EITHER OR Proper names (e.g. of people or countries) don't follow the rule: Deirdre, Keith, Neil, Sheila, Madeira, etc. eighth (notice -hth) See EI/IE SPELLING RULE. either (not -ie-) An exception to the EI/IE SPELLING RULE. either .or (i) Take care with singular and plural verbs. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: Either Jack or Tom was there, (singular verb to match Jack (singular) or Tom (singular)) Either Jack or his brothers were there, (plural verb to match 'brothers' (plural) which is closer to it than 'Jack' (singular)) Either his brothers or Jack was there, (singular verb this time because 'Jack' (singular) is closer to the verb than 'brothers') (ii) Be careful to place each part of the 'either or' construction correctly. I have decided either that I have to build an extension or I have to move. I have decided that either I have to build an extension or I have to move. 79 18 exceptions caffeine forfeit seize codeine heifer sheikh counterfeit height sovereign either leisure surfeit Fahrenheit neither weir foreign protein weird t In the example above, there are these two possibilities: I have to build an extension. I have to move. 'Either' precedes the first one and 'or' precedes the second. The second one could be shortened: I have decided that either I have to build an extension or (I have to) move. I have decided that either I have to build an extension or move. It is important that the two constructions following 'either' and 'or' should be parallel ones: either meat or fish either green or red either to love or to hate either with malice or with kindness. If the second construction is shortened to avoid repetition, this is fine. The missing words are obvious and can be supplied readily. elf (singular) elves (plural) See PLURALS (v). eligible or legible? ELIGIBLE = suitably qualified LEGIBLE = able to be read eloquent elude See ALLUDE OR ELUDE?. embargo (singular) embargoes (plural) See PLURALS (iv). ELF 80 END STOPS embarrass embarrassed, embarrassing (not -r-) embarrassment emend See AMEND OR EMEND?. emergency (singular) emergencies (plural) See PLURALS (iv). emigrant or immigrant? An EMIGRANT leaves his or her country to live in another. An IMMIGRANT moves into a country to live permanently. eminent or imminent? EMINENT = famous IMMINENT = about to happen emperor emphasise/emphasize Both spellings are correct. encyclopaedia/encyclopedia Both spellings are correct. endeavour end stops There are three end stops: a full stop (.), an exclamation mark (!), and a question mark (?). Use a full stop to end a statement. There are five eggs in the fridge. Use an exclamation mark with a command or an exclamation. Get out! Use a question mark to end a question. 81 ENDINGS Where do you live? See EXCLAMATION MARKS. FULL STOPS. QUESTION MARKS. endings See ADDING ENDINGS. enemy (singular) enemies (plural) See PLURALS (iv). enormity This refers to a grave sin or a crime, or a disaster on a huge scale. We gradually realised the full ENORMITY of the tragedy. It is often used in popular speech to mean 'enormousness', 'hugeness', 'immensity'. This should be avoided in a formal context. enquiry or inquiry? Both spellings are correct and there is no difference in meaning. British English favours the first and American English the second. Some writers reserve the first for a general request for information and the second for a formal investigation, but this is by no means necessary. enrol enrolled, enrolling (British English - enrol; American English - enroll) enrolment (British English - enrolment; American English - enrollment) ensure or insure? to ENSURE = to make sure to INSURE = to arrange for financial compensation in the case of loss, injury, damage or death 82 ESPECIALLY OR SPECIALLY? enthusiasm (not -ou-) enthusiastic envelop enveloped, enveloping, envelopment (stress on second syllable) envelope (singular) envelopes (plural) (stress on third syllable) environment epigram or epitaph? EPIGRAM = a short witty saying EPITAPH = an inscription on a tombstone equip equipped, equipping, equipment See ADDING ENDINGS (iv). Ernest See EARNEST OR ERNEST?. erratum (singular) errata (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS. erring err + ing (not -r-) erupt (not -rr-) especially or specially? The two words are very close in meaning and sometimes overlap. However, use these exemplar sentences as a guide to exclusive uses: I bought the car ESPECIALLY for you (= for you alone). We are awaiting a SPECIALLY commissioned report (- for a special purpose). 83 (not enviroment) ESTUARY estuary (singular) estuaries (plural) See PLURALS (iv). etc. (not e.t.c. or ect.) (i) etc. is an abbreviation of the Latin et cetera which means 'and other things'. It is therefore incorrect to write 'and etc.'. (ii) Avoid using 'etc.' in formal writing. Either list all the items indicated by the vague and lazy 'etc.', or introduce the given selection with a phrase like 'including', 'such as' or 'for example'. eventually eventual + ly (not eventully) exaggerate (not exagerate) examination exausted Wrong spelling. See EXHAUSTED. excellent (not -ant) except See ACCEPT OR EXCEPT?. exceptionable or exceptional? EXCEPTIONABLE = open to objection EXCEPTIONAL = unusual excercise Wrong spelling. See EXERCISE. excite excited, exciting, excitement See ADDING ENDINGS (ii). 84 t . live in another. An IMMIGRANT moves into a country to live permanently. eminent or imminent? EMINENT = famous IMMINENT = about to happen emperor emphasise/emphasize Both spellings . enrolling (British English - enrol; American English - enroll) enrolment (British English - enrolment; American English - enrollment) ensure or insure? to ENSURE = to make sure to INSURE . difference in meaning. British English favours the first and American English the second. Some writers reserve the first for a general request for information and the second for a formal investigation,