Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Which Word Wednesday: Acronym vs. Initialism

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Long before prescriptivists were lamenting the onset of mobile phone text-speak, there were abbreviations like laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) and scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) and USA (United States of America).

Abbreviations come in two flavors: acronyms and initialisms. This week’s Which Word Wednesday looks at the difference between the two. Here are the definitions from The Oxford American Dictionary:

acronym :: noun
a word formed from the initial letters of other words (e.g., radar, laser)

initialism :: noun
an abbreviation consisting of initial letters pronounced separately (e.g., CPU)

Although both nouns refer to abbreviations, according to Mignon Fogarty’s The Grammar Devotional, “acronyms are special kinds of abbreviations that can be pronounced as words, such as OPEC (‘oh-peck’ for Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries).”1 Laser and scuba would also be examples of acronyms.

Fogarty explains that initialisms are “often confused with acronyms because they’re made up of letters, so they look similar, but they can’t be pronounced as words. FBI and CIA are examples.”1

USA is another example of an initialism.

How can we tell the difference? I’m thinking of initials when I think of initialisms. My initials are EMS, and I pronounce each letter separately rather than pronouncing my initials as a word (“ems”).

What’s my WWW verdict? If you can pronounce the abbreviation as a word, it’s an acronym; if you can’t, it’s an initialism.

What’s your verdict? Do you know your acronyms from your initialisms? How do tell one from the other? Do you have a favorite abbreviation? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Mignon Fogarty, The Grammar Devotional: Daily Tips for Successful Writing from Grammar Girl (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009), 182.

 

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Which Word Wednesday: Metonym vs. Synonym

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http://www.google.com/imgres?q=peter+roget&num=10&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1499&bih=664&tbm=isch&tbnid=c3Wm64gPeE0k3M:&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/roget_peter_mark.shtml&docid=HNAAZPYqzRcmiM&imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/images/roget_peter_mark.jpg&w=136&h=185&ei=T64WT47GOKqqsQKB0d2yAg&zoom=1

Thanks, Peter!

Happy Thesaurus Day! Today is the day we observe the word treasury that was written by Peter Roget, born January 18, 1779. Roget’s Thesaurus was first published in April 1852, which begs the question: What did writers do to find synonyms before then?! I, for one, am happy to be living on this side of 1852.

How will I celebrate this felicity? I just may crack out a gift the Hubster gave me last year, The Thinker’s Thesaurus. It’s a mega-Thesaurus. I highly recommend it.

Another merriment on tap here at The Patch is Which Word Wednesday. Isn’t it fun that Thesaurus Day falls on Wednesday this year?! We get to celebrate the holiday and a word match up all at once.

In honor of the Peter’s birthday, we’ll consider metonym vs. synonym. Here are the definitions from The Oxford American Dictionary:

metonym :: noun
a word, name, or expression used as a substitute for something else with which it is closely associated

synonym :: noun
a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language

Both nouns refer to words that can be used to substitute other words. Word association is key—you should be able to use one word or the other with the intended meaning remaining the same.

A metonym is the term for words that are more general or loosely associated with each other. The OAD expounds: “For example, Washington is a metonym for the federal government of the U.S.”

A synonym is the term for words that are near substitutes for one another. Once again, the OAD provides insight: “For example shut is a synonym of close.”

Roget’s Thesaurus as well as The Thinker’s Thesaurus are sources to turn to when you need help finding that perfect word to communicate clearly. But I see the classic version as the source for synonyms and the lesser-known version as the source for metonyms. For example, if we look at the word creative, we find the following entries:

The Thesaurus offers 11 options for substitution in its entry:
inventive, imaginative, innovative, experimental, original; artistic, expressive, inspired, visionary; enterprising, resourceful

The Thinker’s Thesaurus offers two loosely related words in its entry:
(1) and/or original adj.: Promethean [Prometheus was the Titan god of forethought, who, based on some legends, was entrusted with the task of molding mankind out of clay.]

(2) as in resourceful person n.: debrouillard [French].

What’s my WWW verdict? If you are looking for basic substitutions to avoid repetitive speech, use a Thesaurus; if you need a witty term or reference, check out The Thinker’s Thesaurus.

What’s your verdict? Are you a Thesaurus reader? Will you celebrate Thesaurus Day? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Which Word Wednesday: Geek vs. Nerd

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When I was in junior high and high school, TV shows and movies highlighted the awkward lives of the socially inept. These were lovable-yet-dorky characters like Sarah Jessica Parker’s Patty Greene in Square Pegs.

At that time, being nerdy or geeky was not something to strive for. Today, being quirky in a nerdy or geeky way is better than conforming to some standard of cooldom. So which sort of quirky is which? That’s the word quandary for today’s Which Word Wednesday between geek and nerd. Here are the definitions from The Oxford American Dictionary:

geek :: noun
an unfashionable or socially inept person

nerd :: noun
a foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious; an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession

From these definitions, geeks are inept but don’t draw attention to it; nerds are inept and lets everyone around see it in all its glory.

Ron Evans takes a different tact his The Artful Nuance: “A geek is any intelligent person with an obsessive interest, as in computers, science fiction, comic books, politics, or even sports. . . . It can be used almost neutrally or sometimes even positively.” 1 (Based on this definition, I could be classified as a grammar geek. Is that neutral or positive?) Evans continues: “A nerd is a socially inept or awkward and often unstylish geek.”1

Does that mean all nerds are geeks, but not all geeks are nerds? hmmm . . .

I found this great infographic (from dailyinfographic.com) depicting the differences between geeks and nerds. It says that people self-identify as geek more so than nerd. I think that’s because being geeky is not socially damaging. You can be geeky but cool. Being nerdy is not as socially acceptable because the nerdiness causes foolish or embarrassing behavior. (Click the image to see the infographic in full.)

What’s my WWW verdict? We’ve all got a little geek-and-nerd in us; it just takes the right topic and a demanding social situation to bring it to light.

What’s your verdict? Do you make distinctions between geeks and nerds? How do you tell them apart? Which do you tend to be? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Ron Evans, The Artful Nuance: A Refined Guide to Imperfectly Understood Words in the English Language (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009), 106–107.

 

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Which Word Wednesday: Despise vs. Hate

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I know, I know. It’s Christmas. The season of love and joy. So this week’s Which Word Wednesday match up is not a good fit for the intended mood of the season.

But the entry caught my eye as I flipped through one of my word resource books today. And after reading the definitions for these two words, I found that I was using despise improperly. eek!! Certainly I can’t be the only one (?). Consider this my Christmas gift to you, that I would care enough to set us all straight. (ahem.)

Here are the definitions from The Oxford American Dictionary:

despise :: verb
feel contempt or a deep repugnance for

hate :: verb
feel intense or passionate dislike for (someone)

It seems that despise is more about scorn and disapproval. I guess that could lead to the emotion of hate, but not necessarily. It may be that you despise something (disapprove of it) but you aren’t a complete hater. It’s also possible that you hate something but aren’t bitter toward it.

Ron Evans clarifies in his The Artful Nuance: “To hate is to dislike intensely but needn’t imply ‘looking down on’: ‘A man may hate another man for running away with his wife without despising him.’ ”1 And Dave Dowling gives us this example in The Wrong Word Dictionary: It seems people either love or hate mayonnaise on sandwiches.”2

My error is in using despise as a fancy form of hate. For example, I would say that people either love or despise mayonnaise on sandwiches, but this usage implies that people may feel scorn toward mayonnaise . . . which seems unlikely. (I’ve never heard anyone admit to bitterness toward mayonnaise.)

What’s my WWW verdict? Despise and hate are not interchangeable. Especially when it comes to sandwiches.

What’s your verdict? Do you think despise and hate are interchangeable? Are you bitter toward sandwich condiments? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Ron Evans, The Artful Nuance: A Refined Guide to Imperfectly Understood Words in the English Language (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009), 71.
2. Dave Dowling, The Wrong Word Dictionary (Oak Park, IL: Marion Street Press, 2005), 79.

 

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Which Word Wednesday: Healthful vs. Healthy

Posted by erinstraza under language | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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A few months ago, as I was editing content for a client, I came across the word healthful. I don’t see that word very often, and I wondered how it differed from healthy, so I decided to do a check on it.

Since then, I’ve known the difference between the two, but I have a hard time training my tongue to use them properly. Perhaps a feature on Which Word Wednesday will get my tongue to cooperate with my brain? Here are the definitions from The Oxford American Dictionary:

healthful :: adjective
having or conducive to good health

healthy :: adjective
in good health

So far we’ve learned that both words are adjectives and both describe the state of health. This doesn’t help with usage though. David Dowling helps in his The Wrong Word Dictionary: “Healthful means conducive to good health” while “healthy means possessing good health.”1

Ron Evans agrees in The Artful Nuance, adding, “What is healthy enjoys good health.”2

Based on these definitions, food would be described as healthful, not healthy, because food contributes to our health either positively or negatively. Food does not enjoy good health. (Unless you live in VeggieTale World.)

What’s my WWW verdict? People are healthy; food, exercise, and rest are healthful. Proper grammar, punctuation, and words are also healthful.

What’s your verdict? Do you use healthy to describe food, exercise, and rest? Will you be able to train your tongue to use healthful instead? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Dave Dowling, The Wrong Word Dictionary (Oak Park, IL: Marion Street Press, 2005), 122.
2. Ron Evans, The Artful Nuance: A Refined Guide to Imperfectly Understood Words in the English Language (New York, NY: Penguin Group, 2009), 115.

 

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Which Word Wednesday: Conceit vs. Concept

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At our family gathering this past weekend, my brother-in-law and his girlfriend said they had a word quandary for me. We proceeded to have a delightful conversation about word usage and context.

Afterward, I mentioned it would make a great feature . . . and here it is.

This week’s Which Word Wednesday is pulled from a real life conversation my brother-in-law had with someone in which he was describing a game. (I’ve now forgotten the exact wording he used—sorry, Dylan!) The comment in question went something like this: “The director’s conceit was to show a darkened skyline . . .” The question was whether conceit was the appropriate word; it was suggested to him that concept would be a better choice.

I honestly had never heard conceit used in that way, so my first inclination was to choose concept. But I have looked up enough words by now that I know many words have obscure secondary definitions, so I promised to look it up. Here’s what the Oxford American Dictionary says:

conceit :: noun
1 excessive pride in oneself : he was puffed up with conceit. See notes at egotism, pride.
2 a fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor : the idea of the wind’s singing is a prime romantic conceit.
• an artistic effect or device : the director’s brilliant conceit was to film this tale in black and white.
• a fanciful notion : he is alarmed by the widespread conceit that he spent most of the 1980s drunk.

Well, there it is, used almost exactly in the same sense that my brother-in-law used it! Conceit does mean pride, but it also means “an artistic effect or device.”

That’s all new to me! Mark Davidson, in his Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today’s American English Usage, acknowledges this usage in his entry conceit is more than vanity:

The noun conceit, like concept, is from a Latin verb meaning “to conceive.” Hence, conceit originally meant “that which is conceived in the mind; a conception, notion, or idea.”1

What’s my WWW verdict? Word learning never ends. Oh, and word discussions make family gatherings all the sweeter.

What’s your verdict? Have you ever used conceit in this way? Do share in the comments.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Mark Davidson, Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today’s American English Usage (New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006), 166.

 

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Historic vs. Historical

Posted by erinstraza under language | Tags: , , , , |
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A recent editing job sent me on an etymological hunt for the difference between historic and historical. My search would serve two purposes: The first, for my client; the second, for Which Word Wednesday. C’est magnifique!

This quandary arose because I needed to know if Jesus would be considered a historic figure or a historical figure. Here’s the sentence:

Trusting in Jesus alone means much more than just believing that He existed like any other historical figure.

A quick look at the Oxford American Dictionary helped a bit:

historic :: adjective
famous or important in history, or potentially so;

historical :: adjective
of or concerning history; concerning past events

USAGE In general, historic means ‘notable in history, significant in history,’ as in a Supreme Court decision, a battlefield, or a great discovery. Historical means ‘relating to history or past events’ (historical society; historical documents).

The definitions are a near match, providing little direction on which word to use. The Usage notes are more helpful though. If you make history, you are historic. If you are connected to history, you are historical.

Mark Davidson, in his Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today’s American English Usage, admits that these adjectives have been used interchangeably for a couple of centuries, but in recent times, a distinction has been made by precise writers. He gives this example:

A novel that makes history, like Uncle Tom’s Cabin, is historic. A novel about history is historical.1

With all this newfound knowledge, what’s the correct word for the context of my editing dilemma? Is Jesus historic or historical?

Well, Jesus has definitely made history (per OAD and Davidson)—He has split history in half and has permeated the latter portion.

But Jesus is also connected to history (per OAD)—His coming was and is and always will be the most marked event in history.

So what’s my WWW (and editing) verdict? I went with historic, because Jesus is famous or important in history more so than just connected to history.

What’s your verdict? Is Jesus historic or historical? Cast your vote and share your opinion in the comments.

And if my editing question stirred your wondering in regard to Jesus, check out The Story.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Mark Davidson, Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today’s American English Usage (New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006), 296.

 

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Compose vs. Comprise

Posted by erinstraza under culture, language | Tags: , , , , |
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Some word pairs are like identical twins. Unless you get to know each one individually, you always mix them up.

Compose and comprise are twins in the linguistic sense. I can’t tell them apart, so I am forced to look to the dictionary with every encounter. It is frustrating to do so time and again . . . I wonder, will the usage ever stick?

Even if I have to consult the dictionary each time, I want to honor these two words as just that—two words with distinct definitions. Certainly they do not want to be lumped together as some conglomerate. Most twins I know fiercely wish to be known as the individuals they are. So let’s see if we can find some distinguishing trait that will help us identify them.

And perhaps by featuring this duo in a Which Word Wednesday match up will help. Here’s what we find from the Oxford American Dictionary:

compose :: verb
(usu. be composed) (of elements) constitute or make up (a whole)

comprise :: verb
consist of; be made up of; include, contain

Compose is typically preceded by a to be verb form, as in this example given by the OAD: The book is composed of five sections.

Comprise, however, is not to be preceded by a to be verb form. OAD explains it like this:

The book comprises five sections. Never say: The book is comprised of five sections.

Mark Davidson’s Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today’s American English Usage gives further insight for distinguishing between the look-alikes:

The whole comprises—consists of—all its parts. The United States comprises fifty states.1

Taking Davidson’s example, let’s apply the rule for compose to form a second example:

The whole is composed of the parts. The United States is composed of fifty states.

My WWW verdict? Compose and comprise need to get distinctive haircuts to help us tell these near identical twins apart. If that isn’t an option, I’ll just have to settle for keeping my word resources at the ready for the next compose/comprise encounter. (Watch out, words! Here I come.)

What’s your verdict? Do some word pairs dupe you every time? Submit those in the comments—I’d love to know which words are causing the most difficulty. And cast your vote in the poll—I sure hope I’m not the only one who needs to look up the same words every time they cross my path.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Mark Davidson, Right, Wrong, and Risky: A Dictionary of Today’s American English Usage (New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006), 166.

 

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Anticipate vs. Expect

Posted by erinstraza under culture, language | Tags: , , , , , , , |
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When it comes to word quandaries, we’ve seen again and again here at Which Word Wednesday that proper usage is directly related to context.

And there’s the rub.

Context is difficult to ascertain mid-sentence. We cannot grasp the correct word for the context so we insert whatever word is at the ready. When the improper word is applied often enough, the definition morphs into its common usage, even if common usage is incorrect. [sigh.]

But that’s what Which Word Wednesday is all about—looking at word usage and considering which words we are misusing. It’s an etymological quest!

This week’s quest for linguistic correctness is all about context. The duel is between anticipate and expect. Let’s start with the definitions of these two verbs from the Oxford American Dictionary:

anticipate :: verb
regard as probable; expect or predict

expect :: verb
regard (something) as likely to happen

Both of these verbs are forward looking terms. And they are hardly distinguishable to me! One regards a probable situation, the other a likely situation . . . is probable more certain than likely? That’s what seems to be implied.

Let’s also look to Dave Dowling’s opinion1 in his book The Wrong Word Dictionary to see if he can help.

Dowling says anticipate should be used to describe something you foresee and then prepare for. He gives this sample sentence:

The college anticipates a large enrollment jump next year.

So, does that mean they will start building more dorms and hiring more professors? That’s what anticipate suggests—you foresee and then prepare. I think the sample sentence needs more detail for it to make anticipate distinct!

For expect, Dowling describes it as a looking forward to something that’s a likely occurrence, giving this sample sentence:

The college expects most of the senior class to get job offers.

My only guess is that because this scenario does not require any forward-looking preparations by the speaker, expect is a better choice than anticipate.

I’m not quite sure how to keep these straight. Perhaps anticipate is something that will occur, so I need to prepare for it, and expect is more like an assumption about something that’s is likely to occur but not guaranteed.

How I want to be LC (linguistically correct)! I’m just not sure I can get it done in this case. Your thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

My WWW verdict? Perhaps these words should be used for distinct situations, but it’s doubtful I will be able to get them straight. I anticipate difficulty and apologize now for my foreseeable misuse. I expect most of you will graciously forgive me. [Thanks!]

What’s your verdict? Will you attempt to use these words as Dowling defines? Do share! And cast your vote in the poll—I’m curious how many are on the LC quest.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

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Sources
1. Dave Dowling, The Wrong Word Dictionary (Oak Park, IL: Marion Street Press, 2005), 34.

 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Which Word Wednesday: Envious vs. Jealous

Posted by erinstraza under culture, faith, language | Tags: , , , , , |
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We’ve all experienced the sick-to-the-stomach feeling of envy. It’s no fun whatsoever. And it makes us green, which is not a desirable pallor for anyone—except Kermit, but he’s green all the time, not due to any emotional wellspring. (Mary Kassian describes the origin of the phrase green with envy if you are curious.)

When this intrusive emotion rages within, we might describe it as envy or jealousy, and everyone would understand the intent.

But did you know that being envious is not quite the same as being jealous? Let’s take a look at these two words for this week’s Which Word match-up.

Consider the definitions of these two adjectives from the Oxford American Dictionary:

envious :: adjective
feeling or showing envy

envy :: noun
a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or luck

jealous :: adjective
fiercely protective or vigilant of one’s rights or possessions; an intense effort to hold on to what one possesses

What we find is that one word describes feelings about a lack (envious) and the other describes feelings about an abundance you want to guard (jealous).

Envy is about keeping up with the Joneses—you see what others have and want it for yourself.

Jealousy is about guarding your territory to keep those pesky Joneses off your turf—others see what you have and want to take it from you. (This sounds a bit more like paranoia than need be, but you get the idea!)

Here’s how envy and jealousy shake out with a real-life example:

An envious heart says: The Joneses own the Oxford American Dictionary; I want what they have and I resent that they have it when I don’t.

A jealous heart says: The Joneses want to take my Oxford American Dictionary, but I will not let them have it.

What’s my WWW verdict? The Joneses are blessed to own the Oxford American Dictionary . . . but I would only be envious if they owned the Oxford English Dictionary in all its 20-volume, 21,730-page glory.

What do you think? Should we make a distinction when the heart is experiencing envious emotion versus jealous emotion? Cast your anonymous, free-of-charge vote in the poll.

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Check out previous Which Word Wednesday verdicts here.

 

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