| Word Wise |
Writing tips for public relations professionals – and for people everywhere, by Dan Santow
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- 2008: The Year in ReviewDecember 30 2008
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A year ago I admitted here that while there may be a way to add a search function to this blog so people could locate that post about gerunds or dangling participles they remember reading, I didn't know how to do it. I think I even promised that by this New Year's I'd find out and add it. Well, these past 12 months flew by awfully fast, haven't they? So, like last year I'm reduced to presenting here for you a list of all of 2008's posts and links to them. And I promise, swear to God, may the heavens strike me unconscious, by next year - really, seriously, no kidding, no joke, stop laughing - I will add a search function (if I can).
Jan. 6 - Ten to One
Jan. 12 - There is Nothin' like a Name, Nothin' in the World
Jan. 20 - Passion Jumps the Shark
Jan. 27 - Commasutra
Feb. 2 - Punctuation Situation
- Stormy WhetherDecember 8 2008
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Whether to add “or not” when using the word “whether” is simple.
If there’s a choice involved, use “whether” alone.
- I didn’t know whether to wear the Black Watch plaid or the MacLeod of Lewis plaid. (The word “or” between the alternatives is the hint that “or not” is not necessary.)
Likewise, if it’s a choice between doing one thing or another – should I or shouldn’t I? – you can drop the “or not” and use “whether” or “if.”
- I wondered whether [or if] I should wear the Stewart Green instead.
Sometimes you’ll want to use “or not” for emphasis.
- I wanted to wear plaid whether I was the only one who did or not.
- Take 2 Ls and 2 Ns and Call Me In the MorningNovember 22 2008
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Three times in the past week – three times! – I saw the word “millennial” misspelled. Two of those misspellings were in high-profile presentations in front of large audiences, one in a big-city newspaper.
The first time I saw it I thought, well, tsk, tsk, tut, tut, blah-bi-di-blah-blah-blah.
The second time I saw it I just rolled my eyes (hopefully no one saw that).
But the third time? I - quite publicly - spit up my orange juice (it was at a breakfast thingee).
As marketers we talk to one another a lot about millennials, those coveted, bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed media savvy children of the Baby Boomers – Millennials, please buy our stuff! – but we risk coming off like old fogies if we can’t at least spell their generational moniker right.
Yes, millennial is a long word and includes a lot of consonants that all look alike. But come on, it’s not a hard word to spell.
M-i-l-l-e-n-n-i-a-l. Two Ls, two Ns. Easy. - Which Word When - The Second in a SeriesNovember 10 2008
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among/amongst
amid/amidst
If you live in England, or were raised there, or live in a country that was once a member of the British Empire, or are an especially dedicated Anglophile, you can get away with using the words amongst and amidst. They mean, after all, the same as among and amid. If, however, you do not fall into one of those categories, you're best off keeping things simple with among and amid. (Whilst I’m at it, let me add that there’s actually a difference between amid and among – when among things, those things should be countable, while when amid things, they should be uncountable or abstract, as in, “I stood among my friends, amid all the confusion.”)
a while/awhile
A while means “a period of time” and awhile means “for a time” (in other words, the for is included, so you wouldn’t write "for awhile" because in essence you’d be writing "for for a while").
- Algernon stayed awhile; actually, he did nothing but sleep for a while.
etc./et al.
An abbreviation of et alii (“and others”), et al. refers to people; etc., an abbreviation of et cetera (“and other things”), refers to things only.
- Which Word When - The First in a SeriesNovember 4 2008
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affect and effect
“Affect” is almost always a verb meaning to influence or to cause a change in.
- Brünnhilde was affected by the theater's no-horned-helmet policy.
“Effect” is usually a noun meaning an outcome or a result.
- Her explanation that her helmet was merely a part of her dress ensemble had no visible effect on the usher.
Sometimes, however, “effect” is a verb meaning to make happen.
- Thereafter, she fought to effect a change in dress code.
discrete and discreet
“Discrete” means "individually separate and distinct."
- The company had a dozen discrete practices.
Those of you active in online dating of one sort or another probably know that “discreet” means "marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint."
- He was shocked – shocked! – to come across his neighbor’s profile indicating she was in search of a discreet relationship.
then and th
