.or i Take care with singular and plural verbs.. Use these exemplar sentences as a guide: Either Jack or Tom was there, singular verb to match Jack singular or Tom singular Either Jack o
Trang 1Proper names (e.g of people or countries) don't follow the rule: Deirdre, Keith, Neil, Sheila, Madeira, etc
eighth
(notice -hth)
See EI/IE SPELLING RULE.
either
(not -ie-) An exception to the EI/IE SPELLING RULE.
either or
(i) Take care with singular and plural verbs
Use these exemplar sentences as a guide:
Either Jack or Tom was there, (singular verb to
match Jack (singular) or Tom (singular))
Either Jack or his brothers were there, (plural
verb to match 'brothers' (plural) which is closer
to it than 'Jack' (singular))
Either his brothers or Jack was there, (singular
verb this time because 'Jack' (singular) is closer
to the verb than 'brothers')
(ii) Be careful to place each part of the 'either or' construction correctly
I have decided either that I have to build an extension or I have to move
I have decided that either I have to build an extension or I have to move
18 exceptions
caffeine forfeit seize
codeine heifer sheikh
counterfeit height sovereign
either leisure surfeit
Fahrenheit neither weir
foreign protein weird
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Trang 2In the example above, there are these two possibilities:
I have to build an extension
I have to move
'Either' precedes the first one and 'or' precedes the second
The second one could be shortened:
I have decided that either I have to build an extension or (I have to) move
I have decided that either I have to build an extension or move
It is important that the two constructions following 'either' and 'or' should be parallel ones:
either meat or fish
either green or red
either to love or to hate
either with malice or with kindness
If the second construction is shortened to avoid repetition, this is fine The missing words are obvious and can be supplied readily
elf (singular) elves (plural)
See PLURALS (v)
eligible or legible?
ELIGIBLE = suitably qualified
LEGIBLE = able to be read
eloquent
elude
See ALLUDE OR ELUDE?.
embargo (singular) embargoes (plural)
See PLURALS (iv).
Trang 3embarrassed, embarrassing (not -r-)
embarrassment
emend
See AMEND OR EMEND?.
emergency (singular) emergencies (plural)
See PLURALS (iv).
emigrant or immigrant?
An EMIGRANT leaves his or her country to live in
another
An IMMIGRANT moves into a country to live
permanently
eminent or imminent?
EMINENT = famous
IMMINENT = about to happen
emperor
emphasise/emphasize
Both spellings are correct
encyclopaedia/encyclopedia
Both spellings are correct
endeavour
end stops
There are three end stops: a full stop (.), an
exclamation mark (!), and a question mark (?) Use a full stop to end a statement
There are five eggs in the fridge
Use an exclamation mark with a command or an exclamation
Get out!
Use a question mark to end a question
Trang 4Where do you live?
See EXCLAMATION MARKS.
FULL STOPS.
QUESTION MARKS.
endings
See ADDING ENDINGS.
enemy (singular) enemies (plural)
See PLURALS (iv).
enormity
This refers to a grave sin or a crime, or a disaster on
a huge scale
We gradually realised the full ENORMITY of the
tragedy
It is often used in popular speech to mean
'enormousness', 'hugeness', 'immensity' This should
be avoided in a formal context
enquiry or inquiry?
Both spellings are correct and there is no difference
in meaning British English favours the first and American English the second
Some writers reserve the first for a general request for information and the second for a formal
investigation, but this is by no means necessary
enrol
enrolled, enrolling
(British English - enrol; American English - enroll)
enrolment
(British English enrolment; American English -enrollment)
ensure or insure?
to ENSURE = to make sure
to INSURE = to arrange for financial compensation
in the case of loss, injury, damage or death
Trang 5(not -ou-)
enthusiastic
envelop
enveloped, enveloping, envelopment (stress on second syllable)
envelope (singular)
envelopes (plural) (stress on third syllable)
environment
epigram or epitaph?
EPIGRAM = a short witty saying
EPITAPH = an inscription on a tombstone
equip
equipped, equipping, equipment
See ADDING ENDINGS (iv).
Ernest
See EARNEST OR ERNEST?.
erratum (singular) errata (plural)
See FOREIGN PLURALS.
erring
err + ing (not -r-)
erupt
(not -rr-)
especially or specially?
The two words are very close in meaning and sometimes overlap However, use these exemplar sentences as a guide to exclusive uses:
I bought the car ESPECIALLY for you (= for you
alone).
We are awaiting a SPECIALLY commissioned report
(- for a special purpose).
(not enviroment)
Trang 6estuary (singular) estuaries (plural)
See PLURALS (iv).
etc.
(not e.t.c or ect.)
(i) etc is an abbreviation of the Latin et cetera
which means 'and other things' It is therefore incorrect to write 'and etc.'.
(ii) Avoid using 'etc.' in formal writing Either list all the items indicated by the vague and lazy 'etc.',
or introduce the given selection with a phrase like 'including', 'such as' or 'for example'.
eventually
eventual + ly (not eventully)
exaggerate
(not exagerate)
examination
exausted
Wrong spelling See EXHAUSTED.
excellent
(not -ant)
except
See ACCEPT OR EXCEPT?.
exceptionable or exceptional?
EXCEPTIONABLE = open to objection
EXCEPTIONAL = unusual
excercise
Wrong spelling See EXERCISE.
excite
excited, exciting, excitement
See ADDING ENDINGS (ii).
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