Strunk and White Flashcards

1
Q

Colloquialisms

A

When using a colloquialism (slang word or phrase); do not put quotations around it

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2
Q

Exclamations

A

do not emphasize simple statements with exclamation marks
It was a wonderful show! = It was a wonderful show.

Use for true exclamations or commands
What a wonderful show!
Stop!

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3
Q

Numerals

A

Do not spell out dates or serial numbers UNLESS in dialogue
August 9, 1988
“I arrived home on August ninth.”

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4
Q

Parentheses

A

Punctuated outside of the last mark of parentheses
The expression within the parentheses is punctuated as if it stood by itself

I went to her house yesterday (my third attempt to see her), but she had left town.
He declares (and why should we doubt his good faith?) that he is now certain of success.

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5
Q

Quotations

A

Formal quotations cited as evidence are introduced by a colon and enclosed in quotations

The United States Coast Pilot has this to say of the place: “Bracy Cove, o.5 mile eastward of Bear Island, is exposed to southeast winds, has a rocky and uneven bottom, and is unfit for anchorage.”

A quotation in apposition or the direct object of a verb is preceded by a comma and enclosed in quotations

I am reminded of the advice of my neighbor, “Never worry about your heart till it stops beating.”
Mark Twain says, “A classic is something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.”

When a quote is followed by an attributive phrase, the comma is enclosed in the quotations

“I can’t attend,” she said.

When quotes are in a list, commas go inside

Block quotes go on a new line, no quotations (4 lines or more)
Quotations beginning with “that” are indirect and are not in quotations

Keats declares that beauty is truth, truth is beauty.
Dickinson states that a coffin is a small domain.

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6
Q

References

A

Abbreviate exact references in parenthetical citations or footnotes

Othello II.iii. 264-267, III.iii. 155-161

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7
Q

Titles

A

Italicize with capitalized initials
Omit A or The when the possessive is before it
The Age of Innocence; Wharton’s Age of Innocence

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8
Q

Aggravate vs. Irritate

A

Aggravate = to add to an already troublesome or vexing matter or condition
Irritate = to vex, annoy, or chafe

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9
Q

All Right

A

To mean “agreed” or “O.K.”
Properly written as two words

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10
Q

Allude

A

Do not confuse with elude
You allude to a book; you elude a pursuer
Allude is not synonymous with refer, an allusion is indirect, a reference is direct

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11
Q

Allusion

A

Not to be confused with illusions
Allusion = indirect reference
Illusion = unreal image, false impression

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12
Q

Alternate vs. Alternative

A

Not always interchangeable as nouns and adjectives
Alternate = every other one in a series, or the other in a series of two
Alternative = has more choice than alternate

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13
Q

Among vs. Between

A

Among = More than two things or persons
The money was divided among the four players.
Between = only two, or each person is considered individually
An agreement between the six heirs.

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14
Q

And/or

A

Do not use, separate them
First of all would an honor system cut down on the amount of stealing and/or cheating?
=
First of all, would an honor system reduce the incidence of stealing or cheating or both?

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15
Q

Anticipate

A

Use expect in the sense of simple expectation
I anticipated that he would look older = I expected that he would look older

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16
Q

Anybody

A

In the sense of “any person” not to be written as two words
Any body = any corpse or any human form
This is the same for everybody, nobody, and somebody

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17
Q

Anyone

A

Written as two words or it means “any single person”

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18
Q

As good or better than

A

Should be corrected by rearranging the sentence
My opinion is as good or better than his = My opinion is as good as his, or better (if not better).

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19
Q

As to whether

A

just whether

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20
Q

As yet

A

just yet
No agreement has been reach as yet = no agreement has yet been reached
except when yet is at the beginning of the sentence
Yet (despite everything) he has not succeeded.
As yet (so far) he has not succeeded

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21
Q

Being

A

Not to be used after regard…as
He is regarded as being the best dancer in the club = He is regarded as the best dancer in the club.

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22
Q

But

A

Unnecessary after doubt or help
I have no doubt but that = I have no doubt that
He could not help but see that = he could not help seeing that.

Do not use two buts right after each other
Our country has vast resources but seemed almost wholly unprepared for war. But within a year it had created an army of millions.
=
Our country seemed almost wholly unprepared for war, but it had vast resources. Within a year it had created an army of millions.

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23
Q

Can

A

Means “am able,” not to be used for may

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24
Q

Care less

A

“I could care less” is incorrect, properly = “I couldn’t care less”

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25
Q

Case

A

Often unnecessary
In many cases, the rooms lacked air conditioning = Many of the rooms lacked air conditioning

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26
Q

Certainly

A

Don’t use

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27
Q

Character

A

Don’t use
Acts of hostile character = hostile acts

28
Q

Claim (verb)

A

Means “lay claim to” do not use as a substitute for declare, maintain, or charge
He claimed he knew how = He declared he knew how

29
Q

Clever

A

Means a different thing when applied to horses
A clever horse is a good natured one

30
Q

Compare

A

Compare to = compare things of a different order
Compare with = compare things of the same order
Life is compared to a battle
Congress can be compared with the British Parliament

31
Q

Comprise

A

Means embrace
A zoo comprises different animals, the animals do not comprise the zoo, they constitute it

32
Q

Consider

A

Not followed by as when meaning “believe to be”
I consider him competent.
Followed by as when meaning “examined” or “discussed”
The lecturer considered Eisenhower first as soldier and second as administrator.

33
Q

Contact

A

Do not use, use get in touch, phone, meet, or find

34
Q

Cope

A

Intransitive verb used with “with”
I knew they would cope with the situation.

35
Q

Currently

A

In the sense of NOW, when the verb is in present tense, is normally redundant. If you want emphasis, Just use a more precise reference of time

We are currently reviewing your application

VS: We are at this moment reviewing your application

36
Q

Data

A

Data is plural, and best used with a plural verb. Although it is gaining acceptance as a singular verb

37
Q

Disinterested

A

Means neutral or impartial. Not uninterested.
Let the disinterested person judge our dispute (an impartial person).

38
Q

Divided into

A

Literally means divided, not to be used as composed of
An apple is divided into halves, it is composed of seeds, flesh, and skin

39
Q

Due to

A

loosely its used as a synonym for through, because of, or owing to. Technically it means attributable to.
He lost the first game because of carelessness
The accident was due to bad weather

40
Q

Each and every one

A

Avoid unless in dialogue. Say “all of us,” or something instead

41
Q

Effect

A

as a noun means result. As a verb means to accomplish, or to bring about. (Don’t confuse with affect, which means influence).

42
Q

Enormity

A

Use only in the sense of “Monstrous wickedness.” If used to express bigness, it can be confusing and wrong.”

43
Q

Enthuse

A

Do not use

44
Q

Etc

A

The phrase is equivalent to “and the rest,” and “and so forth,” and shouldn’t be used if that can’t be substituted into the sentence. Or as an excuse to not list any particulars. Should not be used at the end of a list introduced by “and so forth,” or “for example.”

45
Q

Fact

A

Never use this word in matters of judgement. Conclusions are not facts.

46
Q

Facility

A

Don’t substitute facility when you can be more specific.

47
Q

Factor

A

Usually expressions that use this word can be replaced by something more direct. (ie. don’t use it)
Her superior training was the great factor in her winning the match = She won the match by being better trained

48
Q

Farther. Further.

A

These words are not interchangeable. Farther is a distance word. Further is a time or quantity word.
You chase a ball farther, but you study a subject further

49
Q

Feature

A

Do not use

50
Q

Finalize

A

Do not use

51
Q

Fix

A

Used in America to mean arrange, prepare, mend etc. But preferred usage is to “to make firm,” or “to place definitely.”

52
Q

Flammable

A

This word is often used in saving lives. The proper term is inflammable, but people get thrown off by the in, and think it falsifies the word. So “flammable,” is written on products, or whatever to save lives. But the proper term is inflammable, and should be used in formal writing

ie. flammable and inflammable mean opposite things than you think they do

53
Q

Folk

A

Synonymous to people. Only to be used in the singular form. “folks,” in the sense of family, or parents is too informal.

54
Q

Fortuitous

A

Should be used only in context of what happens by chance. Not to be used for lucky or fortunate.

55
Q

Get

A

You should never say “have got,” instead of “have.” Got is preferred to gotten.
He has not got any sense = he has no sense

They returned without having gotten any = They returned without having got any

56
Q

Gratuitous

A

Means “unearned” or “unwarranted.” undeserved.

57
Q

He is a man who

A

Redundant, do not use

58
Q

Hopefully

A

Should be used as an adverb that means “with hope.” Now used as I hope, or it is to be hoped, which is wrong.

59
Q

However

A

Avoid starting sentences with However, when it means nevertheless. Its better when its not in first person.
When however is first it means “in whatever way” not “on the other hand”

60
Q

Imply. Infer

A

Not interchangeable. Implied is something suggested or indicated. Inferred is something deduced from evidence at hand.

61
Q

Importantly

A

Do not use

62
Q

In regard to

A

Often wrongly written in regards to. But saying “as regards,” is also correct, and means the same.

63
Q

In the last analysis

A

Do not use

64
Q

Inside of. Inside

A

Only use Inside of, when you can substitute it with the phrase “in less than.” Otherwise, omit the of.

65
Q

Insightful

A

This word is an overstatement of perceptive. Use perceptive unless an extreme circumstance

66
Q

In terms of

A

Do not use