Spelling Pedantry

[lederhosen]

Trying to stamp out some of these recurring errors before they breed... and no, I'm not singling anybody out here, all of these are things I've seen from multiple sources.



-- There is no such word as "definately". The word you're looking for here is "definitely".

-- A thick liquid may be described as "viscous". A ferocious or cruel thing might be called "vicious". There is no such word as "viscious", nor "vicous".

-- "Populous" is a real word, but often misused. It is an adjective, meaning "containing many people". If you want a word to encompass the people of a given region, that's the noun "populace". So, "China is a populous nation", but "The Emperor sent out a proclamation to the populace."

-- There is no such word as "grammer". No, despite some claims I've seen, this isn't one of those things that changes when you cross the Atlantic. It's still "grammar". Thank you.

-- "Viruses", not "virii".

-- "To", "too", "two". Learn the difference and love it. Also, they're/there/their.

-- Apostrophes.

-- Not a spelling error per se, but while I'm here: "e.g." means "for example". "i.e." means "that is". Don't use one where you mean the other.

-- And it is "per se", not "per say".

-- "affect"/"effect". "Affect" is (usually) a verb, meaning to have an influence on something. "Effect" is (usually) a noun, describing this influence - if you "affect" something, you have an "effect" on it. Thus:

Rheumatic fever affects the heart.

One of the effects of measles is the appearance of red spots.

"Effect" has a secondary usage as a verb, meaning "to bring about". So, if John "effects" a new policy, that means he sets the policy in place. OTOH, If he "affects" the policy, that means he influenced it.

"Affect" has a secondary usage as a noun, meaning "feeling" or "emotion", but that one's very rare these days.



Thank you, Citizens. You may proceed about your business.

Comments

[chaos-crafter.livejournal.com]

May I just say that my use of Virii is not a misunderstanding of the correct form, but a deliberate attempt to change the language.

:)

Mea culpa

[ambitious-wench.livejournal.com]

Populous: Yeah, that's me. Thanks for the pointer, art. Oh, and viscious/vicious thang too--and I'll remember--definitely.

Can you explain what a transitive verb is?
Edie
Yes, I'm serious.

Re: Mea culpa

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

No problem. A transitive verb is one that requires an object. That is, verbs are "doing" words, and transitive verbs are specifically "doing things to things" words.

For instance, "I made the bed": "made" here is transitive. You can't just sit around "making", you have to actually make something.

Compare: "I slept." "Slept" doesn't require an object, so this is non-transitive.

[terrycloth.livejournal.com]

I think you definately take speling and grammer two seriously. Eg, your all pedantic and that'll have an opposite affect on the populous.

[peglegpete.livejournal.com]

Not a spelling error per se, but while I'm here: "e.g." means "for example". "i.e." means "that is". Don't use one where you mean the other.

Huh. I always thought 'e.g.' was for multiple example and 'i.e.' for one example. Thanks for the enlightenment.

[lordstorm.livejournal.com]

"All your base are belong to us."

Do your worst!

Although, I have to admit, sharing your appreciation of correct spelling and grammar, it's reasons like these I ended up joining the grammarpolice community. :)

[remus-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Like ah've said 'afore, folks, ya just worry 'bout the grammation t'much. :)

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

Okay, I know I make typos, but really....*grin*

[malada.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pointers.

I am grateful that I have Deor to make fun of ^W^W^W discover my spelling errors and beat me over the head ^W^W^W^W^W gently correct my failings.

-m

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

That's what spouses are for ;-)

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

I'll be thankful too. It's not _my_ language per se, but I still don't like when people misuse or abuse it.

[unsworn-nomore.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, we speak American too, but we call it English"