Common Usage Common Usage ErrorsErrors

1-201-20

1. AM/PM1. AM/PM ““AM” stands for the Latin phrase AM” stands for the Latin phrase Ante Ante

Meridiem Meridiem —which means “before noon”——which means “before noon”—and “PM” stands for and “PM” stands for Post Meridiem: Post Meridiem: “after “after noon.” Although digital clocks routinely noon.” Although digital clocks routinely label noon “12:00 PM” you should avoid label noon “12:00 PM” you should avoid this expression not only because it is this expression not only because it is incorrect, but because many people will incorrect, but because many people will imagine you are talking about midnight imagine you are talking about midnight instead. The same goes for “12:00 AM.” instead. The same goes for “12:00 AM.” Just say or write “noon” or “midnight” Just say or write “noon” or “midnight” when you mean those precise times. when you mean those precise times.

2. ABSTRUSE/OBTUSE2. ABSTRUSE/OBTUSE

Most people first encounter “obtuse” Most people first encounter “obtuse” in geometry class, where it labels an in geometry class, where it labels an angle of more than 90 degrees. People angle of more than 90 degrees. People often mix the word up with “abstruse,” often mix the word up with “abstruse,” which means “difficult to understand.” which means “difficult to understand.”

When you mean to criticize something When you mean to criticize something for being needlessly complex or for being needlessly complex or baffling, the word you need is not baffling, the word you need is not “obtuse,” but “abstruse.” “obtuse,” but “abstruse.”

3. ACCEDE/EXCEED3. ACCEDE/EXCEED

If you drive too fast, you exceed the If you drive too fast, you exceed the speed limit. “Accede” is a much speed limit. “Accede” is a much rarer word meaning “give in,” rarer word meaning “give in,” “agree.” “agree.”

4. ACCEPT/EXCEPT4. ACCEPT/EXCEPT

If you offer me Godiva chocolates I If you offer me Godiva chocolates I will gladly will gladly accept accept them—them—except except for for the candied violet ones. Just the candied violet ones. Just remember that the “X” in “except” remember that the “X” in “except” excludesexcludes things—they tend to stand things—they tend to stand out, be different. out, be different.

5. ADAPT/ADOPT5. ADAPT/ADOPT

You can adopt a child, custom, or a You can adopt a child, custom, or a law; in all of these cases you are law; in all of these cases you are making the object of the adoption making the object of the adoption your own, accepting it. If you your own, accepting it. If you adaptadapt something, however, you are something, however, you are changing it.changing it.

6. ADVANCE/ADVANCED6. ADVANCE/ADVANCED

When you hear about something in When you hear about something in advance, earlier than other people, advance, earlier than other people, you get advance notice or you get advance notice or information. “Advanced” means information. “Advanced” means “complex, sophisticated” and doesn’t “complex, sophisticated” and doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with necessarily have anything to do with the revealing of secrets. the revealing of secrets.

7. ALLUDE/ELUDE7. ALLUDE/ELUDE

You can allude (refer) to your You can allude (refer) to your daughter’s membership in the honor daughter’s membership in the honor society when boasting about her, but society when boasting about her, but a criminal tries to elude (escape) a criminal tries to elude (escape) captivity. There is no such word as captivity. There is no such word as “illude.” “illude.”

8. ALLUSION/ILLUSION8. ALLUSION/ILLUSION

An allusion is a reference, something An allusion is a reference, something you you allude allude to: “Her allusion to to: “Her allusion to flowers reminded me that Valentine’s flowers reminded me that Valentine’s Day was coming.” In that English Day was coming.” In that English paper, don’t write “literary illusions” paper, don’t write “literary illusions” when you mean "allusions.” A when you mean "allusions.” A mirage, hallucination, or a magic mirage, hallucination, or a magic trick is an trick is an illusion.illusion. (Doesn’t being (Doesn’t being fooled just make you fooled just make you ill?ill?) )

9. ANXIOUS/EAGER9. ANXIOUS/EAGER Most people use “anxious” interchangeably Most people use “anxious” interchangeably

with “eager,” but its original meaning had with “eager,” but its original meaning had to do with worrying, being full of to do with worrying, being full of anxiety.anxiety. Perfectly correct phrases like, “anxious to Perfectly correct phrases like, “anxious to please” obscure the nervous tension please” obscure the nervous tension implicit in this word and lead people to say implicit in this word and lead people to say less correct things like “I’m anxious for less correct things like “I’m anxious for Christmas morning to come so I can open Christmas morning to come so I can open my presents.” Traditionalists frown on my presents.” Traditionalists frown on anxiety-free anxiousness. Say instead you anxiety-free anxiousness. Say instead you are eager for or looking forward to a happy are eager for or looking forward to a happy event. event.

10. ALTAR/ALTER10. ALTAR/ALTER

An An altar altar is that platform at the front is that platform at the front of a church or in a temple; to of a church or in a temple; to alter alter something is to change it. something is to change it.

11. AVENGE/REVENGE11. AVENGE/REVENGE

When you try to get vengeance for people When you try to get vengeance for people who’ve been wronged, you want to who’ve been wronged, you want to avengeavenge them. You can also avenge a wrong itself: them. You can also avenge a wrong itself: “He avenged the murder by taking “He avenged the murder by taking vengeance on the killer.” substituting vengeance on the killer.” substituting “revenge” for “avenge” in such contexts is “revenge” for “avenge” in such contexts is very common, but frowned on by some very common, but frowned on by some people. They feel that if you seek revenge people. They feel that if you seek revenge in the pursuit of justice you want to in the pursuit of justice you want to avenge wrongs; not revenge them. avenge wrongs; not revenge them.

12. 12. ATTRIBUTE/CONTRIBUTEATTRIBUTE/CONTRIBUTE When trying to give credit to When trying to give credit to

someone, say that you someone, say that you attributeattribute your your success to their help, not success to their help, not contributecontribute. . (Of course, a politician may attribute (Of course, a politician may attribute his success to those who contribute his success to those who contribute to his campaign fund, but probably to his campaign fund, but probably only in private.) only in private.)

13. 13. ASSURE/ENSURE/INSUREASSURE/ENSURE/INSURE To “assure” a person of something is To “assure” a person of something is

to make him or her confident of it. to make him or her confident of it. According to Associated Press style, According to Associated Press style, to “ensure” that something happens to “ensure” that something happens is to make certain that it does, and is to make certain that it does, and to “insure” is to issue an insurance to “insure” is to issue an insurance policy. policy.

14. BAZAAR/BIZARRE14. BAZAAR/BIZARRE

A “bazaar” is a market where A “bazaar” is a market where miscellaneous goods are sold. miscellaneous goods are sold. “Bizarre,” in contrast, is an adjective “Bizarre,” in contrast, is an adjective meaning “strange,” “weird.” Let all meaning “strange,” “weird.” Let all those those AsAs in “bazaar” remind you that in “bazaar” remind you that this is a this is a PersianPersian word denoting word denoting traditional markets. traditional markets.

15. BORROW/LOAN 15. BORROW/LOAN

In some dialects it is common to In some dialects it is common to substitute “borrow” for “loan” or substitute “borrow” for “loan” or “lend,” as in “borrow me that “lend,” as in “borrow me that hammer of yours, will you, Jeb?” In hammer of yours, will you, Jeb?” In standard English the person standard English the person providing an item can loan it; but the providing an item can loan it; but the person receiving it borrows it.person receiving it borrows it.

16. BY/BYE/BUY16. BY/BYE/BUY

““By” is the common preposition in By” is the common preposition in phrases like “you should know by phrases like “you should know by now.” “’Bye” is an abbreviated form now.” “’Bye” is an abbreviated form of “goodbye.” “Buy” can also be a of “goodbye.” “Buy” can also be a noun, as in “that was a great buy.” noun, as in “that was a great buy.”

17. CANNOT/CAN NOT17. CANNOT/CAN NOT

These two spellings are largely These two spellings are largely interchangeable, but by far the most interchangeable, but by far the most common is “cannot” and you should common is “cannot” and you should probably use it except when you probably use it except when you want to be emphatic: “No, you can want to be emphatic: “No, you can notnot wash the dog in the Maytag.” wash the dog in the Maytag.”

18. 18. COUNCIL/COUNSEL/CONSULCOUNCIL/COUNSEL/CONSUL The first two words are pronounced The first two words are pronounced

the same but have distinct the same but have distinct meanings. An official group that meanings. An official group that deliberates, like the Council on deliberates, like the Council on Foreign Relations, is a “council”; all Foreign Relations, is a “council”; all the rest are “counsels”: your lawyer, the rest are “counsels”: your lawyer, advice, etc. A consul is a local advice, etc. A consul is a local representative of a foreign representative of a foreign government.government.

19. 19. COMPLEMENTARY/COMPLIMENTARYCOMPLEMENTARY/COMPLIMENTARY

When paying someone a compliment When paying someone a compliment like “I love what you’ve done with like “I love what you’ve done with the kitchen!” you’re being the kitchen!” you’re being complimentary. A free bonus item is complimentary. A free bonus item is also a complimentary gift. But items also a complimentary gift. But items or people that go well with each or people that go well with each other are complementary. other are complementary.

20. BREATH/BREATHE20. BREATH/BREATHE

When you need to breathe, you take When you need to breathe, you take a breath. “Breathe” is the verb, a breath. “Breathe” is the verb, “breath” the noun. “breath” the noun.