 Style Guide for Post-Modern Writers |
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This word and other words like it are directly taken from Latin origins. Hence, noun forms are gender specific: “alumna” refers to one woman; “alumnae” refers to women; “alumnus” refers to one man; “alumni” refers to men or men and women. It’s rare to see the feminine plural form, “alumnae.” The form “alumni” is often used for any group of graduates. Also, “alumnus” can refer to anyone who attended a school.
Right
The Distinguished Alumnus Award is given annually.
Identify past and current students by using abbreviations for alumni academic degrees followed by the last two digits of the graduation year. It is important that apostrophes point in the correct direction: down and to the left.
Right
Kara Matthews, B.S. ’70, was recently named publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
Right
Ted Meyers, B.A. ’56, participated in the university’s centennial celebration.
If a person received more than one university degree, use both years and put commas between them.
Right
Pat Campbell, B.A. ’74, J.D. ’77, is the university’s vice president for institutional relations and legal affairs.
Consistency is key to the method of indicating the alumni’s year of graduation. The choice is yours to use parentheses or commas and whether to use spaces. Pick one to consistently use throughout your publication.
Collective nouns like “faculty,” "team," "group" and “staff” are singular nouns. If you wish to use plural constructions, use “members of the faculty/staff” or “faculty/staff members.”
Right
The faculty is represented by the Faculty Council.
Right
Members of the faculty are dedicated researchers and teachers.
Right
Staff members disagree among themselves about the best benefits options.
Right
The University of Texas at Austin staff numbers about 20,000.
Avoid the passive voice, which can contribute to imprecise, weak or wordy prose.
Think about this sentence: “Darra’s classes were taught in the evening.” Taught by whom? Is Darra a teacher or a student? An active construction would clarify the sentence: “Professor Corina taught Darra's evening classes.”
When passive constructions are used in early drafts, think about the sentences. Try to alter construction and choose active verbs. Concise sentences with active verbs and a few, carefully selected modifiers communicate clearly to readers. Adjectives are better modifiers than adverbs. If adverbs are preferred, be safe and make sure they can safely and properly precede the word modified, regardless of where you put it for emphasis. It's a good way to find out if an adverb truly belongs in your sentence. Whenever you encounter an adverb, read the sentence again with the adverb preceding the word it modifies. Does it still sound good, or even better, more active? If your sentence sounds awkward, it's time to grab your dictionary or thesaurus. (see "Reduce Adverbs" for more details)
Passive
The program is activated with a key by the engineer.
Active
The engineer activates the program with a key.
Sometimes passive voice is better. For example, when the recipient of an award is more important than the awarding body, it’s better to keep this information in the lead of the sentence: “Billy Bob Thorton was the 2003 commencement speaker for the College of Liberal Arts.”
These words deserve a section of their own. “That” and “which” are often incorrectly used in clauses.
When referring to human beings (or animals with names), any clause should be introduced by the word “who” or “whom.”
When referring to an object or nameless animal, with an essential clause that cannot be eliminated without changing the meaning of the sentence, use “that” to introduce the clause. Essential clauses do not need commas.
When referring to an object or nameless animal, with a non-essential clause that can be eliminated from the sentence without changing the basic meaning, use “which” to introduce the clause. If non-essential clauses appear in the middle of sentences, they might need to be set off by commas.
Once your sentence is written, test it by reading it without the clause. If the sentence still means the same, your clause should be introduced by “which.” If omitting the clause drastically changes the meaning, it should be introduced by “that.”
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Right |
The club meeting, which was held at Little City, was cancelled. |
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Meaning |
The club meeting was cancelled. (We must already know which club meeting it is.) |
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Right |
The club meeting that was held at Little City was cancelled. |
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Meaning |
The only meeting being held at Little City was cancelled. (Another way to think of essential clauses—you don’t really need the word “that.”) |
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Better |
The club meeting held at Little City was cancelled. (Commas were once used in place of "that" and it's still correct to write: The club meeting, held at Little City, was cancelled.) |
“Adverse” means unfavorable. “Averse” means reluctant, unwilling or repulsed.
“Adviser” is preferred although both are correct.
“To affect” means (1) to influence, change or produce an effect; (2) to like to do, wear or use; or (3) to pretend. “To effect” means to accomplish, complete, cause, make possible or carry out. If you’re looking for a noun, you’re probably looking for “effect.” If you’re using a verb, you’re safest with “affect.”
not afterwards
It is not alright to say "all right."
“To allude” means to speak of without mentioning. “To refer” means to speak of directly.
An “allusion” is an indirect reference. An “illusion” is a false impression or image.
An alumna is one woman. Alumnae are women.
Alumni are men or men and women. An alumnus is one man.
“Around” should refer to a physical proximity or surrounding (I’ll look for you around the front of the office). “About” indicates an approximation (Let’s have lunch about 11:30 am).
Use “beside” to mean (1) at the side of (sit beside me); (2) to compare with (beside other studies); or (3) apart from (that’s beside the point). Use “besides” to mean (1) furthermore (besides, I said so); (2) in addition to (and elm and maple trees besides); or (3) otherwise (there’s no one here besides me).
Use “between” to show a relationship between two objects only. Use “among” when it’s more than two.
“Between” takes an objective pronoun—me, her, him. “Between you and me” is okay. “Between you and I” is not.
“Biannual” is twice a year. “Biennial” is every two years.
“Complement” is something that supplements. “Compliment” is praise or the expression of courtesy.
“Compose” is to create or put together. “Comprise” is to contain, include or embrace. “Constitute” is to make up, to be the elements of something.
Examples:
The whole comprises the parts. The parts constitute the whole. The whole is composed of parts.
The department comprises 12 people. Twelve people constitute the department. The department is composed of 12 people.
“Continual” is a steady repetition. “Continuous” is uninterrupted.
plural (more than one criterion, which is a quality, value or standard of judgment)
plural (more than one curriculum, which is a program of academic courses or activities. Curriculums is not a word)
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Right |
We have developed curricula for all training courses at this company. |
adjective (College of Natural Sciences’ curricular philosophy)
singular (the Chemistry curriculum)
plural noun, usually takes a plural verb; if used as a collective noun, when the group or quantity is regarded as a noun, it takes a singular verb (the data is corrupt).
Right, "daylight-savings time" is wrong.
One can say that today we live in a "did-do" universe where people have forgotten to conjugate verbs. Refrain from the common practice of saying "I do have or did have this or that" or, even worse, "I did do this or that." Except in instances of affirmations or responses to questions, use properly conjugated verb forms.
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Right |
Mr. Budet asked Corina, "did you talk to the trademark lawyers?" Corina quickly replied, "yes, I did talk to the lawyers." |
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Right |
Do you have the paperwork? Yes, I do have it. |
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Wrong |
UFCU did receive extra funds last year, just as we expected. |
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Right |
UFCU received extra funds last year, just as expected. |
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Wrong |
Customers did have the right to withdraw funds years ago, but now if they do withdraw funds they must pay a penalty fee. |
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Right |
Customers had the right to withdraw funds years ago, but now if they withdraw funds they must pay penalties. |
"Different than" is incorrect grammar: use "different from".
“Disinterested” means impartial. “Uninterested” means to lack interest. Get it right!
"Disassociate" is another commonly used word absent from Webster's Dictionary.
If you think you can "end up" right, your wrong. Similarly weak constructions are "wind up" meaning "to become" and "mess up" meaning "to err." These are idiomatic expressions best left out of academic writing.
The word “entitled" used as an adjective means having the right to something (she is entitled to a rebate) and is used when the subject is a person, animal or entity. The verb "to entitle" can be used where a person entitles a book or manuscript, but a manuscript cannot entitle itself.
Best bet, use “titled” to introduce names of publications, productions, speeches and musical pieces (Mr. Budet's speech is titled “How to succeed at the ABC Corporation”).
Most of the time the word "titled" is unnecessary where commas can be used (Mr. Budet's speech, "How to succeed at the ABC Corporation," got a standing ovation).
“Farther” refers to physical distance. “Further” refers to an extension of time or degree.
Use “fewer” for counted, individual items. Use “less” for bulk or quantity that is measured rather than counted. “Fewer” usually takes plural nouns; “less” usually takes singular nouns.
Unless you are going to a place or destination, it's wrong to write "I'm going to play this," "he's going to bleed to death," and other similar constructions commonly found in conversational English.
To use “half-mast,” you must refer to flags on ships or at naval stations. A flag anywhere else is at “half-staff.”
“Historic” means important and can be used to refer to past, present or future. “Historical” refers to any event in the past.
Unless you describe the way someone spoke, appeared or acted, strike this one from your vocabulary. Too many people use “hopefully,” an adverb that must only modify a verb, as if it were a conditional phrase.
Right
I hope we can go.
Wrong
Hopefully, we can go.
Wrong
Hopefully, the report will address that issue.
Right
It is hoped the report will address that issue.
Right
She eyed the interview list hopefully.
“Importantly” is incorrect unless it is an adverb.
Right
She strutted importantly through the corporate offices.
Right
More important, he said, the quality of our banking services must continue to improve.
“Imply” means to suggest or indirectly indicate. To “infer” is to conclude or decide from something known or assumed.
In general, if you imply something, you’re sending out a message. If you infer something, you’re interpreting it.
Not "in regards to"
“As regards” or “regarding” can also be used.
Many become confused which to use. Remember this axiom: you can put in place a thing, you can put a thing into a place, but you cannot put into place a thing. Except for physical placement, displacement or change of an item or state of being, use "in" for most other situations.
Stay away from this common crutch phrase. Most of the time the "in order" part of the phrase can be excluded without harming sentence structure. "In order to fulfill our obligation...," can be rewritten to read: "To fulfill our obligation...."
“Insure” means to establish a contract for insurance of some type. “Ensure” means to guarantee.
General rule? Use “ensure.”
The word is “regardless.” “Irregardless” is conversationally used so much, it might someday make Webster's Dictionary.
Do not coin verbs with this suffix, and do not use already coined words such as “finalize” (use “end” or “conclude”) or “utilize” (use “use”).
“Lay” means to place or deposit, and requires a direct object (forms: lay, laid, laid, laying). “Lie” means to be reclined or to be situated. It does not take an object (forms: lie, lay, lain, lying).
You stand on a podium and behind a lectern.
To “let alone” means to leave something undisturbed. To “leave alone” means to depart from or cause to be in solitude.
Use “like” to compare nouns and pronouns. Use “as” to introduce clauses and phrases.
“Literally” means in an exact sense. “Figuratively” means in a comparative sense.
Right
The computer literally began to smoke.
Right
Our president was so furious he figuratively blew his stack.
This is yet another unnecessary word. Instead of “The lobby is located on the first floor,” write “The lobby is on the first floor.” Instead of “Where are you located at?” (which is one of the worst constructions), write “Where are you?”
In general, use “many” for individual items that can be counted. Use “much” for bulk or quantity that is measured.
Use instead of 12 am or 12 pm. Do not put a “12” in front of one, like 12 midnight or 12 noon.
Most people have a hard time with this one. In fact, "may" can be considered one of the most misused words in today's language. Here's the simple rule. Use "may" when the sentence's subject is animate (person, animal or entity) and "may" refers to a permission, hope or decision.
"Might" is used for predictive circumstances and must be used when the subject of the sentence is inanimate. Obviously, a non-living (inanimate) thing lacks any real emotional state regarding hope, decisions and permissions. Use "might" whenever the sentence refers to something that is about to happen. Once you learn this rule, life might take on new meaning. Of course, you may disagree. Better yet, life can take on new meaning if you use more active verbs like "can" or "will" instead of uncertain words like "may" or "might."
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Right |
May I join your credit union? |
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Wrong |
This policy may save you money. |
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Right |
This policy might (can) save you money. |
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Wrong |
Might I ask how you are? |
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Right |
The customer may decline the offer. |
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Right |
Employees have learned that the company may now strip-search anyone suspected to be a terrorist or solicitor. |
Avoid using “myself.” It’s objective pronouns you want. Do not end sentences or paragraphs with "myself."
Right
It’s up to you and me.
Wrong
You can tell your manager or myself.
Use “more than” when you mean in excess of; use “over” when referring to physical placement of an object, ending or extent of authority.
Right
More than 25 staff members participated.
Wrong
The credit union has over 50 offices.
Use this word anytime you use “neither.”
“Oral” refers to spoken words. “Verbal” can refer to either spoken or written words, but most often connotes the process of reducing ideas to writing.
These two are not interchangeable. “Partially” is used to mean to a certain degree when speaking of a condition or state. “Partly” implies the idea of a part, usually of a physical object, as distinct from the whole.
Right
I’m partially convinced.
Wrong
The building is partially completed.
Right
The building is in a state of partial completion.
Right
The building is partly completed.
Use “experience” alone. What other kind of experience is there?
To “peddle” is to sell. To “pedal” is to use pedals on a bicycle.
Use “person” when speaking of an individual. The word “people,” rather than “persons,” is preferred for plural uses.
“Pom-pom” is a rapid-fire weapon. A cheerleader’s prop is correctly called a “pompon.”
“Premier” is first in status or importance, chief, or a prime minister or chief executive. “Premiere” is a first performance.
Many writers use these terms as if they were synonymous. But “presently” means in a little while, soon. “Currently” means now. In most cases you can do just fine without using “currently.” For example, “we are currently revising the plan” works better when simply stated, “we are revising the plan.”
“Pretense” is a false show or unsupported claim to some distinction or accomplishment. “Pretext” is a false reason or motive put forth to hide the real one, an excuse or a cover-up.
“Principal” as a noun is a chief person or thing; as an adjective, it means first in importance. “Principle” is a noun meaning fundamental truth, doctrine or law; a guiding rule or code of conduct; a method of operation.
To “rebut” is to argue to the contrary. To “refute” is to win the argument by disproving or invalidating opposing opinions.
“Regardless” is a word. “Irregardless” is not a word.
separates/set apart
These two words are not interchangeable. To separate means to divide, part, disconnect, undo, split, break apart, take apart or detach. To set apart means to place above, differentiate, sanctify, bless or make holy.
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Wrong |
Our financial strength is what separates us from the rest of the credit unions. (In this case, it appears that the credit union has been detached from the industry.) |
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Right |
Our financial strength is what sets us apart from the rest of the credit unions. (Now the credit union is still part of the same group but differentiated.) |
“Shall” is used for first-person future tense and expresses the speaker’s belief regarding his or her future action or state.
If “will” is used for first-person future, it expresses his or her determination or consent. At other times, “will” is used for second- and third-person future tenses.
Use “student” or “students” instead.
See That/Which in section 1 of this chapter.
The preferred word in the United States is “theater,” unless the British spelling is part of a proper name, as in “B. Iden Payne Theatre” or “Lab Theatre.”
“Toward” is correct. “Towards” is not.
This is not a word. You can be reactive, proactive, retroactive or inactive. Deactivate is the opposite of activate, but deactive is not a word, nor is reactivate, proactivate, retroactivate, unactivate or non-retroactive.
Commonly overused, this word literally means one of a kind, without equal. “Unique” should not be modified by “truly,” “rather” or “very.” Something is either unique or it’s not.
Use “use.” “Utilize” is the awkward verb form of the obsolete adjective “utile.” Let's keep our English modern.
It's rare to see “whom” in writing. But if your sentence's objective clause refers to a person or animal with a proper name, you should use whom.
“Who” substitutes for the subjective pronouns he, she or they; “whom” must be used in the sense of him, her or them. If you want to avoid use of “whom,” restructure your sentence. It is wrong to arbitrarily use “who” when it is incorrect.
It's unwise to use this suffix to create words like “mortgagewise" or "lenderwise.” These words are absent from the dictionary. "Likewise" and "otherwise" are usable words.
A trademark for a brand of photocopy machine should not be used as a noun or verb.
You know how wrong it is to use these expressions in your writing. Shame on you. If you must stoop so low, then complete the sentence, unless you want someone who knows not your meaning to stumble and ask: "Who knows what?"
Here's a list of constantly misspelled words. When in doubt, use a computer spelling program or a dictionary.
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