We see these confusions from time to time in the documents we're asked to copyedit. Fortunately we save our clients from intense embarrassment. You should be aware of these pitfalls:
- Imply/infer. Imply means "to suggest." You imply something by your own words or actions.
- Vaxine implied (suggested) that we needed expert assistance.
- I inferred from Vaxine's remarks that our brochures were a mess.
- In regards to. Substitute in regard to, with regard to, regarding, or as regards.
- I am writing in regard to (not in regards to) your error-ridden white paper published last week.
- Irregardless. There is no such word! Use regardless.
- When testing for editors, we eliminate those people who leave this non-word on the form, regardless of how many other points they may get right.
- Is where/is when.Do not use these phrases to introduce definitions.
- A dilemma is a situation in which one must choose between sending out the 500,000 improperly edited brochures and incurring the cost of reprinting them without the egregious error. (NOT: A dilemma is where one has to choose...)
- The Mayflower Hotel is where the next NEPA annual meeting will be held.
- Noon on Sunday is when the meeting is usually scheduled to begin.