Using Words Correctly, Effectively, and Imaginatively
Author Rudyard Kipling characterized words as "the most powerful drug used by mankind." Here we will learn how to use words correctly, effectively, and imaginatively.
Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words
"Advice" or "advise"? "Farther" or "further"? "Principal" or "principle"? It's easy to confuse words that are similar in sound, spelling, or meaning. But with a bit of review it's also easy to clear up such confusions. Here in our Glossary of Usage you will find some commonly confused words--with links to definitions, examples, and practice exercises that should help you to keep these words straight.
"Advice" or "advise"? "Farther" or "further"? "Principal" or "principle"? It's easy to confuse words that are similar in sound, spelling, or meaning. But with a bit of review it's also easy to clear up such confusions. Here in our Glossary of Usage you will find some commonly confused words--with links to definitions, examples, and practice exercises that should help you to keep these words straight.
Answers to Practice Exercises (Glossary of Usage)
Here are the answers to the short practice exercises that accompany each set of words in our Glossary of Usage.
Here are the answers to the short practice exercises that accompany each set of words in our Glossary of Usage.
What Is Language?
The following observations on language, drawn from the works of various writers and scholars, take us beyond simple definitions. Approaching the subject from different metaphorical perspectives, sometimes in contradictory ways, these quotations should serve as points of departure for your own exploration of the mystery of language.
The following observations on language, drawn from the works of various writers and scholars, take us beyond simple definitions. Approaching the subject from different metaphorical perspectives, sometimes in contradictory ways, these quotations should serve as points of departure for your own exploration of the mystery of language.
Six Common Myths About Language
In "Language Myths," edited by Laurie Bauer and Peter Trudgill (Penguin, 1998), a team of leading linguists set out to challenge some of the conventional wisdom about language and the way it works. Of the 21 myths or misconceptions they examined, here are six of the most common.
In "Language Myths," edited by Laurie Bauer and Peter Trudgill (Penguin, 1998), a team of leading linguists set out to challenge some of the conventional wisdom about language and the way it works. Of the 21 myths or misconceptions they examined, here are six of the most common.
Key Dates in the History of the English Language
This timeline offers a glimpse at some of the key events that helped to shape the English language over the past 1,500 years.
This timeline offers a glimpse at some of the key events that helped to shape the English language over the past 1,500 years.
Introduction to Etymology: Word Histories
The etymology of a word refers to its origin and historical development: that is, its earliest known use, its transmission from one language to another, and its changes in form and meaning.
The etymology of a word refers to its origin and historical development: that is, its earliest known use, its transmission from one language to another, and its changes in form and meaning.
The Earliest English Dictionaries
Contrary to popular belief, Samuel Johnson's two-volume "Dictionary of the English Language" (1755) was not the first word book in English. During the preceding century and a half, well over a dozen dictionaries of one sort or another had appeared in English. We'll look at four of the most significant ones.
Contrary to popular belief, Samuel Johnson's two-volume "Dictionary of the English Language" (1755) was not the first word book in English. During the preceding century and a half, well over a dozen dictionaries of one sort or another had appeared in English. We'll look at four of the most significant ones.
The Standard of Usage in English, by Thomas R. Lounsbury (1908)
These excerpts from the opening and closing pages of Thomas R. Lounsbury "The Standard of Usage in English" (1908) demonstrate that concern about the decline of language has had a long history in English. But as Lounsbury points out, such efforts to "save" and "fix" the language have never succeeded--and doubtless never will.
These excerpts from the opening and closing pages of Thomas R. Lounsbury "The Standard of Usage in English" (1908) demonstrate that concern about the decline of language has had a long history in English. But as Lounsbury points out, such efforts to "save" and "fix" the language have never succeeded--and doubtless never will.
The 100 Most Frequently Used Words in English
Listed here, according to the 100-million-word British National Corpus, are the 100 most frequently used words in English.
Listed here, according to the 100-million-word British National Corpus, are the 100 most frequently used words in English.
Which "Webster's Dictionary" Is the Real Thing?
For over a century, "Webster's dictionary" has been legally meaningless as a brand name. In fact, anybody is free to put out a dictionary with "Webster" in the title--and many publishers have done just that.
For over a century, "Webster's dictionary" has been legally meaningless as a brand name. In fact, anybody is free to put out a dictionary with "Webster" in the title--and many publishers have done just that.
Vocabulary Builder #1: Antonyms
Here's a vocabulary quiz that will test your knowledge of both synonyms and antonyms.
Here's a vocabulary quiz that will test your knowledge of both synonyms and antonyms.
Cut the Clutter: Five Tips
An important step in the editing process is to cut out needless words--vague, repetitious, or pretentious language that can bore or confuse our readers. Here we will learn five strategies for eliminating clutter and practice those strategies in a review exercise.
An important step in the editing process is to cut out needless words--vague, repetitious, or pretentious language that can bore or confuse our readers. Here we will learn five strategies for eliminating clutter and practice those strategies in a review exercise.
Five More Ways to Cut the Clutter
As we've already seen, one of the most effective ways to improve our writing is to cut the clutter: eliminate useless words and phrases. Here are five more strategies to apply when revising and editing essays.
As we've already seen, one of the most effective ways to improve our writing is to cut the clutter: eliminate useless words and phrases. Here are five more strategies to apply when revising and editing essays.
Practice in Cutting the Clutter
Here we'll apply the strategies that we have learned for cutting out needless words--deadwood that only bores, distracts, or confuses our readers.
Here we'll apply the strategies that we have learned for cutting out needless words--deadwood that only bores, distracts, or confuses our readers.
Common Redundancies
Because we so often see and hear redundant expressions (such as "free gifts" and "foreign imports"), they can be easy to overlook. Therefore, when editing our work, we need to be on the lookout for redundancies so that we can rewrite them more concisely. Here is a list of the common redundancies.
Because we so often see and hear redundant expressions (such as "free gifts" and "foreign imports"), they can be easy to overlook. Therefore, when editing our work, we need to be on the lookout for redundancies so that we can rewrite them more concisely. Here is a list of the common redundancies.
Fifteen Common Blog Errors & How to Fix Them
Even professional writers get tripped up now and then by some commonly confused words: look-alikes and sound-alikes that our spell checkers will never recognize. Here are 15 of the MOST common commonly confused words.
Even professional writers get tripped up now and then by some commonly confused words: look-alikes and sound-alikes that our spell checkers will never recognize. Here are 15 of the MOST common commonly confused words.
Choosing the Best Words: Denotations and Connotations
Careful writers choose words both for what they mean (that is, their "denotations") and for what they suggest (their "connotations").
Careful writers choose words both for what they mean (that is, their "denotations") and for what they suggest (their "connotations").
Using Similes and Metaphors to Enrich Our Writing (Part 1)
Writers use similes and metaphors to explain things, to express emotion, and to make their writing more vivid and entertaining. Discovering fresh similes and metaphors to use in your own writing also means discovering new ways to look at your subjects.
Writers use similes and metaphors to explain things, to express emotion, and to make their writing more vivid and entertaining. Discovering fresh similes and metaphors to use in your own writing also means discovering new ways to look at your subjects.
Using Similes and Metaphors to Enrich Our Writing (Part 2)
In addition to creating striking images to make our writing more interesting, similes and metaphors can be used to clarify and convey ideas.
In addition to creating striking images to make our writing more interesting, similes and metaphors can be used to clarify and convey ideas.
Common Prefixes
Understanding the meanings of the common prefixes can help us to deduce the meanings of new words that we encounter. The table on this page defines and illustrates 35 common prefixes.
Understanding the meanings of the common prefixes can help us to deduce the meanings of new words that we encounter. The table on this page defines and illustrates 35 common prefixes.
Copyediting Terms
Copyediting is the work that an editor does to improve a manuscript and prepare it for publication. Here we reveal some of the jargon of the copyediting trade: 140 terms and abbreviations used by editors in their efforts to produce copy that is clear, correct, concise, consistent, and comprehensible.
Copyediting is the work that an editor does to improve a manuscript and prepare it for publication. Here we reveal some of the jargon of the copyediting trade: 140 terms and abbreviations used by editors in their efforts to produce copy that is clear, correct, concise, consistent, and comprehensible.
The Language of Baseball
Does the game of baseball have its own language or jargon? To find out, we dip into Paul Dickson's New Dickson Baseball Dictionary (1999).
Does the game of baseball have its own language or jargon? To find out, we dip into Paul Dickson's New Dickson Baseball Dictionary (1999).
Commonly Confused Latin Abbreviations in English
Nowadays, a sound rule for using Latin abbreviations (such as "e.g.," "etc.," "et al.," and "i.e.") is not to use them at all. But if we must use Latin abbreviations, let's learn how to use them correctly.
Nowadays, a sound rule for using Latin abbreviations (such as "e.g.," "etc.," "et al.," and "i.e.") is not to use them at all. But if we must use Latin abbreviations, let's learn how to use them correctly.
Names and Nicknames for Residents of States
In these tables, you'll find the official names for residents of the 50 states along with alternative names and nicknames.
In these tables, you'll find the official names for residents of the 50 states along with alternative names and nicknames.
“A New Song of New Similes,” by John Gay
As you read John Gay’s mini-anthology of "New Similes," consider how many of his figurative comparisons might today be thought of as clichés.
As you read John Gay’s mini-anthology of "New Similes," consider how many of his figurative comparisons might today be thought of as clichés.