TUMULUS tumulus (singular) tumuli (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. turf (singular) turfs or turves (plural) See PLURALS (v). twelfth (not twelth, as it is often mispronounced) twentieth See ADDING ENDINGS (iii). twenty typical typically typical + ly 204 ultimatum (singular) ultimata or ultimatums (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. umbrella (not umberella) umpire See REFEREE OR UMPIRE?. un- Remember that when un- is added to a word beginning with n-, you will have -nn-: un + natural = unnatural un + nerve = unnerve unconscious under- Remember that when you add under- to a word beginning with r-, you will have -rr-: under + rate = underrate underlay or underlie? Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: to UNDERLAY = to lay or place under You should UNDERLAY the carpet with felt if your floorboards are very uneven. I UNDERLAID this carpet with very thick felt because the floorboards were so uneven. This carpet IS UNDERLAID with felt. to UNDERLIE = to be situated under (esp. rocks) Granite UNDERLIES the sandstone here. Granite UNDERLAY the sandstone, as we soon discovered. 205 U UNDERRATE The sandstone here IS UNDERLAIN by granite. also: The UNDERLYING problem is poverty. Compare LAY OR LIE?. underrate under + rate undoubtedly unequivocally unequivocal + ly (not unequivocably) unexceptionable or unexceptional? UNEXCEPTIONABLE = inoffensive, not likely to cause criticism or objections UNEXCEPTIONAL = ordinary, run-of-the-mill Compare EXCEPTIONABLE OR EXCEPTIONAL?. unget-at-able (not un-get-at-able) uninterested See DISINTERESTED OR UNINTERESTED?. unique Remember, that 'unique' is absolute. It means 'the only one of its kind'. Something is either unique or it's not. It can't be 'quite unique' or 'very unique'. unmanageable (not unmanagable) See SOFT c AND SOFT G. unmistakable/unmistakeable Both spellings are correct. unnatural un + natural 206 USURPER unnecessary un + necessary unparalleled until (not untill) unusually unusual + ly upon (not apon) upstairs (one word) urban or urbane? URBAN = relating to a town or city URBAN population URBANE = suave, courteous used to I USED TO like him very much The negative form is: I USED NOT TO like him very much. I didn't used to like him. useful useless usurper (not -or) 207 vase vechicle Wrong spelling. See VEHICLE. vegetable (not vegtable) vegetation vehicle (not vechicle) veil See EI/IE SPELLING RULE. venal or venial? VENAL = open to bribery and corruption VENIAL = minor, excusable, pardonable vengeance (not vengance) See SOFT c AND SOFT G. ventilation (not venta-) veracity or voracity? VERACITY - truthfulness VORACITY - greed veranda/verandah Both spellings are correct. vertebra (singular) vertebrae (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. veterinary (five syllables!) 208 V VOWELS vice versa vicious view vigorous (not vigourous) See also RIGOROUS OR VIGOROUS?. vigour villain violent virtuoso (singular) virtuosi or virtuosos (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. visible (not -able) visitor (not -er) vocabulary (five syllables) volcano (singular) volcanoes or volcanos (plural) See PLURALS (iv). voluntary volunteer volunteered, volunteering voracity See VERACITY OR VORACITY?. vortex (singular) vortexes or vortices (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. vowels Five letters of the alphabet are always vowels: a e i o u 209 . mispronounced) twentieth See ADDING ENDINGS (iii). twenty typical typically typical + ly 2 04 ultimatum (singular) ultimata or ultimatums (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. umbrella (not