A Word, Please: For tighter writing, peruse this list of commonly misused words
I’m not a language stickler, but I play one from 9 to 5. I understand that language is ever-evolving and “loose” usage isn’t wrong. But as an editor, I often opt for traditional, stickler-approved uses just because they seem more appropriate to published works. Here are some of the terms I change even when they’re not technically wrong.
Peruse. If you’ve ever talked about casually perusing titles at a bookstore, you’ll be surprised to learn that you were probably offending traditionalists. The primary definition of “peruse” isn’t to read casually or passively. It’s to study closely, with plenty of attention to detail. Its secondary meaning is, in fact, to skim or read passively. But in my work, I like to steer clear of offending tough audiences.
Towards. This word is perfectly fine with an s at the end — unless you’re writing in Associated Press style. In that case, “toward” is the only correct option.
Adverse. If you say, “I’m not adverse to that idea,” you’ll raise eyebrows. In strict usage, if you dislike something or find it repugnant, you’re “averse” to it. “Adverse” means harmful or unfavorable, like adverse effects from a drug. I stick with this distinction when I’m editing.
Myriad. There’s an old myth that “myriad” isn’t a noun, it’s an adjective. If that were true, you couldn’t say “a myriad of styles” because there it’s a noun. You’d have to say “myriad styles,” using it as an adjective. Though I’ve since learned better, I once fell for this myth. So I got in the habit of avoiding “myriad” as a noun. Bonus: This cuts down on wordiness.
Since. “Since” can mean “because.” But this can be a little confusing: “Since you met Steve, you know he’s nice.” For the first half of that sentence, it’s unclear whether you’re talking about the period of time since you met him. Swapping out that “since” for “because” eliminates that chance of confusion.
English grammar allows for uses some may not recognize as legitimate. Even though they likely are, it’s best to tread lightly.
Enormity. I’ll let the Associated Press Stylebook weigh in on this word. “By dictionary definitions, enormity and enormousness aren’t exact synonyms. Enormity is generally used for evil or wicked actions, such as the enormity of the crime. Enormousness … describes something much larger than normal, meaning vast or immense.” It’s technically OK to use “enormity” to refer to size, though editors like me usually stick to style book recommendations on this word.
That vs. who. There’s nothing wrong with using the word “that” to refer to a person: The man that parked outside. But editing principles suggest that the more specific the word, the better. The word “who” is a human-specific term that gives prose a living pulse, creating a more real and specific experience for the reader.
Which vs. that. According to AP and Chicago editing styles, clauses that modify a noun can start with “which” only if the clause is nonessential, meaning it can be lifted right out of the sentence without changing the meaning of the main clause: The car, which was red, crashed. But if the modifying clause is essential to understanding which noun you’re talking about, you’re supposed to use “that”: The car that you drive should be safe. I follow the style rules on those, but you can still say “The car which you drive should be safe” if you prefer.
Sex vs. gender. There was a time when sticklers insisted that the word “gender” was primarily a linguistic concept: The gender of the pronoun “her,” for example, is feminine. So when you’re talking about whether someone is a man or a woman, you’re talking about their sex. Especially in an era of gender-reveal parties by expectant moms and transgender rights, this language distinction is utterly obsolete. But I’ll still change “the gender of the baby” to “the sex of the baby” when it seems appropriate.
June Casagrande is the author of “The Joy of Syntax: A Simple Guide to All the Grammar You Know You Should Know.” She can be reached at JuneTCN@aol.com.
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