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Word Use
Douglas Perret Starr
Professor
Texas A&M University
• Communication is not just writing words; it
involves understanding on the part of the
receiver of the information.
• It is incumbent upon the writer to ensure
that the reader understands, not the other
way around.
• Scholarly writing requires accuracy in the
use of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and
word, words not of the fancy kind the
slows the reading, but words whose
definition and usage the reader
understands.
• Writing involves plain language that
conveys information and avoids confusion.
• In describing the results of a research
project, the verbs are in the past tense
because the research was done in the
past.
• In citing a review of literature, every article
citied is cited in the past tense. The
authors wrote, not writes.
• Some writers of scholarly pieces refer to
journal articles in the present tense:
Smith’s (2003) article says. . . .
• That’s correct because the article never
changes. It says the same thing every time
it is read.
• But it is better to write, “Smith (2003) wrote
in his article. . . .”
• One of the early rules of writing is that the
writer know the definitions and usages of
words.
• What I’m talking about today are some
common errors in word use and how to
avoid them.
Affect / Effect
• Affect means to influence.
• Effect is the result of that influence.
• Inflation affects our sense of security and
has an effect on the economy.
Approximations
• The words “approximately,” “some,”
“about,” “nearly,” “more/less than,” and the
like generally add nothing more than
wordiness.
• In scholarly writing, you have precise
numbers; use them. Your readers will
praise you.
Approximations
• If you must use an approximate number,
don’t tell readers that it is an approximate
number. Most approximate numbers
identify themselves.
• In general, “half” of 432 million is not
exactly 216 million. That’s because 432
million really is 432,696,842.
Approximations
• Most round numbers ― 45,000, half, one
third ― are approximations.
• Don’t clutter your report with unnecessary
words. And don’t do this:
• The nearest star is approximately 450
million light years from Earth.
Approximations
• Or these:
• The cost of the project was estimated at
$32,483,982.
• The project will cost approximately 32
million dollars
Currently / Presently
• Definitions change over time. Take care.
• Currently means right now. “Is currently” is
redundant.
• Presently means “in a little while,” “soon.”
However, “presently” is coming to mean
“currently.” In any definition, “is presently”
is either incorrect or redundant.
Due to / Because of
• Due to means resulting from.
• Use “due to” when it follows a to-be verb:
The airplane is due to land at 10 a.m.
His success was due to hard work.
• Because of means by reason of.
Fewer / Less
• Fewer applies to amount.
• Fewer than 20.
• Less applies to quantity.
• Less than 20 pounds.
Insure / Ensure
• Insure refers to insurance that provides
compensation in case of loss.
• Ensure means to guarantee.
Only
• Be careful.
• Only has no place in statistical
explanations.
• Using “only” in citing statistics implies bias:
Ten people applied; [only] one was
qualified.
• [Only] six people responded.
Reflexive Pronouns
• “-self” pronouns are “myself,” “yourself,”
“herself,” “himself,” “itself,” “ourselves,”
“yourselves,” “themselves.”
• “-self” pronouns are not used in the
objective case.
• Incorrect: Give it to myself.
• Correct: Give it to me.
Singular / Plural
• Use singular pronouns to refer to singular
nouns and plural pronouns to refer to
plural nouns.
• The team is [singular] going to Austin
where they [plural, use “it”] will play U.T.
When asked
• “When asked” is poor transition. Recast
the sentence.
Summary
• Write in the past tense.
• Use singular pronouns for singular nouns;
plural pronouns for plural nouns.
• Look up the definitions and usages of
words.
• ¿Preguntas?
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Once upon a time,
The goose drank wine;
The monkey spat tobacco
On the street-car line.
The street-car broke;
The monkey choked.
And they all went to heaven
On a bill-ee goat.