by
D. Michelle Adkerson
nauseous;
nauseate
Nauseous means "sickening"; nauseate means "to
become sick."
The
fly-covered, sticky, sweet mess was a nauseous sight to her sore eyes,
but it was her realization that she alone would have to clean it up
that nauseated her.
The
lime-green ceiling was nauseous, and that had nothing to do with last
night's tequila indulgences.
She
is nauseated at the thought of walking on coals, having just enjoyed
a luxurious pedicure. "This 'motivational' seminar motivates
me to skip out and go to the movies," she told the white-faced
colleague beside her.
neither
See either.
never
Never refers to an action occurring over time, not to a particular
time.
Not: She left the house yesterday but never locked the
door.
But:
She left the house yesterday, but did not lock the door.
She
spent 25 years in Nashville, but never visited the Opry.
noisome
Use noisome when you mean "offensive to smell" or "unwholesome";
it has nothing to do with sound or noise.
Claude,
a determined vegetarian, thought her bleacher seat above the hotdog
stand a noisome location.
none
This word means both "not one" and "not any." Whether
it takes a plural or singular verb depends on the writer's intention.
Indefinite
pronouns such as the following may take singular or plural verbs,
depending on the context.
all more
none most
any some
All
of the recipes so far are wonderful.
All of the breakfast was delicious.
None
has been tested in our kitchens yet.
None of the pastries have been completed.
Some
of my friends have arrived.
Some of the punch has been poured.
The
same rule applies to fractional expressions.
Half
of the eggs were broken.
Half of the wedding cake is finished.
Two-thirds
of the cake is now complete.
Three-fourths of my kitchen chores are not yet done.
nor;
or
See either.
nouns (collective)
Collective nouns are singular when they refer to the group as a unit
and plural when they refer to individuals or parts of the group.
| Singular: |
The
company is expanding its line of long-lasting
plastic covers for sofas!
The
family has arrived for a wedding among the dogwoods and
blossoming pear trees.
The
committee is not in agreement on this issue.
The
team is assembled.
|
| Plural: |
A
number of them were absent.
The
committee have not yet decided what course they
will take.
Better:
The committee members have not yet decided what course
they will take.
|
Customarily,
American writers use collective nouns as singulars and British writers
use collective nouns as plurals. Whichever form you use, be sure to
be consistent throughout your document.
noxious
Noxious means "injurious or harmful to health"; it
does not mean "smelly."
numerals
Standard business style requires that numbers below 10 be spelled out
and that numbers 10 and above be expressed in figures.
Note:
Some stylebooks spell out "ten." Whether you use "ten"
or "10," be consistent.
1.
Related numbers should be expressed in figures if any of the numbers
is expressed in a figure.
Of the muffins remaining, five are bran.
Of
the muffins remaining, 10 are cranberry.
Of
the muffins remaining, 5 are bran and 10 are cranberry.
2.
Numbers beginning a sentence should always be spelled out (but recast
the sentence to avoid having to spell out a year).
The
year 1993 was, for many, one of upheaval.
One
hundred twelve members converged on the tiny meeting hall.
3.
Indefinite expressions and round numbers should be spelled out.
Thousands
called for tickets.
4.
Numbers with a decimal point should always be expressed in figures (but
they should not open a sentence).
Jakota's
cat is 2.3 years old.
5.
Figures should be used to show percentages; percent should be
spelled out.
Only 12 percent attended last night.
6.
The symbol (%) should be used in tables.
one
another
See each other.
oneself
Preferable to one's self.
oral;
verbal
Oral refers solely to "spoken words"; verbal
means "in words" and refers to either spoken or written words.
A
written agreement is a verbal agreement.
other;
otherwise
The first means different; the second means in a different
manner.
The facts are other than as reported.
I
could not read the order otherwise than with chagrin.
overflown;
overflowed
The first occurs when an airplane has passed the runway; the second
occurs when water passes its boundaries.
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