Wrong in english6 potx

data plural datum singular Strictly speaking, DATA should be used with a plural verb: The DATA have been collected by research students.. You will, however, increasingly see DATA used wi

(vi) Dashes can indicate hesitation in speech:

I - er - don't - um - know what - what to say (vii) Dashes can indicate missing letters or even missing words where propriety or discretion require it:

c 1 (ship of the desert)

Susan L— comes from Exeter

He swore softly, ' it'

data (plural) datum (singular)

Strictly speaking, DATA should be used with a plural

verb:

The DATA have been collected by research students You will, however, increasingly see DATA used with

a singular verb and this use has now become

acceptable

The DATA has been collected by research students dates

See NUMBERS for a discussion of how to set out dates

deceased or diseased?

DECEASED means dead.

DISEASED means affected by illness or infection deceit

(not -ie)

See EI/IE SPELLING RULE.

deceive

decent or descent?

DECENT means fair, upright, reasonable.

DESCENT means act of coming down, ancestry decide

decided, deciding (not decied-)

Wrong spelling See DECEIT

decieve

Wrong spelling See DECEIVE

decision

decolletage

(not de-)

decrepit

(not -id)

defective or deficient?

DEFECTIVE means not working properly (a

DEFECTIVE machine).

DEFICIENT means lacking something vital (a diet DEFICIENT in vitamin C).

defer

deferred, deferring, deference

See ADDING ENDINGS (iv).

deffinite

Wrong spelling See DEFINITE

deficient

See DEFECTIVE OR DEFICIENT?.

definate

Wrong spelling See DEFINITE

definite

(not -ff-, not -ate)

definitely

deisel

Wrong spelling See DIESEL

delapidated

Wrong spelling See DILAPIDATED

See ALLUSION, DELUSION OR ILLUSION?

denouement/denouement

Both spellings are correct

dependant or dependent?

The adjective (meaning reliant) is always -ent She is a widow with five DEPENDENT children

I am absolutely DEPENDENT on a pension.

The noun (meaning someone who is dependent) has traditionally been spelt -ant However, the American practice of writing either -ant or -ent for the noun has now spread here Either spelling is now

considered correct for the noun but be aware that some conservative readers would consider this slipshod

She has five DEPENDANTS/DEPENDENTS,

descent

See DECENT OR DESCENT?.

describe

(not dis-)

description

(not -scrib-)

desease

Wrong spelling See DISEASE

desert or dessert?

A DESERT is sandy.

A DESSERT is a pudding.

desiccated

(not dess-)

t

(not desireable)

See ADDING ENDINGS (ii).

desperate

(not desparate)

The word is derived from spes (Latin word for

hope) This may help you to remember the e in the middle syllable.

dessert

See DESERT OR DESSERT?.

dessiccated

Wrong spelling See DESICCATED

destroy

destroyed, destroying (not dis-)

See ADDING ENDINGS (iii).

detached

(not detatched)

deter

deterred, deterring

See ADDING ENDINGS (iv).

deteriorate

(not deteriate, as it is often mispronounced)

deterrent

(not -ant)

develop

developed, developing (not -pp-)

development

(not developement)

device/devise

DEVICE is the noun.

A padlock is an intriguing DEVICE.

t

t

t

DEVISE is the verb.

Try to DEVISE a simple burglar alarm.

diagnosis (singular) diagnoses (plural)

See FOREIGN PLURALS.

diagnosis or prognosis?

DIAGNOSIS is the identification of an illness or a

difficulty

PROGNOSIS is the forecast of its likely

development and effects

diarrhoea

diary (singular) diaries (plural)

See PLURALS (iii).

See DAIRY OR DIARY?.

dictionary (singular) dictionaries (plural) (not -nn-)

See PLURALS (iii).

didn't

(not did'nt)

See CONTRACTIONS

diesel

(not deisel)

See EI/IE SPELLING RULE.

dietician/dietitian

Both spellings are correct

differcult

Wrong spelling See DIFFICULT

difference

(not -ance)

different

(not -ant)

different from/to/than

'Different from' and 'different to' are now both t

considered acceptable forms.

My tastes are DIFFERENT FROM yours.

My tastes are DIFFERENT TO yours.

Conservative users would, however, much prefer the preposition 'from' and this is widely used in formal contexts.

'Different than' is acceptable in American English but is not yet fully acceptable in British English.

difficult

(not differcult, not difficalt)

dilapidated

(not delapidated)

dilemma

This word is often used loosely to mean 'a problem' Strictly speaking it means a difficult choice between two possibilities.

dinghy or dingy?

A DINGHY is a boat (plural - dinghies).

See PLURALS (iii).

DINGY means dull and drab.

dingo (singular) dingoes or dingos (plural)

dining or dinning?

dine + ing = dining (as in dining room)

din + ing = dinning (noise dinning in ears)

See ADDING ENDINGS (i) and (ii).

diphtheria

(not diptheria as it is often mispronounced)

diphthong

(not dipthong as it is often mispronounced)

direct speech

See INVERTED COMMAS.