Commonly misused terms for the careful writer

By Nina Munteanu

When I first started writing stories—many more years ago than I care to admit—I knew that I was a poor speller, had generally bad syntax, and often misused grammar. Someone, who believed in my capacity to tell a good story despite my shortcomings in delivery, handed me a slim copy of William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White’s classic guide The Elements of Style. This elegant 105-page book includes elementary rules of usage, elementary principles of composition, a few matters of form, commonly misused words and expressions, and an approach to style.

It is “still a little book, small enough and important enough to carry in your pocket, as I carry mine,” said author and journalist Charles Osgood. And it has helped me out of a few messes. Let’s look at some examples of commonly misused words and expressions. These words and expressions, Strunk and White tell us, “are not so much bad English as bad style, the commonplaces of careless writing.” Being mindful of our language and our style can often make the difference in a publisher or editor’s perception of our professionalism.

Here are some of my favourites, in some cases as much because of Strunk and White’s pithy comments as the actual utility of the advice. Have you used any of these?

Allude: not to confuse with elude. You allude to a book; you elude a pursuer.

Allusion: easily confused with illusion. The first means “an indirect reference”; the second means “an unreal image” or “false impression.”

As to whether: whether is sufficient.

Being: not appropriate after regard…as. For instance, go from “she is regarded as being the best writer” to “she is regarded as the best writer.”

But: unnecessary after doubt and help. For instance, go from “I have no doubt but that…” or “She could not help but…” to “I have no doubt that…” and “She could not help…”

Compare: to compare to points out the similarity between objects regarded as different (as in most metaphors); to compare with points out the differences between objects that are similar. For instance, life may be compared to a pilgrimage; Paris may be compared with London (another large city), but compared to a moveable feast. (Some modern linguists consider these interchangeable and do not distinguish the metaphoric elements of comparison. I concur with Strunk and White.)

Comprise: literally means “embrace.” A zoo comprises mammals, reptiles, and birds—because it embraces or includes them. The animals do not comprise a zoo—they constitute one.

Disinterested: means “impartial.” Do not confuse with uninterested, which means “not interested in.” You bring in a disinterested (impartial) person to judge a dispute; another may be uninterested (couldn’t care less) about the dispute.

Effect: noun means “result,” and as a verb means “to accomplish.” Not to be confused with affect, which means “to influence.”

Farther/further: farther refers to distance and further refers to time.

Finalize: called a pompous and ambiguous verb by Strunk and White, I must confess to using it many times in my other life as a consultant in business. Every segment of our society adopts its own jargon words and expressions to promote group identity and ease communication within the group. Another example that comes to mind is the use of dialogue as a verb. When using vernacular of any kind, be mindful that it is appropriate to your character, situation, and story.

Imply/infer: not interchangeable. To imply is to suggest or indicate but not overtly express; to infer is to deduce from available evidence.

Interesting: Strunk and White suggest that this is, in fact, an uninteresting word, given that it tends to label and “tells” rather than letting the writer “show.” For instance, instead of using “an interesting tale of…” avoid the preamble and simply make it interesting! Let the reader judge. Telling them won’t make it so. This applies also to any letters you write to publishers and editors; avoid telling them your story is funny or interesting. Show it in your description.

Less: don’t use instead of fewer. Less refers to quantity; fewer refers to number. For instance, “his troubles are less than mine” means they are of less magnitude, but “his troubles are fewer than mine” means he has a smaller number of troubles.

Nice: means everything and nothing. Use it sparingly and judiciously with intention. In other words, use it to be purposefully vague, as in conversation. Strunk and White define it as a “shaggy, all-purpose word.”

One of the most: Strunk and White define this phrase as a “feeble formula” that is threadbare, invites cliché, and adds little, except words, to narration.

Personalize: Strunk and White dismiss it as a “pretentious word, often carrying bad advice. Do not personalize your prose,” they say. “Simply make it good and keep it clean.” I agree. It falls under jargon.

That/which: that is the defining (restrictive) pronoun; which is non-defining. For instance, “the lawnmower that is broken is in the garage” tells us which one. “the lawnmower, which is broken, is in the garage” gives us an additional fact about the lawnmower.

While: many writers use it indiscriminately for and, but, and although. It can be efficiently replaced by a semicolon. For example, change “the girl stood by the door, while the man stood next to the couch” to “the girl stood by the door; the man stood next to the couch.” While is best used to mean “during the time that.”

Nina Munteanu is an internationally published novelist, short story author, and writing coach. She was also the speaker at EAC Toronto branch’s January 2014 members’ meeting. This article was originally published on Scribophile.