Are you an aid or an aide to your boss?
Aid can be used as a noun meaning a form of help or a verb meaning to help.
- We offer aid to people affected by disaster.
- We aid those affected by disaster.
Aide is a noun and means an assistant.
- John Taylor is the senator's aide.
- You are an aide to your boss.
Showing posts with label Right word. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Right word. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
That or Which?
That = introduces essential information: “The mystery book that is on the third shelf is mine” means that there is more than one mystery book and mine is the one on the third shelf.
Which = introduces nonessential information: “The mystery book, which is on the third shelf, is mine” means that there is only one mystery book, it is on the third shelf, and it is mine.
Which = introduces nonessential information: “The mystery book, which is on the third shelf, is mine” means that there is only one mystery book, it is on the third shelf, and it is mine.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Use the Right Word: Amount vs. Number
Amount vs. Number
Amount = non-discrete quantities -- “the amount of water in the ocean”
Number = discrete quantities -- “the number of ounces in the cup”
Amount = non-discrete quantities -- “the amount of water in the ocean”
Number = discrete quantities -- “the number of ounces in the cup”
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Use the Right Word: Person vs. People
Person is singular: There is a strange person loitering in front of my house.
People is plural: There are three strange people loitering in front of my house.
People is plural: There are three strange people loitering in front of my house.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Use the Right Word: Affect or Effect?
Affect = to influence something (verb) -- “The movie didn’t affect me at all.”
Effect = result or outcome (noun) -- “The effect of not wearing a seatbelt can be bad.”
Effect = to bring about or cause (verb) -- “The doctor tried to effect a change in my diet.”
Effect = result or outcome (noun) -- “The effect of not wearing a seatbelt can be bad.”
Effect = to bring about or cause (verb) -- “The doctor tried to effect a change in my diet.”
Monday, May 11, 2009
Use the Right Word: Between you and me
What's the difference between "Among" and "Between"?
Among = Compared to many -- “The cake was shared among the 12 students.”
Between = Compared to two -- “The cake was shared between the two students.”
Among = Compared to many -- “The cake was shared among the 12 students.”
Between = Compared to two -- “The cake was shared between the two students.”
Friday, January 2, 2009
Use the Right Word
As Mark Twain once quipped, "The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug."
When you are sick to your stomach, are you nauseated or nauseous? If you say "nauseous," you're telling people that you are making them sick to their stomachs. Oops!
Is everytime one word or two? It's always two words. But what about everyone? Check out this website for the answer: Common Errors in English: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
Bookmark this terrific website, and you'll never use the wrong word again.
When you are sick to your stomach, are you nauseated or nauseous? If you say "nauseous," you're telling people that you are making them sick to their stomachs. Oops!
Is everytime one word or two? It's always two words. But what about everyone? Check out this website for the answer: Common Errors in English: http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/errors/errors.html#errors
Bookmark this terrific website, and you'll never use the wrong word again.
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