LIGHTENING OR LIGHTNING? libel or slander? Both refer to statements damaging to a person's character: LIBEL is written; SLANDER is spoken. library (not libary) libretto (singular) libretti or librettos (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. licence or license? LICENCE is a noun. We can refer to a licence or the licence or your licence: Do you have your driving LICENCE with you? LICENSE is a verb: The restaurant is LICENSED for the consumption of alcohol. licorice/liquorice Both spellings are correct. lie See LAY OR LIE?. lied See LAY OR LIE?. liesure Wrong spelling. See LEISURE. lieutenant life (singular) lives (plural) See PLURALS (v). lighted/lit Both forms are correct. lightening or lightning? LIGHTENING comes from the verb 'to lighten' and so you can talk about: 129 LIKABLE/LIKEABLE LIGHTENING a heavy load or LIGHTENING the colour of your hair. LIGHTNING is the flash of light we get in the sky during a thunderstorm. likable/likeable Both spellings are correct. like See AS OR LIKE?. likelihood liqueur or liquor? A LIQUEUR is a sweet, very strong, alcoholic drink usually taken in small glasses after a meal. LIQUOR refers to any alcoholic drink. liquorice See LICORICE/LIQUORICE. literally Beware of using 'literally' to support a fanciful comparison: X My eyes LITERALLY popped out of my head when I saw her in a bikini. (They didn't!) / My eyes popped out of my head when I saw her in a bikini. Everybody will understand that you are speaking figuratively (i.e. it was as if ). See METAPHOR. See SIMILE. literati (Not litterari) This word is used to describe well-read and well- educated people who love literature. literature (four syllables) 130 A LOT livelihood loaf (singular) loaves (plural) See PLURALS (v). loath, loathe or loth? LOATH and LOTH are interchangeable spellings and mean unwilling or reluctant: I was LOATH/LOTH to hurt his feelings. LOATHE means to detest: I LOATHE snobbery. loathsome loathe + some = loathsome This word means detestable. loaves See LOAF. lonely (not lonley) loose or lose? Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: I have a LOOSE tooth, (rhymes with moose) Don't LOSE your temper, (rhymes with snooze) loping or lopping? lope + ing = loping He was LOPING along with long strides, lop + ing = lopping LOPPING the trees will just encourage them to grow taller. See ADDING ENDINGS (i) and (ii). a lot (never alot) 131 LOVABLE/LOVEABLE Remember that this is a slang expression and should never be used in a formal context. Substitute 'many' or recast the sentence altogether. lovable/loveable Both spellings are correct. luggage (not lugage) luxuriant or luxurious? LUXURIANT = growing abundantly LUXURIANT vegetation LUXURIOUS = rich and costly, sumptuous a LUXURIOUS hotel luxury -ly Take care when adding this suffix to a word already ending in -1. You will have double -1: real + ly = really ideal + ly = ideally special + ly = specially usual + ly = usually lying See LAY OR LIE?. 132 machinery (not -ary) madam or madame? Use MADAM: as a polite term of respect: Can I help you, madam? in letter writing: Dear Madam (note capital letter) as a formal title of respect: Thank you, Madam Speaker (note capital letter) Use MADAME as the French equivalent: We are going to Madame Tussaud's. The famous French physicist, Madame Curie, was born in Poland. magic -e Also known as silent -e and mute -e. See ADDING ENDINGS (ii). mahogany maintain maintenance (not maintainance) manageable See SOFT c AND SOFT G. manager (not manger, as is so often written!) mango (singular) mangoes or mangos (plural) See PLURALS (iv). 133 •Ml MANOEUVRE manoeuvre mantelpiece (not mantle-) mantelshelf (not mantle-) margarine (not margerine) marihuana/marijuana Both spellings are correct. marriage marvel marvelled, marvelling marvellous masterful or masterly? MASTERFUL = dominating MASTERLY - very skilful mathematics (not mathmatics) mating or matting? mate + ing = mating mat + ing = matting See ADDING ENDINGS (i) + (ii). matrix (singular) matrices or matrixes (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. may See CAN OR MAY?. may or might? (i) Use may/might in a present context and might in a past context: If I receive a written invitation, I MAY/MIGHT accept, (still possible) 134 . small glasses after a meal. LIQUOR refers to any alcoholic drink. liquorice See LICORICE/LIQUORICE. literally Beware of using 'literally' to support a fanciful comparison: X . spelling. See LEISURE. lieutenant life (singular) lives (plural) See PLURALS (v). lighted/lit Both forms are correct. lightening or lightning? LIGHTENING comes from the verb 'to lighten' . about: 129 LIKABLE/LIKEABLE LIGHTENING a heavy load or LIGHTENING the colour of your hair. LIGHTNING is the flash of light we get in the sky during a thunderstorm. likable/likeable Both