1. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition EFFECTIVE WORDS

2. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition LANGUAGE IN ACADEMIC AND BUSINESS WRITING Always appropriate:  Standard American English Sometimes appropriate:  Regional words and expressions  Slang  Colloquial language  Neologisms  Technical language  Euphemisms Rarely or never appropriate:  Nonstandard dialect  Archaic and obsolete words  Double talk  Pretentious writing  Biased language: sexist, racist, ethnocentric, etc. 38.1

3. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition ELIMINATING SEXIST LANGUAGE Avoid demeaning and patronizing language  SEXIST: Dr. Keith Kim and Lydia Hawkins wrote the article.  REVISED: Dr. Keith Kim and Dr. Lydia Hawkins wrote the article. Avoid occupational or social stereotypes  SEXIST: The considerate doctor commends a nurse when she provides his patients with good care.  REVISED: The considerate doctor commends a nurse who provides good care for patients. 38.2a

4. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition ELIMINATING SEXIST LANGUAGE (continued) Avoid referring needlessly to gender  SEXIST: Marie Curie, a woman chemist, discovered radium.  REVISED: Marie Curie, a chemist, discovered radium. Avoid using man or words containing man to refer to all human beings  Change businessman to businessperson.  Change congressman to legislator. Avoid the generic he, the male pronoun used to refer to both genders (See also pp. 329-30.)  SEXIST: The newborn child explores his world.  REVISED: Newborn children explore their world. 38.2b

5. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition EXERCISE Revising: Appropriate Words 1.Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major deal all over the world. 2.The disease gets around primarily by sexual intercourse, exchange of bodily fluids, shared needles, and blood transfusions. 3.Those who think the disease is limited to homos and druggies are quite mistaken. 4.Stats suggest that one in every five hundred college kids carries the virus. 5.A person with AIDS does not deserve to be subjected to exclusionary behavior or callousness on the part of his fellow citizens. Instead, he has the necessity for all the compassion, medical care, and financial assistance due those who are in the extremity of illness. 38.3a Rewrite the following sentences as needed for standard American English. Consult a dictionary to determine whether particular words are appropriate and to find suitable substitutes.

6. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition ANSWERS TO EXERCISE Possible answers 1.Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a serious threat all over the world. 2.The disease is transmitted primarily by sexual intercourse, exchange of bodily fluids, shared needles, and blood transfusions. 3.Those who think the disease is limited to homosexuals and drug users are quite mistaken. 4.Statistics suggest that one in every five hundred college students carries the virus. 5.People with AIDS do not deserve others’ exclusion or callousness. Instead, they need all the compassion, medical care, and financial assistance due the seriously ill. 38.3b

7. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition IDIOMS WITH PREPOSITIONS (some examples)  afraid of  based on  certain of  dependent on  familiar with  impatient with a person  occupied with a thing  proud of  related to  similar to  wait for a train, a person 39.1

8. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition USING FRESH, NOT TRITE, EXPRESSIONS  acid test  beyond the shadow of a doubt  cold, hard facts  easier said than done  face the music  hard as a rock  moving experience  point with pride  sneaking suspicion  tried and true  untimely death 39.2 Some examples:

9. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition EXERCISE Revising: Trite Expressions 1.The disastrous consequences of the war have shaken the small nation to its roots. 2.Prices for food have shot sky high, and citizens have sneaking suspicions that others are making a killing on the black market. 3.Medical supplies are so few and far between that even civilians who are sick as dogs cannot get treatment. 4.With most men fighting or injured or killed, women have had to bite the bullet and bear the men’s burden in farming and manufacturing. 5.Last but not least, the war’s heavy drain on the nation’s pocketbook has left the economy in a shambles. 39.3a Revise the following sentences to eliminate trite expressions.

10. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition ANSWERS TO EXERCISE Possible answers 1.These disasters of the war have shaken the small nation severely. 2.Prices for food have risen markedly, and citizens suspect that others are profiting on the black market. 3.Medical supplies are so scarce that even very sick civilians cannot get treatment. 4.With most men fighting or injured or killed, women have had to take the men’s places in farming and manufacturing. 5.Finally, the war’s high cost has destroyed the nation’s economy. 39.3b

11. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition WAYS TO ACHIEVE CONCISENESS 40.1 The highly pressured nature of critical- care nursing is due to the fact that the patients have life-threatening illnesses. Critical-care nurses must have possession of steady nerves to care for patients who are critically ill and very sick. The nurses must also have possession of interpersonal skills. They must also have medical skills. It is considered by most health-care professionals that these nurses are essential if there is to be improvement of patients who are now in critical care from that status to the status of intermediate care. Focus on subject and verb, and cut or shorten empty words and phrases. Avoid nouns made from verbs. Cut unneeded repetition. Combine sentences. Change passive voice to active voice. Eliminate there is to constructions. Cut unneeded repetition, and reduce clauses and phrases.

12. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition EXERCISE Revising: Conciseness 40.2a At the end of a lengthy line of reasoning, he came to the conclusion that the situation with carcinogens [cancer- causing substances] should be regarded as similar to the situation with the automobile. Instead of giving in to an irrational fear of cancer, we should consider all aspects of the problem in a balanced and dispassionate frame of mind, making a total of the benefits received from potential carcinogens (plastics, pesticides, and other similar products) and measuring said total against the damage done by such products. This is the nature of most discussions about the automobile. Instead of responding irrationally to the visual, aural, and air pollution caused by automobiles, we have decided to live with them (while simultaneously working to improve on them) for the benefits brought to society as a whole. Make the following passage as concise as possible.

13. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition ANSWERS TO EXERCISE 40.2b After much thought, he concluded that carcinogens could be treated like automobiles. Instead of giving in to a fear of cancer, we should balance the benefits we receive from potential carcinogens (such as plastic and pesticides) against the damage they do. Similarly, instead of responding irrationally to the pollution caused by automobiles, we have decided to live with them and enjoy their benefits while simultaneously working to improve them.

14. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition WORDS COMMONLY CONFUSED  accept (to receive)  except (other than)  affect (to have an influence on)  effect (result)  capital (the seat of government)  capitol (the building where a legislature meets)  cite (to quote an authority)  sight (the ability to see)  site (a place)  its (possessive of it)  it’s (contraction of it is or it has) 43.1a Some examples:

15. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition WORDS COMMONLY CONFUSED  passed (past tense of pass)  past (after, or a time gone by)  principal (most important, or the head of a school)  principle (a basic truth or law)  stationary (unmoving)  stationery (writing paper)  their (possessive of they)  there (opposite of here)  they’re (contraction of they are)  your (possessive of you)  you’re (contraction of you are) 43.1b More examples:

16. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition EXERCISE Distinguishing between ie and ei 1.br__f 2. dec__ve 3. rec__pt 4. s__ze 5. for__gn 6. pr__st 7. gr__vance 8. f__nd 9. l__surely 10. ach__ve 11. pat__nce 12. p__rce 13.h__ght 14.fr__ght 15.f__nt 16.s__ve Insert ie or ei in the words below. Check doubtful spellings in a dictionary. 43.2a

17. Copyright © 1995–2004 by Pearson Education, publishing as Longman Publishers Fowler/Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, Ninth Edition ANSWERS TO EXERCISE 1.brief 2. deceive 3. receipt 4. seize 5. foreign 6. priest 7. grievance 8. fiend 9. leisurely 10. achieve 11. patience 12. pierce 13.height 14.freight 15.feint 16.seive 43.2b