Strunk and White Flashcards
Colloquialisms
When using a colloquialism (slang word or phrase); do not put quotations around it
Exclamations
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!
Numerals
Do not spell out dates or serial numbers UNLESS in dialogue
August 9, 1988
“I arrived home on August ninth.”
Parentheses
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.
Quotations
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.
References
Abbreviate exact references in parenthetical citations or footnotes
Othello II.iii. 264-267, III.iii. 155-161
Titles
Italicize with capitalized initials
Omit A or The when the possessive is before it
The Age of Innocence; Wharton’s Age of Innocence
Aggravate vs. Irritate
Aggravate = to add to an already troublesome or vexing matter or condition
Irritate = to vex, annoy, or chafe
All Right
To mean “agreed” or “O.K.”
Properly written as two words
Allude
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
Allusion
Not to be confused with illusions
Allusion = indirect reference
Illusion = unreal image, false impression
Alternate vs. Alternative
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
Among vs. Between
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.
And/or
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?
Anticipate
Use expect in the sense of simple expectation
I anticipated that he would look older = I expected that he would look older
Anybody
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
Anyone
Written as two words or it means “any single person”
As good or better than
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).
As to whether
just whether
As yet
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
Being
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.
But
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.
Can
Means “am able,” not to be used for may
Care less
“I could care less” is incorrect, properly = “I couldn’t care less”
Case
Often unnecessary
In many cases, the rooms lacked air conditioning = Many of the rooms lacked air conditioning
Certainly
Don’t use
Character
Don’t use
Acts of hostile character = hostile acts
Claim (verb)
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
Clever
Means a different thing when applied to horses
A clever horse is a good natured one
Compare
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
Comprise
Means embrace
A zoo comprises different animals, the animals do not comprise the zoo, they constitute it
Consider
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.
Contact
Do not use, use get in touch, phone, meet, or find
Cope
Intransitive verb used with “with”
I knew they would cope with the situation.
Currently
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
Data
Data is plural, and best used with a plural verb. Although it is gaining acceptance as a singular verb
Disinterested
Means neutral or impartial. Not uninterested.
Let the disinterested person judge our dispute (an impartial person).
Divided into
Literally means divided, not to be used as composed of
An apple is divided into halves, it is composed of seeds, flesh, and skin
Due to
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
Each and every one
Avoid unless in dialogue. Say “all of us,” or something instead
Effect
as a noun means result. As a verb means to accomplish, or to bring about. (Don’t confuse with affect, which means influence).
Enormity
Use only in the sense of “Monstrous wickedness.” If used to express bigness, it can be confusing and wrong.”
Enthuse
Do not use
Etc
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.”
Fact
Never use this word in matters of judgement. Conclusions are not facts.
Facility
Don’t substitute facility when you can be more specific.
Factor
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
Farther. Further.
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
Feature
Do not use
Finalize
Do not use
Fix
Used in America to mean arrange, prepare, mend etc. But preferred usage is to “to make firm,” or “to place definitely.”
Flammable
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
Folk
Synonymous to people. Only to be used in the singular form. “folks,” in the sense of family, or parents is too informal.
Fortuitous
Should be used only in context of what happens by chance. Not to be used for lucky or fortunate.
Get
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
Gratuitous
Means “unearned” or “unwarranted.” undeserved.
He is a man who
Redundant, do not use
Hopefully
Should be used as an adverb that means “with hope.” Now used as I hope, or it is to be hoped, which is wrong.
However
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”
Imply. Infer
Not interchangeable. Implied is something suggested or indicated. Inferred is something deduced from evidence at hand.
Importantly
Do not use
In regard to
Often wrongly written in regards to. But saying “as regards,” is also correct, and means the same.
In the last analysis
Do not use
Inside of. Inside
Only use Inside of, when you can substitute it with the phrase “in less than.” Otherwise, omit the of.
Insightful
This word is an overstatement of perceptive. Use perceptive unless an extreme circumstance
In terms of
Do not use
