Orders > Correspondence Manual > Appendix E |
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ACCEPT/EXCEPT
ACCEPT |
to take or receive (something offered). |
EXCEPT |
to exclude or leave out. |
AFFECT/EFFECT
AFFECT |
is a verb and cannot be used as a noun. Affect means "to alter or to change." Things can be affected adversely or favorably, but the word itself indicates only "alter" or "change." Associate affect with alter, since both affect and alter begin with the same letter. |
EFFECT |
can be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, it means "accomplish" and is related to "success." A word beginning with the same letter as the as the verb "effect" is "execute," and the meanings are closely related when we think of "executing" as carrying out plans. |
EFFECT |
as a noun means the immediate result, consequence, impact, or outcome. When using words like "the," "this," "these," "an," "that," "those," "any," "some," "such," "favorable," and "unfavorable" in front of the problem word, always use the noun, which begins with an "e." |
AMONG/BETWEEN
Among is used when referring to three or more objects.
Between is used when referring to two objects.
Examples Are:
The lottery payoff will be divided among the winning ticket holders.
What is the difference between concrete and asphalt?
AMOUNT
Means weight, lump sum, money, etc. (See NUMBER)
BIANNUAL/BIENNIAL
BIANNUAL |
Occurs twice a year. |
BIENNIAL |
Occurs every 2 years. |
BOTH/EACH
BOTH |
Means "two considered together." |
EACH |
Means "individual items considered separately." |
BRING/TAKE
BRING |
Refers to "action toward the speaker." |
TAKE |
Refers to "action away from the speaker." |
CAN/MAY
CAN |
Means "is able to." (capable of accomplishing) |
MAY |
Means "allowed" (has permission to) and can be used to mean "it is possible that." |
CANNOT
Is the preferred usage in FHWA as opposed to "can not."
CAPITAL/CAPITOL
CAPITAL |
Refers to cities, towns, chief in importance or influence, offenses, punishable by death, sources of wealth or profit, tops of columns, and uppercase letters. |
CAPITOL |
Always refers to a building/edifice. |
CITE/SITE
CITE |
Means to commend or praise, quote, refer to, or call upon formally (as in summon). |
SITE |
Means location (i.e., place, scene, point of something). |
CONCUR
Means to agree, approve, or happen together. Use "with" (e.g., with another person about something) or "in" (e.g., in an idea, plan, or opinion).
NOTE: Never use "concur that."
CONSENSUS
Means "group opinion" NOTE: Never use "consensus of opinion."
CONSIDERABLE/CONSIDERABLY
CONSIDERABLE |
Is an adjective which means "large, important, significant." |
CONSIDERABLY |
Is an adverb which means "increased." |
E.G., I.E.
Don’t confuse the use of e.g. (for example) and i.e. (that is).
NOTE: When used in a sentence both should have a semicolon before and a comma after:
Employee benefits; i.e., annual leave, sick leave, and retirement plan are shown on the itemized statement.
ENSURE/INSURE/ASSURE
ENSURE |
Means "to make certain." |
INSURE |
Means "to protect against loss." |
ASSURE |
Means "to give someone confidence," the object of this verb should always refer to a person. |
EXAMPLES
I want to ensure (make certain) that nothing will go wrong.
I want to assure you (give you confidence) that nothing will go wrong.
I want to insure this necklace (protect it against loss) for $5,000.
FARTHER/FURTHER
FARTHER |
Refers to actual distance (physical distance) |
FURTHER |
Refers to figurative distance and means to a greater degree or to a greater extent (time, quantity, and degree) |
FEWER/LESS
FEWER |
Is used to refer to items that can be numbers or counted. |
LESS |
Is used to refer to items that can be weighed or measured and to money. |
FOLLOW UP/FOLLOW-UP
FOLLOW UP |
To follow up on your recommendation. |
FOLLOW-UP |
As an adjective/unit modifier or as a noun: |
Noun - |
The follow-up of the report was delayed. |
Adjective |
A follow-up review has been scheduled with the Maryland Division Office by the Office of Program Review. |
IMPLY/INFER
IMPLY |
Means to suggest or hint. |
INFER |
Means to draw a conclusion—assume, deduce. |
IN/INTO
IN |
Denotes location within (enclosure). |
INTO |
Denotes motion from the outside to the inside. |
NUMBER Means countable items.
PERCENT |
Spell out percent instead of using the symbol (%) except in tables, footnotes, charts, etc. |
PRACTICAL/PRACTICABLE
PRACTICAL |
Means useful, successful, or appropriate. |
PRACTICABLE |
Refers to something that is feasible or usable but not yet tested/proven. |
PRINCIPAL/PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPAL |
Refers to an important person or thing (adjective), a sum of money (noun), or an item of utmost importance (adjective). |
PRINCIPLE |
Refers to a concept, law, doctrine, rule, or code of conduct (noun). Principle is not used as an adjective. |
UNIQUE
Refers to something that is distinctively characteristic (one of its kind) or without equal. Do not use with a unit modifier such as "most," "very," or "more."
WHICH/WHO/THAT
WHICH |
Refers to animals, places, and things or introduces a non-essential phrase or clause. |
WHO |
Refers to persons but may be used with animals and some things called by name. |
THAT |
Refers to animals or things and sometimes to persons or introduces a non-essential phrase or clause. |
EXAMPLES
The boy who was fishing is my son.
The boy which (or that) sat beside him looked listless.
Sometimes that and who are interchangeable.
A child (that) (who) sucks his thumb is often insecure.
That man (that) (who) sold his business was financially insecure.
NOTE: WHOSE (the possessive form of who) is often used to avoid the awkward use of "which" (even in referring to animals, places, and things.)
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