Apostrophes Revisited by Angela Caldin
Emily Smart, Copywriter Extraordinaire I must start by saying that, when it comes to copywriting, my fellow blogger, Emily, is a brilliant exponent of the craft. She can turn out an excellent piece of writing at the drop of a hat in whatever style, tone or genre that you wish. She can be funny, serious, concise, detailed, evocative or plain down to earth – whatever best suits the task in hand. If you want a copywriter who can write accurately to a brief and deliver the goods to a deadline, then Emily’s… Read More
Angela’s ABCs – Words Easily Confused: Allusion and Illusion
The noun allusion means an indirect mention or passing reference to a person, event, or thing: • The article made an allusion to the actor’s criminal past which annoyed him intensely. • The book contained many allusions to the plays of Shakespeare which the majority of the children did not understand. The noun illusion means a false or erroneous perception, impression or conception. People can have an illusion, as well as create an illusion, in which case, they may either be creating art or attempting to deceive others: • They are under… Read More
Angela’s ABCs: Dependent and Dependant by Angela Caldin
One letter makes all the difference There is often confusion over the words dependent and dependant. Dependant is a noun: A dependant is a person, often a child or a partner, who is supported by someone else; a person who relies on another, especially a family member, for financial support. Examples: All Palace staff and their dependants must be ready to leave when the revolution comes. He has eight dependants of varying ages from his three marriages. Dependent is an adjective: Dependent means contingent on, relying on, supported by, addicted to, and… Read More
Angela’s ABCs: Words easily confused – whose and who’s
This is quite a tricky pair and I always have to think carefully before I can plump for the right one. If you make a mistake, it’s not one that the grammar check will always pick up. Whose is the possessive form of who. It means ‘belonging to whom or which’. Whose usually sits before a noun. Examples The teacher kept the class behind until she found out whose mobile phone was ringing. Whose book is this? My son knows the girl whose handbag was stolen. Who’s is short for (a contraction… Read More
Angela’s ABCs – Principal or Principle?
Words easily confused: principal and principle. I made a mistake with these two the other day, as my husband gleefully pointed out, telling me that: Principal is an adjective meaning ‘most important’ or ‘main’, or a noun designating ‘the main or chief one’. So, the main sum of money on which interest is calculated is called the principal, and the chief person or head teacher in a school is the principal. Principle can never be an adjective. It is a noun only, referring to a fundamental law or concept, or to a code of conduct, often used in the… Read More
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