经常被误用的单词和表达方式（A 到 C）
Highlights from Chapter 4 <<The Elements of Style>> by Strunk and White
1. Aggravate: “to add to” an already troublesome or vexing matter or condition;
Irritate: “to vex” or “to annoy” or “to chafe.”
2. Allude: suggest or call attention to indirectly; hint at.
Elude: evade or escape from (a danger, enemy, or pursuer), typically in a skillful or cunning way.
3. Alternate: every other one in a series;
Alternative: one of two possibilities.
Example: As the flooded road left them no alternative, they took the alternate route.
4. Among / Between: When more than two things or persons are involved, among is usually called for. When however, more than two are involved but each is considered individually, between is preferred: “an agreement between the six heirs.”
5. Anybody: any person;
Any body: any corpse, any human form, any group.
6. Anyone: anybody;
Any one: any single person, any single thing.
7. As to whether -> whether
8. As yet -> yet
Exception:
Yet (or despite everything) he has not succeeded.
As yet (or so far) he has not succeeded.
9. Being:
Not appropriate after “regard . . . as.”
Ex: He is regarded as being the best dancer in the club.
Correction: He is regarded as the best
dancer in the c1ub.
10. But:
Unnecessary after doubt and help.
Ex: He could not help but see that
Correction: He could not help seeing that
11. Can:
Means “am (is, are) able.
Not to be used as a substitute for may.
12. Case:
Often unnecessary.
Ex: In many cases, the rooms lacked air conditioning.
Correction: Many of the rooms lacked air conditioning.
13. Certainly:
Used indiscriminately by some speakers, much as others use “very”, in an attempt to intensify any and every statement.
14. Claim (verb):
With object-noun, means “lay claim to.” May be used with a dependent clause if this sense is clearly involved : “She claimed that he was the sale heir.”
Not to be used as a substitute for declare, maintain, or charge.
No: He claimed he knew how.
Yes: He declared he knew how.
15. To compare to: to point out or imply resemblances between objects regarded as essentially of a different order;
to compare with: to point out differences between objects regarded as essentially of the same order.
16. Comprise: A zoo comprises mammals, reptiles, and birds (because it “embraces,” or includes them). But animals do not comprise (“embrace”) a zoo-they constitute a zoo.
17. Consider:
1) Not followed by “as” when it means “believe to be.”
No: I consider him as competent.
Yes: I consider him competent.
2) When “considered” means “examined” or “discussed,” it is followed by “as”:
Ex: The lecturer considered Eisenhower first as soldier and second as administrator.
18. Contact: As a transitive verb, the word is vague and self-important.
Do not “contact” people; get in touch with them, or look them up, or phone them, or find them, or meet them.
19. Cope:
An intransitive verb used with “with”. In formal writing, one doesn’t “cope,” one “copes with” something or somebody.
No: I knew they’d cope.
Yes: I knew they would cope with the situation.
20. Currently:
In the sense of “now” with a verb in the present tense, “currently” is usually redundant; emphasis is better achieved through a more precise reference to time.
No: We are currently reviewing your application.
Yes: We are at this moment reviewing your application.