Versus

“Whether” vs. “If”

Common English Blunders, Conjunctions, Devolution toward Simpler, Versus

I saw throughout a technical document the use of the conjunction “if” where the conjunction “whether” was required.

Problem:
The conjunction “if” is not a synonym for the conjunction “whether” in formal writing.

Explanation:
A technical document should contain formal writing. I recently reviewed a technical document that contained such sentences as “Call the LDAP Screening class to determine if the LDAP server is affected.” This exemplifies incorrect use of the conjunction “if”; correct use is exemplified by a sentence such as “If an association is not found, remove that association from the list to be deleted.”

The “Call the LDAP Screening …” sentence should be rewritten as “Call the LDAP Screening class to determine whether the LDAP server is affected.”

The problem with using “if” to introduce a clause indicating uncertainty is that the use of “if” can sometimes create ambiguity (especially in writing).

For example, “Let him know if he has won the contest.” could mean:

  • “Let him know, if he has won the contest.” (Don’t let him know, if he has not won the contest.)
    -OR-
  • “Let him know whether he has won the contest.” (No matter how the contest ends, let him know.)

I believe that the use of “if” as a substitute for “whether” — even in formal writing — supports my “Devolution toward Simpler” hypothesis. It’s much simpler to say or write “if” than to say or write “whether”. The one-syllable conjunction “if” can be spoken quickly. The two-syllable conjunction “whether” demands that its first syllable be held longer than average so that the listener doesn’t confuse the word with the noun “weather” upon first hearing it (without the context of a complete sentence).

Solution:
Use “whether” to introduce a clause whose certainty is unknown. Use “if” to introduce a clause in the indicative that is presupposed to be consistent with fact. Use “if” to introduce a clause in the subjunctive that describes an occurrence that is presupposed to be contrary to fact.

“Die” vs. “Pass Away” vs. “Pass”

Devolution toward Simpler, Euphemisms, Verbs, Versus

I thought again the other day about these death verbs after hearing a woman on an HGTV television program say that her cat had “passed away.”

Problem:
Although synonymous, “die” and “pass away” and “pass” don’t have the same impact, and the latter two can confuse readers or listeners.

Explanation:
Avoiding euphemisms sometimes requires courage.

One could argue that “pass away” has a religious origin as a euphemism for “die” and therefore that “pass away” is a valid substitute.

However, it is worthwhile to know that clinical social workers are taught that their clients who use “pass away” often have a harder time with working through the death of a loved one than those clients who use the plain-spoken verb “die”.

Can a dog or cat “pass away”, given the religious origin of the phrase? I doubt it, but maybe I am confused about the religious origin.

Or maybe the woman who said that her cat “passed away” simply was more comfortable with this than saying that her cat “died” — what she really meant but maybe did not have the courage to face.

It is worthwhile to know, too, that “pass away” is not commonly used throughout the entire world of English speakers. The verb “die” does not have this problem.

You can confuse even more people when you say “pass” instead of “pass away”.

For example, “He passed last night.” will invite curious stares from some listeners. “He passed what?” they will ask. “Passed gas? Passed a kidney stone? Came by your home?”

I believe that the use of “pass” as a death verb has two origins:

  1. It’s essentially a euphemism of a euphemism, letting the speaker or writer take two steps away from saying or writing “die” (the dreaded ‘D’ word!).
  2. It is simpler to say “pass” than to say “pass away”; this is further proof of my “Devolution toward Simpler” linguistic hypothesis.

Solution:
Use “die” wherever possible. Use “pass away” in religious contexts, if you know that your readers or listeners understand this euphemism. Do not use “pass” as a substitute for “pass away”; you will confuse many people!

“Driver License” vs. “Driver’s License” vs. “Drivers’ License”

Adjectives, Plurals, Possessives, Versus

I have wondered for years about which of these is the correct form.

Problem:
The fifty state governments in the USA are inconsistent in the way that they refer to licenses issued to drivers.

Explanation:
I searched the Web for the form used by each of the fifty state governments.

Some state government had two official ways to refer to these licenses. Most state governments had only one way. No state government used “Drivers License” (plural, with no possessive apostrophe).

Here are the names of the states whose governments use one or more of the three forms on their own websites:

  • “Driver License” (35 states):  Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana (also in “Driver’s License” list), Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania (also in “Driver’s License” list), South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin
  • “Driver’s License” (16 states):  Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana (also in “Driver License” list), Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania (also in “Driver License” list), Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming
  • “Drivers’ License” (1 state):  Delaware

Ignoring the two “undecided” states (Indiana and Pennsylvania), we see that “Driver License” is favored by a ratio of more than 2.35 to 1 over “Driver’s License” (thirty-three states vs. fourteen states).

Solution:
I doubt that the fifty state governments ever will agree on a single form for referring to licenses that they issue to drivers. The best for which we can hope is that any given state government with multiple ways will settle on a single form and that Delaware will come to its senses about “Drivers’ License”.