by Bill Bryson
Emerson, Ralph Waldo. (1803–1882) American poet and essayist.
émigré. An emigrant, particularly a political refugee.
Emilia-Romagna. Region of Italy; capital Bologna.
Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, England.
Emmental. A type of cheese.
empathy, sympathy. Empathy denotes a close emotional understanding of the feelings or problems of another. It is thus close in meaning to compassion. Sympathy is more general. It can denote a closeness of understanding, but it can equally suggest no more than an abstract or intellectual awareness of another’s misfortune. Empathy generally applies only to serious misfortunes; sympathy can apply to any small annoyance or setback.
Empedocles. (c. 495–c. 435 BC) Greek philosopher and poet.
emphysema.
empower. Not en-.
EMU. In the context of the European Union, it stands for Economic (not European) and Monetary Union.
encomium. A lavish tribute or eulogy; pl. encomiums.
encumbrance. Not -erance.
encyclopedia, encyclopedist, but Encyclopaedia Britannica.
endemic. See EPIDEMIC.
Endymion. In Greek mythology, a young man loved by the moon and condemned to eternal sleep.
enfant terrible. (Fr.) Troublesome young person; anyone of embarrassingly indiscreet or unruly behavior.
Engels, Friedrich. (1820–1895) German socialist.
Englischer Garten, Munich, Germany.
Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, site of infamous IRA bombing in 1987.
ennoble.
ennui.
enormity does not, as is frequently thought, indicate size, but rather refers to something that is wicked, monstrous, and outrageous (“The enormity of Hitler’s crimes will never be forgotten”). If what you require is a word denoting large scale, try “immensity” or “vastness.”
en passant. (Fr.) “In passing.”
enroll, enrollment.
entelechy. The act of changing from potential to actual, or a kind of vital force for living things.
entente cordiale. Term used to describe a long-standing amity between countries.
Entertaining Mr. Sloane. Not Sloan. Comedy by Joe Orton (1964).
enthrall.
entomology. The study of insects.
entr’acte. Interval between acts or an entertainment performed then.
entrecôte. Tenderloin.
entrepôt. A trading place or storehouse.
envelop. (Verb.) To wrap up.
envelope. (Noun.) Container for letters, or anything that envelops.
envisage, envision. Both words suggest the calling up of a mental image. Envision is slightly the loftier of the two. You might envision a better life for yourself, but if all you are thinking about is how the dining room will look when the walls have been repainted, envisage is probably the better word. If no mental image is involved, neither word is correct. A rough rule is that if you find yourself following either word with that, you are using it incorrectly, as here: “He envisaged that there would be no access to the school from the main road” (cited by Gowers).
EOKA. Ethniki Organosis Kypriakou Agonos (National Organization for Cypriot Struggle), Greek Cypriot underground movement.
E.On. German utility company.
epaulet. A decoration worn on the shoulder of a uniform; in French, épaulette.
EPCOT. Environmental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, Disney World, Florida.
épée. Thin, flexible sword used in fencing.
ephemera, pl. ephemeras/ephemerae.
epicene. Of uncertain sex.
epicurean. Person devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; when capitalized it refers to the philosophy of Epicurus.
epidemic. Strictly speaking, only people can suffer an epidemic (the word means “in or among people”). An outbreak of disease among animals is epizoötic. It is also worth noting that epidemic refers only to outbreaks. When a disease or other problem is of long standing, it is endemic.
epiglottis.
epigram, epigraph. The first is a short, witty saying or poem. The second is an inscription, as on a monument or statue, or an introductory quotation at the beginning of a book or substantial block of text.
Epiphany. January 6, or the twelfth day of Christmas on the Christian calendar.
“Epipsychidion.” Poem by Shelley (1821).
epistemology. The theory of knowledge.
epithet, strictly speaking, describes a word or phrase that is used in place of a name. Calling Tarzan “King of the Jungle” is to employ an epithet. More commonly nowadays, however, epithet is used to describe an abusive or contemptuous utterance. A few authorities disdain this looser usage, but it is accepted now by most dictionaries. Epithet should not be confused with epitaph, which is an inscription on a gravestone or other written memorial to a dead person.
E pluribus unum. (Lat.) “Out of many, one” the motto on the official seal of the United States.
equable, equitable. Most dictionaries define equable as meaning steady and unvarying, but it should also convey the sense of being remote from extremes. A consistently hot climate is not equable, no matter how unvarying the temperature. Similarly, someone whose outlook is invariably sunny cannot properly be described as having an equable temperament. Equitable, with which equable is sometimes confused, means fair and impartial. An equitable settlement is a just one.
equally as is always wrong; a thing is equally good, not equally as good.
Equatorial Guinea. Formerly Spanish Guinea; West African country; capital Malabo.
equerry. Royal attendant.
equivocator.
Equuleus. Constellation near Pegasus.
equus. Latin for “horse.”
Erasmus, Desiderius. (1466–1536) Dutch philosopher.
Eratosthenes. (c. 276–c. 194 BC) Greek mathematician, astronomer, and geographer; calculated Earth’s circumference.
Erdoan, Recep Tayyip. (1954–) Prime minister of Turkey (2003–).
Ericson (or Ericsson or Eriksson), Leif. (c. tenth c.) Norse explorer. The Swedish electrical group is Ericsson.
Erie Lackawanna Railway.
Erving, Julius. (1950–) American basketball player, known as “Dr. J.”
escutcheon. A shield bearing a coat of arms.
Eskimos is the plural of Eskimo, but the preferred term is Inuit (sing. and pl.).
esophagus, esophageal.
especially, specially. Specially means for a specific purpose or occasion, as in “a specially designed wedding dress.” Especially means particularly or exceptionally, as in “an especially talented singer.” A simple guide is to ask yourself whether you could substitute particularly. If so, the word you want is especially.
esthetic is acceptable, but aesthetic is generally preferred.
estimated at about, as in “The crowd was estimated at about 50,000,” is wrong. Because estimated contains the idea of an approximation, about is superfluous. Delete it.
Eszterhas, Joe. (1944–) Hungarian-born American screenwriter.
ETA. Euzkadi ta Azkatasuna (Basque Nation and Liberty), Basque separatist organization. (ETA can also mean “estimated time of arrival.”)
et al. An abbreviation of the Latin et alia, et alibi, and et alii, meaning, respectively, “of other things,” “of other places,” and “of other persons” note period (full stop) after al only.
et cetera when spelled out, but etc. (closed up) when abbreviated.
Ethernet. (Cap.)
etiology, etiolate.
Etobicoke. Toronto suburb.
Étoile, L’. Area around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
“Et tu, Brute?” (Lat.) “You too, Brutus?” Julius Caesar’s dying words in Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar (3.1.77).
etymology. The study of the origin and development of words.
eucalyptus, pl. eucalyptuses.
Euclidean.
eukaryotes.
Eumenides. In Greek mythology, a
nother name for the Furies.
euonymus. Any tree or shrub of the genus Euonymous.
euphemism. A mild expression substituted for another more objectionable or indelicate one.
euphuism and euphuistic describe a pretentiously elevated style of writing, after John Lyly’s Euphues: The Anatomy of Wit (1578).
Euratom. European Atomic Energy Community.
Euripides. (c. 484–406 BC) Greek dramatist.
euro (lowercase) for the unit of currency used by most, but not all, of the nations of the European Union since early 2002.
European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, deals with issues of civil liberties arising out of the European Convention on Human Rights; it has no connection with the European Union or the UN.
European Court of Justice, in Luxembourg, is a European Union institution dealing exclusively with disputes involving member states.
European Organization for Nuclear Research is more commonly called CERN (from Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire).
European Union was formed in 1967 with a formal merger between the European Economic Community, the European Coal and Steel Community, and the European Atomic Energy Community. As of 2007, it had twenty-seven members: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.
Eurydice. In Greek mythology, wife of Orpheus.
Eustachian tube. (Cap. E.) Passage connecting middle ear to nasopharynx.
euthanasia.
evangelical, evangelistic. Generally, evangelical is better reserved for contexts pertaining to adherence to the Christian gospel. If you need a word to describe militant zeal or the like, evangelistic is almost always better (e.g., “the evangelistic fervor of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament”).
eventuate. “Competition for economic interest, power and social esteem can eventuate in community formation only if…” (British Journal of Sociology, cited by Hudson). A pompous synonym for result.
everyday (adj.), every day (adverb). “He was wearing everyday clothes” but “We come here every day.”
exaggerate.
exasperate.
Excalibur. Not -er. King Arthur’s sword.
ex cathedra. (Lat.) With authority.
excavator.
exception proves the rule, the. A widely misunderstood expression. As a moment’s thought should confirm, it isn’t possible for an exception to confirm a rule—but then, that isn’t the sense that was originally intended. Prove here is a “fossil”—that is, a word or phrase that is now meaningless except within the confines of certain sayings (hem and haw, rank and file, and to and fro are other fossil expressions). Originally prove meant test (it comes from the Latin probo, “I test”), so “the exception proves the rule” meant—and really still ought to mean—that the exception tests the rule. The original meaning of prove is preserved more clearly in two other expressions: proving ground and the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
exchangeable.
excisable.
excitable.
exhalation.
exhaustible.
exhilarate.
exhort, exhortation.
exigent, exiguous. The first means urgent and pressing or exacting and demanding; the second means scanty and slender. But both have a number of synonyms that may spare the reader a trip to the dictionary.
ex officio (Lat.) By virtue of one’s office or position.
exorbitant.
exorcise.
expatriate. One who lives abroad. Not to be confused in spelling or meaning with compatriot.
expectorate, spit. The distinction between these two is not, it must be conceded, often a matter of great moment, but still it is worth noting that there is a distinction. To spit means to expel saliva; to expectorate is to dredge up and expel phlegm from the lungs. Expectorate therefore is not just an unnecessary euphemism for spit, but it is usually an incorrect one.
Expedition of Humphry Clinker, The. Not Humphrey. Novel by Tobias Smollett (1771).
ex post facto. (Lat.) “After the fact.”
expressible. Not -able.
extempore, impromptu. Although both words describe unrehearsed remarks or performances, their meanings are slightly different in that impromptu can apply only to acts that are improvised at the time of performance, whereas extempore suggests only that the actions were undertaken without the benefit of notes or other formal props. Impromptu, in other words, conveys a greater element of surprise on the part of the speaker or performer.
extraneous. Not exter-.
extrovert. Not extra-.
ExxonMobil Corporation. U.S. oil company.
eyeing.
Ezeiza Airport, Buenos Aires.
E-ZPass. Trademarked toll collection system.
Ff
FAA. Federal Aviation Administration.
fable, parable, allegory, myth. Fables and parables are both stories intended to have instructional value. They differ in that parables are always concerned with religious or ethical themes, while fables are usually concerned with more practical considerations (and frequently have animals as the characters). An allegory is an extended metaphor—that is, a narrative in which the principal characters represent things that are not explicitly stated. Orwell’s Animal Farm is an allegory. Myths originally were stories designed to explain some belief or phenomenon, usually the exploits of superhuman beings. Today the word can signify any popular misconception or invented story.
facile is usually defined as easy, smooth, without much effort. But the word should contain at least a suggestion of derision. Facile writing isn’t just easily read or written; it is also lacking in substance or import.
facsimile. An exact copy.
factious, factitious. Factious applies to factions; it is something that promotes internal bickering or disharmony. Factitious applies to that which is artificial or a sham; applause for a despotic ruler may be factitious. Neither should be confused with fractious, a term for something that is unruly or disorderly, as in “a fractious crowd.”
Faerie Queene, The. Epic poem by Edmund Spenser (1589–1596).
Faeroe Islands/The Faroes. Danish islands in the North Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland; in Danish, Faeröerne.
Fahd bin Abdul Aziz. (1923–2005) King of Saudi Arabia (1982–2005).
Fahrenheit. (Cap.) Temperature scale that sets freezing at 32 degrees and boiling at 212; named after the German physicist Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit (1686–1736). To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply the Celsius temperature by 1.8 and add 32, or use the table in the Appendix.
faience. A kind of glazed pottery.
Fairleigh Dickinson University.
fairway, not fare-, in golf.
fait accompli. (Fr.) An accomplished fact; pl. faits accomplis.
Falange, Phalange. The first is a political party in Spain; the second a political party in Lebanon.
fallible.
Fallujah. Sunni Muslim stronghold in central Iraq besieged by American troops in 2004.
fandango. Lively Spanish dance; pl. fandangoes/fandangos.
Faneuil Hall, Boston; pronounced fan-yull.
Fannie Mae/Fannie May. The first is the nickname for the Federal National Mortgage Association and the bonds it issues; the second is a long-established candy company. See also FREDDIE MAC.
FAO. Food and Agriculture (not Agricultural) Organization, a UN body.
Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front. Salvadoran revolutionary movement.
Faraday, Michael. (1791–1867) British chemist and physicist.
FARC. Short for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia), guerrilla group.
Far from the Madding Crowd. Not Maddening. Novel by Thomas Hardy (1874).
Farne Islands, Northumberland, England.
&nbs
p; farrago. A confused mixture; pl. farragoes.
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Not Strauss. U.S. publisher.
Farrell, James T(homas). (1904–1979) American novelist.
farther, further. Insofar as the two are distinguished, farther usually appears in contexts involving literal distance (“New York is farther from Sydney than from London”) and further in contexts involving figurative distance (“I can take this plan no further”).
fascia.
fascism, fascist.
Fassbinder, Rainer Werner. (1946–1982) German filmmaker.
Fates, the. In Greek mythology, the three daughters of Nyx: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos; they are known as the Moerae in Greek and Parcae in Latin.
Father’s Day. (Sing.)
fatwa. Islamic decree.
Faubourg St.-Honoré, Rue du, Paris. Note du.
fauna, flora. The first means animals; the second, plants.
faute de mieux. (Fr.) “For lack of anything better.”
fauvism. (No cap.) Short-lived school of expressionist art in France. Proponents, known as Les Fauves, included Matisse, Dufy, Braque, and Rouault.
faux bonhomme. (Fr.) A person whose superficial good nature disguises a darker side.
faux pas. (Fr.) An error or blunder; pl. same.
favela. (Port.) A Brazilian shantytown.
Fawkes, Guy. (1570–1606) Catholic rebel caught up in England’s unsuccessful Gunpowder Plot. Guy Fawkes’ (note apos.) Day is November 5 and marks the date of his capture, not execution.
faze. To disturb or worry; not to be confused with phase.
FCC. Federal Communications Commission, authority responsible for regulating television and radio.
FDIC. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, authority that steps in when banks fail.
feasible. Not -able. The word does not mean probable or plausible, as is sometimes thought, but simply capable of being done. An action can be feasible without being either desirable or likely.
FedEx Corporation.
feet, foot. An occasional error is seen here: “Accompanied by Interior Secretary Gale Norton, the president also stopped at the 275-feet-high General Sherman Tree, a sequoia thought to be one of the largest living things on Earth.” When one noun qualifies another, the first is normally singular. That is why we talk about toothbrushes rather than teethbrushes and horse races rather than horses races. Exceptions can be found—systems analyst, singles bar—but usually these appear only when the normal form would produce ambiguity. When a noun is not being made to function as an adjective, the plural is the usual form. Thus a wall that is six feet high is a six-foot-high wall. (For a discussion of the punctuation distinction, see HYPHEN in the Appendix.)
