by
D. Michelle Adkerson
bad;
badly
I feel badly means your hand is numb. I feel bad
means you are ill or regret something.
beg
the question, to
To beg the question means to base a conclusion on an assumption
that is as much in need of proof as the conclusion.
beseech
The past tense is besought.
beside;
besides
Beside means "next to"; besides means "in
addition" or "in addition to."
I
sleep beside a 30-year-old feather pillow within which rests a rusted,
handmade iron nail.
She
has quite a lot to do besides the cooking.
Besides,
it will be morning soon.
biannual;
biennial
Biannual (like semiannual) means "occurring twice a year."
Biennial means "occurring once every two years."
both
(followed by and)
The listing that follows both may only contain two items. Those
items must be joined by and.
Not:
The headmaster welcomed both faculty, staff, and students.
The headmaster welcomed both faculty, as well as staff.
But:
She welcomed both faculty and staff.
She welcomed faculty, staff, and students.
She welcomed faculty, as well as staff.
both
(parallel)
The items that follow both must be parallel.
Not:
She was blind both to color and form.
But:
She was blind both to color and to form.
She was blind to both color and form.
both;
former; latter
Each word may only be used to introduce paired phrases, not series.
Not:
Yoo Ri is making almond cookies, fruit tarts, and scones; I prefer
the latter with my tea.
But:
She is making cookies, tarts, and scones; I prefer scones with my
tea.
Of cookies and scones, I prefer the latter.
can;
may
Can expresses physical ability. May means permission or
possibility.
I
can attend the meeting.
My
boss tells me I may attend the meeting.
casket
A small box in which jewels or other valuables are kept. Casket
is not synonymous with coffin.
common;
mutual
Common means "shared by two or more." Mutual
means reciprocal.
We have a common [not mutual] friend.
Our
feelings for each other are mutual.
complement;
compliment
Complement means to supplement appropriately or to complete.
Compliment means to praise.
Tip:
Complement means complete
(each word has two e's).
comprise;
compose
Comprise means "to consist of"; compose means
"to make up." To comprise of is never correct.
The
whole comprises its parts, and the parts compose the whole.
The
pillow comprises feathers, down, and cotton casing.
Feathers,
down, and cotton casing compose the pillow.
consensus
Avoid redundancies. Consensus means "a general agreement
or collective opinion."
Not:
The general consensus of opinion is to call it a day and go home.
(Both general and of opinion are redundant.)
But:
The consensus is to go home.
contend
Not a synonym for to say, to contend implies disagreement.
continual;
continuous
Continual means "frequently recurring"; continuous
means "occurring without interruption."
continual
interruptions
continuous musak
continue;
resume
These words are not synonymous. Continue means to go on without
interruption. Resume means to take up again after interruption.
Note:
Never use continue on. Because on is part of the meaning
of continue, using continue on is redundant.
contrast
Contrast points out differences between two or more items.
criterion
The singular form of criteria.
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