Kirk Mahoney . com

Misuse of these two words is rare, but they’re worth a second look.

Problem:
The words “elicit” and “illicit” are not synonyms.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the verb “elicit” is to evoke or draw out. For example, elicited a response with a huge lie would be an appropriate use of the verb. The popular definition of the adjective “illicit” is disapproved for moral reasons. For example, an illicit association with her student would be an appropriate use of the adjective.

The challenge with these two words is that they sound fairly alike, especially when speakers are careless with pronunciation. Careless pronunciation by speakers seems to lead to misuse by those listeners who are ignorant that these are two distinct words.

Solution:
Use “elicit” when you want to refer to evoking or drawing out; use “illicit” when you want to label something as immoral or unlawful.

I heard this while listening to a radio talk-show’s discussion of the former first lady’s race for the 2008 U.S. presidency.

Problem:
The verb “beat” is incorrect here.

Explanation:
The question is written in abbreviated passive voice, albeit incorrectly. The subject of the sentence (Hillary) is acted on by the verb, and we do not know who potentially is beating her. A question in active voice must identify the person who potentially will beat Hillary.

“Can Joe beat Hillary?” is an example of a question in active voice. We get “Can Hillary be beaten by Joe?” when we rearrange the question to put it into passive voice. Abbreviating this question, we correctly get “Can Hillary be beaten?” in abbreviated passive voice.

In other words, “beaten” — not “beat” — is the passive form of the verb “to beat”.

I believe that the use of “beat” instead of “beaten” when the latter is appropriate represents

• ignorance about passive voice, and
• a laziness that favors shorter, fewer-syllable words over longer words.

The one-syllable “beat” is easier than the two-syllable “beaten” to say. Throw in a common lack of understanding how sentences in the active voice are converted to sentences in the passive voice or abbreviated passive voice, and it’s no wonder that many English speakers choose “beat” (incorrectly) instead of “beaten” in a question posed in the passive voice or abbreviated passive voice.

Solution:
“Can Hillary be beaten?”

I heard this from an apartment dweller in an HGTV television program.

Problem:
The adverb “literally” is incorrect here.

Explanation:
A bad habit has developed among many English speakers to use “literally” when “figuratively” is the correct adverb. They use “literally” as an intensifier. Unfortunately, this negates the true meaning of “literally”, which is actually, without exaggeration. The speaker in the above program was trying to say that she, her husband and her child had outgrown their small apartment. However, they still resided within the walls of their apartment, and the walls were still intact. The correct adverb to describe this situation is “figuratively”. The family had not literally burst out of the walls. Instead, the family had figuratively burst out of the walls.

I believe that the use of “literally” instead of “figuratively” represents

• carelessness with word meanings,
• a belief that “literally” sounds better than “figuratively”, and
• a laziness that favors shorter, fewer-syllable words over longer words.

Not only does “figuratively” have more syllables than “literally” has (five syllables vs. four syllables), but it also is more difficult to say. Throw in the abusive overuse of “literally” and the fact that it sounds more “literary”, and it’s no wonder that many English speakers choose it (incorrectly) instead of “figuratively”.

Solution:
“Figuratively, we’re bursting out of the walls.”

I heard this during an NPR news story about a theme park in South Korea.

Problem:
The verb phrase “is to provide” is awkward (at least).

Explanation:
The reporter was discussing the theme park’s projected effect on employment in South Korea. Either she meant to say “will provide” or she left out “projected” (as in “is projected to provide”). If she intentionally left out “projected” so as to sound more sophisticated, she did not achieve her goal (at least not with me).

Solutions:
“It will provide more than 58,000 jobs.”
“It is projected to provide more than 58,000 jobs.”

I often hear this.

Problem:
“Each person was prettier than the next.” is the opposite of what is meant.

Explanation:
“Each person was prettier than the next.” means that the next person is not as pretty as the current person. This means that the persons are becoming uglier as one steps through the sequence. When people say, “Each person was prettier than the next,” what they want to say is that the persons are becoming prettier as one steps through the sequence.

Solution:
“Each person was prettier than the previous.”

I heard this from an HGTV host discussing two teams.

Problem:
The adjective “each” is incorrect for this sentence.

Explanation:
The adjective “each” essentially means every one of two or more considered one by one. “Each other” is inappropriate in this sentence. The speaker was referring to two teams of interior designers in an HGTV television program, and “who outdoes” refers to whichever team will outdo the other team.

Solution:
“We’ll see who outdoes the other.”

Misuse of these two words is rare, but they’re worth a second look.

Problem:
The nouns “iniquity” and “inequity” are not synonyms.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the noun “iniquity” is gross immorality or wickedness. For example, identified iniquities of the sinners would be appropriate. The primary definition of the noun “inequity ” is lack of equity or fairness. For example, identified inequities in the public-education system would be appropriate.

Solution:
Use “iniquity” when you want to refer to sin, depravity, or evildoing; use “inequity” when you want to refer to unfairness.

I saw this in the splash animation at www.take.tv.

Problem:
The verb “rotated” is incorrect here.

Explanation:
The verb “rotate” means to turn around on, or as if on, an axis. The verb “revolve” means to follow a circular or elliptical course around another body. The verbs “rotate” and “revolve” are not synonyms. The Earth rotates (on its axis) and revolves (around the Sun) at the same time. The Earth rotates once every twenty-four hours; the Earth revolves around the Sun once per year. Rotation gives us day and night; revolving gives us the four seasons.

Solution:
“As the Earth revolved around the Sun …”

Happy Thanksgiving, 2007.

On this day of giving thanks, it’s worthwhile to consider those less fortunate than us.

In particular, consider children who now face a future with lowest literacy proficiency. These children need our help, and I have written an article about what you can do.

If you had never learned to read or write, what would your world be like today? Can you imagine being surrounded by people who cannot read or write, or read or write well?

“Our Future Depends on Our Literacy” challenges you to get involved with an organization that knows that our future depends on our literacy.

Please read the article and then take action in whatever way works for you.

Thank you. By giving a little, we can all get a lot.

I saw this in an official communication from the number-two executive at the world’s largest telecommunications company.

Problem:
An apostrophe is missing.

Explanation:
The singular noun “world” requires a possessive apostrophe followed by an “s” to indicate the possession of the “best communications company” by the world. Another way to write this phrase is “Building the best communications company in the world …”.

Solution:
“Building the world’s best communications company …”