accidently/accidentally ACCIDENTLY ACCIDENTALLY You can remember this one by remembering how to spell “accidental.” There are quite a few words with -ally suffixes (like “incidentally” ) which are not to be confused with words that have “-ly” suffixes (like “independently” ). “Incidental” is a word, but “independental” is not. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/accidently.html03/09/2005 15:36:41 acronyms and apostrophes ACRONYMS AND APOSTROPHES One unusual modern use of the apostrophe is in plural acronyms, like “ICBM’s” “NGO’s” and “CD’s”. Since this pattern violates the rule that apostrophes are not used before an S indicating a plural, many people object to it. It is also perfectly legitimate to write “CDs,” etc. See also “50’s.” But the use of apostrophes with initialisms like “learn your ABC’s and “mind your P’s and Q’s” is now so universal as to be acceptable in almost any context. Note that “acronym” was used originally only to label pronounceable abbreviations like “NATO,” but is now generally applied to all sorts of initialisms. Be aware that some people consider this extended definition of “acronym” to be an error. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/acronyms.html03/09/2005 15:36:41 acrossed/across ACROSSED ACROSS The chicken may have crossed the road, but did so by walking across it. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/acrossed.html03/09/2005 15:36:41 actual fact/actually ACTUAL FACT ACTUALLY “In actual fact” is an unnecessarily complicated way of saying “actually.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/actual.html03/09/2005 15:36:41 add/ad ADD AD “Advertisement” is abbreviated “ad,” not “add.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/add.html03/09/2005 15:36:42 adapt/adopt ADAPT/ADOPT You can adopt a child or a custom or a law; in all of these cases you are making the object of the adoption your own, accepting it. If you adapt something, however, you are changing it. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/adapt.html03/09/2005 15:36:42