Article archive :: Language Clinic

dabble in/ dabble into

15/04/2013 13:34

"dabble" is always followed by in not into. I can't dabble in the politics NOT I can't dabble into the politics! N.B. Don't be surprised some authorities, both online and in the books we read, use dabble into instead of dabble in.

extend/extent

05/04/2013 14:59

extend is a verb while extent is a noun. Often, you hear or read an expression like To a great extend . . . OR To the extend that . .. It should be To a great extent. . . OR To the extent that . . .

reknown and renown

22/03/2013 09:21

Many people mistakenly believe that since “renown” has to do with being well known, the word should be spelled “reknown". But in fact, it is derived from the French word “nom” and has to do with gaining a name - in French, fame is renomée. reknown is never an English word!

definately/definitely

21/03/2013 07:26

Some still spell/write 'definitely' as 'definately' This is wrong. No word is spelt or written as 'definately' in English.

convenant/covenant

15/03/2013 08:31

'convenant' is not an English word. It is a corrupt version of COVENANT. Check your spelling always.

christian

14/03/2013 14:52

"Christian" is not pronounced as /KRISTIEN/ as it is generally done. The word is pronounced as if it were /krischen/ { Chris·tian [kríschən]}. There is no /t/ sound in its pronunciation.

board/enter (a vehicle)

07/03/2013 11:03

'Board' as a verb means to get on or into a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle. Enter as a verb means to come or go into (a place): "she entered the kitchen"; "the door opened and Kenny entered". It is wrong to say "I entered a bus to Oshodi" or I will enter a bus to the place. Rather...

omniscient/omniscience

04/03/2013 11:22

The "scient" in "omniscient" is not pronounced like that of 'science'. It is pronounced as if it is 'shent' not 'saiens' or 'saient'. In other words, 'omniscient' is pronounced as if it were 'omnishent'; also 'omniscience' as 'omnishent' NOT 'ominisaient' or 'ominisaiens'.

log (of wood)

25/02/2013 15:21

A log (wood) is a portion or length of the trunk or of a large limb of a felled tree. To say, a log of wood is repetitive. Just say, a log. e.g. He sleeps like a log NOT He sleeps like a log of wood

toast/woo

22/02/2013 10:31

Toast...

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