Word Use

Douglas Perret Starr

Professor

Texas A&M University

• Communication is not just writing words; it involves understanding on the part of the receiver of the information.

• It is incumbent upon the writer to ensure that the reader understands, not the other way around.

• Scholarly writing requires accuracy in the use of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and word, words not of the fancy kind the slows the reading, but words whose definition and usage the reader understands.

• Writing involves plain language that conveys information and avoids confusion.

• In describing the results of a research project, the verbs are in the past tense because the research was done in the past.

• In citing a review of literature, every article citied is cited in the past tense. The authors wrote, not writes.

• Some writers of scholarly pieces refer to journal articles in the present tense: Smith’s (2003) article says. . . .

• That’s correct because the article never changes. It says the same thing every time it is read.

• But it is better to write, “Smith (2003) wrote in his article. . . .”

• One of the early rules of writing is that the writer know the definitions and usages of words.

• What I’m talking about today are some common errors in word use and how to avoid them.

Affect / Effect

• Affect means to influence.

• Effect is the result of that influence.

• Inflation affects our sense of security and has an effect on the economy.

Approximations

• The words “approximately,” “some,” “about,” “nearly,” “more/less than,” and the like generally add nothing more than wordiness.

• In scholarly writing, you have precise numbers; use them. Your readers will praise you.

Approximations

• If you must use an approximate number, don’t tell readers that it is an approximate number. Most approximate numbers identify themselves.

• In general, “half” of 432 million is not exactly 216 million. That’s because 432 million really is 432,696,842.

Approximations

• Most round numbers ― 45,000, half, one third ― are approximations.

• Don’t clutter your report with unnecessary words. And don’t do this:

• The nearest star is approximately 450 million light years from Earth.

Approximations

• Or these:

• The cost of the project was estimated at $32,483,982.

• The project will cost approximately 32 million dollars

Currently / Presently

• Definitions change over time. Take care.

• Currently means right now. “Is currently” is redundant.

• Presently means “in a little while,” “soon.” However, “presently” is coming to mean “currently.” In any definition, “is presently” is either incorrect or redundant.

Due to / Because of

• Due to means resulting from.

• Use “due to” when it follows a to-be verb: The airplane is due to land at 10 a.m. His success was due to hard work.

• Because of means by reason of.

Fewer / Less

• Fewer applies to amount.

• Fewer than 20.

• Less applies to quantity.

• Less than 20 pounds.

Insure / Ensure

• Insure refers to insurance that provides compensation in case of loss.

• Ensure means to guarantee.

Only

• Be careful.

• Only has no place in statistical explanations.

• Using “only” in citing statistics implies bias: Ten people applied; [only] one was qualified.

• [Only] six people responded.

Reflexive Pronouns

• “-self” pronouns are “myself,” “yourself,” “herself,” “himself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” “themselves.”

• “-self” pronouns are not used in the objective case.

• Incorrect: Give it to myself.

• Correct: Give it to me.

Singular / Plural

• Use singular pronouns to refer to singular nouns and plural pronouns to refer to plural nouns.

• The team is [singular] going to Austin where they [plural, use “it”] will play U.T.

When asked

• “When asked” is poor transition. Recast the sentence.

Summary

• Write in the past tense.

• Use singular pronouns for singular nouns; plural pronouns for plural nouns.

• Look up the definitions and usages of words.

• ¿Preguntas?

• Once upon a time,• The goose drank wine;• The monkey spat tobacco• On the street-car line.• The street-car broke;• The monkey choked.• And they all went to heaven • On a bill-ee goat.