Topical Topical Guide

This week I clarified the difference between affect and effect. I have always had trouble with these words and their definitions in my writing, to the point that I do my best to avoid them. Affect is a verb that means to influence or to pretend to have. Effect is almost always a noun that means result or impact. If I need to use one or the other I use “influence” or “result” to determine which word I should use.

“Can I go to the restroom?”

“I don’t know can you?”

As a reminder for every teacher that has made their students correct themselves, ‘can’ denotes ability and ‘may’ denotes the possibility and permission.

I learned that everybody is wrong when it comes to the word collision. Contact between two moving bodies is a collision, while an accident is between a moving car and a stationary object. A boat collides with a frigate. It was an accident when the car hit the telephone pole.

Did you know there are two different spelling and meanings for discrete? Discreet means prudent or careful, especially about keeping confidences. Discrete means distinct or separate.

I personally hate the exclamation point and think it is overused. It is used to indicate strong emotion and surprise. The exclamation point always goes inside of quotation marks and should not be used outside direct quotations.

Editing Error

Last week I an AP style book quiz in Professor Denniston’s class. One of the questions was, “What is AP style for the world children?” It was supposed to say word, not world.