Recently Added Articles Page #61

continual, continuous

Both words can be used to describe an event that recurs regularly.Continual describes an event that begins and ends and begins again over a period of time.Continuous assumes that the event goes on uninterrupted; it implies a lack of interruption.Exa...

counsel, council

Lawyers are most familiar with the word counsel, meaning “advice” or “guidance.” Also, a lawyer is often referred to as a counsel. A corporation, for example, has a general counsel, the head corporate lawyer. A council, on the other hand, is ...

coupled with, as well as, along with, together with, not to mention

Expressions such as coupled with, as well as, along with, together with, not to mention, and others do not act as coordinating conjunctions. Therefore, when you use these expressions to join one singular subject of a sentence with another noun or pro...

along with

See coupled with, as well as, along with, together with, not to mention....

as well as

See coupled with, as well as, along with, together with, not to mention....

together with

See coupled with, as well as, along with, together with, not to mention....

not to mention

See coupled with, as well as, along with, together with, not to mention....

criterion, criteria

Criterion is a singular noun that means the “standard” or “rule” used to make a judgment or decision.Criteria is the plural form of that word, although it is commonly misused as a singular word (what is your criteria?).You may use data and ag...

critique

Until the middle of the 1900s, the word critique served as a noun. But as the verb criticize began to have negative connotations, the word critique became a verb to mean “to review the good and bad aspects of someone’s work.”Example: The writin...

currently, presently

These words are often used to describe an action that is occurring now, at this moment in time.The word presently has come to be used more frequently to describe an action that is just about to happen rather than one that is happening at this moment....

presently, currently

See currently, presently....

data

In formal writing, it’s probably best to treat this word as a plural. Thus: the data are.The singular is datum, but in nonscientific circles, you’ll probably sound pretentious if you use datum.Usage panels now increasingly recognize that data can...

demure, demur

Demure is an adjective used to describe someone who is reserved, modest, or shy.Demur is a verb that means “to delay” or “to object.” Lawyers will use demur to describe the act of entering a demurrer, a motion to dismiss a case.You should tak...

dessert, desert

A dessert is something you eat after dinner.A desert is a hot place with a lot of sand. Desert can also be used as a verb meaning “to abandon” or a noun to describe something that is deserved.Example: After the soldiers decided to desert, they dr...

devise, device

To devise means “to formulate a plan.” In the law, devise means “to give away land or other real property in a will.”A device is something that is made to serve a specific purpose. Device is always a noun while devise is most commonly a verb ...

diary, dairy

A diary is a written record of daily events.A dairy is a place that produces milk or milk products. Dairy is also used as an adjective to describe something commonly associated with milk or cows. Since very few cows will have daily events worthy of d...

different from, different than

Although both of these phrases are common today, some believe that different than is always incorrect. The reason is easy to understand. The word than follows a comparative adjective or adverb. For example, her car is faster than mine. Or he runs fas...

discreet, discrete

To be discreet means to be “modest” or “prudent.”To be discrete means to be “obviously separate” or “distinct.” Discrete also has a specific meaning in mathematics as a finite set of numbers.Example: There are four discrete offices in...

disingenuous

Consider the following usage note on Dictionary.com:The meaning of disingenuous has been shifting about lately, as if people were unsure of its proper meaning. Generally, it means "insincere" and often seems to be a synonym of cynical or calculating....

disinterested, uninterested

To be disinterested means to be “impartial,” “free from bias,” or “indifferent.” A disinterested person has no stake in the outcome.To be uninterested means “having no interest in something; to be without interest.”Example: The faires...

uninterested, disinterested

See disinterested, uninterested....

e.g., i.e.

Both abbreviations are actually for Latin, not English words.Id est (i.e.) is Latin for “that is.”Exempli gratia (e.g.) is the Latin “for example.”If the phrase that follows means to further clarify or explain by means of definition, i.e. is ...

i.e., e.g.

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elicit, illicit

Elicit is a verb that means “to draw out.”Illicit is an adjective describing unlawful or underhanded behavior or activity.Example: A good prosecuting attorney knows how to elicit a response that will make it clear the defendant was involved in an...

email, e-mail, E-mail

Here’s a usage note from Dictionary.com: The transition from World Wide Web site to Web site to website as a single uncapitalized word mirrors the development of other technological expressions which have tended to take unhyphenated forms as they b...