Adjectives

“Dependent” vs. “Dependant”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Nouns, Versus

I often see “dependant” used incorrectly.

Problem:
The preferred use of “dependant” is as a noun, not as an adjective.

Explanation:
Some dictionaries indicate that “dependent” and “dependant” are synonyms.

However, other dictionaries indicate that the preferred use of “dependent” is as an adjective and that the preferred use of “dependant” is as a noun.

One way to remember this distinction is to think of “confidant”, which is a noun, versus “confident”, which is an adjective.

Solution:
Use “dependent” when you’re modifying a noun to indicate contingent or relying on something or someone else; use “dependant” when you’re talking about a person who relies on or is supported by another.

“Verbal” vs. “Oral”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Versus

I often hear “verbal” — as in “verbal agreement” — when people mean “oral”.

Problem:
The adjective “verbal” should not be used when one specifically is referring to something spoken.

Explanation:
The adjective “verbal” means of or pertaining to words. The primary definition of the adjective “oral” is uttered by the mouth.

Many will refer to “verbal agreements” when what they really mean is “oral agreements” (i.e., spoken agreements, not written agreements). Saying that something is a “verbal agreement” does not say much; it simply means that it is an oral or written agreement.

Solution:
Use “verbal” when you’re talking about words in general; use “oral” when you’re talking about spoken words.

“Second of all,”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Common English Blunders

My wife heard this on the radio.

Problem:
The phrase “Second of all,” sounds strained and is otherwise problematic.

Explanation:
The phrase “First of all,” is a popular way to introduce an enumeration because “of all” stresses that one is about to provide an enumeration. For example, First of all, I don’t like beef. stresses to the listener or reader that there will be an enumeration and that what followed “First of all,” was the first item (“I don’t like beef.”) in the enumeration.

Following a use of “First of all,” with a use of “Second of all,”

  • sounds strained,
  • reduces the power of “First of all,” by making the listener or reader wonder whether every item in the enumeration will include “of all”, and
  • does not add anything to saying or writing “Second,”.

Note that it is not appropriate to introduce the second item in an enumeration with the adverbial form “Secondly,” (just as “Firstly,” is not appropriate for beginning the first item in an enumeration).

Solution:
“Second,”