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by
D. Michelle Adkerson
question
as to whether; question of whether
Use question whether.
quote
Quote is the verb; quotation is the noun.
The reporter quoted the candidate.
This
is a terrific quotation!
reaction
A technical word, reaction means "to display energy in response
to a stimulus." It is not a synonym for response, opinion, attitude,
impression, or reply.
reason
... is because;
reason why
Use reason … is that or use because, not both reason
and because. Reason why is redundant.
recur;
reoccur
Recur means "to happen again and again, at regular intervals."
Reoccur means "to happen again."
reticent
Use reticent when you mean disinclined to speak or disposed to
keep quiet. It is not a synonym for reluctant.
Not: He was reticent to leave in the middle of the film.
But:
He was reluctant to leave.
When
the spotlight lit him, he became reticent and merely shook his head
and waved the light away.
sacrilegious
So spelled.
-self
The -self words may be used in only two ways:
1.
To direct the action back to the subject (that is, the subject acts
upon itself).
I
cut myself. (Myself refers back to the subject, I.)
We
took ourselves to dinner.
2.
To emphasize a noun or pronoun already expressed.
I
myself asked him to fingerpaint his name on the car window.
She
signed the letter herself.
I'll
tell her myself to stop kicking my seat.
Never
use myself as a substitute for me or I (or himself
for he or him or herself for she or
her, etc.).
Not:
Please deliver the lunch to Tansi and myself at noon.
Kirby and myself will bring desserts for everyone.
If you have any questions, contact Dale, Tilda or myself.
But:
Please deliver the lunch to Tansi and me.
Kirby and I will bring desserts.
If you have any questions, contact Dale, Tilda, or me.
sensual;
sensuous
Sensual refers to lust and physical pleasures. Sensuous
refers to the five senses.
sometime;
sometimes; some time
Sometime refers to an unspecified time. Sometimes means
"now and then." Some time refers to a period
of time.
Tip:
Omit the word from the sentence; if no meaning is lost, the one-word
spelling is correct: The diatribe must end (sometime).
"The
monotonous diatribe must end sometime," whispered the hapless
listener farthest from the nearest avenue of escape.
His
equally weary companion looked longingly toward the kitchen, where
dinner, redolent of ginger and cardamom, had no doubt grown cold
some time ago.
"I
sometimes tell the story of the goldfish with pinkeye, but tonight
in deference to the dinner awaiting us, I will not," she droned
from the podium, but our listeners' hopes sank as she proceeded with
yet another stale and wholly unbelievable tale, and then: "I
must spend some time relating to you the importance of life insurance,"
she went on, to the horror of all.
state;
State
Lowercase the word when the reference is geographical. Uppercase it
when the reference is to the government.
She
is licensed to practice in the state of Washington.
The
State of Washington has granted her a license to practice.
stationary;
stationery
Stationary, an adjective, means "at rest." Stationery,
a noun, means "writing paper."
strategy;
tactics
The first refers to the overall plan; the second refers to the means
by which the plan is put into effect.
strictly
forbidden
Redundant. Use forbidden.
success
Do not use success to refer to a person or thing.
Not: The seminar was a great success.
But:
The seminar was successful.
As
an instructor, Rachel has succeeded admirably.
supersede
This is the only word in English that ends -sede.
sympathy
See empathy.
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