Stylebook

Question 1

Use serial commas for all items except in (1)

Answer 1

1. business firm names

Question 2

(1), (2), (3) and (4) are parenthetical and set off by commas.

Answer 2

1. Some dates (July to December, 2012)
2. direct address of names (I do, Sir, believe you are out of line)
3. Degrees (Jeff Iverson, Ph.D., is here)(Jr. is an exception)
4. abbreviations (The birds, fish, etc., are in the cages)

Question 3

To compare with means to (1); to compare to means to (2).

Answer 3

1. contrast/find differences

2. compare/find similarities

Question 4

Follow “considered” with “as” if you mean (1).

Answer 4

1. examined or discussed

Question 5

Disinterested means (1); do not confuse it with (2),

Answer 5

1. impartial

2. uninterested

Question 6

Use (1) rather than “different than.”

Answer 6

1 different from

Question 7

Enormity means (1), not bigness.

Answer 7

1. monstrous wickedness

Question 8

(1) is not really a word, but is used on trucks for safety purposes. (2) is the correct word.

Answer 8

1. flammable

2. inflammable

Question 9

(1) is limited to what happens by chance, and should not be used to mean fortunate or lucky.

Answer 9

1. fortuitous

Question 10

Gratuitous means (1).

Answer 10

1. unearned/undeserved

Question 11

In regards to is not correct, but (1) and (2) are.

Answer 11

1. in regard to

2. as regards

Question 12

Inside of means (1).

Answer 12

1. in less than

Question 13

The word “like” governs (1) and (2); use “as” for (3) and (4).

Answer 13

1. nouns
2. pronouns
3. phrases
4. clauses

Question 14

Loan is a (1), not a (2).

Answer 14

.1 noun

2. verb

Question 15

Nauseous means (1); nauseated means (2).

Answer 15

1. sickening to contemplate

2. sick to the stomach

Question 16

Use partially to mean (1); partly to describe a (2).`

Answer 16

1. to a certain degree (partially resigned)

2. physical object (partly submerged)

Question 17

Presently has two meanings: (1) and (2). Restrict its use to the first one.

Answer 17

1. in a short while

2. now

Question 18

In the first person, (1) indicates the speaker’s belief regarding a future action. (2) indicates determination.

Answer 18

1. shall

2. will

Question 19

(1) is defining or restrictive; (2) is not.

Answer 19

1. that

2. which

Question 20

A winding road is (1); a painful ordeal is (2).

Answer 20

1. tortuous

2. torturous