Xem mẫu
English Grammar For
Economics And Business Confusion Between CertainWords
2 Confusion Between Certain Words
The following are commonly confused words, because they either look similar or sound the same. I originally made this list on the basis of actual mistakes I had encountered in students’ written work, but then I read two books: Troublesome Words by Bill Bryson (2002), and Who’s Whose: A no-nonsense guide to easily confused words by Philip Gooden (2007), and selected more such problematic words that could be relevant for students writing economics or business texts. I have acknowledged these ‘borrowed’ words where they occur in the list below, which is now a synthesis of my first list and these useful additions, but the examples are mainly my own.
* actual/actually
In English, these words mean, respectively, ‘real’ or ‘ in fact’, and should not be confused with similar-looking words from other European languages, e.g. actuel(lement), actuële, aktuell, attual(ment), which should all be translated using words such as ‘present’, ‘current’, ‘up-to-date’, ‘at this moment’, ‘now’, ‘at present’.
360° thinking
Discover the truth at www.deloitte.ca/careers © Deloitte & Touche LLP and affiliated entities.
Download free eBooks at bookboon.com
86 Click on the ad to read more
English Grammar For
Economics And Business Confusion Between CertainWords
* adaptation/adaption
People are sometimes uncertain about which of these words to use. At one time, it was incorrect to use adaption. In the 9th Edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary (1995), there is no entry for adaption, and then adaptation reigned supreme. However, in recognition of the increasing tendency to use adaption, whether or not correct, the 11th Edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary (2004) now gives it a separate entry, indicating that it is an alternative for adaptation. Strangely, the entry for adaptation does not follow through by mentioning the existence of this alternative, as is usual when there is an alternative form. Nevertheless, it would appear that it is now acceptable to use either adaptation or adaption. But there should be no switching between the two forms, as is sometimes observed in student texts within the space of one paragraph. That being said, adaptation is still the form most commonly used (and, in my opinion, preferable). (See Chapter 5.5, p. 177, where, because of a quotation from an American source, both forms are used in the key essay.)
This entry illustrates the adaptability of the English language within the space of a decade. The language is never set in stone.
* advice (noun)/advise (verb)
When using the noun, people often incorrectly use the spelling of the verb: e.g. This guide gives good advice; I would advise you to read it.
[noun] [verb]
* affect (verb)/effect (verb and noun)
The following examples show the difference:
e.g. The results of the study are adversely affected [i.e. influenced] by the poor response rate.
e.g. To effect [i.e. bring about] a change in policy at the shareholders’ meeting, it is necessary to have a two-thirds majority.
The effect [i.e. result] of the new policy is far from clear.
* ambiguous/ambivalence/equivocal/univocal
While Bryson (2002) draws attention to the confusion between ambiguous andequivocal, Gooden (2007) notes that between ambiguous and ambivalent.
Ambiguous means ‘not clear’:
e.g. The results of the Stated Choice experiment were ambiguous.
Many foreign students use univocal as the opposite of ambiguous, but this word is rarely seen in English texts. Instead, unambiguous or the simpler clear should be used.
Ambivalent means being torn between two conflicting ideas: e.g. He was ambivalent about the concept of climate change.
Download free eBooks at bookboon.com
87
English Grammar For
Economics And Business Confusion Between CertainWords
Equivocal is the most negative of this group of words. It means ‘unclear in a questionable way’:
e.g. Many reviewers consider the conclusions of Bjørn Lomborg’s book TheSkeptical Environmentalist to be equivocal.
* (to) analyse (verb)/analysis (noun: singular)/analyses (verb 3rd person singular, and noun: plural) There is a tendency to confuse these words, especially the plural noun analyses which is often incorrectly used in place of the singular noun analysis. It is wrong to say: ‘The analyses was made for the period 1990–2000’, when there was only one analysis. This error may arise because the oral pronunciation of the plural noun analyses (aná-li-ses) is different from that of the singular verb analyses (ána-ly-ses).
In passing, note that in British English analyse(s) (verb) is always spelled with an ‘s’, not a ‘z’ as in American English.
* assume/presume
Although Gooden (2007: 26) sees no difference between these words, I agree with Bryson (2002) that there is a distinction.
Use assume when making a plausible assumption:
e.g. For the purposes of this model, let us assume that the population will remain stable. Assume indicates the creation of a theoretical context.
Use presume when there is more uncertainty:
e.g. As the dollar has been falling for some time, investors presume this trend will continue. Presume is more often related to direct statements about reality.
(For another example of presume, see the entry GDP/GNP in this list.)
* assure/ensure/insure
There is great uncertainty about the correct use of these three quite similar words, but each has its particular use. As a rule of thumb: assure people; ensure events; insure things – all referring to ‘making sure something happens’:
e.g. The government assured the electorate that taxes would not be increased if they were re-elected. By making a number of concessions, the government ensured the passage of the Bill through Parliament.
It is necessary to insure buildings against risk of fire.
* belief/believe
The spelling of the noun belief is often confused with that of the verb believe:
e.g. The common negative beliefs [noun] about the impact of immigration are often not reflected in empirical research.
Not many economists believe [verb] that the market economy is best to allocate the world’s resources fairly.
Download free eBooks at bookboon.com
88
English Grammar For
Economics And Business Confusion Between CertainWords
* borne/born
These two words are often mixed up. Note the difference: e.g. The cost is borne by the consumer.
The number of children born to women aged over 35 is rising.
* briefly/concisely
Non-native users of English often write ‘to describe concisely/shortly’, but ‘to describe briefly’ sounds more natural. ‘A brief summary’ is tautological, as by definition a summary is brief.4
One can say ‘a concise account’, meaning a summary of text which contains the salient points.
* choose/chose
The first is the present tense, the second is the past of the verb ‘to choose’. Do not, for instance, write, as in this sentence from a published article:
‘Therefore, even if a winery does not use its own grapes, there are some constraints on the ability to chose [should be choose] an appellation’ (JIE 50 (4): 443).
* complementary/complimentary
e.g. a complementary [i.e. related] product a complimentary [i.e. free] sample
a complimentary [i.e. a favourable] review
Bring your talent and passion to a global organization at the forefront of business, technology and innovation. Discover how great you can be.
Visit accenture.com/bookboon
Download free eBooks at bookboon.com
89 Click on the ad to read more
English Grammar For
Economics And Business Confusion Between CertainWords
* composed of/consists of/comprises
The first two of these phrases have similar meanings, but the third means ‘embraces’ and should not be followed by of.
As Bryson (2002) puts it succinctly: ‘The whole comprises the parts, but not vice versa.’ Sometimes people with EFL incorrectly write ‘exists of’ when they mean ‘consists of’.
* content/contents
Content refers to the subject of, or main theme(s) or idea(s) in, a paper or book:
e.g. Her supervisor had no criticism of the content of her dissertation, but had reservations about the English presentation.
Contents refers to the list of basic ‘ingredients’ that make up a whole book – the Preface/Acknowledgements, the chapters, sections (possibly sub-sections, and even sub-sub-sections), appendices, index, tables and figures. All these are set out on the Contents page(s) of the book.
* continual/continuous (found in Bryson, 2002)
Continual means ‘happening frequently, but with interruptions in-between’:
e.g. During October 2008 train services through the Channel Tunnel were affected by continual breakdowns.
Continuous means ‘happening without interruption’: e.g. Temperature is a continuous variable.
* criterion/criteria
The plural form criteria is often used incorrectly to mean the singular:
e.g. What is the main criterion for the success of environmental policy? [This refers to one criterion.] What are the criteria for the selection of nature conservation areas? [This refers to a number of criteria.]
Note: The same problem (i.e. mistakenly using the plural for the singular) occurs with the use of: memorandum [singular]/memoranda [plural]
phenomenon [singular]/phenomena [plural]
* dependant/dependent (found in Gooden, 2007)
Here, the confusion arises because dependant is a noun and dependent is an adjective: e.g. Parents receive special tax relief for dependants [noun].
The dependent [adjective] variables explain the independent variable.
Download free eBooks at bookboon.com
90
...
- tailieumienphi.vn
nguon tai.lieu . vn