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cache/cachet CACHE/CACHET “Cache” comes from the French verb cacher, meaning “to hide,” and in English is pronounced exactly like the word “cash.” But reporters speaking of a cache (hidden horde) of weapons or drugs often mispronounce it to sound like cachet—“ca-SHAY” —a word with a very different meaning: originally a seal affixed to a document, now a quality attributed to anything with authority or prestige. Rolex watches have cachet. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/cache.html03/09/2005 15:37:10 call the question CALL THE QUESTION This is more a matter of parliamentary procedure than of correct English, but people are generally confused about what “calling the question” means. They often suppose that it means simply “let’s vote!” and some even imagine that it is necessary to call for the question before a vote may be taken. You even see deferential meeting chairs pleading, “Would someone like to call for the question?” But “calling the question” when done properly should be a rare occurrence. If debate has dragged on longer than you feel is really warranted, you can “call the question,” at which time the chair has to immediately ask those assembled to vote to determine whether or not debate should be cut off or continue. The motion to call the question is itself not debatable. If two-thirds of those voting agree that the discussion should have died some time ago, they will support the call. Then, and only then, will the vote be taken on the question itself. Potentially this parliamentary maneuver would be a great way to shut down windy speakers who insist on prolonging a discussion when a clear consensus has already been arrived at; but since so few people understand what it means, it rarely works as intended. Chairs: when someone “calls the question,” explain what the phrase means and ask if that is what’s intended. Other folks: you’ll get further most of the time just saying “Let’s vote!” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/call.html03/09/2005 15:37:10 callous CALLOUS/CALLUSED Calling someone “callous” is a way of metaphorically suggesting a lack of feeling similar to that caused by calluses on the skin; but if you are speaking literally of the tough build-up on a person’s hand or feet, the word you need is “callused.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/calloused.html03/09/2005 15:37:10 calm, cool, and collective CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTIVE CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTED Unless you’re living in an unusually tranquil commune, you wouldn’t be “calm, cool, and collective.” The last word in this traditional phrase is “collected,” in the sense of such phrases as “let me sit down a minute and collect my thoughts.” If you leave out “cool” the last word still has to be “collected.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/collective.html03/09/2005 15:37:10 Calvary/cavalry Calvary/cavalry “Calvary,” always capitalized, is the hill on which Jesus was crucified. It means “hill of skulls.” Soldiers mounted on horseback are cavalry. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/calvary.html03/09/2005 15:37:11 cannot CANNOT/CAN NOT These two spellings are largely interchangeable, but by far the most common is “cannot” and you should probably use it except when you want to be emphatic: “No, you can not wash the dog in the Maytag.” See also “ may/might.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/cannot.html03/09/2005 15:37:11 canon/cannon CANON/CANNON “Canon” used to be such a rare word that there was no temptation to confuse it with “cannon”: a large piece of artillery. The debate over the literary canon (a list of officially-approved works) and the popularity of Pachelbel’s Canon (an imitative musical form related to the common “round”) have changed all that—confusion is rampant. Just remember that the big gun is a “cannon.” All the rest are “canons.” Note that there are metaphorical uses of “cannon” for objects shaped like large guns, such as a horse’s “cannon bone.” List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/canon.html03/09/2005 15:37:11 capital/capitol CAPITAL/CAPITOL A “capitol” is always a building. Cities and all other uses are spelled with an A in the last syllable. Would it help to remember that Congress with an O meets in the Capitol with another O? List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/capital.html03/09/2005 15:37:11 caramel/carmel CARAMEL/CARMEL Take Highway 1 south from Monterey to reach the charming seaside town of Carmel, of which Clint Eastwood was formerly mayor. Dissolve sugar in a little water and cook it down until the sugar turns brown to create caramel. A nationwide chain uses the illiterate spelling “Karmelkorn TM ,” which helps to perpetuate the confusion between these two words. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/caramel.html03/09/2005 15:37:12 carat/caret/carrot/karat CARAT/CARET/CARROT/KARAT “Carrots” are those crunchy orange vegetables Bugs Bunny is so fond of, but this spelling gets misused for the less familiar words which are pronounced the same but have very different meanings. Precious stones like diamonds are weighed in carats. The same word is used to express the proportion of pure gold in an alloy, though in this usage it is sometimes spelled “karat” (hence the abbreviation “20K gold”). A caret is a proofreader’s mark showing where something needs to be inserted, shaped like a tiny pitched roof. It looks rather like a French circumflex, but is usually distinct from it on modern computer keyboards. Carets are extensively used in computer programming. Just remember, if you can’t eat it, it’s not a carrot. List of errors file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/carat.html03/09/2005 15:37:12 . they will support the call. Then, and only then, will the vote be taken on the question itself. Potentially this parliamentary maneuver would be a great way to shut down windy speakers who insist