UWF Writing Lab Diction from A to Z by Ashley Massie Revised February 18, 2013 Adapted from Grammar...
23
UWF Writing Lab Diction from A to Z by Ashley Massie Revised February 18, 2013 Adapted from Grammar Shots By Mamie Webb Hixon “Things We Say Wrong ”
-
Upload
buck-kelly -
Category
Documents
-
view
217 -
download
0
Transcript of UWF Writing Lab Diction from A to Z by Ashley Massie Revised February 18, 2013 Adapted from Grammar...
UWF Writing Lab
Dictionfrom A to Z
by Ashley Massie
Revised February 18, 2013
Adapted from Grammar Shots
By Mamie Webb Hixon
“Things We Say Wrong”
a n b o c p d q e r f s g t h u i v j w k x l y m z
“May I have (a, an) , please.”
an an a an a a a aan anan an a aan aan a a a a anan aan a
2
A vs. An
a URL address
an e-mail address
a one-hundred-dollar bill
a university
a historic occasion
a history class
a Hispanic male
a PR glitch
an ER glitch
an HR glitch
an OR glitch
a standing room only
crowd
an SRO crowd
a Master of Business
Administration degree
an MBA degree
an STD
an NBC special
an MTV award
a European tour
an electronic device3
It’s not the initial letter of a word that determines whether to use “a” or “an” preceding it; it’s the initial sound.
4
good advice
advise students
We are not altogether (entirely) certain that we could bring the family all together
(everyone gathered) for the reunion.
Accept my apology.Everyone except me
Advice vs. Advise
Altogether vs. All Together
Accept vs. Except
?NO CHECKS
Excepted
5
o Is this sign correct, or should it read
Krystal Marquee, 1980:
EAT ALOT
FOR A LITTLE
6
Is it alot or
a lot?
A lot is always two words, just like all right. Alot is not a word and should never be used in formal writing.
A lot vs. Alot
o Special effects
o Positive effects
o Smoking affects your health.
o The entire campus will be affected by the power outage.
o The president effected a tax cut program.
o Thunderstorm warning in effect until 6:00 PM.
7
Affect vs. Effect
The greenhouse effect affects everyone.
8
a small amount of work
a small number of work
a large amount of classes
a large number of classes
a small amount of students
a small number of students
the number of paper
the amount of paper
the number of years
the amount of years
the number of money
the amount of money9
Amount vs. NumberUse number for countable nouns: years, fingers, pens, etc.Use amount with nouns that can’t be counted: water, land, etc.
a small amount of work
a small number of work
a large amount of classes
a large number of classes
a small amount of students
a small number of students
the number of paper
the amount of paper
the number of years
the amount of years
the number of money
the amount of money
Because of vs. Due toCLOSED DUE TO THE HURRICANE
CLOSED BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE
As a result of
Because of
Caused by
Due to
His absence was due to his illness.
She lost her job due to downsizing.
She lost her job because of downsizing.10
11
BETWEEN—used for relationships involving ONLY TWO people or things
Ex: Lois and Hattie had only fifty cents between them.EXCEPTION: Air Force One landed somewhere between Atmore, Brewton, and Pensacola.EXCEPTION: Use transitions between paragraphs in a multi-paragraph essay.
AMONG—used for relationships involving MORE THAN TWO people or things
Ex: There is a silent closeness among the family members.
Between vs. Among
Capital vs. Capitol
capital letters
capital punishment
the capital of Florida12
inside the state capitol
Is it Fewer or Less?13
Usage Note from The American Heritage Usage Board:
Few and fewer are correctly used in writing only before a plural noun: few cars, few of the books, fewer reasons.
Less is used before a mass noun: less music, less sugar.
Less than is also used before a plural noun that denotes a measure of time, amount, or distance: less than three weeks, less than sixty years old, less than $400 dollars.
14
Fewer vs. Less
15 irregardless of the weatherregardless of the weather
Irregardless vs. Regardless
Hopefully
Hopefully I’ll win the lottery.I waited hopefully for the postman.
loose pants
lose your wallet
16
Lose vs. Loose
Than vs. FromDifferent
My car is different from her car.
The house is different than it used to be.
I will lend you my pen.
I got a loan from the bank.
17
Lend vs. Loan
Lay vs. LieLIE—verb: to rest (LYING, LAY, [have] LAIN
• Ex: I lie on the couch every day.• Ex: I lay on the couch for hours yesterday.• Ex: The sweater is still lying on the couch.
LAY—verb: to put (LAYING, LAID, [have] LAID)• Ex: Where did he lay my brush?• Ex: I must have laid it down somewhere
yesterday.• Ex: I’m always laying things down and
forgetting where I laid them.
18
How to remember which one to use: You can stand on a principle and be respected for it, but stand on a principal and you might be arrested
for assault.
The ________ expelled the (a)student for three ________
(b)
reasons.
1 – principal, principle 2 – principal, principal3 – principle, principle4 – principle, principal
2 – principal, principal
PRINCIPLE—noun: axiom, rule• Dr. King fought for the principle
of nonviolence.• In my Business Communications
class, we are studying the principles of writing.
PRINCIPAL—noun: chief official; adjective: foremost, major
Principal vs. Principle
The reason I’m always right is
because I know everything.
The reason I’m always right is
that I know everything. 19
That vs. BecauseThe Reason is…
Rise
vs.
Raise
She saw him raise his hand.
The water began to rise.
20
vs.
;
Used to and Supposed to
Things my grandmother use to say
Things my grandmother used to say
What you’re suppose to know
What you’re supposed to know
21
Rendition is when prisoners are handed over to countries where torture is allowed.
Rendition is handing over prisoners to countries where torture is allowed.
A rip current is when water that comes ashore is channeled back out to sea through a narrow passage.
A rip current occurs when water that comes ashore is channeled back out to sea through a narrow passage.
Noon is when we will meet for lunch.
Outside the restaurant is where we will meet.
22
Is When and Is Where
23
