Writing: Process and Mechanics

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bad badly through criterion
dates through expect
farther further through hyphens
identify with through jargon
lapse through myself
nauseous through overflown
past through put
question as to whether through sympathy
tact through united states
varying through would

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

by D. Michelle Adkerson

identify with
Avoid this vogue phrase. Use agreed with or understood.

i.e.
See e.g.

illegible; unreadable
Illegible means not clear enough to be read (poor handwriting or a bad fax). Unreadable means too obscure to be read and understood (bad writing).

imminent
See eminent.

impact
Though some traditionalists disagree, impact has been accepted by most writers as a verb (and an often powerful one at that).

Your decisions impact my department.

impel; induce
The first implies force or urgency; the second implies a softer touch — to lead or to persuade.

imply; infer
Imply means "to indicate or suggest"; infer means "to surmise or conclude, based on evidence."

The speaker implies; the listener infers.

Nicky implied that Rachel was to blame for their lost condition when he grabbed the map from her with an irritated sigh, or so Rachel inferred.

include; including; such as; e.g.
Each phrase or word precedes a list of only some of the items that could be listed, never a complete list.

Not: Her sisters include Em and Cassa. (If these are her only sisters, include is incorrect.)

I love much about the movies, such as the intimacy of the dark, the wafting fragrance of popcorn, the all-consuming screen, etc. (The word etc. makes this list complete, rendering such as incorrect.)

But: Her sisters are Em and Cassa.

I love much about the movies, such as the intimacy of the dark, the wafting fragrance of popcorn, and the magic of the all-consuming screen.

includable; includible
Use the first spelling. (Includible is the preferred spelling in estate planning documents.)

incredulous; incredible
Incredulous means " skeptical." Incredible means "not credible."

innumerable; endless
The first means "incapable of being counted"; the second means "continuous."

insure
See ensure.

involve
To involve means to enfold or envelop. Involve is not a synonym for cause, result in, mean, use, or imply. See entail.

jargon (trendy language)
New words (and sometimes old) are used in oral speech long before they are acceptable in formal written language. When writing, generally avoid using trendy phrases "dysfunctional situation"), slang ("pretty tiresome"), jargon (especially computer jargon unless you're describing computers), and new or recently coined words.

1. A common tendency (especially, it seems, in advertising) that should be avoided in formal writing is to change a noun to a verb by adding -ize.

Not: If we can incentivize consumers to purchase label-free packaging, we will have accomplished the marketing coup of the century.

But: If we can create an incentive for consumers to purchase label-free packaging, we will have accomplished a marketing coup.

Or: If we can incite consumers to purchase label-free packaging, we will accomplish a marketing coup.

2. If a new word serves your purpose best, be sure your audience will understand the word or define it for them.

The author condemns the prevalence of "advertorials" — advertisements disguised as news or editorials — in traditional women's magazines.

The danger with trendy language, such as newly coined words, is twofold: the writer risks not being taken seriously, and the written product rapidly appears dated.

  

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