Bryan A. Garner

Miscellaneous Entries. solo. The plural is solos — preferably not *soli. soluble; solvable. Soluble is usually applied to dissolvable substances, whereas solvable is usually applied to problems. But soluble is also sometimes used in reference to problems; this usage is acceptable, though not preferred. somber; sombre. The first is American English, the second British English. …

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sometime (2). Today: Two More Uses. Part A: As an Adjective Meaning “former.” This is a slightly archaic sense of “sometime”: “my sometime companion.” The word does not properly signify “on-again-off-again” or “occasional” — as it appears to in the following quotation (as suggested by the incorrect use of “sometimes”): “Jack Kemp, the former Congressman …

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sometime (1). Today: And "some time." "Sometime" = at an indefinite or unspecified time; esp., at a time in the future {we'll see each other sometime}. "Some time" = quite a while {they spent some time together}. The difference may be illustrated by contrasting the senses of these two sentences: (1) "It was not until …

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solicit (1). Today: For “elicit.” To “solicit” a response is to request it. To “elicit” a response is to get it. But some writers confuse the two, usually by misusing “solicit” for “elicit” — e.g.: “‘The way the question was worded didn’t solicit [read ‘elicit’] the type of response I think we were looking for,’ …

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Miscellaneous Entries. *software program. Avoid this redundancy. Either word will do, though “software” will usually be the better choice because it’s the narrower term. solace (= comfort in sorrow or trouble; relief from distress) should not be used merely as a synonym of “comfort,” without the circumstance of grief or distress being implied. The misuse …

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Like “only,” this word is sometimes misplaced syntactically — e.g.: “Orick said that although the educational programs are sponsored by Purdue University, they are not solely related [read ‘related solely’] to preservation of agricultural farmlands.” Welton W. Harris II, “Land-Use Plan Sessions Scheduled,” Indianapolis News, 2 Dec. 1997, Metro N. §, at 1. Also, the …

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solecism. Generally, "solecism" (/SAHL-uh-siz-uhm/) refers to a grammatical or syntactic error, often a gross mistake. E.g.: "I once spoke French well enough to teach in a Marseille lycee — but that was 25 years ago and today I could hardly string two sentences together without committing some gross solecism." Michael Dirda, "The Lingo Kid," Wash. …

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sola topi. "Sola topi" (= a pith helmet, originating in India, made from the sola plant) is sometimes misspelled *"solar topi" — e.g.: o "But she kept the English cricketing cap and the solar [read 'sola'] topi." Joan Bridgman, "Mad Dogs, Englishwomen and Nureyev," Contemp. Rev., 1 Apr. 1995, at 213. o "The most unusual …

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Miscellaneous Entries. Smithsonian Institution. This is the name — not *"Smithsonian Institute." smoky, adj., is so spelled — not *"smokey." But the lovable mascot's name is "Smokey Bear." smolder (= to burn slowly without flame) is the standard spelling. "Smoulder" is a chiefly British English variant. sodomite; *sodomist. The first outnumbers the second by a …

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soi-disant. “Soi-disant” = self-proclaimed. This French affectation is inferior both to the translation just given and to “self-styled.” E.g.: o “What it may need instead is an establishment with the nerve to tell the soi-disant [read ‘self-proclaimed’] victims: Stop kvetching.” Michael S. Greve, “Remote Control Tuning for Speech,” Wash. Times, 9 Nov. 1996, at D3. …

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so (2). Today: For “very” and in “so therefore.” In traditional usage, “so” is a comparative adverb {so cold I could die} {so cumbersome that I don’t want it} {he’s not so tall as she is}. Gradually, speakers and writers began dropping the final part of the comparison {he’s so tall!} {she’s so smart} {it’s …

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so (1). Today: Beginning Sentences with. Like “And” and “But,” “So” is a good word for beginning a sentence. Each of these three is the informal equivalent of a heavier and longer conjunctive adverb (“Additionally,” “However,” and “Consequently” or “Therefore”). Rhetoric, not grammar, is what counts here. The shorter word affords a brisker pace — …

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*snuck. *”Snuck” is a nonstandard past tense and past participle of “sneak” common in American speech and writing. The standard past form is “sneaked.” Surprisingly, though, *”snuck” appears half as often as “sneaked” in American writing — e.g.: o “They include all that weird wording snuck [read ‘sneaked’] into bills to assure that the gravy …

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snoot. In the April 2001 issue of Harper’s, the late David Foster Wallace introduced his family’s acronym for "syntax nudnik of our time" or, alternatively, "Sprachegefhl necessitates our ongoing tendance." (A fuller version of Wallace’s influential essay, purportedly a review essay of the first edition of this book, appears in Wallace’s Consider the Lobster [2006], …

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smooth, vb.; *smoothen. The latter is a needless variant — e.g.: "But eventually, Dr. Toaff insists, the knobs and bulges will smoothen [read 'smooth'] out." Natalie Angier, "One Woman’s Decision Against a Hysterectomy," N.Y. Times, 18 Feb. 1997, at C1. The verb is often misspelled *"smoothe," doubtless on the analogy of "soothe" and "teethe" — …

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