Misused Words and Expressions

(Usually) Misused ~ Vague “Misused” typically does not mean that a word or expression makes no sense, but rather that the writer has been careless. Implications  Write with precision.  Replace vague generalities by definite statements. Note: “The shape of our language is not rigid; in questions of usage we have no lawgiver whose word is final.”

“Which Hunting” “That” explains; “which” merely adds additional information. Restrictive vs. non-restrictive clauses  The algorithm that computes reachability. (not: “which computes reachability”)  Warshall’s algorithm, which is O(n 3 ), computes reachability. (not: “that is O(n 3 )”) “Careful writers go which-hunting, remove defining whiches, and by so doing improve their work.”

Little Words – Big Problems A/an  It’s not the letter but the sound  An honor; a uniform  An FD; a UML class  an SQL (S-Q-L) statement; a SQL (SEQuel) statement A/the  “An” indefinite; “the” definite  Introduce “a” topic and discuss “the” topic.

Allowing Who/What? Allow is a transitive verb  requires a direct object Too often used as an intransitive verb  No: “The system allows to …”  Yes: “The system allows users to …”  No: “The algorithm allows to reduce the time …”  Yes: “The algorithm allows us to reduce the time …” So often misused in CS literature that it is becoming accepted.

“Works” as a Noun Classical  Yes  The works of Shakespeare  “ … that he may see your good works …” (Biblical) But in CS literature?  No: “Their works show that …”  Yes: “Their research shows that …” – my pet peeve

Words Commonly Misused Among/between  “Between” two things  “Among” several things And/or  Damages sentences, often ambiguous  “A and/or B” = “A and maybe B”?, = “A or B or both”? = “either A or B”?  “or” can be ambiguous: logical or? logical exclusive-or? Comprise/constitute  “Comprise” = “includes” (A zoo is comprised of animals.)  “Constitute” = “together make up a” (Animals constitute a zoo.) Data  Technically plural  Accepted (preferred?) as singular  Data vs. Data

Words Commonly Misused Different than/from  One thing differs “from” another; hence “different from”.  Or “other than” Due to  = “because of”  Overused: use sparingly, or avoid altogether Effect  As a noun, = “result;” as a verb, = “to bring about”  Don’t confuse the noun “effect” with the verb “affect” = “to influence” Don’t confuse the noun “effect” with the verb “affect” = “to influence” Etc.  Not to be used if the reader would be left in doubt about any important particulars  Overused: avoid

Words Commonly Misused Farther/Further—there is a distinction  Use “farther” for distance  Use “further” for everything else—e.g. time, quantity. Finalize  Ambiguous  Just clearly say what you mean: e.g. “conclude,” “terminate,” “end,” Fortuitous  Limited to what happens by chance  Not to be used for “fortunate” or “lucky” Get—colloquial: don’t use in formal writing However  “However” usually serves better when it is not first.  Instead of “However, since …, we …” write “Since …, however, we …”  However, many disagree. However, many disagree.

Words Commonly Misused Imply/infer—not interchangeable  “Imply” = “suggest” or “indicate”—these facts imply …  “Infer” = “deduce”—we infer from these facts … Importantly—avoid by rephrasing Irregardless  Should be “regardless”  The “less” is already negative; “ir” makes a double negative Lay  Do not misuse for “lie”: “lay” is transitive; “lie” is intransitive  “lay something down”; “lie down to rest”  Past tense of “lie” is “lay”; and of “lay” is “laid” [Present] I lay a book on the desk and it lies there. [Past] I laid a book on the desk and it lay there. Me  Not “between you and I”—“between you and me”  Not “They came to meet my spouse and I.”—“They came to meet my spouse and me.”

Words Commonly Misused None  Singular—“None of them is larger than …”  Also singular: “each,” “everybody,” “nobody” Respective, Respectively  Sometimes required: x and y match with a and b, respectively  Omit unless required to avoid ambiguity Split infinitive (commentary on split infinitives)commentary on split infinitives  Prefer “to run quickly” over “to quickly run” so long as the meaning is clear.  The split infinitive emphasizes the adverb—sometimes in exactly the right way. Than/Then  Than: comparison (taller than Kay) and choice (rather walk than drive)  Then: consequence (if A then B), answers to when (prices were lower then), and ordering (this then that)

Words Commonly Misused They  Not correct when the antecedent is singular  Not “everyone knows they are smart”—not “everyone knows he is smart” either (sexist)—instead rewrite: “people know they are smart” Unique  Unique = “without like or equal”  Thus, degrees of uniqueness make no sense—don’t write “most unique,” “undoubtedly unique,” … Utilize—prefer “use” Very  Omit or use sparingly (easy to fall into this trap)  Not a precise word for scientific writing