Common Usage Common Usage ErrorsErrors

Almost DoneAlmost Done81-10081-100

81. ADVICE/ADVISE81. ADVICE/ADVISE

““Advice” is the noun, “advise” the Advice” is the noun, “advise” the verb. When Ann Landers verb. When Ann Landers advisesadvises people, she gives thempeople, she gives them advice. advice.

82. AESTHETIC/ASCETIC82. AESTHETIC/ASCETIC

People often encounter these two words People often encounter these two words first in college, and may confuse one with first in college, and may confuse one with the other although they have almost the other although they have almost opposite connotations. “Aesthetic” (also opposite connotations. “Aesthetic” (also spelled “esthetic”) has to do with beauty, spelled “esthetic”) has to do with beauty, whereas “ascetic” has to do with avoiding whereas “ascetic” has to do with avoiding pleasure, including presumably the pleasure, including presumably the pleasure of looking at beautiful things. pleasure of looking at beautiful things.

St. Francis had an ascetic attitude toward St. Francis had an ascetic attitude toward life, whereas Oscar Wilde had an esthetic life, whereas Oscar Wilde had an esthetic attitude toward life. attitude toward life.

83. ALL READY/ALREADY83. ALL READY/ALREADY

““All ready” is a phrase meaning All ready” is a phrase meaning “completely prepared,” as in “As “completely prepared,” as in “As soon as I put my coat on, I’ll be all soon as I put my coat on, I’ll be all ready.” “Already,” however, is an ready.” “Already,” however, is an adverb used to describe something adverb used to describe something that has happened before a certain that has happened before a certain time, as in “What do you mean you’d time, as in “What do you mean you’d rather stay home? I’ve already got rather stay home? I’ve already got my coat on.” my coat on.”

84. 84. AMBIGUOUS/AMBIVALENTAMBIGUOUS/AMBIVALENT Even though the prefix “ambi-” Even though the prefix “ambi-”

means “both,” “ambiguous” has means “both,” “ambiguous” has come to mean “unclear,” come to mean “unclear,” “undefined,” while “ambivalent” “undefined,” while “ambivalent” means “torn between two opposing means “torn between two opposing feelings or views.” If your attitude feelings or views.” If your attitude cannot be defined into two polarized cannot be defined into two polarized alternatives, then you’re ambiguous, alternatives, then you’re ambiguous, not ambivalent. not ambivalent.

85. AMORAL/IMMORAL85. AMORAL/IMMORAL

““Amoral” is a rather technical word Amoral” is a rather technical word meaning “unrelated to morality.” meaning “unrelated to morality.” When you mean to denounce When you mean to denounce someone’s behavior, call it someone’s behavior, call it “immoral.” “immoral.”

86. COARSE/COURSE86. COARSE/COURSE

““Coarse” is always an adjective Coarse” is always an adjective meaning “rough, crude.” meaning “rough, crude.” Unfortunately, this spelling is often Unfortunately, this spelling is often mistakenly used for a quite different mistakenly used for a quite different word, “course,” which can be either word, “course,” which can be either a verb or a noun (with several a verb or a noun (with several different meanings). different meanings).

87. DEVICE/DEVISE87. DEVICE/DEVISE

““Device” is a noun. A can-opener is a Device” is a noun. A can-opener is a device. “Devise” is a verb. You can device. “Devise” is a verb. You can devise a plan for opening a can with devise a plan for opening a can with a sharp rock instead. Only in law is a sharp rock instead. Only in law is “devise” properly used as a noun, “devise” properly used as a noun, meaning something deeded in a will. meaning something deeded in a will.

88. ENVIOUS/JEALOUS88. ENVIOUS/JEALOUS

Although these are often treated as Although these are often treated as synonyms, there is a difference. You synonyms, there is a difference. You are envious of what others have that are envious of what others have that you lack. Jealousy, on the other you lack. Jealousy, on the other hand, involves wanting to hold on to hand, involves wanting to hold on to what you do have. You can be what you do have. You can be jealous of your boyfriend’s attraction jealous of your boyfriend’s attraction to other women, but you’re envious to other women, but you’re envious of your boyfriend’s CD collection.of your boyfriend’s CD collection.

89. FAIR/FARE89. FAIR/FARE

When you send your daughter off to When you send your daughter off to camp, you hope she’ll fare well. camp, you hope she’ll fare well. That’s why you bid her a fond That’s why you bid her a fond farewell. “Fair” as a verb is a rare farewell. “Fair” as a verb is a rare word meaning “to smooth a surface word meaning “to smooth a surface to prepare it for being joined to to prepare it for being joined to another.” another.”

90. HIPPIE/HIPPY90. HIPPIE/HIPPY

A long-haired 60s flower child was a A long-haired 60s flower child was a “hippie.” “Hippy” is an adjective “hippie.” “Hippy” is an adjective describing someone with wide hips. The describing someone with wide hips. The IEIE is not caused by a is not caused by a YY changing to changing to IEIE in in the plural as in “puppy” and “puppies.” the plural as in “puppy” and “puppies.” It is rather a dismissive diminutive, It is rather a dismissive diminutive, invented by older, more sophisticated invented by older, more sophisticated hipsters looking down on the new kids hipsters looking down on the new kids as mere “hippies.” Confusing these two as mere “hippies.” Confusing these two is definitely unhip. is definitely unhip.

91. FOUL/FOWL91. FOUL/FOWL

A chicken is a A chicken is a fowl.fowl. A poke in the eye A poke in the eye is a is a foul.foul.

92. INSTALL/INSTILL92. INSTALL/INSTILL

People conjure up visions of People conjure up visions of themselves as upgradable robots themselves as upgradable robots when they write things like “My when they write things like “My Aunt Tillie tried to install the spirit Aunt Tillie tried to install the spirit of giving in my heart.” The word of giving in my heart.” The word they are searching for is “instill.” they are searching for is “instill.” You install equipment, you instill You install equipment, you instill feelings or attitudes. feelings or attitudes.

93. PATIENCE/PATIENTS93. PATIENCE/PATIENTS

Doctors have patients, but while Doctors have patients, but while you’re waiting to see them you have you’re waiting to see them you have to have patience. to have patience.

94. SARCASTIC/IRONIC94. SARCASTIC/IRONIC

Not all ironic comments are Not all ironic comments are sarcastic. Sarcasm is meant to mock sarcastic. Sarcasm is meant to mock or wound. Irony can be amusing or wound. Irony can be amusing without being maliciously aimed at without being maliciously aimed at hurting anyone. hurting anyone.

95. TAKEN BACK/TAKEN 95. TAKEN BACK/TAKEN ABACKABACK When you’re startled by something, When you’re startled by something,

you’re taken aback by it. When you’re taken aback by it. When you’re reminded of something from you’re reminded of something from your past, you’re taken back to that your past, you’re taken back to that time. time.

96. TIMBER/TIMBRE96. TIMBER/TIMBRE

You can build a house out of timber, You can build a house out of timber, but that quality which distinguishes but that quality which distinguishes the sound produced by one the sound produced by one instrument or voice from others is instrument or voice from others is timbretimbre, usually pronounced “TAM-, usually pronounced “TAM-bruh,” so the common expression is bruh,” so the common expression is “vocal timbre.” “vocal timbre.”

97. 97. AVOCATION/VOCATIONAVOCATION/VOCATION Your avocation is just your hobby; Your avocation is just your hobby;

don’t mix it up with your job: your don’t mix it up with your job: your vocation. vocation.

98. 98. CORE/CORPS/CORPSECORE/CORPS/CORPSE Apples have Apples have cores.cores. A A corpscorps is an is an

organization, like the Peace Corps. A organization, like the Peace Corps. A corpsecorpse is a dead body, a carcass. is a dead body, a carcass.

99. 99. CRESCENDO/CLIMAXCRESCENDO/CLIMAX When something is growing louder or When something is growing louder or

more intense, it is going through a more intense, it is going through a crescendo (from an Italian word meaning crescendo (from an Italian word meaning “growing”). Traditionalists object to its “growing”). Traditionalists object to its use when you mean “climax.” A crescendo use when you mean “climax.” A crescendo of cheers by an enthusiastic audience of cheers by an enthusiastic audience grows until it reaches a climax, or peak. grows until it reaches a climax, or peak. “Crescendo” as a verb is common, but “Crescendo” as a verb is common, but also disapproved by many authorities. also disapproved by many authorities. Instead of “the orchestra crescendos,” Instead of “the orchestra crescendos,” write “the orchestra plays a crescendo.” write “the orchestra plays a crescendo.”

100. DISINTERESTED/100. DISINTERESTED/UNINTERESTEDUNINTERESTED A bored person is A bored person is uninterested.uninterested. Do Do

not confuse this word with the much not confuse this word with the much rarer rarer disinterested,disinterested, which means which means “objective, neutral.” “objective, neutral.”