BizWritingTip reader: “Can you please clarify the correct use of the word ‘oversight’ versus ‘overseeing.’ I’ve been seeing the word ‘oversight’ used in the context of ‘X department is responsible for the oversight of Y project.’ Please clarify the correct usage of the word ‘oversight’ versus ‘to oversee.’ ” BizWritingTip response: “To oversee” is a […]
BizWritingTip reader: “Do you have anything on ‘may’ and ‘might’? I think there are some parallels with ‘can’ and ‘could.’ ” BizWritingTip response: “May” and “might” imply permission or possibility. “Might” is also the past tense of “may.” Examples The report may be accurate. (Possibility) You may call me tomorrow to set up an appointment. (Permission) He said he might have […]
BizWritingTip reader: “I read the following sentence in one of today’s papers: ‘Another seven senior executives were let go around the same time ….’ Is this correct?” BizWritingTip response: Good catch. This sentence is incorrect. The verb should have been “was.” Whenever the word “another” appears in a sentence as a subject or as an […]
BizWritingTip reader: “French being my first language, I am having difficulty figuring out when I should use ‘into’ versus ‘in’ and ‘onto’ versus ‘on.’ As of today, I am almost exclusively using ‘in’ and ‘on’ since I am not quite sure when I should use ‘into’ and ‘onto.’ ” BizWritingTip response: The nuances of these […]
Mary’s question: “My current pet peeve is the use of the word instantaneously rather than instantly. It seems rather cumbersome and the words, to me, are synonymous.” BizWritingTip response: Both adverbs are derived from the noun instant (Medieval Latin word instantāneus). And although they tend to overlap, the nuances are different. Instantly means immediately. It implies promptness. Example We phoned for the […]
BizWritingTip reader: “Will you explain with regard to, with regards to, in regards to, and in regard to? It is used so often in so many different ways. What is correct?” BizWritingTip response: I agree. This phrase is often misused. With regard to or in regard to are interchangeable. They mean “with respect to.” Examples (correct) In regard to your question … With regard […]
BizWritingTip reader: “We are having a debate in our office about the use of ‘as of’ or ‘as at’ to describe a statistic that pertains to one point in time. I think ‘As at December 2010, the number of X in Y program was Z’ is correct.” BizWritingTip response: This is quite an interesting point. […]
BizWritingTip reader: “Would you please help me with the difference between ‘diagnoses’ and ‘diagnosis’? Are these words singular and plural?” BizWritingTip response: “Diagnosis” is a singular word meaning the identification of an illness or disease by means of a patient’s symptoms. Example Dr. House’s diagnosis was accurate – as usual. The word “diagnoses” is the […]
BizWritingTip reader: “I’m very confused as to when to use the words ‘lunch’ and ‘luncheon,’ ‘company,’ and ‘accompany.’ The first two seem to have the same meaning.” BizWritingTip response: The words lunch and luncheon refer to the lightest meal of the day, normally consumed at mid-day. However, a luncheon is more formal. I would expect it to be a sit-down affair […]
Marlene’s question: “I hear people say ‘zero dollars.’ If it’s zero, shouldn’t it be ‘zero dollar’?” BizWritingTip response: “Zero” can be used as a noun, verb or adjective. Examples (correct) Turn the dial to zero. (Zero is a singular noun.) We all got zeros on the test. (Zero is a plural noun.) She quickly zeroed in […]