Misused Words and Expressions

1. MisusedWords and Expressions

2. (Usually) Misused ~ Vague • “Misused” typically does not mean that a word or expression makes no sense, but rather that the writer has been careless. • Implications • Write with precision. • Replace vague generalities by definite statements. • Note: “The shape of our language is not rigid; in questions of usage we have no lawgiver whose word is final.”

3. “Which Hunting” • “That” explains; “which” merely adds additional information. • Restrictive vs. non-restrictive clauses • The algorithm that computes reachability. (not: “which computes reachability”) • Warshall’s algorithm, which is O(n3), computes reachability. (not: “that is O(n3)”) • “Careful writers go which-hunting, remove defining whiches, and by so doing improve their work.”

4. Little Words – Big Problems • A/an • It’s not the letter but the sound • An honor; a uniform • An FD; a UML class • an SQL (S-Q-L) statement; a SQL (SEQuel) statement • A/the • “An” indefinite; “the” definite • Introduce “a” topic and discuss “the” topic.

5. Allowing Who/What? • Allow is a transitive verbrequires a direct object • Too often used as an intransitive verb • No: “The system allows to …” • Yes: “The system allows users to …” • No: “The algorithm allows to reduce the time …” • Yes: “The algorithm allows us to reduce the time …” • So often misused in CS literature that it is becoming accepted.

6. “Works” as a Noun • ClassicalYes • The works of Shakespeare • “ … that he may see your good works …” (Biblical) • But in CS literature? • No: “Their works show that …” • Yes: “Their research shows that …” – my pet peeve

7. Words Commonly Misused • Among/between • “Between” two things • “Among” several things • And/or • Damages sentences, often ambiguous • “A and/or B” = “A and maybe B”?, = “A or B or both”? = “either A or B”? • “or” can be ambiguous: logical or? logical exclusive-or? • Comprise/constitute • “Comprise” = “includes” (A zoo is comprised of animals.) • “Constitute” = “together make up a” (Animals constitute a zoo.) • Data • Technically plural • Accepted (preferred?) as singular • Data vs. Data

8. Words Commonly Misused • Different than/from • One thing differs “from” another; hence “different from”. • Or “other than” • Due to • = “because of” • Overused: use sparingly, or avoid altogether • Effect • As a noun, = “result;” as a verb, = “to bring about” • Don’t confuse the noun “effect” with the verb “affect” = “to influence” • Etc. • Not to be used if the reader would be left in doubt about any important particulars • Overused: avoid

9. Words Commonly Misused • Farther/Further—there is a distinction • Use “farther” for distance • Use “further” for everything else—e.g. time, quantity. • Finalize • Ambiguous • Just clearly say what you mean: e.g. “conclude,” “terminate,” “end,” • Fortuitous • Limited to what happens by chance • Not to be used for “fortunate” or “lucky” • Get—colloquial: don’t use in formal writing • However • “However” usually serves better when it is not first. • Instead of “However, since …, we …” write “Since …, however, we …” • However, many disagree.

10. Words Commonly Misused • Imply/infer—not interchangeable • “Imply” = “suggest” or “indicate”—these facts imply … • “Infer” = “deduce”—we infer from these facts … • Importantly—avoid by rephrasing • Irregardless • Should be “regardless” • The “less” is already negative; “ir” makes a double negative • Lay • Do not misuse for “lie”: “lay” is transitive; “lie” is intransitive • “lay something down”; “lie down to rest” • Past tense of “lie” is “lay”; and of “lay” is “laid” • [Present] I lay a book on the desk and it lies there. • [Past] I laid a book on the desk and it lay there. • Me • Not “between you and I”—“between you and me” • Not “They came to meet my spouse and I.”—“They came to meet my spouse and me.”

11. Words Commonly Misused • None • Singular—“None of them is larger than …” • Also singular: “each,” “everybody,” “nobody” • Respective, Respectively • Sometimes required: x and y match with a and b, respectively • Omit unless required to avoid ambiguity • Split infinitive (commentary on split infinitives) • Prefer “to run quickly” over “to quickly run” so long as the meaning is clear. • The split infinitive emphasizes the adverb—sometimes in exactly the right way. • Than/Then • Than: comparison (taller than Kay) and choice (rather walk than drive) • Then: consequence (if A then B), answers to when (prices were lower then), and ordering (this then that)

12. Words Commonly Misused • They • Not correct when the antecedent is singular • Not “everyone knows they are smart”—not “everyone knows he is smart” either (sexist)—instead rewrite: “people know they are smart” • Unique • Unique = “without like or equal” • Thus, degrees of uniqueness make no sense—don’t write “most unique,” “undoubtedly unique,” … • Utilize—prefer “use” • Very • Omit or use sparingly (easy to fall into this trap) • Not a precise word for scientific writing