience, patients
patience (self-control), patients (clients of a doctor)
pear, pare, pair
pear: fruit pare: peel or strip, reduce pair: two
peddle, pedal
peddle: selling pedal: bicycle
perspective, prospective
perspective: outlook, mental view prospective: potential
piece, peace
piece: a separate portion peace: not war
pore, pour, poured
pore (the verb pore means to gaze intently or steadily: She pored over her books), pour (the verb pour means to flow in a continuous stream: It poured rain. He poured the coffee)
praise, preys, prays
praise (compliment, flatter), preys (seizing upon, plundering), prays (religion)
precede, proceed
precede (before, in advance of), proceed (move ahead, amount taken in is proceeds)
premier, premiere
premier (first in rank), premiere (first public performance)
pretense, pretext
pretense (a false show, an overt act to conceal personal feelings), pretext (something put forward to conceal the truth, an excuse) Example:His profuse compliments were all pretense. He was fired for tardiness, but this was only a pretext for incompetence.
principal, principle
principal (chief, number one, school principal, banking), principle (basic doctrine, fundamental truth)
rain, reign, rein
rain (water), reign (govern, prevail), rein (instrument to guide, control)
raise, rays, raze
raise (salary, move upward), rays (sunshine), raze (tear down, lay level with the ground)
reluctant, reticent
reluctant (unwilling to act), reticent (unwilling to speak)
respectively, respectfully
respectively (each to each), respectfully (showing deference, with regard)
scent, sent, cent
scent: odor, smell sent: to a destination cent: penny
serial, cereal
serial: series, numbers cereal: breakfast
soar, sore
soar (fly, glide), sore (aching, angry)
stake, steak
stake (in the ground, in gambling), steak (food)
stationary, stationery
stationary (not moving), stationery (writing paper)
statue, stature, statue
statute (law, regulation), stature (quality of being impressive, exalted), statue (monument, sculpture)
taught, taunt, taut
taught: learned taunt: tempt, dare taut: tight
tear, tier
tear: in eye, rip tier: layers
there, there's, their, they're
there (in that place), there's (there is), their (possessive pronoun), they're (contraction of they are)
trustee, trusty
trustee: a person to whom another's property or the management of another's property is entrusted, a person who serves on a board of directors; do not capitalize if used before a name trusty: a prison inmate granted special privileges as a trustworthy person. do not capitalize if used before a name
no one
two words
due to, thanks to
use because of
Recur
use recur instead of reoccur
percent
use the % sign when paired with a numeral:15%
in advance of, prior to
used before
waive, wave
waive (to set aside), wave (on water, goodbye)
weather, whether
weather (like the rain), whether (if so)
your, you're
your (possessive pronoun), you're (contraction of you are)