Have you ever wanted to become an expert on alliteration? If nothing else, it's such a beautiful word! Seriously, when one uses alliteration properly--especially in publications--it is subtly effective.
If you work on Web sites, e-zines, or print newsletters, this may be a good time for you to brush up on the amazing world of alliteration.
Principal means first in authority; main participant, or amount of a debt minus the interest. It can be a noun or an adjective.
Examples: He is the principal stockholder....She is the principal speaker....The amount of principal is $200,000.
Principle means a basic truth or assumption. A lot of people think of principles in relation to ethics, rules, standards, morals, guidelines, etc. It is a noun.
Examples: The book revealed 20 principles for success in writing ....The country was founded upon those principles....She told her friend she wouldn't cheat, since it was against her principles.
Perhaps the only time you can say, "I have my principals," is if you are the parent of two or more school principals. Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Ever seen a word in a group followed by a hyphen and a space that looks strange? Like this:
ABC Mortgage Company offers special rates and handling of fifteen- and thirty-year mortgages.
OR
Studies have determined the distinctions between right- or left-brain functions.
Welcome to the world of suspended hyphens. When one or more hyphenated adjectives** has a common basic element and this element is shown only with the last term, insert a suspending hyphen after each of the incomplete adjectives to indicate a relationship with the last term.
Here are more examples:
* A three- or four-color glossy cover
* Two- and four-wheel drive
* Pre- and post-war
* First-, second-, and third-graders
* 25-, 35-, 45-, and 55-year-olds
If you don't like using suspended hyphens, why not re-cast their sentences to avoid them? Example: using the heading of this article, you could recast to say, "There will be a delay of between two and six days."
** Adjectives: Word that describes what kind, how many, or which one. Adjectives can be single words or a group of words. Modifies the meanings of nouns and pronouns.
The subject of using one space or two between sentences, especially for people used to typing exclusively on typewriters or in following a style guide that is sometimes required, often creates colorful conflict.
Here's the history: when monospace (fixed-pitch) fonts, like Courier, were in wide use, it was traditional to leave two spaces between the period and the start of the next sentence. There were definite rules for people who typed documents, but the rules have changed..
A lot of people get confused when the plural of a word doesn't end in an "s." What's going on?
CRITERIA OR CRITERION?
"Criteria" is plural (like "phenomena"), while "criterion" is singular, like "phenomenon." You have one criterion or many criteria. It's easy to be confused, since some words (e.g., "data" and "media") are the same whether singular or plural.
Examples: Angela Allen Parker detailed the six basic criteria for accepting a client...The restaurant has one criterion for entry: every customer must wear shoes or sandals.
Criteria: plural
Criterion: single
COMPLIMENT
"Compliment" is more commonly used. It means saying something nice about someone.
Examples: Mari Bontrager complimented Bob McElwain on his latest book...Jackie McCutcheon complimented Terence Kierans on his technical support tips...My compliments to the chef.
COMPLEMENT
"Complement," much less common than "compliment," has a number of meanings associated with matching, completing, or perfecting. If you're not giving someone praise, the word is usually "complement."
Examples: My new yellow socks complement my orange shoes...His purple hair complements his green eyes...The Air Force base has a full complement of pilots.
Let's tackle plurals and possessives for proper nouns ending in sibilants! Gulp! Recently, someone asked me, "Which is correct for the plural of my last name - Strauss's or Strausses or Strauss'???? And what about possessives?"
First, let's discuss sibilants. Merriam-Webster's defines a sibilant as having, containing, or producing the sound of or a sound resembling that of the s or the sh in sash. It says sibilant is a present participle of sibilare, which is to "hiss, whistle, of imitative origin."
Chicago Manual of Style says (6.7) The PLURALS of most nouns are formed by the addition of "s" or "es." When the noun ends in soft "ch" or in "s, sh, j,x, or z," the plural inflection is "es." So it appears the plural of your name is "Strausses." The Strausses live there. The Strusses are going to Rome. The Strausses have guests.
Continue reading "Plural & Possessives for Proper Nouns Ending in Sibilants" »
Skilled at marketing, but not at spelling? How about punctuation? Capitalization? Some of the most brilliant people in history couldn’t spell well, but they didn’t let that stop them from reaching their goals. And today, it doesn’t stop Charles Schwab or writer Stephen J. Cannell. Why should you be different?
Take a look at a list of famous people who had the gift of dyslexia. None of these people let dyslexia stop them from reaching their goals...of being all they could be.
Someone recently sent me an e-mail with an article included. It said:
"I noticed that you have a newsletter, and was wounding if you accepted Articles. If you do not accept articles, please let me know and I will remove you from my list. If you accept articles but only for A certain categories please send me the category, so I can up date my records."
What do I mean by words that obfuscate?
In fact, what does "obfuscate" mean?
It's a word that rarely finds a home in a normal business letter.
Let's analyze just a few words that don't belong in most business documents. I'll also offer better (I hope!) choices for everyday usage.
Have you ever wondered if it's okay to say, "The corporation had their records audited"? This is a subject-verb agreement issue. Is a corporation a single entity or a group of people?
Let's look at it this way: if Company X is an entity, then anyone writing about it should probably say, "Company X launched its latest money-saving offer." Just my opinion. Now let's go to the experts.
Have you ever written, "We will do everything in our power to insure that your shipment arrives before Friday"? Was this correct? It's not incorrect, but there's a better way to use it.
There are three words that confuse people: insure, ensure, and assure.
What's the proper way to display the title of a book on a Web page? The traditional method of underlining makes it confusing for Web users, who expect an underlined word or phrase to be a hyperlink. Should the title be bolded? Italicized?