G.1: Write the phrase you misused and the rule.

Do not write just “G” or “Glossary.”

identify with

Vague. As a term in essays about literature, it is often inaccurate too:

VAGUE: The first-person narrator helps the reader identify with the character.

In fact, many writers strive to create the opposite effect. If you want to talk about narrative point of view, a useful term is “distance”:

CLEAR: Jonathan Swift creates ironic distance between his first‑person narrator and the reader.

i.e., e.g.

The abbreviation “i.e.” does not mean “for example.” It means “that is” (Latin id est). To introduce examples, use “e.g.” “E.g.” means “for example” (Latin exempli gratia). Introduce both with a comma or dash, and follow both with a comma. Use two periods for both “e.g.” and “i.e.” Although they come from Latin, they are not italicized.

Monarchs are essentially figureheads in some nations, e.g., Japan, Spain and Sweden.

Some nations—e.g., Japan, Spain and Sweden—have monarchs who are figureheads.

Lay is a transitive verb, i.e., one that requires a direct object.

Both abbreviations give an impression of haste and impersonality. The Keables Guide recommends avoiding them in academic, personal and creative writing.

Some nations, such as Japan, Spain and Sweden, have monarchs who are figureheads.

Lay is a transitive verb—in other words, one that requires a direct object.

imagery, images

Students writing about literature sometimes misuse these terms. “Imagery” refers to the collective use of “images.” “Imagery” is always singular; the word “imageries” is never correct.

WRONG: imageries of blood

RIGHT: imagery of blood images of blood Shakespeare’s imagery

imminent, eminent

“Imminent” means “about to occur”; “eminent” means “outstanding” or “distinguished.”

The eminent scientist predicted that a major breakthrough is imminent.

impact

Many people believe that “impact” should be used only as a noun, not as a verb. The verb use has a ring of bureaucratic jargon and offers little advantage over “affect,” “influence,” or more specific verbs. If the impact is unfavorable, some of the alternatives are “harm,” “impede,” obstruct,” “discourage,” inhibit,” “prevent” and “deter.”

AWKWARD: Opponents of the treaty claimed it would adversely impact trade.

BETTER: Opponents of the treaty claimed it would hinder trade.

In standard usage “impact” is usually a mass noun, not a count noun; the Keables Guide recommends that you avoid using it in the plural.

AWKWARD: The drought had many severe impacts.

BETTER: The drought had severe impact in many states.

The adjective “impactful” is clumsy. Things that are beautiful, harmful or delightful are metaphorically “full of” beauty, harm or delight, but you cannot fill something with impact. The Keables Guide recommends finding a more precise adjective or (even better) stating exactly what the impact is.

VAGUE: The entry of the U.S. into World War II was impactful.

BETTER: The entry of the U.S. turned the tide in the war.

implicate, imply, infer

“Imply” means “to give an impression (that)”; it forms the noun “implication” and the adjective “implicit.” “Infer” means “to guess from incomplete evidence”; it forms the noun “inference.”

Her tone of voice implied that she disapproved.

Her tone implied disapproval.

I inferred from her tone of voice that she disapproved.

I inferred her disapproval.

Sometimes writers mistake “implicate” for “imply.” Nowadays people use “implicate” mainly to mean “to incriminate” or “to show to be involved.” It usually appears in the passive voice:

Several executives were implicated in a scheme to defraud stockholders.

incidence, incident

Do not use “incidence” (“rate of occurrence,” as in “a high incidence of crime”) when you mean “incident” (“occurrence,” as in “a trivial incident”).

There is a high incidence of mysterious incidents in the Bermuda Triangle.

incredible

Overused as a hyperbole for “good.” In formal usage it means “too improbable to believe”:

INFORMAL: My mother bakes incredible pies.

FORMAL: He claimed he saw a flying saucer at the shopping mall, but I found his story incredible.

install, instill

“Instill” means “to cause (someone) to have (an attitude or quality).” It always takes an indirect object: you instill something in someone. The thing instilled is something internal, like an attitude or quality. “Install” means “to put into place, ready to be used.” The thing installed is usually a machine or system, but a person can be installed into a formal position.

Our coach instilled responsibility and team spirit in all of us.

Fiery Puritan sermons instilled fear of the Lord in the congregation.

The deliverymen installed a new washer-dryer.

The university held a ceremony to install a new chancellor.

The most common error is using “install” when “instill” is correct.

WRONG: Months of practice installed confidence in me.

RIGHT: Months of practice instilled confidence in me.

interesting

Avoid beginning sentences with “it is interesting to note that” or the clumsy word “interestingly.” If what you plan to note is not interesting, don’t note it.

into, in to

Not the same. Errors occur most often in idioms like “give in to.” Often you can find the correct idiom by checking the dictionary under the word (like “give”) that goes with the preposition.

WRONG: to give into temptation

RIGHT: to give in to temptation

WRONG: to walk in to a trap

RIGHT: to walk into a trap

invoke, evoke, provoke

Not the same. They come from a Latin root meaning “voice.” “Invoke” means “to call in”; it can also mean “to cite or make use of,” as in “to invoke his freedom of speech.” “Evoke” means “to call up in imagination or memory.” “Provoke” means “to incite anger”; it can also mean “to stir up” (as in “thought-provoking”). The most common error is using “invoke” in place of “evoke.”

The images in the song evoke nostalgia.

Homer invokes the Muse, asking for divine inspiration.

He tried to provoke his opponent with taunts.

irony, ironies

As a literary term, “irony” is always singular. The plural is used only outside literary criticism, in phrases like “life’s little ironies.” Since “irony” is not a count noun, it is incorrect to say “an irony.”

WRONG: The story is full of ironies.

RIGHT: The story is full of irony.

WRONG: The poem uses an irony.

RIGHT: The poem uses irony. The poem is ironic.

irregardless

An erroneous redundancy for “regardless.”

issue

The use of “issue” to mean “problem” seems widely established, but the Keables Guide recommends caution in using it in formal writing. It has long been used to mean an unsettled or controversial subject, especially in public affairs:

CLEAR: Neither candidate seems willing to take a stand on the issue of gun control.

Its more recent use began with people who were afraid that calling a problem a problem would hurt someone’s feelings. People amused by its timid political correctness began using it as a joke, but it spread so quickly that people began using it without irony. Its banality can be unintentionally absurd, as when news commentators solemnly say that a mass murderer “has anger issues.”

WEAK: After two 350-pound linemen fell on his leg, he had a knee issue.

WEAK: The Civil War started because the North and the South had issues.

WEAK: The Montagues have issues with the Capulets.

it

Often used vaguely. In the sentence below, each “it” refers to something different:

WRONG: It made me feel guilty that I would hide something from them, but it didn’t matter as long as I didn’t have to talk about it.

Supply a clear noun phrase to which the “it” refers, or rephrase the sentence to get rid of the “it”:

VAGUE: I arrived after the concert had sold out, but it did not break my heart.

BETTER (clear noun phrase): Arriving too late for the concert did not break my heart.

BETTER (rephrased): When I arrived after the concert had sold out, my heart did not break.

its, it’s

“Its” is a possessive pronoun (like “his”); “it’s” is a contraction (like “he’s”) meaning “it is” or “it has.”

It’s unwise to judge a book by its cover.

It’s been a while since the car had its last tune-up.