Terms: UO Grammar and Style Guide: Creative Publishing

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:: Creative Publishing :: Home :::: Oregon Quarterly :::: University of :: ::Oregon Press C:R:E:A:T:I:V:E:: T:O:O:L:S :: Initiating Your :: Project :: Journey of a Job :: [1.4 mb .PDF download] :: EOAA Statement :: [35 kb .PDF download] :: 2005–56 UO Catalog :: Preparing Catalog :: Information :: UO Graphic Identity :: Guidelines :: [27 mb .PDF download] :: UO Grammar and :: Style Guidelines :: Alternative Format :: Documents :: How to Access :: University Logos :: Creative :: Publishing Staff Related Offices: :: UO Printing Services :: Public and Media :: Relataions :: Development :: Communications Search UO	C.R.E.A.T.I.V.E.. P.U.B.L.I.S.H.I.N.G Grammar and Style Guide Contents Foreword Introduction Manuscript Preparation Getting Under Way Academics Abbreviations Capitalization Punctuation Using the Dictionary Numbers Plurals Usage Troublesome Terms Copyediting Proofreading Policy Statement on Equal Opportunity Facts about the University of Oregon Thank you! Troublesome Terms The following list of troublesome terms gives the usage preferred by editors in Creative Publishing for words or phrases that are frequently misused, overused, vague, trite, wordy, or awkward. WORD OR PHRASE FOLLOWED BY THE PREFERRED USAGE a or an Use a before consonant sounds. Use an before vowel sounds. This sets a historical precedent. She wore a UO sweatshirt. but: That's an unlikely possibility. Phi Beta Kappa is an honorary society. access This is primarily a noun. Although it's used as a verb when speaking of computers, use it as a noun in other contexts. I want to get access to my student records. but: I need to access the server. *additionally* Nonstandard. Use in addition or also. In addition, you must take a placement examination. **amount or number** Amount refers to volume or to a quantity you can't count. Number refers to things you can count. See also number later in this section. The speech caused a tremendous amount of controversy. but: What's the largest number of students we can expect? *at this point in time* Wordy. Omit or use now, currently, or at present. Many students live off campus now. UO enrollment currently stands at 17,300. **between or among** In general, between refers to two items, among to three or more items. Between is correct, however, when expressing relationships of three or more items considered one pair at a time. The shuttlecock fell between Isabella and me. Choose courses from among the three groups: arts and letters, social science, and science. but: The distances between the four corners of the quadrangle aren't equal. *bottom line* A cliché. Rewrite and use result or outcome. What result do you expect? (not What's the bottom line?) *coed* Although obsolete as a reference to female students, coed is still commonly used as an adjective meaning 'male and female.' Coed residence halls have floors reserved alternately for men and women. **competence or competency** Competence means 'skill' or 'ability.' Competency generally refers to a specific skill in a specific area. This test measures your degree of competence in Spanish. but: The doctoral program is designed to achieve the competencies established by the American Psychological Association. **continual or continuous** Continual means 'repeated steadily' or 'over and over.' Continuous means 'uninterrupted,' 'steady,' or 'unbroken.' The Huskies are the Ducks' continual rivals. A continuous stream of students are walking over the footbridge to Autzen Stadium. *couple* Nonstandard as an adjective. Don't forget the of. The deadline is just a couple of days away. not: The deadline is just a couple days away. *cutting edge* A cliché. Be more specific. The designer's use of computer tools to develop her design puts her at the forefront of her field. (not The designer is at the cutting edge of her field.) *deal with* Too vague. Use a more specific verb such as cover, examine, include, or explore. This course explores the history and development of freedom of speech. (not This course deals with free speech.) *dialogue* Often misused as a verb, this noun refers to conversations between two or more parties. We need to discuss [not dialogue about] the new building plans. *diversity* Already trite. Think before you use it. If it's an important part of your message, consider using alternatives such as variety, differences, heterogeneity, or multiformity. The variety and depth our academic programs are unmatched in this state. **effectively or in effect** Effectively is an adverb describing how the action of the verb takes place. It isn't synonymous with the parenthetical phrase in effect. The committee members worked together effectively. By giving higher education $10 million more but asking the faculty to teach the same number of students, the legislature is, in effect [not effectively], cutting our budget. *employ* Reserve this verb for what employers do. The university employs thousands of faculty and staff members. but: He used [not employed] three equations to solve the problem. *experiential* Jargon. Specify the type of experience. These internships provide practical field experience. (not These internships are experiential.) *the fact that* Wasted words. Omit them. *feedback* Jargon. Use response, results, evaluation, report, data, or opinion. We value your opinions. (not Your feedback is needed.) *feel* Reserve this verb for sensory or emotional feelings; use think or believe elsewhere. I feel queasy. but: I think that . . . or I believe that . . . *first-come, first-served* This is the correct form of this cliché, but you'd do better to rewrite the idea. Early applicants receive top priority. (not Acceptance of applications is on a first-come, first-served basis.) **gender or sex** Not interchangeable. Use gender to refer to sexual identity, especially in relation to society or culture. Use sex to refer to biological categories. See also the usage note under gender in the American Heritage Electronic Dictionary. Is your sex male or female? One might identify with a gender that is different from his or her sex. *hands-on* A cliché. Try practical, or draw a word picture that isn't so trite. You'll use a Power Macintosh to learn basic desktop publishing skills. (not You'll receive hands-on instruction about desktop publishing.) *head up* Jargon. Use direct or lead. Experienced river guides lead [not head up] the raft expeditions. *hopefully* An adverb that describes how the action of the verb takes place. It isn't synonymous with I hope, we hope, or it is hoped. He opened his grade report hopefully. I hope [not Hopefully,] this will be published before school starts. *importantly* Nonstandard except as an adverb. Use important. The clown strutted importantly. but: More important [not More importantly], we need to have the money within the next two weeks. *innovative* A cliché. Is it really true of your program? If so, rewrite to illustrate how it is innovative. *in order to* Wordy. You can usually omit in order. We laugh to [not in order to] keep from crying. *input* Jargon except in reference to computers. Use information or opinion. We value your opinions about this project. (not Your input is needed.) *interface* In the context of computers, this is fine. For people, use communicate or talk. The committee members need to communicate [not interface] with each other. *involve* Too vague. Use a more specific verb such as cover, include, or explore. The course examines how employment legislation pertains to affirmative-action and equal-employment opportunity. (not The course involves employment legislation and human resources policies.) *irregardless* Nonstandard. Use regardless. Regardless [not Irregardless] of the frigid temperature, the students wore shorts in the snow. *leading edge* A cliché. See cutting edge. **less or fewer** In general, less refers to a quantity you can't count. Fewer refers to units you can count, but less can be used for degree, quantity, or extent when countable items aren’t being considered individually. I have less money than you. but: I have fewer dimes than you. The campaign raised less than $500. *like* Means 'similar to.' Use such as instead of like to introduce examples. This question is like that one. but: The interior uses brown tones such as [not like] beige, taupe, and rust. *momentarily* Means 'for the duration of a moment' or 'briefly.' When you mean 'after a brief period of time has elapsed,' use soon or in a few minutes or any time now. Corey surfaced momentarily to take a breath. but: The director will be able to see you soon. *number* You can judge whether it requires a singular or plural verb by the article that precedes it. The number requires a singular verb; a number requires a plural verb. The number of international students is growing. but: A number of staff members are attending a retreat. *one-on-one* A nonsexist version of man-to-man, suitable for describing a type of sports-team defense. In other contexts it's an impersonal cliché. Use more specific language. Individual tutors train students in equipment use and safety. (not The program offers one-on-one training.) *ongoing* Jargon. Use continuing or omit. The institute supports new and continuing [not ongoing] research. *output* Jargon except in reference to computers. Use results elsewhere. What results [not output] do you expect? **over or more than** These two aren't interchangeable. In general, over refers to spatial relationships. More than refers to a quantity or to units you can count, but over can be used for degree, quantity, or extent when countable items aren’t being considered individually. The bear went over the mountain. The telethon raised over half a million dollars. but: It will take more than nickels and dimes to reach our goal. I have more than enough work to do. *persons* Too often an awkward replacement for people. Keep telling yourself as well as other people [not persons] that we have a problem we can solve together. *plus* Use only in adding units. Otherwise, use in addition, also, or and. Earning 4 credits in biology plus 8 credits in physics fulfills the science requirement. but: Transfer students may need to take an entrance examination and [not plus] additional course work. *presently* Means 'soon.' Use now, currently, or at present when you mean 'at this time.' Many students live off campus now. At present the enrollment stands at 17,300. **prior or before** Prior is correct when used as an adjective meaning 'earlier in time or place.'Before is correct when used as a preposition. Prior approval is required. but: Take algebra before you take calculus. Turn it in before noon. Don't put the cart before the horse. *quality* A meaningless cliché when used alone to modify a noun, as in quality education. Quality doesn't imply something positive; it needs a modifier to explain the kind of quality. Is it 'top quality'? 'low quality'? 'mediocre quality'? Better yet, leave it out and illustrate the quality of what you're describing. University of Oregon teams have won twelve National Collegiate Athletic Association championships in track and field and in cross-country. (not The University of Oregon has quality track-and-field and cross-country teams.) *reason why* Redundant. Use reason alone or omit entirely. The reason [not reason why] you can't register in this class is that it's already full. or: You can't register in this class because it's already full. **secondly or thirdly** Nonstandard, just as firstly or eleventhly would be. Use second or third. First, be accurate. Second, be brief. Third, be prompt. **serve or service** Both words can be used as verbs, but serve applies better to people and service to machines. We try to serve our clients promptly. but: The technician will service the photocopier tomorrow. *since* Refers to intervening time and shouldn't be used in place of because. It’s been several years since I read Madame Bovary. but: I don't have the assignment because my roommate borrowed my computer. *state of the art* A cliché. Don't use it. Instead, prove it by using an illustrative word picture. **'til or 'till** Nonstandard. Use until or to or till. Wait until dark. Associate Professor Steinmetz will conduct a seminar from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M. We brainstormed till dawn. *today's global society* An unnecessary cliché. Omit it. *towards* British spelling. Use toward. *unique* A cliché meaning 'one of a kind.' Greatly overused. If what you are describing is truly unique, omit the cliché and illustrate specifically what makes it that way. Remember, too, that uniqueness isn't necessarily good. If your program's uniqueness is its strongest selling point, you need to show how it's unique and convince the reader that this is a positive attribute. *upcoming* Up- is unnecessary baggage. Use coming or another synonym. Ask for a schedule of coming (not upcoming) events. *utilize* Jargon. Use use. Students use the latest microcomputer software. (not The latest in microcomputer software is utilized.) *viable alternative* A wordy cliché. Use alternative alone. Try to suggest some alternative solutions [not viable alternatives]. **which or that** Although these two words are sometimes interchangeable, it's best to reserve which for unrestricted or independent clauses (those preceded by a comma) and that for restricted or dependent clauses. Complete regulations are included in the UO Schedule of Classes, which is sold to each student before registration. but: Remove only apples that are bruised from the display. *while* Refers to simultaneous actions. It may be more precise to use although or but. I'll administer CPR while you dial 911. but: I'll administer CPR, although I'm a novice. I was a late bloomer, but you've always been a leader. **wish or desire** Often stilted or overly precious as verbs. Use want or prefer for ordinary requests. Save wish for wishes (things that might not happen) and desire for desires (needs for emotional fulfillment). If you want [not wish] to donate to the Annual Fund, please make out a check to the UO Foundation. I prefer [not desire] to put my contribution on my American Express card. >>Back to Contents
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