Glossary of Usage: C
G1: write the rule. Do not just write "G" or "Glossary of usage" in your corrections. Find the appropriate section in the alphabetized list below, read it, write the rule (or a short version of the rule), and correct the error.
cannot: never spelled as two words in modern standard usage.
caring: in formal usage, words like kind and compassionate are preferable.
cause, because: cause is a verb or a noun, but never a conjunction.
WRONG: I ate it cause I was hungry.
RIGHT: I ate it because I was hungry.
center around: overused and illogical. How can a center be around something?
cliché: always a noun. Never spelled with a d at the end. Use adjectives like trite and hackneyed.
WRONG: The movie was so cliché.
RIGHT: The movie was trite.
WRONG: Every line was a clichéd phrase.
RIGHT: Every line was a cliché.
climactic, climatic: the former derives from climax ("climactic scenes"), the latter from climate ("climatic conditions").
comedic: a needless inflation of comic, which means "of or resembling a comedy."
complement, compliment: a compliment is a flattering remark. As verbs, complement means "to complete or go with," and compliment means "to pay a compliment to." "Her shoes complemented her outfit." "I complimented her on her good taste in clothes."
(in) conclusion: a vague, overused transitional phrase, and often a dangling modifier. Avoid it.
conscience, conscious, consciousness: only conscious is an adjective.
NOUN: My conscience would not let me cheat.
NOUN: The boxer slowly regained consciousness.
ADJECTIVE: I am not conscious of having said anything to offend him.
contact: a noun. Avoid using contact as a verb.
WRONG: Reporters contacted the star's agent.
continual, continuous: the former means "repeated" ("journalists face continual deadlines"); the latter, "uninterrupted" ("CNN's continuous news broadcast").
contrast: an important word for analytical writing. Learn its proper idiomatic usage.
WRONG: The hare contrasts the tortoise.
RIGHT: The hare contrasts with the tortoise.
RIGHT: Aesop contrasts the hare with the tortoise.
Avoid the clumsy word contrastingly.
costumer, customer: the first makes costumes for actors; the second shops.
council, counsel: the first (never a verb) is a group that advises or governs ("the city council"). The second is a verb meaning "advise" ("my mentor counseled me well") or a noun meaning "advice" ("offered wise counsel") or "lawyer" ("court-appointed counsel"). "Councils offer counsel." "Counselors counsel students."
(a) couple: not an adjective; it must be followed by of. It means "two," not "several." Avoid using it at all; it is a dead metaphor for "a pair."