Commonly Misused Words and Phrases

1. Commonly Misused Words and Phrases Part # 2Part # 3Part # 4

2. Where is the error? • We received alotof e-mails supporting the new policy. • A lot is often incorrectly written as one word (alot). The phrase a lot is informal and normally should not be used in technical writing. Use manyor numerousfor estimates or give a specific number or amount.

3. Where is the error? • The electrolyte actuates the battery. • Both activateand actuatemean “make active,” although actuate is usually applied only to mechanical processes. • The relay actuatesthe hammer. [mechanical process] • The electrolyte activatesthe battery. [chemical process] • The governor activatedthe National Guard. [legal process]

4. Where is the error? • Both General Motors as well as Ford is marketing hybrid vehicles. • Do not use as well as with both. The two expressions have similar meanings; use one or the other and adjust the verb as needed. • BothGeneral Motors as well as Ford is marketing hybrid vehicles. • Both General Motors andFordaremarketing hybrid vehicles.

5. All right • All right means “all correct.” (“The answers were all right.”) • In formal writing, it should not be used to mean “good” or “acceptable.” • It is always written as two words, with no hyphen; alright is nonstandard.

6. Where is the error? • To achieve Fairness, the scheduler should assign resources equally between the three users. • Betweenis normally used to relate two items or persons. (“The alloy offers a middle ground between durability and cost.”) Amongis used to relate more than two. • To achieve Fairness, the scheduler should assign resources equally amongthe three users.

7. Where is the error? • We can not meet the deadlines specified in the contract. • Cannotis one word. • We cannot meet the deadlines specified in the contract.

8. Where is the error? • A pre-defined criteria is used to evaluate the students. • Criterionis a singular noun. Criteriaand criterionsare both acceptable plural forms of criterion, but criteriais generally preferred. • A pre-defined criterionis used to evaluate the students.

9. Where is the error? • He left work due to illness. • Due to (meaning “caused by”) is acceptable following a linking verb. Due to is not acceptable, however, when it is used with a non-linking verb to replace because of. • He left work because ofillness. • His absence was due toa work-related injury.

10. Where is the error? • The conference included speakers from five countries; i.e., Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and the United States. • The abbreviation e.g.stands for the Latin exempli gratia, meaning “for example”; i.e.stands for the Latin id est, meaning “that is.” • If i.e. or e.g. connects a noun and an appositive, a comma should precede it and follow it.

11. Where is the error? • The conference included speakers from five countries, i.e., Germany, Italy, Japan, China, and the United States. • If i.e. or e.g. connects two independent clauses, a semicolon should precede it and a comma should follow it. • The conference reflected international viewpoints; i.e., Germans, Italians, Japanese, Chinese, and Americans gave presentations.

12. Where is the error? • The sorting machine processes coins (for example pennies, nickels, etc.), and then packages them for redistribution. • Etc. is an abbreviation for the Latin et cetera, meaning “and others” or“ and so on.” do not use etc. at the end of a series introduced by the phrases such asand for example.Do not italicize etc.

13. Where is the error? • “Every one of the team members contributed to this discovery.” • Although normally everyone and everybody are written as one word, write it as two words if you wish to emphasize each individual in a group. • The sentence is correct and has no errors.

14. Where is the error? • It is a fact that our research has improved because we now have a capable technical staff. • Do not use the word factto refer to matters of judgment or opinion. • In my opinion, our research has improved because we now have a capable technical staff.

15. Former/latter • The president and his aide emerged from the conference, the former looking nervous and the latter looking glum. • Formerand lattershould be used to refer to only two items in a sentence or paragraph. • Because these terms make the reader look to previous material to identify the reference, however, they complicate reading and are best avoided.

16. Where is the error? • Janet presented a well plan. • Goodis an adjective, and wellis an adverb. • ADJECTIVEJanet presented a good plan. • ADVERBShe presented the plan well. • Well also can be used as an adjective to describe health (a well child, wellness programs).

17. Omit unnecessary words • In order to start the engine, open the choke and then press the starter. • Most often, in order to is a meaningless filler phrase that is dropped into a sentence without thought. • To start the engine, open the choke and then press the starter. • Use the numbers in the graph in order toevaluate the zero point.

18. Where is the error? • Its essential that the lab maintain it’s quality control. • Itsis a possessive pronoun and does not use an apostrophe. It’sis a contraction of it is. • It’sessential that the lab maintain itsquality control.

19. Where is the error? • The media is the main reason behind the problems in Egypt. • Mediais the plural of mediumand should always be used with a plural verb. • The mediaare the main reason behind the problem • The Internet is a multifaceted medium.

20. Is there any error? • The tests will give an indication if the virus is present. • Nominalizationis a noun form of a verb that is often combined with general (or “weak”) verbs like make, do, give, perform, provide. Avoid nominalizations when you can use specific verbs that communicate the same idea more directly and concisely. • The tests will indicate if the virus is present. • The staff shouldperform an evaluation of(evaluate) the new software.

21. What is the correct sentence? • Noneof the clients hasbeen called yet. OR • Noneof the clients havebeen called yet. • Nonecan be either a singular or a plural pronoun, depending on the context. • None of the clients has been called yet. [Use a singular verb even with a plural noun (clients) if the intended emphasis is on the idea of not one.] • None of the clients have been called yet. [Use a plural verb if you intend none to refer to all clients.]

22. Where is the error? • Neither the architectsnor the clientwerehappy with the design. • Two or more singular subjects joined by orornorusually take a singular verb. However, when one subject is singular and one is plural, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. • Neither the architects nor the client washappy with the design. • Neither the architect nor the clients werehappy with the design.

23. Where is the error? • Mr. Smith gave his okay to the project. • The expression okay(also spelled OK) is common in informal writing, but it should be avoided in most technical writing. • Mr. Smith approved the project.

24. Where is the error? • She is one of those managers who is concerned about their writing. • A dependent clause beginning with whoor thatand preceded by one of thosetakes a plural verb. • She is one of thosemanagerswho are concerned about their writing. • She is the only one of thosemanagerswho is concerned about her writing.