This fully updated edition of the bestselling Good Word Guide offers information and advice on spelling, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, confusables and the latest buzzwords, and provides clear, straightforward answers to everyday language problems.

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• Note on the seventh edition
• How to use this book
• Spelling
• Pronunciation
• Grammar and punctuation
• Usage
• Writing tips
• Guide to pronunciation
• A
• @
• a or an?
• abbreviations
• aberration
• ability
• -able or -ible?
• abled
• ableism
• Aboriginal or Aborigine?
• abound
• about
• above or over?
• abridgment or abridgement?
• abscess
• absence
• absolutely
• absolve
• absorption
• abstention or abstinence?
• abstractedly or abstractly?
• abuse or misuse?
• abysmal
• academic
• accede or exceed?
• accelerate
• accent or accentuate?
• accents
• accentuate
• accept or except?
• access
• access or accession?
• access or excess?
• accessible
• accessory or accessary?
• accommodation
• accompany
• accountable
• accumulative or cumulative?
• acetic
• achieve
• acknowledgment or acknowledgement?
• acoustics
• acquaint
• acquiesce
• acquirement or acquisition?
• acquit
• acronyms
• acrylic
• act or action?
• activate or actuate?
• active
• actor or actress?
• actualise
• actually
• actuate
• acute
• AD and BC
• address
• adequate
• adherence or adhesion?
• ad hoc
• ad infinitum
• adjectives
• adjourn
• administer or administrate?
• admissible
• admission or admittance?
• admit
• admittance
• ad nauseam
• adolescence
• adopted or adoptive?
• adrenalin or adrenaline?
• adult
• advance or advancement?
• advantage or vantage?
• advantageous
• adverbs
• adversary
• adverse or averse?
• advertise
• advise
• adviser or advisor?
• advisory
• -ae- and -oe-
• aegis
• aerial
• aero or air?
• aeroplane
• aerosol
• aesthetic, ascetic or acetic?
• affect or effect?
• affectation or affection?
• affinity
• afflict or inflict?
• affront or effrontery?
• Afghan or Afghani?
• aficionado
• African American
• African Caribbean
• Afro-American
• Afro-Caribbean
• afters
• afterward or afterwards?
• again
• aged
• ageing or aging?
• ageism
• agenda
• aggravate
• aggressive
• aging
• agnostic or atheist?
• ago or since?
• agoraphobia
• agreement and person
• ahead of
• -aholic
• aid
• Aids
• ain't
• air
• airman or airwoman?
• air miss or near miss?
• aisle
• à la carte
• alibi
• align
• all
• allege
• alliteration
• allowed or aloud?
• all ready
• all right or alright?
• all together
• allude
• allure or lure?
• allusion, illusion or delusion?
• allusive, elusive or illusive?
• alma mater
• almond
• alone or lone?
• along with
• aloud
• already or all ready?
• alright
• also
• altar or alter?
• alternate or alternative?
• alternative medicine
• although or however?
• although or though?
• altogether or all together?
• aluminium
• alumnus
• a.m. and p.m.
• amanuensis
• amateur
• ambience
• ambiguous or ambivalent?
• ameba
• amen
• amend or emend?
• amenity
• America
• American Indian
• AMERICANISMS
• amiable or amicable?
• amid, amidst, mid or midst?
• amoeba or ameba?
• amok or amuck?
• among or amongst?
• amoral or immoral?
• amount or number?
• amuck
• an
• anaemia or anemia?
• anaesthetic
• analogous
• analyse
• analysis
• ancillary
• and
• and/or
• anemia
• anesthetic
• angle
• angry
• annex or annexe?
• annual, biennial or perennial?
• anonymous
• anorexic or anorectic?
• -ant or -ent?
• ante- or anti-?
• antecedent
• antennae or antennas?
• anti-
• anticipate
• antidote
• antihistamine
• antique or antiquated?
• antisocial, asocial, unsocial or unsociable?
• antonym
• any
• anybody or anyone?
• anymore or any more?
• anyplace or any place?
• anytime or any time?
• apartheid
• apophthegm
• apostasy
• APOSTROPHE
• appal
• apparatus
• appendixes or appendices?
• applicable
• apposition
• appraise, apprise or apprize?
• appreciate
• apprehend or comprehend?
• apprise, apprize
• appropriate
• approval
• a priori
• apropos
• apt
• aqueduct
• Arab, Arabian or Arabic?
• arbiter or arbitrator?
• arbitrarily
• arbitrator
• arch- and archi-
• archaeology
• archetypal
• archi-
• aren't
• Argentine or Argentinian?
• argument
• arise or rise?
• around or about?
• around or round?
• arouse or rouse?
• arpeggio
• artefact or artifact?
• articles
• artifact
• artist or artiste?
• as
• ascent
• ascetic
• as far as
• as follows
• as for
• as from
• Asian or Asiatic?
• as if or as though?
• asocial
• as of
• as per
• asphalt
• asphyxiate
• assassinate
• assent or ascent?
• assent or consent?
• assertion or assertiveness?
• assignation or assignment?
• assimilate
• assist
• assonance
• as such
• assume or presume?
• assurance or insurance?
• assure, ensure or insure?
• asterisk
• asthma
• as though
• as to
• astrology or astronomy?
• astronomical
• astronomy
• as well as
• as yet
• asylum seeker
• at
• at or in?
• ate
• -ate
• atheist
• attach
• attempt
• at the sharp end
• at this moment in time
• attribute
• attributive
• au fait
• aural or oral?
• Australianisms
• Australoid
• author
• authoritarian or authoritative?
• avenge
• averse
• avoid, evade or elude?
• avoidance
• await or wait?
• awake, awaken, wake or waken?
• award-winning
• aware
• awesome
• awful
• awfully
• awhile or a while?
• axe
• axes
• B
• -babble
• babe
• bachelor
• back
• back burner
• back formation
• background
• backlash
• back of
• backward or backwards?
• bacteria
• bad
• bade
• baguette
• bail or bale?
• baited or bated?
• balance
• bale
• balk or baulk?
• ball game or ballpark?
• balmy or barmy?
• banister
• baptismal name
• barbarian, barbaric or barbarous?
• barbecue
• bare or bear?
• barely
• barman or barmaid?
• barmy
• base or basis?
• base or bass?
• basically
• basis
• bass
• bastard
• bated
• bath or bathe?
• bathos or pathos?
• bathroom
• battalion
• baulk
• BC
• BCE
• be
• beach or beech?
• bear
• beat or beaten?
• beat or beet?
• beautiful
• because
• because, as, for or since?
• because of
• beech
• beer or bier?
• beet
• befriend
• beggar
• beggar belief
• begin
• beg the question
• behalf
• beige
• bells and whistles
• beloved
• below, beneath, under or underneath?
• beneficent, beneficial
• benefit
• benevolent, benign, beneficent or beneficial?
• bereft
• beside or besides?
• best or better?
• best-before date
• bet or betted?
• bȇte noire
• betted
• better
• between
• between or among?
• bi-
• bias
• Bible or bible?
• bid
• biennial
• bier
• big bang
• big brother
• billion
• bio-
• bivouac
• bizarre
• black
• black hole
• blame
• blanch or blench?
• blatant or flagrant?
• blench
• blends
• blessed
• blind
• blip
• bloc or block?
• blond or blonde?
• blue-chip
• blue-sky
• blueprint
• blush or flush?
• board or bored?
• boat or ship?
• bona fide
• bored of or bored with?
• born or borne?
• born again
• borne
• borrow
• both
• bottleneck
• bottom line
• bottom out
• bough or bow?
• bought or brought?
• bouquet
• bourgeois
• bow
• boy
• boycott
• bracket
• BRACKETS
• brake or break?
• bravado, bravery or bravura?
• breach or breech?
• bread or bred?
• break
• breakthrough
• bred
• breech, breeches
• bridal or bridle?
• bring or take?
• Brit
• Britain
• Briticisms
• Britisher, Briton
• Brittany
• broach or brooch?
• brochure
• brooch
• brought
• brownie points
• buffet
• bulk
• bulletin
• bullet points
• bulwark
• buoy
• bureaucracy
• burgle, rob or steal?
• burned or burnt?
• bus
• business
• businessman or businesswoman?
• but
• buzz word
• by and large or by in large?
• by or bye?
• by the same token
• C
• cache or cash?
• Caesarean
• café or cafeteria?
• caffeine
• calendar, calender or colander?
• callous or callus?
• calorie
• Calvary
• cameraman or camerawoman?
• camouflage
• can or may?
• candelabra
• cannon or canon?
• cannot and can't
• canon
• can't
• canvas or canvass?
• capability, capacity or ability?
• capital or capitol?
• capital letters
• carat or caret?
• carburettor
• care
• caret
• Caribbean
• caring
• carte blanche
• case
• cash
• caster or castor?
• catalyst
• catarrh
• catastrophic
• cater
• Catholic or catholic?
• cavalry or Calvary?
• caviar or caviare?
• CE
• cede or seed?
• ceiling
• celeb
• celibate
• Celsius, centigrade or Fahrenheit?
• Celtic
• censure, censor or censer?
• centenary or centennial?
• centigrade
• centre or middle?
• centre on or centre around?
• centuries
• cereal or serial?
• ceremonial or ceremonious?
• certainty or certitude?
• cervical
• cession or cessation?
• cession or session?
• cf. or ff.?
• chafe or chaff?
• chain reaction
• chair
• challenge
• challenged
• chamois
• changeable
• chaperon or chaperone?
• character
• charisma
• charted or chartered?
• chat
• chauvinism
• cheat
• cheque or check?
• chequered
• chick or chicken?
• chihuahua
• chilblain
• childish or childlike?
• chill
• Chinese
• chiropodist
• cholesterol
• chord or cord?
• Christian name
• chronic
• chute or shoot?
• circumstances
• cirrhosis
• cite, site, or sight?
• city or town?
• civic, civil or civilian?
• clad or clothed?
• claim
• clandestine
• clarity
• classic or classical?
• clause
• claustrophobia
• clean or cleanse?
• cleft lip
• clench or clinch?
• clergyman or clergywoman?
• clever
• clichés
• client or customer?
• clientele
• climactic or climatic?
• climate
• climatic
• clinch
• clique
• clone
• close or closed?
• close proximity
• clothed
• clout
• co-
• coarse or course?
• cocoon
• coherent or cohesive?
• cohort
• coiffure
• colander
• collaborate or cooperate?
• collective nouns
• COLON
• colonnade
• coloration
• coloured
• colourise
• columnist
• come
• comedian or comedienne?
• comic or comical?
• COMMAS
• commandant, commander or commandeer?
• commemorate
• commence
• commensurate
• commercialese
• commissionaire
• commitment
• committee
• common
• communal
• communicate
• community
• comparable
• comparative and superlative
• comparatively
• compare to or compare with?
• compel or impel?
• compete
• competent
• competition or contest?
• complacent or complaisant?
• complement
• complement or compliment?
• complement or supplement?
• complementary medicine or alternative medicine?
• complete
• complex
• complex or complicated?
• compliant
• compliment, complimentary
• compose, comprise or constitute?
• compound
• comprehend
• comprehensible or comprehensive?
• comprise
• compulsive or compulsory?
• concede
• concept
• concerned
• concerning
• condemn or condone?
• condition or precondition?
• condone
• conducive
• confidant or confident?
• confide
• conform
• confrontation
• congenial, genial, congenital or genetic?
• congressman or congresswoman?
• congruent or congruous?
• conjoined
• conjunctions
• conjurer or conjuror?
• connect
• connection or connexion?
• connoisseur
• connote or denote?
• conscience
• conscientious or conscious?
• consensus
• consent
• consequent or consequential?
• consequent or subsequent?
• consequential
• conservative or Conservative?
• consider
• considerable
• consist of or consist in?
• consonant
• consortium or consortia?
• constable
• constitute
• constrain or restrain?
• contact
• contagious or infectious?
• containerise
• contemporary
• contemptible or contemptuous?
• contest
• contingency
• continual or continuous?
• continuance, continuation or continuity?
• continuous
• continuous tense
• contractions
• contrary
• contribute
• controversy
• convalescence
• convenient
• converse, inverse, obverse or reverse?
• convertible
• cool
• cooperate
• cord
• co-respondent
• corporal or corporeal?
• corps or corpse?
• correspond
• correspondent or co-respondent?
• cosmetic
• cost or price?
• couch potato
• could
• could have or could of?
• council or counsel?
• counsel or advise?
• country or countryside?
• country or nation?
• countryman or countrywoman?
• countryside
• coup de grâce
• coup d’état
• course
• cover
• crafted
• craftsman or craftswoman?
• crash
• creak or creek?
• creative
• credence or credibility?
• credible, creditable or credulous?
• creed
• credit crunch
• creek
• creep
• crème de la crème
• crescendo
• cripple
• crisis
• criterion or criteria?
• critic or critique?
• critical
• critique
• crochet or crotchet?
• cross-section
• crotch or crutch?
• crotchet
• crucial
• crutch
• cue or queue?
• cuisine
• cullender
• culminate
• cult
• cultured or cultivated?
• cumulative
• curb or kerb?
• currant or current?
• current
• curriculum
• curtsy or curtsey?
• customer
• cutting edge
• cyber-
• cymbal or symbol?
• cynical or sceptical?
• czar
• D
• dangling participles
• dare
• DASH
• data
• dates
• de-
• deadly or deathly?
• deaf
• deaf-mute
• deal
• dear or deer?
• debris
• debut
• deca- or deci-?
• decade
• deceitful or deceptive?
• deceive
• decent or decorous?
• deceptive
• deceptively
• deci-
• decidedly or decisively?
• decimate
• decisively
• decolorise
• décor
• decorous
• decriminalise or legalise?
• decry or descry?
• deduce or deduct?
• deer
• de facto
• defective or deficient?
• defence
• defensible or defensive?
• defer
• deficient
• defining clause
• definite or definitive?
• definite article
• definitely
• definitive
• defuse or diffuse?
• degree
• deity
• déjà vu
• de jure
• delirious
• deliver
• deliverance or delivery?
• delusion
• demi-, hemi- or semi-?
• demise
• denote
• denouement
• deny
• depend
• dependant or dependent?
• dependence or dependency?
• dependent
• deploy
• deprecate or depreciate?
• depression or recession?
• deprived
• de rigueur
• derisive or derisory?
• derived words
• descendant or descendent
• descry
• desert or dessert?
• desiccated
• design
• desirable or desirous?
• despair or desperation?
• despatch or dispatch?
• desperate
• desperation
• despite or in spite of?
• dessert, sweet, pudding or afters?
• destined
• detach
• detract or distract?
• detrimental
• development
• device or devise?
• devoid
• devolve on or devolve to?
• devotee
• dexterous or dextrous?
• diagnosis or prognosis?
• dialect
• dialectal or dialectic?
• dialogue
• diaphragm
• diarrhoea
• dice
• die
• dietician or dietitian?
• difference or differentiation?
• different from, different to or different than?
• differential
• differentiation
• differently abled
• different than, different to
• diffuse
• digital
• dilapidated
• dilemma
• dimension
• diminution
• dinghy or dingy?
• dining room
• dinner, lunch, tea or supper?
• diphtheria
• diphthong
• direct speech
• dis- or dys-?
• disabled
• disadvantaged
• disappear
• disappoint
• disassemble
• disassociate
• disassociation or dissociation?
• disastrous
• disc or disk?
• discipline
• discoloration
• discomfit or discomfort?
• discover
• discreet or discrete?
• discrepancy or disparity?
• discriminating or discriminatory?
• disillusion
• disingenuous or ingenuous?
• disinterested or uninterested?
• disk
• disorganised or unorganised?
• disorient or disorientate?
• disparity
• dispassionate, impassioned or impassive?
• dispatch
• dispel or disperse?
• dispute
• dissect
• dissemble or disassemble?
• dissemble, dissimulate or simulate?
• dissension or dissent?
• dissimilar
• dissimulate
• dissociate or disassociate?
• dissociation
• distil
• distinct or distinctive?
• distract
• distribute
• distrust or mistrust?
• disturb or perturb?
• dived or dove?
• divorcee
• do
• Domesday or doomsday?
• dominate or domineer?
• done or finished?
• doomsday
• do's and don'ts
• dot.com
• double entendre
• double negative
• doubling of consonants
• doubt
• doubtful or dubious?
• doubtless
• douse or dowse?
• dove
• download and upload
• downside
• downsizing
• Down's syndrome
• downward or downwards?
• dowse
• draft
• dramatist or playwright?
• draught or draft?
• draughtsman or draughtswoman?
• drawing room
• dreamed or dreamt?
• drier or dryer?
• drugs slang
• drunk or drunken?
• dryer
• dual or duel?
• dubious
• duel
• due to, owing to or because of?
• du jour
• dumb or mute?
• duplication or duplicity?
• duration or length?
• dustman or dustwoman?
• dwarf
• dwelled or dwelt?
• dying or dyeing?
• dynasty
• dys-
• dyslexic or dyslectic?
• E
• e-
• each
• each or both?
• each or every?
• each and every
• each other or one another?
• earthly or earthy?
• east, East or eastern?
• eastward or eastwards?
• eatable or edible?
• eco-
• economic or economical?
• economics
• ecstasy
• -ed or -t?
• edible
• -ee or -er?
• effect
• effective, effectual, efficacious or efficient?
• effeminate or effete?
• effrontery
• e.g. and i.e.
• egoism or egotism?
• eighth
• either
• eke out
• elder, eldest, older or oldest?
• electric or electrical?
• elemental or elementary?
• elicit
• eligible
• ellipse or ellipsis?
• ellipsis
• elliptical
• else
• elude
• elusive
• EMAIL
• emanate or exude?
• embarrass
• emend
• emigrant or immigrant?
• eminent, imminent or immanent?
• emoticon
• emotive or emotional?
• empathy
• emulate
• enable
• en bloc
• encyclopedia or encyclopaedia?
• end
• endemic or epidemic?
• end product and end result
• enervate
• England
• engrossed
• enhance
• en masse
• enormity or enormousness?
• enquiry or inquiry?
• enrol
• en suite
• ensure
• -ent
• enterprise
• enthral
• enthuse
• entomology or etymology?
• entourage
• entrepreneur
• envelop or envelope?
• enviable or envious?
• environment
• envisage or envision?
• envy or jealousy?
• ephemeral
• epic
• epicentre
• epidemic
• epigram, epigraph, epitaph or epithet?
• epitome
• eponym
• equable or equitable?
• equal
• equally
• equal to or equal with?
• equitable
• -er
• -er or -or?
• erogenous
• escalate
• Eskimo
• esophagus
• especially or specially?
• -ess
• essential
• essentially
• establishment
• esthetic
• estimation, estimate or esteem?
• et al.
• etc.
• ethics
• ethnic
• ethnic cleansing
• etymology
• euphemisms
• Eurasian
• Euro-
• evade, evasion
• evangelical or evangelistic?
• even
• eventuate
• ever
• every
• everybody or everyone?
• everyday or every day?
• evince
• ex
• exaggerate
• exalt or exult?
• exceed
• excel
• except
• exceptional or exceptionable?
• excess
• exclamation mark
• exclamations
• exclude or preclude?
• executive
• exercise or exorcise?
• ex gratia
• exhausting or exhaustive?
• exhilarate
• existential
• ex officio
• exorbitant
• exorcise
• exotic
• expatriate
• expeditious or expedient?
• explicable
• explicate
• explicit or implicit?
• exquisite
• extant or extinct?
• extempore or impromptu?
• extemporise or temporise?
• extensive or extended?
• exterior, external or extraneous?
• extinct
• extract or extricate?
• extraordinary
• extrapolate
• extricate
• extrinsic
• extrovert or introvert?
• exuberant
• exude
• exult
• F
• façade
• face or face up to?
• facia
• facile
• facilitate
• facility or faculty?
• factitious or fictitious?
• factor
• faculty
• Fahrenheit
• fail
• faint or feint?
• fair or fare?
• fait accompli
• false friends
• falsehood, falseness or falsity?
• fantastic
• FAQ
• Far East
• fare
• farther, farthest, further or furthest?
• fascia
• fascinate
• fatal or fateful?
• fate or féte?
• faun or fawn?
• faux
• faux pas
• fawn
• fax
• faze or phase?
• fearful or fearsome?
• feasible
• feature
• February
• feedback
• feel
• feet
• feint
• fellow-
• female or feminine?
• ferment or foment?
• -fest
• fĕte
• fetid or foetid?
• fetus
• few
• fewer or less?
• ff.
• fiancé or fiancée?
• fictional or fictitious?
• fifth
• figurative
• fill in or fill out?
• finalise
• finished
• finite verb
• fiord or fjord?
• fireman or firewoman?
• first or firstly?
• first name, Christian name, forename, given name or baptismal name?
• fish or fishes?
• fix or repair?
• fjord
• flagrant
• flagship
• flair or flare?
• flak
• flaming
• flammable
• flare
• flaunt or flout?
• flee or fly?
• fleshly or fleshy?
• flier or flyer?
• floor or storey?
• flounder or founder?
• flout
• flu
• fluorescent
• flush
• fly
• flyer
• fob or foist?
• focus
• foetid
• foetus or fetus?
• foist
• folk
• following
• follows, as
• foment
• foot or feet?
• for
• for- or fore-?
• forbade
• forbear or forebear?
• forbid or prohibit?
• forceful or forcible?
• fore-
• forebear
• forefather or foremother?
• forego
• foregone
• forehead
• FOREIGN WORDS AND PHRASES
• foreman or forewoman?
• forename
• forever or for ever?
• foreword or preface?
• forgo or forego?
• formally or formerly?
• former and latter
• formerly
• formidable
• formulae or formulas?
• forte
• forth or fourth?
• fortuitous or fortunate?
• forty
• forward or forwards?
• foul or fowl?
• founder
• fourth
• fowl
• foyer
• fraction
• fraught
• -free
• free gift
• freeze or frieze?
• friable
• -friendly
• frieze
• frolic
• front-line
• fuchsia
• -ful
• fulfil
• full
• fullness or fulness?
• full stop
• fulsome
• fun
• function
• function word
• functional shift
• fundamental
• funeral or funereal?
• fungi
• furore
• further, furthest
• G
• Gaelic or Gallic?
• gait or gate?
• Gallic
• gallop
• gamble or gambol?
• gaol
• garage
• gases or gasses?
• -gate
• gate
• gauge
• gay
• gender
• general or generic?
• genetic, genial
• genre
• gentleman
• geriatric
• gerunds
• get
• geyser
• gibe, jibe or gybe?
• gild or guild?
• gilt or guilt?
• gipsy or gypsy?
• girl
• given name
• glacier
• glamorous
• glass ceiling
• global
• glycerin or glycerine?
• gobbledygook
• gobsmacked
• god or God?
• gold or golden?
• good or well?
• goodwill or good will?
• gorilla
• gossip
• got
• gourmand or gourmet?
• government
• graceful or gracious?
• graffiti
• grammar
• grand- or great-?
• grass roots
• gratuitous
• gray
• great-
• Great Britain
• Greek or Grecian?
• green
• grey or gray?
• grieve
• grill or grille?
• grisly or grizzly?
• ground zero
• grow
• growth
• guarantee
• guerilla, guerrilla or gorilla?
• guesstimate
• guest
• guidelines
• guild
• guilt
• gut
• gybe
• gynaecology
• gypsy
• H
• haemoglobin or hemoglobin?
• haemorrhage
• hail or hale?
• hair or hare?
• half
• half- or step-?
• hallo
• handful
• handicap
• hands-on
• hangar or hanger?
• hanged or hung?
• hanger
• hang-up
• hanker
• happy
• hara-kiri
• harangue
• harass
• hardly
• hare
• harelip
• hatred
• have
• have got (to)
• hazardous
• he or she
• head up
• headed for or heading for?
• headmaster or headmistress?
• heal or heel?
• healthful or healthy?
• hear
• heard or herd?
• hearing-impaired
• heaved or hove?
• heavy-duty
• heel
• height
• heinous
• hello, hallo or hullo?
• help
• hemi-
• hence
• herd
• hereditary or heredity?
• heritage or inheritance?
• hero or heroine?
• hesitance, hesitancy or hesitation?
• heterogeneous
• hew or hue?
• hiatus
• hiccup or hiccough?
• high or tall?
• high-profile
• hijack
• him or his?
• Hindi or Hindu?
• hire or rent?
• his or her
• Hispanic
• historic or historical?
• histrionic or hysterical?
• hi-tech
• hoard or horde?
• hoarse or horse?
• hoi polloi
• holey
• holistic
• holocaust
• holy, holey or wholly?
• home or house?
• homely
• homogeneous or homogenous?
• homograph, homonym or homophone?
• homophobia
• homophone
• homosexual
• honorary or honourable?
• hoofs or hooves?
• hopefully
• horde
• horrible, horrid, horrific or horrendous?
• hors d'oeuvre
• horse
• hospitable
• hospitalise
• host
• host or hostess?
• -hostile
• hour or our?
• house
• house style
• hove
• however
• hue
• hullo
• human
• humanism or humanity?
• humanist or humanitarian?
• humanity
• humiliation or humility?
• humorist
• humorous
• hung
• hygiene
• hype
• hyper- or hypo-?
• hyperbola or hyperbole?
• hypercritical
• HYPHEN
• hypo-
• hypocrisy
• hypocritical or hypercritical?
• hysterical, hysterics
• I
• I or me?
• -ible
• -ic or -ical?
• iconic
• -ics
• identical with or identical to?
• idioms
• idiosyncrasy
• idle, idol or idyll?
• idyllic
• i.e.
• if
• if and when
• ill
• illegal
• illegible or eligible?
• illegible or unreadable?
• illegitimate
• illicit or elicit?
• illicit, illegal or illegitimate?
• illusion
• illusive, illusory
• imaginary or imaginative?
• I mean
• immanent
• immigrant
• imminent
• immoral
• immovable or immoveable?
• immune from or immune to?
• immunity or impunity?
• impact
• impassioned, impassive
• impel
• imperial or imperious?
• impersonate, personate or personify?
• impinge or infringe?
• implement
• implicit
• imply or infer?
• important or importantly?
• impostor or imposter?
• impractical or impracticable?
• impresario
• impromptu
• improvise
• impugn or impute?
• impunity
• impute
• in
• inaccessible
• inapt or inept?
• inasmuch as
• incentive
• incident
• include or comprise?
• incomparable
• incongruous
• incontrovertible
• incredible or incredulous?
• indecent
• indefinite article
• indefinitely
• independence and independent
• indexes or indices?
• Indian
• indices
• indict
• indifferent
• indigenous
• indigenous Australian
• indignant
• indirect speech
• indiscriminate or undiscriminating?
• indispensable
• individual
• indoor or indoors?
• industrial or industrious?
• inedible
• ineffective, ineffectual, inefficient
• inept
• inequality, inequity or iniquity?
• in extremis
• in fact
• infamous or notorious?
• infectious
• infer, inference
• inferior
• infinite or infinitesimal?
• infinitive
• inflammable
• inflation
• inflection
• inflict
• influenza
• info-
• inform
• informant or informer?
• information
• infringe
• ingenious or ingenuous?
• -ing forms
• inherent
• inheritance
• inhuman or inhumane?
• iniquity
• in-law
• in lieu
• in loco parentis
• innit
• innocuous
• inoculate or vaccinate?
• inoculation
• in order that and in order to
• input
• inquiry
• inside of
• in so far as
• in spite of
• install or instal?
• instantly or instantaneously?
• instil
• institute or institution?
• instructional or instructive?
• insulate
• insults
• insurance
• insure
• integral
• integrate
• intense or intensive?
• inter
• inter- or intra-?
• intercede
• interface
• interfere
• interjections
• interment or internment?
• Internet
• internment
• interpersonal
• interpretive or interpretative?
• in that
• in the near future
• in this day and age
• into or in to?
• intonation
• intra-
• intransitive
• intrinsic or extrinsic?
• introvert
• Inuit
• invalid
• inveigh or inveigle?
• invent, design or discover?
• inverse
• inversion
• inverted commas
• invite
• in vitro
• involve
• inward or inwards?
• irascible
• ironic, ironical, ironically
• iron out
• irony
• irrefutable
• irregardless
• irregular verbs
• irrelevant
• irreparable
• irresistible
• irrespective
• irrevocable
• is
• -ise
• -ism
• issue
• -ist or -ite?
• isthmus
• it
• italics
• -ite
• itinerary
• its or it's?
• IVF
• -ize or -ise?
• J
• jail or gaol?
• jargon
• jealous
• jealousy
• jeopardise
• jewellery or jewelry?
• jibe
• join or joint?
• joined-up
• journalese
• judgment or judgement?
• judicial or judicious?
• juncture
• junta
• just
• K
• K
• kaleidoscope
• kerb
• key
• kibbutzim
• kick-start
• kid
• kidnap
• kilo
• kilometre
• kindly
• kind of
• kinsman or kinswoman?
• knee-jerk
• kneeled or knelt?
• knight or night?
• knit or knitted?
• knot or not?
• know
• knowledgeable
• kudos
• L
• laboratory
• laborious
• lack
• lacquer
• laden or loaded?
• lady
• laid, lain
• laissez-faire
• lama or llama?
• lamentable
• languor
• LARGE NUMBERS
• larva or lava?
• lasso
• last
• late
• lath or lathe?
• lather
• latter
• launch
• lava
• lavatory
• law and order
• lawful, legal or legitimate?
• lay or lie?
• layman or laywoman?
• LDC
• leach or leech?
• lead or led?
• leadership
• leading-edge
• leading question
• leak
• leak or leek?
• leaned or leant?
• leaped or leapt?
• learn or teach?
• learned or learnt?
• learning curve
• learning difficulties
• learnt
• lease
• least-developed countries
• leave or let?
• led
• leech
• leek
• leeward
• legacy
• legal
• legalise
• legendary
• legible or readable?
• legionary
• legionnaire
• legitimate
• leisure
• leisurely
• lend or loan?
• length or duration?
• lengthways or lengthwise?
• lengthy
• leopard
• less
• less-developed country
• lest
• let
• LETTER WRITING
• leukaemia
• level
• liable or likely?
• liaison
• libel or slander?
• library
• licence or license?
• lichen
• licorice
• lie
• lieu
• lieutenant
• lifelong or livelong?
• lifestyle
• lighted or lit?
• lightning or lightening?
• light-year
• likable
• like
• -like
• likeable or likable?
• likely
• limited
• lineage or linage?
• lineament or liniment?
• linger
• lingua franca
• linguist
• liniment
• liquefy or liquify?
• liqueur or liquor?
• liquidate or liquidise?
• liquify
• liquor
• liquorice
• lit
• literal, literary or literate?
• literally
• literary, literate
• literature
• little
• live
• livelong
• livid
• living room
• llama
• loaded
• loan
• loath, loth or loathe?
• locale, locality or location?
• locate
• location
• lone
• longevity
• longitude
• loo
• looked-after
• loose or loosen?
• lorry
• lose
• lot
• loth
• lots
• loud or loudly?
• lounge
• lour or lower?
• low or lowly?
• lower
• lower-case
• low-key
• lowly
• low-profile
• Ltd
• lumbar or lumber?
• lunch or luncheon?
• lure
• luxuriant or luxurious?
• lying
• M
• macabre
• machinations
• machismo
• macho
• macro- and micro-
• Madam or Madame?
• mad cow disease
• magic or magical?
• magnate or magnet?
• magnitude
• magnum opus
• Mahomet
• mail
• maintenance
• major
• majority and minority
• male or masculine?
• malevolent, malicious or malignant?
• man
• manageable
• management-speak
• manager or manageress?
• mandatory
• man-hours
• mankind
• man-made
• manoeuvre
• manpower
• mantel or mantle?
• many
• margarine
• marginal
• marginalise
• marital
• market forces
• marquess or marquis?
• marshal
• martial or marital?
• martial or marshal?
• masculine
• massage
• masterful or masterly?
• mat, matt or matte?
• materialise
• mathematics
• matrimony
• matrix
• matt, matte
• mattress
• maximal, maximise
• maximum
• may or might?
• maybe or may be?
• mayoress
• me
• me or my?
• mean
• meaningful
• means
• meantime or meanwhile?
• medal or meddle?
• media
• mediaeval
• mediate
• medicine
• medieval or mediaeval?
• mediocre
• Mediterranean
• medium, mediums
• meet with
• mega-
• meltdown
• melted or molten?
• membership
• memento
• mental
• mentholated or methylated?
• meretricious or meritorious?
• merge
• meta-
• metal or mettle?
• metaphors
• meter or metre?
• methodology
• methylated
• meticulous
• metonym
• metre
• mettle
• micro-
• mid
• middle
• midget
• midwifery
• might
• migraine
• mileage or milage?
• militate or mitigate?
• milkman or milkwoman?
• millennium
• millionaire
• mimic
• mincemeat
• miner or minor?
• miniature
• minimal, minimise
• minimum
• minor
• minority
• minus
• minuscule
• minutiae
• miscellaneous
• mischievous
• misogynist
• Miss
• miss
• misspelled or misspelt?
• MISSPELLINGS
• mistrust
• misunderestimate
• misuse
• mitigate
• mix
• mnemonic
• mobile
• moccasin
• modal
• modern or modernistic?
• modus operandi
• modus vivendi
• Mohammed
• molten
• momentary or momentous?
• mongolism
• mongoose
• monogram or monograph?
• moot
• moral or morale?
• more
• mortgage
• mortgagee or mortgagor?
• Moslem
• most
• motif or motive?
• motivation
• motive
• mot juste
• mouse
• mousse
• moustache
• movable or moveable?
• move the goalposts
• mowed or mown?
• Mr
• Ms, Mrs or Miss?
• much
• mucous or mucus?
• muesli
• Muhammad
• multi-
• muscle or mussel?
• Muslim or Moslem?
• mussel
• must
• mute
• mutual, common or reciprocal?
• my or me?
• myself
• mythical or mythological?
• N
• naive, naïve or naïf?
• naked or nude?
• name
• naphtha
• nation
• native
• Native American
• naturalist or naturist?
• nature
• naturist
• naught or nought?
• nauseous
• naval or navel?
• near or nearly?
• nearby or near by?
• nearly
• near miss
• necessarily
• necessary
• née
• need
• needless to say
• negative
• neglectful, negligent or negligible?
• negligible
• negotiate
• Negress, Negro
• neither
• nephew
• nerve-racking
• net
• net or nett?
• netspeak The advent of the computer age, and the development of the worldwide network of computers known as the World Wide Web
• network
• neuron or neurone?
• neutral
• never
• nevertheless
• next or this?
• nice
• niceness or nicety?
• niche
• night
• nil
• nimby
• no
• nobody
• no-brainer
• noisome
• non-
• none
• none the less or nevertheless?
• non-flammable
• non sequitur
• NON-SEXIST TERMS
• no one or no-one?
• nor
• normalcy or normality?
• north, North or northern?
• northward or northwards?
• no sooner
• nostalgia
• not
• notable, noted or noteworthy?
• notable or noticeable?
• noted, noteworthy
• nothing but
• noticeable
• not only… but also
• notorious
• nought
• nouns
• noxious or obnoxious?
• nubile
• nuclear
• nude
• number
• numbers
• nutritional or nutritious?
• nutritive
• O
• O or oh?
• OAP
• oar, or or ore?
• obeisance
• object
• objective or subjective?
• objet d'art
• obliged or obligated?
• oblivious
• obnoxious
• obscene
• observance or observation?
• obverse
• obviate
• occasion
• occupied or preoccupied?
• occurrence
• octopus
• oculist
• odious or odorous?
• -oe-
• oesophagus or esophagus?
• of
• of course
• off
• offence
• offer or proffer?
• official or officious?
• officialese
• officious
• often
• oh
• OK or okay?
• old age pensioner
• older, oldest
• omelette
• omission
• on
• one
• ongoing
• on-line
• only
• onomatopoeia
• on-stream
• onto or on to?
• onward or onwards?
• operative
• ophthalmologist
• opposite
• oppress, repress or suppress?
• optician, ophthalmologist, optometrist or oculist?
• optimal
• optimistic
• optimise
• optimum
• opt in
• optometrist
• opt out
• opus
• or
• oral
• ordinance or ordnance?
• ore
• organic
• orient or orientate?
• Oriental
• orthopaedic or paediatric?
• oscillate or osculate?
• ostensible or ostentatious?
• other than
• otherwise
• OTT
• ought
• our
• our or us?
• ourself or ourselves?
• out
• out or out of?
• outdoor or outdoors?
• outing
• outlet
• out of
• outplacement
• outrageous
• outside of
• outward or outwards?
• overall
• overexaggerate
• overkill
• overlay or overlie?
• overly
• overtone or undertone?
• overview
• owing
• oxymoron
• P
• pace
• package
• paediatric
• pain or pane?
• pajamas
• palate
• palindrome
• pallor
• palpable
• panacea
• pane
• panic
• paradigm
• paraffin
• paragon
• paragraphs
• parallel
• paralyse
• parameter
• paranoid
• paraphernalia
• parentheses
• parenting
• par excellence
• parliament
• parlour
• part and parcel
• partially or partly?
• participles
• particular
• partly
• PARTS OF SPEECH
• passed or past?
• passive
• past
• patent
• pathetic
• pathos
• patriot
• patron
• pay-
• PC
• PE
• peaceable or peaceful?
• peak, peek, or pique?
• peal or peel?
• pedal or peddle?
• pedigree
• pedlar
• peek
• peel
• peer or pier?
• pence
• pendant or pendent?
• peninsula or peninsular?
• pennies, penny
• pensioner
• people
• people with disabilities
• per
• per-, pre- or pro-?
• per annum
• per capita
• per cent
• percentage
• perceptible, perceptive or percipient?
• peremptory or perfunctory?
• perennial
• perfect
• perfunctory
• perimeter
• perk
• permissible or permissive?
• perpetrate or perpetuate?
• per pro.
• perquisite
• per se
• persecute or prosecute?
• perseverance
• persevere
• person
• personage or personality?
• personal
• personality
• personally
• personal pronouns
• persona non grata
• personate, personify
• personification
• personnel
• person of colour
• persons
• perspective or prospective?
• perturb
• perverse or perverted?
• phase
• phenomena
• phenomenal
• phenomenon or phenomena?
• -phile, -phobe or -phone?
• philosophy
• phishing
• phlegm
• -phobe, -phile or -phone?
• phobia
• phone
• -phone, -phile or -phobe?
• phoney or phony?
• phosphorous or phosphorus?
• photo
• phrasal verbs
• phrase
• physician or physicist?
• physiognomy
• picaresque or picturesque?
• picnic
• picturesque
• pidgin or pigeon?
• pièce de résistance
• pier
• pigmy
• pique
• piteous, pitiable or pitiful?
• pivotal
• place or plaice?
• PLACE NAMES
• plain or plane?
• PLAIN ENGLISH
• plaintiff or plaintive?
• plane
• plastic
• platform
• playwright
• plc
• pleaded or pled?
• pleasantness or pleasantry?
• plenty
• plethora
• plum or plumb?
• plurals
• plus
• p.m.
• pneumatic and pneumonia
• poet or poetess?
• poignant
• policeman or policewoman?
• politic or political?
• political correctness
• politics
• poltergeist
• populace or populous?
• pore or pour?
• portmanteau word
• Portuguese
• position
• possessed
• possessives
• post-
• posthumous
• postman or postwoman?
• pour
• power
• p.p.
• practical or practicable?
• practically
• practice or practise?
• practitioner
• pray or prey?
• pre-
• precautionary measure
• precede or proceed?
• precedence or precedent?
• precipitate or precipitous?
• preclude
• precondition
• predecessor
• predicate
• predicative
• predict or predicate?
• predominantly or predominately?
• preface
• prefer
• prefix or preface?
• prefixes and suffixes
• prelude
• premier
• premiere
• premises
• premiss
• preoccupied
• preparation
• prepositions
• prerequisite or perquisite?
• prerequisite or requisite?
• prescribe or proscribe?
• presently
• preside
• pressure or pressurise?
• prestige
• prestigious
• presume
• presumptuous or presumptive?
• pretence, pretension or pretentiousness?
• prevaricate or procrastinate?
• prevent
• preventive or preventative?
• pre-war
• prey
• price
• prima facie
• primarily
• prime
• primeval
• primitive
• principal or principle?
• principal parts
• principle
• prioritise
• prior to
• prise or prize?
• pristine
• privacy
• privilege
• prize
• pro-
• probe
• procedure or proceeding?
• proceed
• proceeding
• process
• pro-choice
• procrastinate
• prodigal
• prodigy or protégé?
• produce or product?
• productivity
• professional
• professor
• proffer
• proficient
• profile
• profoundly deaf
• prognosis
• program or programme?
• progressive tense
• prohibit
• project
• prolific
• prone
• pronouns
• pronunciation
• propeller
• proper nouns
• prophecy or prophesy?
• proportion
• proportional or proportionate?
• proposal or proposition?
• proprietary
• pro rata
• proscribe
• prosecute
• prospective
• prostate or prostrate?
• prostrate, prone or supine?
• protagonist
• protect
• protégé
• protein
• pro tem
• proved or proven?
• proverbial
• provided or providing
• provident or providential?
• providing
• psychedelic
• psychiatrist, psychoanalyst
• psychological moment
• psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst or psychotherapist?
• publicly
• pudding
• punctilious or punctual?
• PUNCTUATION
• pupil or student?
• purposely or purposefully?
• pusillanimous.
• putrefy
• pygmy or pigmy?
• pyjamas or pajamas?
• Q
• quality
• quantum leap
• quarrelled or quarreled?
• quasi
• quay
• queer
• query
• quest
• question
• question mark
• questionnaire
• questions
• queue
• quick
• quid pro quo
• quiet or quieten?
• quit or quitted?
• quite
• quitted
• quiz
• quotation marks
• quote
• R
• race
• racism or racialism?
• rack or wrack?
• racket or racquet?
• rail
• rain, reign, or rein?
• raise or raze?
• raise or rise?
• raison d’ȇtre
• rang
• rapt or wrapped?
• rarefy
• rat
• rateable or ratable?
• rather
• ravage or ravish?
• raze
• re
• re-
• reaction
• readable
• real
• real or reel?
• realism or reality?
• realistic
• reality
• really
• reason
• rebound or re-bound?
• rebound or redound?
• receipt
• receive
• recess
• recession
• reciprocal
• reckon
• recoil
• recommend
• reconnaissance
• recount or re-count?
• recourse, resort or resource?
• recover or re-cover?
• recreation or re-creation?
• recuperate
• recur
• Red Indian
• redouble or reduplicate?
• redound
• redundant
• reduplicate
• reek or wreak?
• reel
• refer
• referee or umpire?
• referendum
• reflective or reflexive?
• reflexive
• reform or re-form?
• refrigerator
• refute or deny?
• regard
• regardless
• registry office or register office?
• regrettably or regretfully?
• reign, rein
• reiterate
• relation or relationship?
• relation or relative?
• relative clause
• relatively
• relay or re-lay?
• relevant
• reliable or reliant?
• relocate
• remedial or remediable?
• remembrance
• remind
• reminiscent
• remission or remittance?
• remit
• remittance
• renege
• rent
• repair
• repairable or reparable?
• repel
• repellent or repulsive?
• repent
• repercussions
• repertoire or repertory?
• repetitious or repetitive?
• replace or substitute?
• replica
• reported speech
• represent or re-present?
• repress
• reproach
• repulse, repulsive
• reputable
• requisite
• research
• resin or rosin?
• resort or re-sort?
• resort, resource
• respectable, respectful or respective?
• respective and respectively
• respite
• restaurateur
• restive or restless?
• restrain
• restrictive clause
• resuscitate
• retch or wretch?
• retread
• retro
• return
• returner
• reveille
• revenge or avenge?
• revenge or vengeance?
• reverend or reverent?
• reversal or reversion?
• reverse
• reversion
• review or revue?
• rhetorical question
• rheumatism
• rhinoceros
• rhododendron
• rhythm
• ribald
• ricochet
• right or rightly?
• right or write?
• rigor
• rigorous
• rigour or rigor?
• ring or wring?
• ringed, rang or rung?
• rip-off
• rise
• risky or risqué?
• risqué
• road or street?
• rob
• role
• Roma
• roofs or rooves?
• root
• rosin
• roughage
• round
• rouse
• rout or route?
• rowlock
• rubbish
• rung
• run-up
• rural or rustic?
• Russian or Soviet?
• S
• ‘s or s’?
• sac or sack?
• saccharin or saccharine?
• sack
• sacrilegious
• sail or sale?
• sake
• salable
• salary or wage?
• sale
• saleable or salable?
• salesman or saleswoman?
• salivary
• salon or saloon?
• salubrious or salutary?
• same
• same-sex
• sanatorium
• sanction
• sank, sunk or sunken?
• sarcasm, sarcastic
• sat
• sate, satiate or satisfy?
• satire or satyr?
• satisfy
• saturate
• satyr
• savage
• savoir faire
• saw, soar, or sore?
• says
• scallop
• scant or scanty?
• scarcely
• scared
• scarfs or scarves?
• scarify
• scarves
• scenario
• sceptic or septic?
• sceptical
• schedule
• schism
• schizophrenic
• scone
• Scotch, Scots or Scottish?
• sculpt or sculpture?
• sculptor or sculptress?
• sea or see?
• seamless
• seasonal or seasonable?
• secateurs
• second or secondly?
• second-guess
• secretary
• see
• seed
• seeing as or seeing that?
• seem
• seemless
• seize
• self
• sell-by date
• semantics, semiotics or semiology?
• semi-
• semicolons
• semiotics, semiology
• senior citizen or old age pensioner?
• sensible or sensitive?
• sensitive
• sensual or sensuous?
• sentence adverb
• sentences
• sentiment or sentimentality?
• separate
• septic
• sequence of tenses
• serf or surf?
• sergeant
• serial
• series
• seriously
• serve
• service
• serviceable
• serviceman or servicewoman?
• session
• sewed or sewn?
• sexism
• sexy
• Shakespearean or Shakespearian?
• shall or will?
• shaved or shaven?
• she
• shear or sheer?
• sheared or shorn?
• sheer
• sheikh
• shelf-life
• sheriff
• shined or shone?
• ship
• shone
• shoot
• shorn
• should or would?
• shrank, shrunk or shrunken?
• Siamese twins
• sibling
• sic
• sick or ill?
• sideline
• siege
• sight or site?
• significant
• silhouette
• silicon or silicone?
• similar
• similes
• simplistic
• simulate or stimulate?
• simultaneity
• simultaneous
• since
• sincerely
• sinecure
• sine qua non
• singeing or singing?
• singular or plural?
• sink or sync?
• siphon or syphon?
• Sir
• sitting or sat?
• site or cite?
• sitting room
• situation
• sixth
• sizeable or sizable?
• skilful
• skill
• slander
• slang
• slash
• sled, sledge or sleigh?
• sleight
• slough
• slow
• smart
• smear
• smelled or smelt?
• smiley
• SMS
• snail mail
• sneaked or snuck?
• so
• soar
• so-called
• sociable or social?
• social networking
• sole or soul?
• solidus
• soluble or solvable?
• somebody or someone?
• someday, someplace, and sometime
• somersault
• -something
• sometime or some time?
• sooner
• sophisticated
• sore
• sorry
• sort of
• soul
• source
• south, South or southern?
• southward or southwards?
• Soviet
• sowed or sown?
• spam
• span
• spastic
• spatula
• -speak
• spearhead
• speciality or specialty?
• specially
• specialty
• species
• spectrum
• speculate
• speech-impaired
• speeded or sped?
• spelled or spelt?
• spellcheckers
• SPELLING
• spelt
• spend
• spilled or spilt?
• spin
• split infinitive
• spoiled or spoilt?
• spokesman or spokeswoman?
• sponge
• spontaneity
• spoonful
• sportsman or sportswoman?
• spouse
• sprang or sprung?
• spun or span?
• squalor
• squaw
• squeaky-clean
• stadiums or stadia?
• stair or stare?
• stalactite or stalagmite?
• stanch or staunch?
• standing or stood?
• stank or stunk?
• stare
• state-of-the-art
• statesman or stateswoman?
• stationary or stationery?
• statistics
• status
• staunch
• stay or stop?
• steal
• steal or steel?
• step or steppe
• step-
• stereo-
• steward or stewardess?
• sticky
• stiletto
• stimulant or stimulus?
• stimulate
• stimulus
• stoical
• stood
• stop
• storey or story?
• straight or strait?
• straightaway or straight away?
• straightened or straitened?
• strait
• straitened
• straitjacket and straitlaced
• strata
• stratagem or strategy?
• stratum or strata?
• street
• street-
• strength
• stress
• stringed or strung?
• strive
• student
• stumble
• stunk
• stupefy
• stupor
• subconscious or unconscious?
• subject
• subjective
• sub judice
• subjunctive
• subordinate clause
• subpoena
• subsequent
• subsidence
• subsidiarity
• subsidiary
• substance abuse or substance misuse?
• substantial or substantive?
• substitute
• subsume
• subtle
• succeed
• successfully or successively?
• such
• such as or like?
• suffer from or suffer with?
• SUFFIXES
• sui generis
• suit or suite?
• suite or sweet?
• summon or summons?
• sunk, sunken
• super-
• supercilious
• superior
• superlative
• supersede
• supervise
• supine
• supper
• supplement
• suppose or supposing?
• suppress
• sure
• surf
• surprised
• surveillance
• susceptible
• suspect or suspicious?
• suspense or suspension?
• suspicious
• sustainable
• swam or swum?
• swap or swop?
• swat or swot?
• sweet
• swelled or swollen?
• swingeing
• swipe
• swollen
• swop
• swot
• syllable
• syllabus
• symbol
• sync
• syndrome
• synecdoche
• synergy
• synonymous
• syphon
• systematic or systemic?
• T
• -t
• table d'hȏte
• tactics
• tag question
• tail or tale?
• take
• tall
• tantamount
• target
• tariff
• task
• task force
• tasteful or tasty?
• tautology
• tea
• tea or tee?
• teach
• team or teem?
• technical or technological?
• techno-
• technological
• tee
• teem
• tele-
• telephone
• televise
• temerity or timidity?
• temperature
• temporal or temporary?
• temporise
• tense
• terminal or terminus?
• terminate
• terminus
• terrible or terrific?
• tȇte-à-tȇte
• text
• text messaging
• than
• thankfully
• thank you
• that
• that or this?
• that or which?
• the
• theft
• their, there or they're?
• them or their?
• theme park
• themself
• thence
• there
• there are
• therefore
• there is or there are?
• they
• they're
• third or thirdly?
• third-generation
• third world
• thirst
• this
• thoroughfare
• though
• thrash or thresh?
• threshold
• threw or through?
• thus
• tide or tied?
• till or until?
• timidity
• tire or tyre?
• titillate or titivate?
• titles
• to or too?
• tobacconist
• together with
• toilet, lavatory, loo or bathroom?
• tolerance or toleration?
• too
• torpor
• tortuous or torturous?
• total
• tour de force
• tourniquet
• toward or towards?
• town
• town house
• toxic
• track record
• trade names
• trade union or trades union?
• trafficker
• trait
• tranche
• tranquillity
• transformation, transfiguration, transmigration or transmutation?
• transient or transitory?
• transitive
• translate or transliterate?
• transmigration, transmutation
• transparent
• transpire
• transport or transportation?
• transverse or traverse?
• traumatic
• travel
• traveller
• traverse
• treble or triple?
• tremble
• tremor
• triage
• tribe
• trillion
• triple
• triumphal or triumphant?
• trivia
• troop or troupe?
• trooping the colour
• troupe
• truculent
• truism
• truly
• try and or try to?
• tsar or czar?
• tun
• tunnel
• turbid, turbulent or turgid?
• turbo-
• turbulent, turgid
• turquoise
• twelfth
• type of
• tyre
• U
• uber-
• ultimate
• ultra
• umbilical
• umpire
• un-
• unanimous
• unaware or unawares?
• uncertain
• unconscious
• under
• under foot or underfoot?
• underhand or underhanded?
• underlay or underlie?
• underline
• underneath
• underprivileged
• underscore
• undertone
• underway or under way?
• undiscriminating
• undoubtedly
• uneatable
• unequivocally
• unexceptionable or unexceptional?
• unfair
• -unfriendly
• uninterested
• unique
• United Kingdom
• United States, United States of America
• unlike
• unmistakable or unmistakeable?
• unnecessary
• unorganised
• unpractical
• unprecedented
• unreadable
• unrepairable
• unsociable, unsocial
• until
• unused
• unwaged
• unwanted or unwonted?
• unwieldy
• up-front
• upload
• upon or on?
• uptalk
• upward or upwards?
• urban or urbane?
• urinal
• us
• us or our?
• US, USA
• usable or useable?
• usage or use?
• useable
• used
• used to
• user-friendly
• usher or usherette?
• utilise
• V
• vacant or vacuous?
• vacation
• vaccinate
• vacuous
• vagary
• vain, vane or vein?
• vale or veil?
• value-added
• vantage
• vaporise
• variant CJD
• variegated
• various
• ‘ve
• veil
• vein
• venal or venial?
• vengeance
• venial
• venue
• verbal or oral?
• verbal nouns
• verbs
• verbs
• vermilion
• vertex or vortex?
• very
• veterinary
• via
• viable
• vice versa
• vicious or viscous?
• victuals
• video-
• vigorous
• vilify
• virtual
• virus
• vis-à-vis
• viscous
• visible
• vision statement
• visit or visitation?
• visually impaired
• vital
• vitamin
• voluntarily
• vortex
• vote
• vowel
• W
• w- or wh-?
• wage, wages
• waist or waste?
• wait or weight?
• waiter or waitress?
• waive or wave?
• wake, waken
• wander or wonder?
• wannabee
• want
• -ward or -wards?
• ware or where?
• -ware or -wear?
• warn or worn?
• was
• wastage or waste?
• waste
• watercooler TV
• wave, waver
• way
• -ways
• we
• weal, wheal or wheel?
• -wear
• weather, wether or whether?
• weather conditions
• weatherman or weathergirl?
• weaved, wove or woven?
• web
• weblish
• wed or wedded?
• Wednesday
• weigh or weight?
• weird
• well
• well or well-?
• were or was?
• west, West or western?
• westward or westwards?
• wet or wetted?
• wet or whet?
• wether
• wetted
• wh-
• whammy
• wharfs or wharves?
• what
• what or which?
• whatever or what ever?
• wheal, wheel
• whence
• whenever or when ever?
• where
• whereabouts
• wherever or where ever?
• whet
• whether
• which
• while or whilst?
• whisky or whiskey?
• white
• who
• who or whom?
• whodunit
• whoever or who ever?
• whoever or whomever?
• wholly
• whom
• whomever
• whoop
• whose or who's?
• wicked
• wilful
• will
• window
• -wise or -ways?
• with
• withhold
• woman
• wonder
• wont
• wood or would?
• woolly
• workman or workwoman?
• World Wide Web
• worn
• worship
• worthwhile or worth while?
• would
• wove, woven
• wrack
• wrapped
• wreak
• wreath or wreathe?
• wretch
• wring
• wright
• write
• WRITING TIPS
• wrought
• www, WWW
• wysiwyg
• X
• Xerox
• Xmas
• X-ray or x-ray?
• Y
• ye
• yes and no
• yet
• yoghurt
• yoke or yolk?
• you
• you know
• your or you're?
• yourself
• yuppie
• Z
• zero
• zeugma
• zoology
• Tables
• Americanisms
• apostrophes
• brackets
• colons
• commas
• countries and peoples
• dash
• email
• foreign words and phrases
• hyphens
• large numbers
• letter writing
• misspellings
• non-sexist terms
• parts of speech
• place names
• plain English
• prefixes
• punctuation
• spelling
• suffixes
• verbs (irregular verbs)
• writing tips
• Your turn
• Grammar
• Plain English
• Punctuation
• Spelling
• Usage
• Answers