Choice of words

Be careful with the choices of words. Most words are loaded with political, soci
al, historical, aesthetic, or moral values. A good writer tries not to offend an
yone by trying to avoid such words, and using value-neutral words as far as poss
ible.
- Which or that?
Usually which and that can both be used in a sentence structure. The only time t
hey create confusion is when they are used as relative pronouns to introduce cla
uses.
Which is used with non-essential clauses. For example: The places, which I visite
d, were beautiful . Here the clause is not essential, it has only been added for f
urther information.
That is used with essential clauses. For example: The places that I told you abou
t were interesting . Here the clause is essential because it tells us that we are
talking about particular places.
- Use of adjectives
Do not use a lot of adjectives. Adjectives are good to describe your people, pla
ces, or things, but their overuse makes your writing stagnant. Try using strong,
descriptive verbs instead.
- Starting a sentence with it
Do not start a sentence with it unless the word or concept it refers to, is very c
lear. Specific words are always better than vague words.
- Who and whom
Who and Whom often cause confusion. Remember this:
Who is used when it is the subject of a sentence, or when it is a subject-case p
ronoun. Example: Who is at the door?
Whom is used as the object of preposition, or when it is an object-case pronoun.
Example: To whom did you give the bag?
- Big words, impressive words?
Sometimes writers think big words look impressive. It s not true. Use only those w
ords which you know how to use and your readers can understand

- Corrupted words
Watch for commonly used corrupted words. If you are not sure about them, confirm b
efore using them. Examples: preventative for preventive , or dependency for dependence
- Affect and effect
Affect and effect are commonly confused words. Remember:
Affect is a verb, meaning to influence . Example: The medicine did not affect him.E
ffect is a noun, meaning result . Example: This medicine has no side effects.
The only time effect is a verb is when it means to bring about . Example: The princ
ipal has effected some new rules.
- Careful use of words
Do not write the first word that comes to your mind. Search for a better one
that adds more information, color, feeling, or opinion to your story.

one

- Graceful alternatives to negations

Avoid using the word not when presenting an idea that involves negation. Use a mor
e direct and graceful alternative instead. For example: If he does not respond t
o your question .. can better be written as If he fails to respond to your questio
n .
- Don t mix up lie and lay.

To lie is an intransitive verb meaning to recline . Its conjugations are: I lie on

the bed (present); I lay on the bed (past); I will lie on the bed (future); I am
lying on the bed (right now); I have lain on the bed (continuous).
To lay is a transitive verb meaning to place or to put . It needs a direct object bec
ause it describes an action that is done to . Its conjugations are: I lay the book
on the table (present); I laid the book on the table (past); I will lay the book
on the table (future); I am laying the book on the table (right now); I have la
id the book on the table (continuous). Here the word book is the direct object to
which the action has been done to.
- Into versus in to
Do not confuse into with in to .
Into is a preposition meaning from outside to inside . Example: He walked into the cl
assrom.
In to is the adverb in followed by a preposition or first word of an infinitive to . Ex
ample: He walked in to tell the class about the program.
- Using due to
Due to means caused by and NOT because of . Hence,
The game was postponed due to rain is incorrect.
The game was postponed because of rain is correct
But, The game s postponement was due to rain is correct.
In short, use due to only if it can be substituted with caused by .
- Farther or further
Do not confuse the words farther and further .
Farther refers to physical advancement in distance. It is the comparative form of f
ar when referring to distance. For example: His house is farther than John s.
Further refers to advancement to a greater degree. It is the comparative form of fa
r when referring to degree or extent. For example: He decided to go ahead without
any further delay.
- All together or altogether
All together and altogether mean different things, so be careful in their use. A
ll together means together in a group , while altogether means completely .
For example: The students stood all together on the issue . Here all together is a p
hrase meaning the students were acting collectively as one group. All and togeth
er can be separated by other words. Like: All the students stood together on the i
ssue .
She was altogether wrong . Here altogether is an adverb meaning completely .
- Till or Until
In modern English, till and until are interchangeable, except when used as the f
irst word in a sentence when until is preferred. Which one to use is most often
decided by the rhythm of the sentence. Until is also sometimes considered more f
ormal, which is why it turns up more often in edited prose.
- Fiscal versus financial
Do not confuse the words fiscal and financial . Fiscal is related to government expendi
tures, revenues, and debt; while financial is related to finance, finances, or fin
anciers. For example:
The government s new fiscal policy has helped achieve price stability.
The company s financial condition has improved since the new management took over.
- Bring or take ?
Whether to use bring or take depends on the direction of the action.
For example: I will bring her with me to the party . Here the action is towards the
party. Hence, the word bring .
She plans to take just one suitcase with her to London . In this sentence, the acti

on is away from where you are. Hence, the word

take .

- Oral versus Verbal

Oral and verbal do not mean the same thing. Oral refers to the spoken words or by
mouth . For example, an oral test is a spoken test; or an oral presentation is a pres
entation made through speaking. However, verbal means in words , or anything expres
sed in words whether spoken or written. For example, verbal communication means co
mmunication through words; or a verbal agreement is an agreement in words, which m
ay be spoken or written.
- Do not confuse envelop with envelope
Do not confuse envelop (without an e ) with envelope (with the

e ).

Envelop (without the e ) is a verb, is pronounced en-VELL-uhp, and means to wrap , to c

onceal or to cover . For example: As the lights go off, darkness envelops us.
Envelope (with the e ) is a noun, is pronounced either EN-vuh-LOP or AHN-vuh-LOP, a
nd means the paper container used for letters or papers. For example: He kept th
e letter in the envelope, sealed it and then went to mail it.
- Disinterested or uninterested
Do not confuse disinterested with uninterested.
Disinterested means impartial or unbiased . For example:
A disinterested mediator helped settle the dispute. (He did not take sides)
Uninterested means not interested or indifferent . For example:
This student is uninterested in chemistry. (The student has no interest in chemi
stry)
- Majority - singular or plural?
Majority may be used either as singular or plural. When used to describe a collect
ive group, it is singular. When used for a collection of individuals, it is plur
al. For example:
The majority elects the president of the organization. ( Majority here is singular
as it is used to describe a single collective group. Hence, the verb elects.)
The majority of the students come to school by bus. (Here majority is plural since
it is used to describe a collection of individuals, the students. Hence, the ve
rb come.)