Writing & Grammar: More Confusing Words

by Jennie Ruby  

Because the results of last week's challenge were so revealing (see below), I bring you a similar challenge this week. Choose the correct word in these examples--discussion to follow.

1. He lead/led the charge into the superstore for the one-day sales event.
2. The biennial/biannual event last occurred in 2010.
3. You may have to wait a while/awhile to see these prices again.
4. I remember playing the first version of that classic/classical game back when I was 12.
5. The boyscout enjoyed his celebrity/notoriety after saving the little dog from the stream.
6. When the bully who had threatened the boy gave his congratulations, butter wouldn't/would melt....
7. Can you ensure/assure that the dog does not run away again?
8. I am so anxious/eager to hear about the ceremony that I can hardly wait.
9. She slept fitfully/soundly knowing that the puppy was safe.
10. Here is the last/latest news on the price decrease.

As always, send your answers straight to me.

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Results From Last Week's Challenge

In the aftermath of the election, one clear winner was statistics. One statistician came pretty close to correctly calling every race. So to join the statisticians, I analyzed the results of last week's challenge with a spreadsheet in addition to a dictionary and grammar book. Here are the answers, brought to you by our only 100% correct respondent this week, Ginny Supranowitz:

1. We had less/fewer trick-or-treaters this year than we expected.
2. We have a lot of leftover candy like/such as Milk Duds and Smarties.
3. The trick-or-treater's mother complemented/complimented us on our fall decorations.
4. A lot of voters seem disinterested/uninterested in the election.
5. Many have become weary/wary of all the automated phone calls.
6. We really should be more weary/wary about clicking links in junk email.
7. The weather reporter emphasized the enormity/enormousness of Sandy.
8. The reporter implied/inferred that she would rather not be standing so close to the waves.
9. I implied/inferred from what she said that she was soaking wet.
10. The storm reached further/farther inland than most hurricanes.
11. That storm was certainly not an every day/everyday occurrence.
12. I'm glad my pajamas are not inflammable/flammable. [Inflammable and flammable are synonyms.]
13. We wondered if/whether/weather our cousins in New Jersey had power
14. We are glad to have survived this historic/historical storm.
15. A cyclone is when/occurs when a circular wind pattern develops over the ocean.

And here are your results, statistically speaking: 

Correct Answer	Percent of respondents who missed it
Fewer	0%
Complimented	0%
Weary	0%
Wary	0%
Historic	0%
Occurs when	0%
such as	7%
Inferred	11%
Everyday	15%
Implied	19%
Farther	19%
Uninterested	41%
whether	48%
Enormousness	56%
Flammable	93%

Now, before we declare flammable the most difficult word in English, I have to admit that the flammable/inflammable item was a trick question. I counted it correct only if you noted that both words actually mean the same thing! Only one respondent, Ginny Supranowitz, picked up on that detail.

As for enormousness/enormity, even the dictionary is conflicted over this one. Its discussion distances itself from those who insist on making the distinction between size (enormousness) and moral/emotional judgment (enormity); nevertheless, all of the synonyms for enormity have the moral or social outrage component: atrocity, badness, depravedness, evilness, heinousness, hideousness, monstrosity, vileness, wickedness. By contrast, here are some of Webster's synonyms for enormousness: colossal, elephantine, huge, gargantuan, giant, immense, jumbo, leviathan, mammoth, massive...you get the idea. For those who want a loophole: Meaning number 3 of enormity isimmensity. But with all of the connotations of enormitypointing to moral outrage, if you just mean large, this word is not precise. Jing Ping Fan pointed out, however, that if you did mean that the hurricane filled you with horror over itsmonstrous size, then maybe there is enough emotional/moral valence to tip your description over into enormity.

Here are some details about the other answers frequently missed:

• Use whether for choosing between or among alternatives, if for setting up a condition.
• Uninterested = bored; disinterested means you don't have a financial interest riding on the outcome.
• Farther is for distance; further is for other meanings such as deeper.
• The person who says the words that carry the additional meaning does the implying. The person who hears the words or sees a behavior and derives meaning from that is the one who is inferring something.
• Everyday is an adjective that describes a noun: an everyday occurrence. Every day is an adverbial phrase indicating when the action of the sentence takes place: we see this every day.
• Such as means the items you are naming are actual examples in the group; like means you are saying that your items are like these, but do not necessarily include these. In the example in the challenge, such as means that Milk Duds and Smarties are actually in my leftover Halloween bowl. Like would have meant that I had candy similar to those brands, but that I did not necessarily have those exact brands.

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