Oxford university 6 pptx

am/pm
AM/PM
“AM” stands for the Latin phrase Ante Meridiem —which means “before noon”—and “PM” stands
for Post Meridiem : “after noon.” Although digital clocks routinely label noon “12:00 PM” you
should avoid this expression not only because it is incorrect, but because many people will imagine
you are talking about midnight instead. The same goes for “12:00 AM.” Just say or write “noon” or
“midnight” when you mean those precise times.
It is now rare to see periods placed after these abbreviations: “A.M.” , but in formal writing it is still
preferable to capitalize them, though the lower-case “am” and “pm” are now so popular they are not
likely to get you into trouble.
Occasionally computer programs encourage you to write “AM” and “PM” without a space before
them, but others will misread your data if you omit the space. The nonstandard habit of omitting the
space is spreading rapidly, and should be avoided in formal writing.
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/ampm.html03/09/2005 15:36:38
abject
ABJECT
“Abject” is always negative. You can’t experience “abject joy” unless you’re being deliberately
paradoxical.
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/abject.html03/09/2005 15:36:38
about
ABOUT
“This isn’t about you.” What a great rebuke! But conservatives sniff at this sort of abstract use of
“about,” as in “I’m all about good taste” or “successful truffle-making is about temperature control” ;
so it’s better to avoid it in very formal English.
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/about.html03/09/2005 15:36:38
absorbtion
ABSORBTION
ABSORPTION

Although it’s “absorbed” and “absorbing,” the correct spelling of the noun is “absorption.”
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/absorbtion.html03/09/2005 15:36:39
abstruse/obtuse
ABSTRUSE/OBTUSE
Most people first encounter “obtuse” in geometry class, where it labels an angle of more than 90
degrees. Imagine what sort of blunt arrowhead that kind of angle would make and you will
understand why it also has a figurative meaning of “dull, stupid.” But people often mix the word up
with “abstruse,” which means “difficult to understand.”
When you mean to criticize something for being needlessly complex or baffling, the word you need is
not “obtuse,” but “abstruse.”
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/abstruse.html03/09/2005 15:36:39
accede/exceed
ACCEDE/EXCEED
If you drive too fast, you exceed the speed limit. “Accede” is a much rarer word meaning “give in,”
“agree.”
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/accede.html03/09/2005 15:36:39