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Pleaded vs. Pled

For the past tense of to plead, you may use either pleaded or pled.

Example: He will plead not guilty to the charges.
Example: He pleaded not guilty before his trial.
Example: He pled not guilty before his trial.

Note: In the strict legal sense, one cannot plead innocent.

Word of the Week

Avuncular: Having to do with an uncle, especially in kindness or tolerance.

Example: He showed her avuncular affection.


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Posted on Tuesday, April 8th, 2008, at 2:54 am

Some Confusing Words

We have many words in the English language that have subtle differences between them. If you know these differences, you will be confident that you are conveying the meaning you intend.

The five sets of confusing words we will cover today are:

Adverse vs. Averse
Uninterested vs. Disinterested
Suppose vs. Supposed
Oriented vs. Orientated
Democratic Party vs. Democrat Party

Adverse = unfavorable or antagonistic in purpose or effect; strongly opposed (refers to things, not people)
Averse = having repugnance (refers to people)

Example: She had an adverse reaction to the medication.
Example: They experienced adverse weather conditions.
Example: He is averse to a military draft.

Uninterested vs. Disinterested

Uninterested = not interested
Disinterested = unbiased

Example: She seemed uninterested in history.
Example: Because she was disinterested, she acted as the mediator.

Suppose vs. Supposed

Suppose = to assume to be real or true; to consider as a suggestion
Supposed = intended; required; firmly believed; permitted

Example: I suppose you will tell me when it’s time for dinner.
Example: Suppose we go to the movie now…will that work for your schedule?
Example: We were supposed to meet at the theater.
Example: He is supposed to be at work at 6:00 P.M.

Oriented vs. Orientated
The dictionary allows you to use either word to mean “adjusted or located in relation to surroundings or circumstances.”

Example: The house had its large windows oriented toward the ocean view.
OR
Example: The house had its large windows orientated toward the ocean view.

Democratic Party vs. Democrat Party
It’s the Democratic Party. Some non-Democrats don’t like the implication that one party has a lock on democratic principles so will say Democrat Party.

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Posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008, at 7:13 pm

Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure

The three words, assure, ensure, and insure, are often confused so here are the definitions along with some examples to help clarify the distinctions for you.

Assure: to promise or say with confidence
Example: Let me assure you that I will be at the meeting at noon.

Ensure: to make sure something will/won’t happen
Example: To ensure my family’s safety, I have installed an alarm system.

Insure: to issue an insurance policy
Example: I will insure my home with additional fire and flood policies.

Pop Quiz

Choose the correct word in each sentence. Scroll down to view answers.

1. I assure/ensure/insure you that I have been honest about the money I spent.

2. I will assure/ensure/insure my car as required by law.

3. Mauricio saved money from every paycheck to assure/ensure/insure he could buy gifts for his family at the end of the year.

Pop Quiz Answers

1. I assure you that I have been honest about the money I spent.

2. I will insure my car as required by law.

3. Mauricio saved money from every paycheck to ensure he could buy gifts for his family at the end of the year.

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Posted on Monday, November 26th, 2007, at 3:24 pm

Anymore / Any more, Anyone / Any one, Everyone / Every one, Everybody / Every body

The same words, written as one word or split into two words, will differ in meaning. So you need to know which word you really want.

Any more: something additional or further
Example: I don’t want any more cake.

Anymore: any longer, nowadays
Example: Harry doesn’t travel anymore.

Anyone: anybody
Example: Anyone can learn to cook but few can learn to cook well.

Any one: any single member of a group of people or things
Example: Can any one of you tell me the answer to my question?

Everyone: everybody
Example: Everyone on the list has contributed to the ASPCA.

Every one: each one
Example: I wish I could buy every one of those puppies.

Everybody: everyone
Example: Everybody is working harder today than ten years ago.

Every body: each body
Example: Every body requires protein, vitamins, and minerals.

Quiz

1. I don’t want to talk about this anymore/any more.
2. I didn’t ask for anymore/any more work to be put on my desk.
3. Not everyone/every one has natural rhythm.
4. However, everyone/every one of us can learn to dance.
5. She doesn’t know anyone/any one in France.
6. He likes everybody/every body that he works with.
7. Anyone/Any one of you can redecorate the office if you would like.
8. Everybody/Every body is made up of bones, muscles, and flesh.

Answers

1. anymore
2. any more
3. everyone
4. every one
5. anyone
6. everybody
7. Any one
8. Every body

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Posted on Friday, October 26th, 2007, at 10:18 pm

Using [sic] Properly

Sic is a Latin term used to indicate that something incorrectly written is intentionally being left as it was in the original. Sic is usually italicized and always surrounded by brackets to indicate that it was not part of the original. Place [sic] right after the error.

Example: She wrote, “They made there [sic] beds.”

Note: The correct sentence should have been, “They made their beds.”

Why use [sic] at all? Why not just make the correction? If you are quoting material, it is generally expected that you will transcribe it exactly as it appeared in the original.

The word sic is also a command to attack (used especially in commanding a dog). The past tense is either sicced or sicked.

Examples: Sic ‘em, Fido. Fido sicced (or sicked) the burglar.

Note: With this meaning, the word is not italicized or enclosed in brackets.

Be careful, however, because the word sick, meaning ill, is also a homonym of sic.

Example: Ananda felt sick with the flu yesterday.

Quiz
Place [sic] where needed.

1. I can lend you no more then ten dollars.
2. Who’s turn is it to speak?
3. I don’t know witch way to turn.
4. How did the weather effect your vacation plans?
5. Don’t you think that every one should attend the meeting?

Answers

1. I can lend you no more then [sic] ten dollars. (than)
2. Who’s [sic] turn is it to speak? (Whose)
3. I don’t know witch [sic] way to turn. (which)
4. How did the weather effect [sic] your vacation plans? (affect)
5. Don’t you think that every one [sic] should attend the meeting? (everyone)

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Posted on Sunday, October 7th, 2007, at 11:17 pm

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