COMMONLY MISUSED WORDS & TERMS
D (Continued)
Correct Usage: The book was titled, Gone with the Wind . Incorrect Usage: The book was entitled, Gone with the Wind .
desert, dessert Desert , as a verb, means to abandon. Desert , as a noun, means a hot, sandy place. Dessert is a sweet following a meal. dilemma A dilemma is a choice between undesirable alterna- tives. It is not a synonym for problem or quandary.
Titled means having a title.
etcetera (etc.) Do not use etcetera or etc. , which means a number of unspecified additional persons or things.
F
different from not different than
fewer, less Use fewer with countable, individual things.
disinterested, uninterested Disintersted means impartial. Uninterested means someone lacks interest.
I should eat fewer doughnuts.
n
Use less with uncountable amounts and volumes.
discreet, discrete Discreet is to be careful. Discrete means distinct.
I should drink less coffee.
n
firsthand Firsthand is one word. Do not use a hyphen.
drop-off always hyphenated
flier Flier is used to describe informational material. do not use flyer with a “y.” farther, further Farther refers to distance. Further means more, or “in addition to.” foreword, forward A foreword is the beginning of a book. Forward is a direction. Note: Forwards is incorrect (no “s”).
E
e-blast always hyphenated
email One word, no hyphen.
emigrate, immigrate Emigrate means to leave one country or region to settle in another. Immigrate means to enter another country and reside there.
fundraising, fundraiser One word in all cases.
entitled, titled Entitled means a right to do or have something.
H
She felt entitled to the promotion.
health care Health care is always two words, no hyphen.
n
Do not use it to mean titled.
n
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