A Few Commonly Misused Words

Over the past ten years or so, I’ve noticed a handful of common oversights in manuscripts, letters, and press releases. A handful of them are listed below. At the same time, it is curious that very few style manuals cover these issues.

Biannual/Semiannual/Biennial

Both biannual and semiannual mean the same thing—two times per year. Biennial differs as it refers to periods that happen every two years or every other year.

• The biannual networking meetings will be held in the spring and fall this year.

• The semiannual networking meetings will be held in the spring and fall this year.

• The biennial UNESCO General Assembly convened in 2020; the next ordinary session will be in 2022.

In some contexts, to avoid confusion, it is common to write “twice per year,” “every other year,” or “every two years.” However, the workarounds aren’t generally needed, but be sure that your intent is clear.

Emigrate/Immigrate

With the global trends of late, many outlets have been talking about migration matters. However, a common issue in the usage emigrate and immigrate has resulted. To clarify things, emigrate means to leave one place to settle in another. Immigrate means to move into a new place from another. The difference, which may sound subtle to the ear, is a big deal in written work.

• Many families are emigrating from rural areas to find work in urban centers.

• Many families are immigrating to urban centers from rural areas to find work.

Organize/Hold

Including organize and hold may seem a bit out of place. However, it is actually one of the most recurring issues I’ve seen over the years; it comes up far more frequently than one would expect. This issue is not included in any style manuals, so I highlight it here for something to keep in mind when drafting press releases, articles, and other materials. The following sentences have very different meanings.

• The secretariat organized the meeting on 5 and 6 April.

• The secretariat held the meeting on 5 and 6 April.

If the planning process and organizing took place on 5 and 6 April, then the first example is true. However, if the meeting took place on those dates, then the second option is true. They are not the same. Another usage for organize is below.

• The secretariat organized the meeting for 5 and 6 April.

The preposition (for versus on) makes a big difference in meaning.

Regard/Regards

Of the resources listed at the end, only The Chicago Manual of Style, chapter 5.250, has a listing for usage about regard and regards. However, in practice, all the others adhere to the information provided here. The problem mostly comes from prepositional phrases like “in regard to” and “with regard to.” In both of these situations, the preferred usage is regard; the plural form, regards, is considered nonstandard. At the same time, for the sake of conciseness, consider using a single-word substitute like about or regarding. The Chicago Manual of Style recommends both of these as well as concerning.

Utilize/Use

To utilize something is to use that thing in a way that wasn’t originally intended—using a shoe or a stapler as a doorstop, for example. On the other hand, use means taking an object and employing it as a means to accomplish an intended task. Based on these definitions, use can replace utilize, but utilize cannot replace use. Generally, use is the better option for preciseness and simplicity. Utilize is most often incorrectly used.

References

The Associated Press Stylebook 2020–2022. 55th ed. 2020. New York: Basic Books.

The Chicago Manual of Style. 17th ed. 2017. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

The Economist Style Guide. 12th ed. 2018. London: Profile Books Ltd.

New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide. 2nd ed. 2014. New York: Oxford University Press.