by
D. Michelle Adkerson
farther;
further
Farther refers to physical distances; further
refers to figurative distances.
feel
Feel should always be used to indicate physical touch. Never
use feel when you mean believe or think.
Not:
The renovation committee, in a particularly bizarre and retro mood,
feels that the best course of action is to paint the walls lime green
and replace the carpets with a plush orange shag.
But:
Apparently the renovation committee thinks [not feels] that
we will appreciate feeling such a carpet and that the colors will
spur us to action. It has also suggested that ABBA be played in the
elevators.
fewer;
less
Fewer refers to number — separate, countable items. Use fewer
before a plural noun. Less refers to amount or degree — something
regarded as a unit. Use less before a singular noun.
Fewer
answers the question "How many?" Less answers the question
"How much?"
Fewer
books have been returned on time since the library shortened its hours.
Less
help is needed to replace the old carpet now that we have Jerrie,
who does the work of two, working for us.
But
less than precedes plural nouns that refer to quantities, time,
or money.
Mykie
has worked as a clerk at the deli counter for less than three years.
Or
less follows a reference to a number of items.
Millie's
brother finds it impossible to transfer a phone call to her in 25 words
or less.
first(ly),
second(ly), third(ly)
Generally avoid the -ly forms. If you do use them, use them consistently
(use secondly if you use firstly).
flaunt;
flout
Flaunt means "to show off." Flout means "to
disregard; to treat with contempt."
flounder;
founder
Flounder means to struggle; founder means complete failure
or collapse. (When founder refers to a ship, it means to fill
with water and sink. Thus, "a ship foundered and sank"
is redundant.)
flush;
flesh
If you flush something, you cause it to "fly from cover."
Flesh means "to fill out."
First, we'll brainstorm to flush out the issues.
Then,
we'll flesh out an agreement.
focus
It is only possible to focus on one thing at a time.
forego;
forgo
Forego means "to go before." Forgo means "to
do without."
fortuitous;
fortunate
Use fortuitous when you mean "happening by chance or by
accident" (may be good or bad). Fortunate means "having
good fortune."
The
arrival of the curious puppy was fortuitous; he crushed the beetle
under his paw just as I shrank in terror at the interminable approach
of the hungry carapacial killer.
My
fortunate circumstance was short-lived; the oblivious mutt ripped
me asunder as he buried the armored foe among my fragile roots.
from
… to
If you refer to a range of items using "from," you should
also use "to" or "through." Never use "from"
and a hyphen.
Not:
Rachel most remembers her family life from ages 7-16, when she lived
at the compound.
But:
Rachel most remembers her family life from ages 7 to 16.
Not:
The cost will be from $10-12.
But:
The cost will be $10-12.Or: The cost will be from $10 to $12.
fulsome
Fulsome means "offensively excessive," not "full
of."
Not:
Emma responded with fulsome praise for their excellent work.
But:
Reuben's fulsome inebriation finally lost him all of his students.
health
care
Continue to use two words. Use Healthcare only when it is so
spelled in a proper name. Use a hyphen if the term is used as a phrasal
adjective (health-care insurance).
healthy;
healthful
To be healthy is to "enjoy good health." Healthful
means "contributing to the health of something else." The
first is often misused when the latter is meant.
"Of
course I can find it," she replied with a healthy arrogance.
"It's beside the green sign behind the pink mailbox on that street
not far from the big tree that has a red bow on it at Christmas."
"Some
navigators are not healthful," he thought, but remained silent
and resigned to a colorful if overlong journey.
If
you eat healthful foods and take healthful exercise (and avoid standing
in front of moving buses), you will more than likely be healthy.
hone;
home
Use the first when you mean "to sharpen or polish" or "to refine." Never use the phrase
hone in. When you mean "to
go or return home" or "to move toward a target," use home.
Not: When crafting a paragraph, hone in on your main idea.
But:
Hone your paragraph to its most essential elements.
When
editing the paragraph, home in on your main idea.
hopefully
There is no such word. Use I hope or it is to be hoped
instead.
hyphens
(civil or military titles)
Do not hyphenate a civil or military title that denotes a single office.
editor in chief
attorney at law
vice president
sergeant at arms
hyphens
(prefixes and suffixes)
1. Do not use a hyphen to set off a prefix or a suffix.
| antitrust |
interoffice |
pretrial |
| biweekly |
metascience |
proactive |
| bylaws |
microprocessor |
reenter |
| cochair |
midday |
semiannual |
| coeditor |
multijurisdictional |
transcontinental |
| cooperate |
nonessential |
hyperactive |
| posttraumatic |
interdepartmental |
preexisting |
2.
Of course, there are a few exceptions:
a.
Follow the prefix "ex-" with a hyphen (ex-wife).
b.
Precede the suffix "-elect" with a hyphen (president-elect).
c.
Use a hyphen with letters or numbers (mid-1990s, T-shirt).
d.
Use a hyphen when both the prefix ends and the root word begins with
"a" or "i"
(anti-intellectual, intra-agency).
e.
Use a hyphen when the root word is a proper noun (trans-Alaskan, non-European).
f.
Use a hyphen when necessary to clarify the meaning (recover damages,
re-cover the sofa).
g.
Use a hyphen if three "l's" occur in succession (bell-like).
3.
Some words through customary use simply don't follow the rules:
| co-owner |
de-emphasize |
| co-opt |
de-escalate |
| co-anchor |
pre-engineered |
4.
Hyphenate phrasal adjectives (adjectives used as a single unit that
precede the noun they modify). See adjectives
for examples. But do not use a hyphen when the compound word apart from
its current use is usually considered a single unit.
| interest-bearing
note |
high
school yearbook |
| real
estate law |
computer-literate
adults |
| thank-you
note |
|
5.
When a prefix is added to a compound word, a hyphen is employed.
| interest-bearing
note |
civil
service position |
| non-interest-bearing
note |
non-civil
service position |
| |
|
| computer-literate
adults |
bread-winning
years |
| pre-computer-literate
adults |
post-bread-winning
year |
But even this exception to the prefix rule has exceptions:
| Coeditor
in chief |
unairconditioned |
| unself-conscious |
|
Note:
Despite the use of hyphens after prefixes in the specific instances
just above, most prefixes and suffixes are joined to the word without
hyphens.
|
