Common Usage Common Usage ErrorsErrors

41-6041-60

41. 41. NAUSEATED/NAUSEOUS NAUSEATED/NAUSEOUS Many people say, when sick to their Many people say, when sick to their

stomachs, that they feel “nauseous” stomachs, that they feel “nauseous” (pronounced “NOSH-uss” or “NOZH-uss”) (pronounced “NOSH-uss” or “NOZH-uss”) but traditionalists insist that this word but traditionalists insist that this word should be used to describe something that should be used to describe something that makes you makes you want want to throw up: something to throw up: something nauseating. They hear you as saying that nauseating. They hear you as saying that you make people want to vomit, and it you make people want to vomit, and it tempers their sympathy for your plight. tempers their sympathy for your plight. Better to say you are “nauseated,” or Better to say you are “nauseated,” or simply that you feel like throwing up. simply that you feel like throwing up.

42. NAVAL/NAVEL42. NAVAL/NAVEL

Your bellybutton is your navel, and Your bellybutton is your navel, and navel oranges look like they have navel oranges look like they have one; all terms having to do with one; all terms having to do with ships and sailing require “naval.” ships and sailing require “naval.”

43. OPPRESS/REPRESS43. OPPRESS/REPRESS

Dictators commonly oppress their Dictators commonly oppress their citizens and repress dissent, but these citizens and repress dissent, but these words don’t mean exactly the same words don’t mean exactly the same thing. “Repress” just means "keep under thing. “Repress” just means "keep under control.” sometimes repression is a good control.” sometimes repression is a good thing: “During the job interview, repress thing: “During the job interview, repress the temptation to tell Mr. Brown that he the temptation to tell Mr. Brown that he has toilet paper stuck to his shoe.” has toilet paper stuck to his shoe.” Oppression is always bad, and implies Oppression is always bad, and implies serious persecution. serious persecution.

44. PASSED/PAST44. PASSED/PAST

If you are referring to time or distance, If you are referring to time or distance, use “past”: “the team performed well in use “past”: “the team performed well in the past,” “the police car drove past the the past,” “the police car drove past the suspect’s house.” If you are referring to suspect’s house.” If you are referring to the action of the action of passing,passing, however, you however, you need to use “passed“: “when John need to use “passed“: “when John passed the gravy, he spilled it on his passed the gravy, he spilled it on his lap,” “the teacher was astonished that lap,” “the teacher was astonished that none of the students had passed the none of the students had passed the test.” test.”

45. PEACE/PIECE45. PEACE/PIECE

It’s hard to believe many people really It’s hard to believe many people really confuse the meaning of these words; but the confuse the meaning of these words; but the spellings are frequently swapped, probably spellings are frequently swapped, probably out of sheer carelessness. “Piece” has the out of sheer carelessness. “Piece” has the word “pie” buried in it, which should remind word “pie” buried in it, which should remind you of the familiar phrase, “a piece of pie.” you of the familiar phrase, “a piece of pie.” You can meditate to find peace of mind, or You can meditate to find peace of mind, or you can get angry and give someone a piece you can get angry and give someone a piece of your mind. Classical scholars will note that of your mind. Classical scholars will note that paxpax is the Latin word for peace, suggesting is the Latin word for peace, suggesting the need for an “A” in the latter word.the need for an “A” in the latter word.

46.PHENOMENA/46.PHENOMENA/PHENOMENONPHENOMENON There are several words with Latin There are several words with Latin

or Greek roots whose plural forms or Greek roots whose plural forms ending in ending in AA are constantly mistaken are constantly mistaken for singular ones. See, for instance, for singular ones. See, for instance, criteria and media and data. it’s criteria and media and data. it’s “this phenomenon,” but “these “this phenomenon,” but “these phenomena.” phenomena.”

47. 47. PERSONAL/PERSONNELPERSONAL/PERSONNEL Employees are personnel, but Employees are personnel, but

private individuals considered private individuals considered separately from their jobs have separately from their jobs have personal lives. personal lives.

48. PRECEDE/PROCEED48. PRECEDE/PROCEED

““Precede” means “to go before.” Precede” means “to go before.” “Proceed” means to go on. Let your “Proceed” means to go on. Let your companion precede you through the companion precede you through the door, then proceed to follow her. door, then proceed to follow her. Interestingly, the second E is Interestingly, the second E is missing in “procedure.” missing in “procedure.”

49.PRODIGY/PROGENY/49.PRODIGY/PROGENY/PROTÉGÉPROTÉGÉ

Your progeny are your kids, though it Your progeny are your kids, though it would be pretty pretentious to refer to would be pretty pretentious to refer to them as such. If your child is a them as such. If your child is a brilliantly outstanding person he or she brilliantly outstanding person he or she may be a child prodigy. In fact, may be a child prodigy. In fact, anything amazingly admirable can be a anything amazingly admirable can be a prodigy. But a person that you take prodigy. But a person that you take under your wing in order to help under your wing in order to help promote his or her career is your promote his or her career is your protégé. protégé.

50. 50. PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPLEPRINCIPAL/PRINCIPLE Generations of teachers have tried to drill this Generations of teachers have tried to drill this

one into students’ heads by reminding them, one into students’ heads by reminding them, “The principal is your pal.” Many don’t seem “The principal is your pal.” Many don’t seem convinced. “Principal” is a noun and adjective convinced. “Principal” is a noun and adjective referring to someone or something which is referring to someone or something which is highest in rank or importance. (In a loan, the highest in rank or importance. (In a loan, the principal is the more substantial part of the principal is the more substantial part of the money, the interest is—or should be—the money, the interest is—or should be—the lesser.) “Principle” is only a noun, and has to lesser.) “Principle” is only a noun, and has to do with law or doctrine: “The workers fought do with law or doctrine: “The workers fought hard for the principle of collective bargaining.” hard for the principle of collective bargaining.”

51. REGARD/REGARDS51. REGARD/REGARDS

Business English is deadly enough Business English is deadly enough without scrambling it. “As regards to without scrambling it. “As regards to your downsizing plan . . .” is your downsizing plan . . .” is acceptable, if stiff. “In regard to” acceptable, if stiff. “In regard to” “and “with regard to” are also “and “with regard to” are also correct. But “in regards to” is correct. But “in regards to” is nonstandard. You can also convey nonstandard. You can also convey the same idea with “in respect to” or the same idea with “in respect to” or “with respect to.” “with respect to.”

52. REIGN/REIN52. REIGN/REIN

A king or queen A king or queen reigns,reigns, but you but you reinrein in a horse. The expression “to give in a horse. The expression “to give rein” means to give in to an impulse rein” means to give in to an impulse as a spirited horse gives in to its as a spirited horse gives in to its impulse to gallop when you slacken impulse to gallop when you slacken the reins. Similarly, the correct the reins. Similarly, the correct expression is “free rein,” not “free expression is “free rein,” not “free reign." reign."

53. RISKY/RISQUÉ53. RISKY/RISQUÉ

People unfamiliar with the French-People unfamiliar with the French-derived word “risqué” ("slightly derived word “risqué” ("slightly indecent” ) often write “risky” by indecent” ) often write “risky” by mistake. Bungee-jumping is risky, mistake. Bungee-jumping is risky, but nude bungee-jumping is risqué. but nude bungee-jumping is risqué.

54. SAIL/SALE/SELL54. SAIL/SALE/SELL

These simple and familiar words are These simple and familiar words are surprisingly often confused in surprisingly often confused in writing. You sail a boat which has a writing. You sail a boat which has a sail of canvas. You sell your old sail of canvas. You sell your old fondue pot at a yard sale. fondue pot at a yard sale.

55. SOLE/SOUL55. SOLE/SOUL

The bottom of your foot is your sole; The bottom of your foot is your sole; your spirit is your soul. your spirit is your soul.

56. SHIMMY/SHINNY56. SHIMMY/SHINNY

You shinny—or shin (climb)—up a You shinny—or shin (climb)—up a tree or pole; but on the dance floor tree or pole; but on the dance floor or in a vibrating vehicle you shimmy or in a vibrating vehicle you shimmy (shake). (shake).

57. SOMETIME/SOME 57. SOMETIME/SOME TIMETIME "Let's get together sometime." When "Let's get together sometime." When

you use the one-word form, it suggests you use the one-word form, it suggests some indefinite time in the future. some indefinite time in the future. "Some time" is not wrong in this sort of "Some time" is not wrong in this sort of context, but it is required when being context, but it is required when being more specific: "Choose some time that more specific: "Choose some time that fits in your schedule." "Some" is an fits in your schedule." "Some" is an adjective here modifying "time." The adjective here modifying "time." The same pattern applies to "someday" same pattern applies to "someday" (vague) and "some day" (specific). (vague) and "some day" (specific).

58. SUIT/SUITE58. SUIT/SUITE

Your bedroom suite consists of the Your bedroom suite consists of the bed, the nightstand, and whatever bed, the nightstand, and whatever other furniture goes with it. Your other furniture goes with it. Your pajamas would be your bedroom pajamas would be your bedroom suit. suit.

59. THAN/THEN59. THAN/THEN

When comparing one thing with When comparing one thing with another you may find that one is another you may find that one is more appealing “than” another. more appealing “than” another. “Than” is the word you want when “Than” is the word you want when doing comparisons. But if you are doing comparisons. But if you are talking about time, choose “then“: talking about time, choose “then“: “First you separate the eggs; “First you separate the eggs; thenthen you beat the whites.” Alexis is you beat the whites.” Alexis is smarter smarter thanthan I, not “ I, not “thenthen I." I."

60. THAT/WHICH 60. THAT/WHICH

If you are defining something by If you are defining something by distinguishing it from a larger class of distinguishing it from a larger class of which it is a member, use “that”: “I chose which it is a member, use “that”: “I chose the lettuce that had the fewest wilted the lettuce that had the fewest wilted leaves.” When the general class is not leaves.” When the general class is not being limited or defined in some way, then being limited or defined in some way, then “which” is appropriate: “He made an “which” is appropriate: “He made an iceberg Caesar salad, which didn’t taste iceberg Caesar salad, which didn’t taste quite right.” Note that “which” is normally quite right.” Note that “which” is normally preceded by a comma, but “that” is not.preceded by a comma, but “that” is not.