Grammar Girl's 101 Troublesome Words You'll Master in No Time

1. Language Evolution: Embracing Change While Maintaining Clarity

Like it or not, one way English changes is through misunderstandings and mistakes that gain a hold in the minds of enough people.

Language is dynamic. English is constantly evolving, often through common usage patterns that may have originated from misunderstandings or errors. This evolution can lead to words taking on new meanings or spellings becoming widely accepted over time.

Balance tradition and progress. While it's important to maintain clarity and precision in language, it's equally crucial to adapt to changing norms. Many words and phrases that were once considered incorrect are now standard usage. For example, "email" has largely replaced "e-mail," and "alright" is gaining acceptance alongside "all right."

Context matters. The appropriateness of certain words or phrases can depend on the formality of the situation, the audience, and the medium of communication. What's acceptable in casual conversation might not be suitable for formal writing or professional settings.

2. Navigating Tricky Word Choices: From "Addicting" to "Aggravate"

English has a class of words called flat adverbs: the adjective can be used as an adverb (such as slow, quick, and loud) even when a separate adverb that ends in -ly exists (such as slowly, quickly, and loudly).

Common confusions: Many words in English have subtle distinctions that can trip up even native speakers. For instance:

• "Addicting" vs. "addictive"
• "Aggravate" meaning to make worse vs. to annoy
• "Alternate" vs. "alternative"
• "Bemused" (confused) vs. "amused" (entertained)

Flat adverbs: Some adjectives can function as adverbs without adding "-ly." Examples include:

• Drive slow
• Talk loud
• Go quick

While these forms are often acceptable in casual speech, the "-ly" versions may be preferred in formal writing.

Usage trends: Language experts often disagree on what's "correct." It's important to consult current style guides and be aware of changing norms. For example, "hopefully" meaning "I hope" was once frowned upon but is now widely accepted.

3. The Dilemma of Directional and Regional Terms

When you're describing a direction, south is lowercase: The map is behind a secret door on the south wall.

Capitalization rules: Directional terms can be tricky when it comes to capitalization. The general rule is:

• Lowercase when referring to direction: "We're heading south."
• Capitalize when referring to a specific region: "She's from the South."

Regional variations: Usage can differ between countries. For example:

• "Toward" is standard in American English
• "Towards" is more common in British English

Cultural sensitivity: Be aware that some terms, like "African American," can be sensitive and preferences may vary among individuals.

4. Collective Nouns and Team Names: Singular or Plural?

In the United States, treat collective nouns such as team as singular and team names as singular unless the name itself sounds plural.

American vs. British usage: In American English, collective nouns are typically treated as singular, while in British English, they're often treated as plural.

Examples:

• American: "The team is winning."
• British: "The team are winning."

Team names: The treatment of team names can be inconsistent:

• Singular-sounding names: "The Miami Heat is playing tonight."
• Plural-sounding names: "The New York Yankees are in first place."

Context matters: Sometimes, the choice between singular and plural can subtly change the meaning, emphasizing either the group as a unit or its individual members.

5. The Ongoing Debate: "They" as a Singular Pronoun

English has a big, gaping hole: no pronoun we can use to describe a person when we don't know their sex (see!)—I've tried it with babies, and it hasn't gone well.

The pronoun problem: English lacks a gender-neutral singular pronoun for referring to individuals of unknown gender. This has led to several approaches:

1. Using "he" as a generic pronoun (now considered outdated and sexist)
2. Using "he or she" (often seen as clunky)
3. Using singular "they" (increasingly accepted but still controversial)

Historical precedent: Singular "they" has been used by respected authors for centuries, including Jane Austen and Shakespeare.

Modern trend: Many style guides now accept singular "they," especially in informal contexts. However, in formal writing, some still recommend rewriting to avoid the issue (e.g., making the subject plural).

6. Unique, Absolute, and Ungradable Terms

Grammarians call adjectives such as unique, dead, and impossible "ungradable." It means they can't be more of what they already are.

Ungradable adjectives: Some adjectives describe absolute states that can't be intensified. Common examples include:

• Unique
• Perfect
• Impossible
• Dead

Correct usage: These terms should not be modified with intensifiers like "very" or "more."

• Incorrect: "That painting is very unique."
• Correct: "That painting is unique."

Exceptions: It's acceptable to modify these terms downward:

• "The solution is almost perfect."
• "The species is nearly extinct."

Common misuse: Despite the rule, phrases like "very unique" are often heard in casual speech and advertising. In formal writing, it's best to avoid such constructions.

7. Deadlines and Ambiguity: The Case of "Until"

If you have until March 4 to submit an entry in the National Grammar Day video contest, does that mean you can still turn it in on March 4, or is March 3 the last acceptable day?

The ambiguity of "until": When used in deadlines, "until" can be unclear about whether the stated date is included or excluded.

Best practices for clarity:

• Specify whether the deadline date is inclusive: "Submit by March 4" or "Submit through March 4"
• Use precise language: "The deadline is 11:59 PM EST on March 4"
• For instructions, err on the side of caution and submit early

Real-world example: The IRS is careful to specify that tax returns are due "by April 15" or "on or before April 15" to avoid confusion.

8. Simplicity vs. Complexity: When to Use "Utilize" Instead of "Use"

Often, you can replace utilize with use and your sentence will mean the same thing and sound less stuffy.

General rule: In most cases, "use" is preferable to "utilize." It's simpler and more direct.

When to use "utilize":

• To emphasize using something for a specific purpose or profit
• In scientific or technical contexts where precise language is required
• To convey a sense of making practical or effective use of something

Examples:

• Simple: "We use computers in our office."
• More specific: "We utilize advanced algorithms to analyze data."

Avoiding jargon: Be cautious about using "utilize" simply to sound more formal or sophisticated. Clear, straightforward language is often more effective in communication.

Last updated: August 20, 2024