COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS & TERMS
n There were enough members to constitute a quorum.
C (Continued)
citywide One word, lowercase.
continual, continuous Continual means over and over.
Correct Usage: citywide Incorrect Usage: Citywide
n We continually come to work each day.
Continuous means without interruption.
complement, compliment Complement means to contribute extra features to something else in such a way as to improve or emphasize its quality.
He spoke continuously for an hour.
n
co-chair, co-host, co-sponsor, co-worker Use a hyphen in these instances. See Hyphenation , Page 10.
n Wine can provide the perfect complement to a meal.
coed One word, no hyphen. See Hyphenation , Page 10.
They complement each other nicely.
n
Compliment means a polite expression of praise or adoration.
community-wide Community-wide is one word, hyphenated.
n He complimented her unique sense of design.
county-wide County-wide is one word, hyphenated.
n The coach complimented her team’s performance.
copy edit Copy edit is two words.
compose, comprise, constitute Compose means to create; constitute or make up; or to calm or settle.
could have Could have is two words. Do not use “could of.”
She composed a song.
n
n The United States is composed of 50 states.
D
n He took a moment to compose himself.
database Database is one word.
Comprise means to consist of or be made up of.
day care Day care is always two words.
The United States comprises 50 states.
n
n The jury was comprised of five men and seven women.
daylight saving time Not savings, no hyphen.
Constitute means to be a part of a whole or to make up a whole.
daylong Daylong is one word with no hyphen.
n Fifty states constitute the United States.
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