The Core of the Corps Is Loyalty
But if you use the wrong form of the word pronounced /kohr/, you will have little loyalty from your editors or your employers. Core means the middle, the base, the main parts. An apple core, core curriculum, core values … all basics. Corps means a body of people acting as a single group. The Marine […]
To Clench or To Clinch … That Is the Question
The Grammar Guru has received a request to explain the difference between these two words, to settle a fellow-editor’s dispute with her typesetter. Always glad to oblige — we editors need to keep those uppity typesetters in their places. According to Fowler, clinch is a variant of clench that appeared in the sixteenth century and […]
I Can’t Accept Your Exception to the Rule
Like the words affect and effect, accept and except are often confused. Misusing them, however, is an egregious error that can give a very bad impression of your communication skills. Accept is a verb that means “to take something that is offered.” You can accept the terms of a contract, accept a marriage proposal, accept […]
E or I for That Kind Remark?
When someone says something nice about you, is it a compliment or a complement? These two words are pronounced so similarly that they are frequently misused. Let’s set the record straight. A compliment is a kind remark about someone. Mike’s comments on Sally’s work were the nicest compliment she has ever received from him. A […]
Who Died in That Kilt?
I have recently seen the proliferation of a really egregious error caused by a homophone in a common idiom. The idiom in question is “dyed-in-the-wool,” which is never spelled “died-in-the-wool” unless someone has actually passed away while encased in sheeps’ fur. In medieval England, you could dye unspun wool before making it into threads, or […]
Get Your Hands off My Tutu!
Apparently there is some confusion about which form of the word pronounced /tu/ to use in a given situation. To is a preposition meaning “toward” or “directed at.” As in: I went to the store. Give the book to John. Too is an adverb meaning “excessive” or “also.” As in: That pepper was too hot […]
Be Discreet! or Discrete? Which Is It?
These two words are very frequently confused. I suppose that it’s due to the fact that their pronunciation is the same and that only two letters change position in the spelling. Discreet is an adjective meaning “unobtrusive” or “in a confidential manner.” Example: Please be discreet when you tell everyone about the surprise party — […]
Sheer and Shear May Confuse You!
A simple tip today: don’t get these two homophones confused. Sheer is an adjective used to describe something that is nearly transparent (like sheer stockings) or that is smooth (like a sheer cliff). It is rarely used as a verb meaning “to move abruptly in a different direction,” as in The plane sheered away from […]
If You Meet a Murderer, Will You Mete Out Justice?
Watch these tricky little sound-alikes, because misusing them can really make you look bad. Both are verbs (well, most commonly used as verbs). Meet means to come face to face with, to come together with. (Example: We will meet in the conference room.) Mete means to dispense or hand out. (Example: The food pantry will […]
It’s Just a Phase; Don’t Let It Faze You …
and don’t give me any flak … I’m just a flack for good grammar and usage. These two pairs of words are consistently misused, so I want to set the record straight once and for all. Phase is a noun indicating a passing behavioural pattern or a certain stage of development. (Example: Most children go […]