Recently Added Articles Page #63

ingenuous, ingenious

These two words, which sound so alike, are actually nearly opposites. Ingenuous means “to be artless, simple, innocent; lacking in cunning, guile, or worldliness.” It also means “openly straightforward or frank; candid.”If you are ingenuous, ...

input

Many people use this trendy word to mean “participation in or contribution to an endeavor or project.” In short, they want to provide input. Careful writers, however, avoid this jargon word and restrict their use of input as a noun or a verb to t...

in receipt of

Here’s another of those expressions favored by writers of letters. Careful writers avoid it altogether and use have received.See enclosed please find, please find enclosed, enclosed herewith.Example: We have received your offer and will respond nex...

insidious, invidious

Insidious is used to describe something that is subtly harmful or cunningly treacherous. Something is insidious if it lies in wait, seeks to entrap, or operates secretly or subtly so as not to arouse suspicion.The word invidious means “offensive, r...

inter-, intra-

The meanings of these two prefixes differ significantly. The prefix -inter means “between or among.” Thus, interstate commerce is business conducted across state lines. The prefix -intra, however, means “within or in.” Thus, intrastate comme...

interface

Let those who delight in using fancy jargon interface with each other. But be nice when you interact with them at Starbucks.In the world of computer technology, the word interface has significant meanings.Example: The retreat gave the employees a cha...

irregardless

Usage panels—and other smart people—consider the use of irregardless as a huge blunder. It simply isn’t a word. Someone couldn’t figure out how to use irrespective or regardless and married the two, and irregardless was born.Stamp it out.Some...

its, it’s

Note: The differences between its and it’s are discussed in depth in the Common Grammatical Mistakes Section of Grammar.com. Click here for that discussion.Misusing these two words ranks as one of the most frequent grammatical mistakes today. Smart...

judgment, judgement

The preferred spelling in American English is judgment. Even in England, in legal contexts, writers spell the word judgment. In nonlegal contexts in England, writers use judgement....

juncture

Many people use at this juncture when they mean “at this time.” The result is pompous. Restrict your use of juncture to those situations where you’re referring to a “crisis or critically important time.”Example: At this critical juncture in...

kind of

If you mean “rather, somewhat, or somehow,” use those terms, not kind of. When you use the expression what kind of, you should not include the article a. Thus: What kind of job do you want?Not:What kind of a job do you want? Example: I was somewh...

laudatory, laudable

Laudatory is used to describe something that gives praise and laudable is used to describe something that deserves or receives praise.Example: His laudatory remarks were appropriate for such laudable behavior....

lay, lie

The vast majority of people butcher these two words.Quite simply, the word lie is an intransitive verb showing that someone or something is in a reclining position. (An intransitive verb cannot take an object, that is, a noun cannot directly attach i...

led, lead

Note: The differences between led and lead are discussed in the Common Grammatical Mistakes section of Grammar.com. Click here for that discussion.The word lead means “to guide” or “to be in front.” The word led is the past tense and the pas...

liaison

Commonly misspelled laison or liason. The most common pronunciation is lee-ay-zahn with the accent on -ay....

literally, figuratively

Many people use literally when they don’t mean it. Presumably, they don’t mean it when they say: “We were literally dead from exhaustion.” They should say: “We felt dead from exhaustion.” Then the figurative meaning comes shining through....

loan, lend

In formal writing, many writers use loan as a noun form and lend as a verb form. The verb loan is permissible, however, when referring to money as opposed to things.But in America today, most usage panels of dictionaries point out that loan may act a...

loath, loathe

Loath is an adjective that means “unwilling.”Loathe is a verb that means “to dislike or hate.”Example: I am loath to visit her again because I absolutely loathe her roommate....

loose, lose

Lose (pronounced “looz”) means “to misplace” or “to fail to win.” Loose (pronounced “luce”) is the opposite of tight.Some writers incorrectly use loose when they mean “lose.” The following is incorrect: The pundits predict she wil...

machination

The word machination means a crafty scheme or plot.Pronounce the first syllable as “mac,” not “mash.”...

mad

Yes, the word mad does mean “angry or wrathful.” It also means “demented, insane.” Various other meanings include “ferocious” (a mad dog), “extremely foolish” (a mad scheme), “excessively fond or infatuated” (mad about the opera),...

majority

First, when you mean “most,” use that term, not majority. Thus, in the following, the writer probably does not mean something above 51%. Instead, the writer means most: A majority of the increased sales came from our Internet advertising.Instead:...

manner, in a

Expressions like in a professional manner flag a loose, slow style. Instead, use the adverb professionally. Watch for in a rigid manner (rigidly) and in a childish manner (childishly). If the expression doesn’t have a readily available adverb, you ...

manner in which

This expression usually just adds verbosity to the style. Use way to get rid of it. Thus: The reckless manner in which the driver handled the car ….becomesThe reckless way the driver handled the car …....

medal, metal, mettle, meddle

A medal is awarded for bravery.Mettle means “courage.”Iron is a metal.My neighbor likes to meddle.Example: The conditions tested his mettle, and he was awarded a medal made of metal. He thinks he therefore has the right to meddle in every militar...