Book of correct english

from A to Z Book of CorrectEnglish How to use this book For ease of reference, all the entries in this book have been li s t e d alphabetically rather than being divided into separate s p e lli ng, usage, punctuation and grammar s e c ti on s. You will therefore fi nd hypocrisy following hy ph en s ; paragraphing following pa raffin ; who or w h o m ? fo ll owin g wh i s k e y or w h i s k y? ; and so on. WANT TO CHECK A SPELLING? Cr os s - re fe re nc i n g will help you locate wo rd s with t ri c k y i n i t i a l le tt e r s . aquaint Wrong spelling. See ACQUAINT . Plural wo rd s are given alongside singular nouns, with cr os s - referencing to relevant rules and p a tt e rn s. knife (singular) knives (pl ural). See PLURALS (v) . There is a l s o a general section on plurals and another o n fo r e i g n pl ur al s . If it’ s the complication of adding an ending that is causing you trouble, you will fi nd some wo rd s listed with a useful c r o ss - reference. dining or dinning? dine + ing = di ning (as in dining room) din + ing = dinning (no ise dinning in ea r s) See ADDING ENDINGS (i) and (ii) . There are individual entries for confusing endings like -a b l e / - i b l e ; -a nc e, -a nt /- ence ,- en t ; -c a l /- c l e ; -ise or -ize? and for conf us in g beginnings like ante -/ an t i - ; fo r - / f o r e - ; hy pe r - / h y p o - ; in te r - / i n t r a - and m any o t h e r s . vii A abandon abandoned, abandoning, a b a n d o n m e nt ( no t -bb - ) abattoir ( no t -bb - ) abbreviate abbreviated, abbreviating, a bb r e vi a t i o n ( no t -b - ) abbreviations See CONTRACTIONS. -a b l e / - i b l e Adjectives ending in - a b l e or - ib l e can be difficult to spell because both e nd in gs sound identical. You’ ll always need to b e on guard with these wo rd s and check each word individually when you are in doubt, but here are some useful g u id el i n es : ( i ) Generally use - ab le when the companion word ends in - at io n: abominable, a b o m i na ti on irri ta bl e, i rr i t a ti on ( ii ) Generally use - i b l e when the companion word ends in - io n: comprehensible, comprehension digestible, d i g e s t i o n ( iii ) Use - a b l e after hard c and hard g: practicable ( c sounds like k ) navigable ( h a r d g) ( i v ) Use - ib le after soft c and soft g : forcible (c sounds like s) leg ible (g s ou n ds like j ) See also ADDING ENDINGS (ii ) ; SO FT C AND SOFT G. 1 ABR I DGEMENT / ABRI D G M E NT ab ri dg em en t/ Both spelling s are correc t. Use either but be abridgment consistent within one piece of wr it i n g . abscess This is a favourite word in s p e lli ng qu i zz e s. ( no t absess or a b c e ss ) absence absent ( no t ab sc - ) absolute absolutely ( no t absoloute, ab so l o u t e l y ) absorb absorption. Notice how b changes to p here. abstract nouns See NOUNS. accept or ex ce pt ? We ACCEPT your apology. Everybody was there EXCEPT St e p he n. accessary If you want to preserve the tr ad i t i o n a l or accessory? distinction in m e a n i n g between these two words, use ACCESSARY to refer to someone associated with a crime a n d ACCESSORY to refer to something that is add ed (a fashion acce ssory or c a r ac ce ss or ie s ) . However, the distinction h a s now become blurred and it is perfectly acceptable to use one spelling to cover both meanings. Of the two, accessory i s the more widely used, but both a r e co rr ec t. ac ce ss ib l e ( no t -a bl e ) accidentally The adverb is formed by adding - ly to accidental. ( no t ac ci de nt ly ) ac co mm od a t i o n This is a favourite word in spelling qu i zz e s and is frequently seen misspelt on p a i n t e d si gn s. ( no t accomodation or ac co mm ad at i o n ) accross Wrong spelling. See ACROSS. accumulate ( no t -m m -) 2 ADDING ENDINGS achieve achieved, achieving, achievement ( no t -e i - ) See also ADDING ENDINGS (ii .); EI/IE SPELLING RULE. ac k n o w l e d g eme n t / Both spellings are correct but be a c k n ow l e dg me nt consistent within one piece of wr it i n g . ac qu a i n t acquainted ( no t aq - ) acquaintance ( no t -e nc e ) ac qu i e s c e acquiesced, acquiescing ( no t aq - ) ac qu i e s c e nc e ( no t -a nc e ) ac qu i r e acquired, acquiring, a c qu i s i ti on ( no t aq - ) acreage Note that there are three syllables here . ( no t ac ra ge ) across ( no t ac cr os s) addendum (s i n g u l a r ) addenda ( pl ur al ) See FOREIGN P L U R A L S . adding endings Usually endings (s uffi xe s) can be added to base wo rd s without any co m p l ic a t i o n s . You just add them and that is t h a t ! e.g. iron + ing = ironing ste am + er = s te a mer list + l e ss = li st le ss However, there are four groups of wo rd s which need especial care. Fo rt un at e l y , there are som e straightforward r u l e s - 3 adapter or a da pt or ? Traditional usage would d i s t i n g u i s h between these two words and r e s e rv e -er for the person (an adapter of n o v e l s , for i n s t a nc e) and - or for the piece of electrical equipment. However, the distinction has become very blurred a n d the two spellings are considered by ma ny authorities to be interchangeable. U s e either for both meanings but be co ns is te nt within a single piece of wr it i n g . ADDING E NDINGS which save your learning t ho usands of wo rd s i n d i v i d u a ll y . (i) The 1-1-1 r u l e This rule applies t o : wo rd s of ONE sy ll a b l e ending with ONE co n s o n a n t preceded by ONE vowel e.g. drop, fl at, sun, win. When you add an ending be ginn i n g with a consonant to a l - l - l word, t h e r e is no change to the base w o r d : drop + let = droplet fl at + ly = fl a t l y win + some = winsome When you add an ending be ginn i n g with a vowel to a l - l -l word, you double the fi nal letter of the b a s e wo rd : drop + ed = dropped fl at + est = fl a tt es t win + ing = wi nn in g sun + *y = s unn y *y counts as a vowel when it sounds like i or e. See VOWELS. Treat qu as one le tt e r : quit + ing = quitting quip + ed = quipped Don’ t double fi nal w and x. They would look very odd and so we h a v e co rr ec tl y : tax + ing = ta xi ng paw + ed = p a w e d (ii) The magic -e ru le This rule applies to all wo rd s e n d i n g 4 ADDING ENDINGS with a silent - e . e.g. hope, care, achieve, sincere, se parate. When you add an ending be ginn i n g with a consonant, keep the - e : hope + ful = hopeful care + l e ss = ca re l e ss sincere + ly = s i n c e r e ly separate + ly = se parate ly achieve + ment = a c h i e ve m e n t When you add an ending be ginn i n g with a vowel, drop the - e : hope + ing = h o p i n g care + er = carer sincere + ity = sincerity separate + ion = s e p a r a t i o n achieve + ed = a c h i e ve d Do, however, keep the -e in wo rd s like singeing (diff erent from s in gi ng ) and dyeing ( di ff e re nt from dy in g) an d whenever you need to keep the identity of the b ase word clear ( e . g . shoeing, c a n o e i n g ) . Do remember to keep the -e with soft c and soft g words. I t ’ s the e t h a t k eeps them soft ( co ur ag eo us, tr a c e a b l e ) . ( S ee SOFT C AND SOFT G .) Don’ t keep the -e with t h e s e eight exceptions to the r ul e : truly, duly, ninth, argument, wholly, a w f u l , whilst, w i s d o m . (i ii ) -y ru le This rule applies to all wo rd s e n d i n g in -y. Look at the letter before the - y in the base word. It doesn’ t matter at all what kind of ending you are adding. When you ad d an ending to a word ending in a - 5 ADDING E NDINGS vowel + y, keep the y : portray + ed = p o r t r a y ed employ + ment = employment When you add an ending to a word ending in a consonant + y, ch an ge the y to i : try +al = trial empty + er = emptier pity + l e ss = piti le ss lazy + ness = la zi ne ss Do keep the y when adding -i ng. T w o i’ s together would look very od d, despite our two words sk i - i n g a n d ta xi - i n g . try + ing = tr y i n g empty + ing = em pt yin g Don’ t apply the rule in these fo ur te en ca ses: daily, gaily, gaiety, laid, paid, said, slain, babyhood, shyly, sh yn e ss , dryness, slyness, wryly, wr y n e ss . (iv) The 2-1-1 r u l e This rule applies t o : wo rd s of TWO sy ll ab le s ending with ONE co n s o n a n t preceded by ONE vowel. With this rule, it all depe nd s on which syllable of the word is st re ss e d . The 2 - 1 - 1 wo rd s below are s t r e ss e d on the fi rst syllable, and both vowel and consonant endings are a dd e d without any co m p li c a t i o n s : gossip go ss ip in g tar get ta r g e t e d limit li m it l e ss eage r ea ge r n es s But note that kidnap, outfi t, worship, always double their fi nal l e tt e r: 6 ADDING ENDINGS kidnapped, outfi tter, w o r s h i pp i n g Take care with 2-1-1 words wh ic h a r e stressed on the second s y ll a bl e . There is no change w hen you add a consonant e n d in g: forget + ful = f o r g e tful equip + ment = e qu ip m e n t Double the fi nal consonant of the b a s e word when you add a vowel en di ng : forget + ing = f o r g e tt in g equip + ed = equipped forbid + en = forbidden begin + er = b e g i nn e r This rule is really valuable but you must be aware of some e x c ep ti on s: " 2-1-1 words ending in - l seem to ha ve a rule all of their own. Whether the stress is on the fi rst or the se co n d syllable, there is no change w he n a consonant ending is a dd e d : quarrel + some = qu a rr el so me instal + ment = in st a l m e nt Double the - l when adding a vowel en din g: quarrel + ing = qu a rr e lli n g instal + ed = in st a ll e d excel + ent = excellent " Notice how the change of stress in these words aff ects the s p e ll in g: conf e r conf e rr e d co n f e rr i ng conf e r en ce defer deferred deferring de fe r e n c e infer inferred in f err i n g i n f eren c e prefer pre f err e d pre f err i n g pre f eren c e refer referred referring r e fe r e nc e transfer transferred t r a n s f e rr i ng transference See also -A BL E/ -I BL E ; -AN CE ,- AN T/ -E NC E, -E NT ; - CA L/-C LE ; -F UL ;- LY . 7 [...]... account of his or her life by the author A BIOGRAPHY is an account of a life written by someone else automaton (singular) automata, automatons (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS avenge or revenge? The words are very close in meaning but AVENGE is often used in the sense of just retribution, punishing a wrong done to another Hamlet felt bound to AVENGE his father’ s death REVENGE is often used in the sense of. .. -ance, -ant after hard c or hard g: signifi cance, signifi cant (c sounds like k) elegance, elegant (hard g) (v) Use -ence, -ent after soft c or soft g: innocence, innocent (c sounds like s) intelligent, intelligence (g sounds like j) See and/but SOFT C AND SOFT G Many of us have been taught never to begin a sentence with AND or BUT Generally speaking this is good advice Both words are conjunctions and... -mm-) amoung Wrong spelling See AMONG amount (not ammount) amount or number? AMOUNT is used with non-count nouns: a small AMOUNT of sugar; a surprising AMOUNT of gossip NUMBER is used with plural nouns: a NUMBER of mistakes; a NUMBER of reasons analyse (not -ize as in American English) analysis (singular) analyses (plural) See FOREIGN PLURALS -ance,-ant/-ence,-ent Words with these endings are difficult... on our boat We are proud to announce the BIRTH of a daughter beside or besides? Use BESIDE in the sense of next to, by the side of: Your glasses are BESIDE your bed May I sit BESIDE you? Use BESIDES in the sense of also, as well as: BESIDES, I can’ t aff ord it BESIDES being very clever, Ann also works hard between See AMONG OR BETWEEN? between you and I Incorrect Write: between you and me See PREPOSITIONS... ALL (= everything) READY She was ALREADY dead (= by then) all right or alright? Traditional usage would consider ALL RIGHT to be correct and ALRIGHT to be incorrect However, the use of ‘ alright’ is so widespread that some would see it as acceptable although the majority of educated users would take care to avoid it all so or also? There is a diff erence in meaning Use these exemplar sentences as a... the positioning of BADLY This room needs cleaning BADLY Does it? Or does it not need cleaning well? Rewrite like this: This room BADLY needs cleaning (iv) Beware of causing initial bewilderment by not introducing a comma to indicate a pause ´ The shabby little riverside cafe was empty and full of wasps and fl ies Empty and full? ´ The shabby little riverside cafe was empty, and full of wasps and fl ies... spellings are correct but many would prefer ageing as it keeps the identity of the base word (age) more easily recognised See ADDING ENDINGS (ii) aggravate Strictly speaking, aggravate means to make worse His rudeness AGGRAVATED an already explosive situation It is, however, widely used in the sense of to irritate or to annoy Be aware that some authorities would regard this second usage as incorrect aggressive... bored? A BOARD is a piece of wood, also a committee or similar group of people To BOARD means to get on (train, etc.) and also to pay for living in someone’ s house and having food provided BORED means uninterested boarder or border? A BOARDER is a person who pays to live in someone’ s house A BORDER is the edge or boundary of something boisterous (not boistrous, although often mispronounced as two... plural ‘ owners’ The princess’ s suitors The princesses’ suitors The ‘ owner’ is the word before the apostrophe (iii) Apostrophes are also used in condensed expressions of time The work of a moment A moment’ s work - 19 APPAL The work of three years Three years’ work If you follow the guidelines in (ii) above, you will never make a mistake appal appalled, appalling (not -aul-) See also ADDING ENDINGS... re, burglary, illness) where payment is made only if the risk materialises asthma (not asma or assma) astrology or astronomy? ASTROLOGY is the study of the infl uence of the stars and planets on human life and fortune ASTRONOMY is the scientifi c study of the stars and planets athlete (not athelete) athletics (not atheletics) 22 AXIS attach attached, attaching, attachment (not -tch) audible (not -able) . from A to Z Book of CorrectEnglish How to use this book For ease of reference, all the entries in this book have been li s t e d alphabetically rather than. keep the identity of the b ase word clear ( e . g . shoeing, c a n o e i n g ) . Do remember to keep the -e with soft c and soft g words. I t ’ s the e t h a t k eeps them soft ( co ur ag eo us, tr a c e a b l e ) . ( S ee SOFT. meanings but be co ns is te nt within a single piece of wr it i n g . ADDING E NDINGS which save your learning t ho usands of wo rd s i n d i v i d u a ll y . (i) The 1-1-1 r u l e This rule applies t o : wo rd s of ONE sy ll a b l e ending with