Author: Kirk

“Intent” vs. “Intention”

Adjectives, Nouns, Versus

Something I saw made me investigate these two words.

Problem:
These two words are not quite synonyms but are sometimes used as synonyms.

Explanation:
“Intent” is both a noun and an adjective. “Intention” is only a noun.

“Intent” as an adjective means earnest, steadfast, focused, or concentrated.

“Intent” as a noun is sometimes used as a synonym for “intention”; however, the former is stronger than the latter.

“Intent” as a noun means deliberateness. “Intention” means anticipated outcome.

Solution:
Use “intention” when talking about actions that one proposes to take. Use “intent” when talking about aim or purpose or when you need the adjective.

“Communication mediums:”

Plurals

I saw this in a PowerPoint presentation as the title of a list of ways for teams of employees to communicate with one another during a weekend software-launch project.

Problem:
The plural form of medium for most of its definitions, including the one used in this title, is not “mediums”.

Explanation:
One of the definitions of “medium” is psychic (someone who claims to be able to communicate with the dead or predict the future).

The definition of “medium” that the title writer had in mind is means of communication. The title writer probably put the word “Communication” at the start of title to emphasize that she was using this particular definition.

The plural form of “medium” when it means psychic is “mediums”; the plural form of “medium” for other definitions, such as means of communication, is “media” (not “mediums”).

Solution:
“Communication media:”

“…, spectacular view properties, …”

Hyphens

I saw this in a full-page advertisement on the back cover of the latest “Continental” (Airlines) magazine.

Problem:
A hyphen is missing.`

Explanation:
This phrase appeared in an ad for Costa Rica’s Los Sueños Resort and Marina, so something could have gotten lost in the translation from Spanish to English.

Still, the advertising agency that placed this ad should have at least one native speaker of American English and should have caught this problem.

“With our 200-slip international marina, spectacular view properties, private beach club for residents, challenging 18-hole golf course, charming Marriott hotel and 600-acre rainforest reserve, we are truly Costa Rica’s premier residential resort community.” is the full sentence in which this phrase appeared.

The copywriter properly hyphenated the remainder of the sentence.

When an adjective (“spectacular”) plus a noun (“view”) modify another noun (“properties”), a hyphen must join the adjective and the first noun.

Therefore, what is missing in “spectacular view properties” is a hyphen between “spectacular” and “view”.

Solution:
“…, spectacular-view properties, …”