by
D. Michelle Adkerson
dates
1.
If the complete date is given, put a comma after the day and after the
year.
Yuki's
vacation begins December 23, 1993, and continues through January 4,
1994, but he'll not return to the office until Monday, January 7.
2.
If only the month and year are given, use no comma.
Rachel
plans to be moved into her own home by July 1994.
3.
Only use ordinal numbers before the month or alone.
The
meeting takes place on the 8th.
Let's
meet at 5 p.m. on the 7th of August.
Vacation
commences for me on September 7 — as soon as school begins.
datum
The singular form of data.
definite;
definitive
Use the first word to mean "clearly defined," "exact,"
or "precise." The second means "conclusive" or "comprehensive."
Querulous
Travel Inc. provides definite directions and does so pleasantly and
inexpensively, but the owner becomes peevish if you ask for an alternative
route.
The
definitive dictionary of the English language is the Oxford English
Dictionary.
Just
tell me a definite time to meet you and the rest of the chorus, and
I'll be there with bells.
Tee
Alicia has written the definitive biography of James Allison Ridley
V; it is entitled No Finer Soul Than This: A Biography of Jim Ridley.
depository;
depositary
The distinction between the two has muddied over time. Strictly speaking,
depository is used only to denote a place where something is
deposited or left for safekeeping. Depositary refers to a person
or institution entrusted with something valuable. But depositary
is often used now to refer to a place where something is held.
different
than
Generally, use different from.
dis-;
un-
The first is active; the second passive. To be uninvolved means
to have no involvement. To be disinvolved means to have deliberately
withdrawn from involvement.
discomfit;
discomfort (verbs)
The first means to cause utter frustration or defeat or to thwart, disconcert,
or vanguish. The second means to make uncomfortable.
discreet;
discrete
The first means "prudent" or "circumspect"; the
second means "separate."
Tip:
Discrete means "separate": the two e's are
separated.
My
grandmother and I put together a puzzle with 5,000 discrete pieces,
and it only took us one weekend to see the finished product: the Winter
Garden at Knowles.
Watch
the cats perform their playful territorial dance, but be discreet;
the older one will stop and feign disinterest in the other if she
notices you watching.
dissociate
Preferable to disassociate.
divulge;
disclose
The first is used when something previously concealed is revealed to
a select group; the second occurs when something previously concealed
is generally revealed.
drown
To drown is to die. Avoid redundancies.
Not: She died from drowning.
But:
She drowned.
e.g./i.e.
1. Use commas (or dashes or parentheses, as appropriate) to set off
transitional expressions, such as the following:
| namely |
i.e. |
that
is |
| however |
e.g. |
for
example |
(I.e.
means that is; e.g. means for example.)
Cunning
Mr. Sutpen will no doubt win the bet, namely, the $100 and your exquisite
new saddle.
The
tooling, i.e., the dogwood blossom design, on that lovingly oiled
leather must have cost you dearly.
2.
If a transitional expression joins two independent clauses, put a semicolon
before the transitional expression and put a comma after it.
Sleet
is expected tomorrow; nevertheless, the game will go on.
3.
The preference in business style is to use "that is" rather
than "i.e." and "for example" rather than "e.g."
If you do use "i.e." or "e.g.," however, do not
underline or italicize it.
The
tooling (that is, the dogwood blossom design) on that saddle must have
cost a great deal.
each
The word each is singular. When it is the subject of the sentence
or precedes the subject, the verb and any nouns or pronouns referring
to the subject should also be singular.
Each
of the jousters provides a suitable challenge for his
or her opponent.
Each
cat and dog has its day.
When
each is not the subject but precedes the verb, the verb and any
following nouns or pronouns are plural — to agree with the subject.
The
jousters each provide suitable challenges for their
opponents.
When
each is not the subject but follows the verb, the verb agrees
with the subject (plural). Any nouns or pronouns following each
are singular.
The
jousters were each considered an expert in the sport.
each
other; one another
Each other can only mean "between two." One another
means "among more than two."
The
lovers promised each other to be true.
The
pirate crew swore allegiance to one another but trusted no one.
either
… or
1. Balance your sentences by expressing parallel ideas in parallel form.
Not:
The new inventory program is easy to use, efficient, and it is relatively
inexpensive.
But:
The new program is easy to use, efficient, and relatively inexpensive.
Not:
Rachel's new book is inspiring and a challenge.
But:
Rachel's new book is inspiring and challenging.
2.
With the following paired phrases, parallel structure is essential:
either . . . or both . . . and
neither . . . nor not only . . . but also
Not:
Nate and Renata are going both to Brighton and Hove.
But:
They are going both to Brighton and to Hove. (The phrase that follows
both must be balanced by the phrase that follows and.)
Not:
Kendall is not only talented as a dancer but also as an actor.
But:
She is talented not only as a dancer but also as an actor.
Not:
Brandon will neither give up nor will he slow down.
But:
He will neither give up nor slow down.
Or:
He will not give up nor will he slow down.
3.
Parallelism is particularly important in displayed lists.
Not:
The seminar will focus on:
1. Ways to deal with stress
2. Coping with the commute
3. How can I arrive home safely?
But:
The seminar will focus on the following:
1. Dealing with stress
2. Coping with the commute
3. Arriving home safely.
Or:
The seminar will focus on how to do the following:
1. deal with stress
2. cope with the commute
3. arrive home safely.
-elect
Never capitalize this suffix in text. (An exception to the suffix "rule,"
-elect always connects to the root word with a hyphen.)
President-elect Bono
eminent;
imminent; immanent
Eminent means "prominent" or "outstanding."
Imminent means "impending." Immanent means "intrinsic"
or "existing within."
We've
just learned that the judges' decision, which was expected two hours
ago, is imminent.
The
eminent watchmaker Toby Tichmouer has once again designed the award-
winning entry for the annual event, Watching It Happen.
A
friend to those in need, Mr. Tichmouer is characterized by immanent
selflessness.
empathy;
sympathy
Empathy is the capacity of participating in (or a vicarious experiencing
of) another's feelings or ideas. Sympathy is the act of entering
into or sharing another's feelings.
enervate;
innervate
Enervate means "to drain the vigor from." Innervate
means "to supply with energy."
Proofing
the scanned copy of the 120-page bond issue enervated me.
enormity;
enormousness
Enormity means "outrageousness" or "hideousness."
Do not use the word to denote size. Enormousness means "hugeness."
ensure;
insure; assure
Ensure
(the preferred spelling) means "to make certain." Insure
means "to indemnify against loss." Assure means "to
impart a sense of trust."
Please
ensure that the iron has been unplugged.
We
insured our possessions while we rented the apartment.
I
assure you I'm doing all I can to finish by 6 p.m.
entail;
involve
To entail is to involve by necessity or consequence; it suggests
a burden. To involve means to enfold or to envelop.
enumeration
1. Alternate letters and numbers when enumerating:
I.
A.
1.
a.
(1)
(a)
(i)
2.
Use parentheses to enclose letters or numbers used to enumerate items
within a sentence. Generally use just a period after the letter or number
when the items are displayed (unless you are using an outline format
that requires parentheses).
Please
gather the following items for our meeting this afternoon: (1) tortilla
chips, (2) guacamole, (3) salsa, (4) sour cream, and (5) cheese.
I
request a reimbursement for the following items (receipt attached):
1.
tortilla chips
2. guacamole
3. salsa
4. sour cream
5. cheese
etc.;
et al.
Etc. is the abbreviation of et cetera ("and other
things"). Et al. is the abbreviation for et alii
("and others").
everyday;
every day
Use the first when you mean "ordinary" or "routine."
Use the second when you mean "each day."
My
grandmother puts on an everyday housedress unless she plans to go
out.
I
can't account for my activities every day; I don't keep that kind
of diary.
ex-
Never capitalize this prefix in text. (An exception to the prefix "rule,"
ex- always connects to the root word with a hyphen.)
ex-Governer Wallace
expect
Use expect when there is merely a belief that something will
occur. Follow it with of when referring to a person; follow it
with from when referring to anything else. See anticipate.
The supervisor expects efficiency of her workers.
And
she expects efficiency from her computer.
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