Bryan A. Garner

lachrymose; lacrimose. This word, meaning “tearful,” is generally spelled “lachrymose,” which is about 200 times as common as “lacrimose” in modern print sources. Both forms have ancient origins: the classical Latin term is “lacrima” (= teardrop), but the “-chry-” spelling crept into medieval Latin (“lachrymalis”). That newer spelling has long been standard — e.g.: o […]

Labour Party; Labor Party. In Great Britain, the spelling is “Labour Party”; in Australia, the spelling is “Labor Party.” How should Americans spell the name of the British party? Most newspapers Americanize the spelling, making it “Labor,” but the better practice is to spell this proper name, like any other, the way the nameholder spells

Miscellaneous Entries. intimidatable. So formed — e.g.: “Sloan was perhaps the least intimidatable player in league history.” Ray Ratto, “Nobody Sings the Blues Louder Than the Jazz,” News & Observer (Raleigh), 6 June 1997, at C1. intramural = conducted within the limits of an organization or body, esp. of an educational institution. The term is

kudos. “Kudos” (best pronounced /KYOO-dahs/ or /KYOO-dohs/, with no “-z” sound at the end) derives from the Greek word “kydos” (“glory”). A singular noun meaning “praise, glory,” it is sometimes erroneously thought to be a plural — e.g.: “Last week, he was nominated for best breakthrough performance by the Independent Spirit Awards, and more kudos

Miscellaneous Entries. intervener. Preferably so spelled — “intervenor” is an exclusively legal spelling. in the course of. This is often wordy for “during” or “while” — e.g.: “Billingsley got to know the widow Doss pretty well in the course of [read ‘during’] the investigation.” Bill Thomas, “He Can Name Tune but Can’t Find Lyrics,” Jupiter

kidnapping (2). Today: Sense. “Kidnapping” = the act or an instance of taking or carrying away a person without his or her consent, by force or fraud, and without lawful excuse. Does “kidnapping” refer only to the napping of kids? No. At common law, it was defined as the forcible abduction or stealing away of

kidnapping (1). Today: Spelling. Spell-check programs notwithstanding, the spelling with “-pp-” is preferred by convention. But the inferior spelling “kidnaping” occasionally appears. That spelling has its defenders — e.g.: “The form with a single ‘p’ is to be preferred because it is a general rule of spelling that the accent determines whether or not to

just. Like “only,” “just” must be carefully placed — e.g.: “Texas’ Danny Peoples . . . had a two-run double and just hit foul a ball that could have been a two-run, game-tying homer.” Kirk Bohls, “Dallas Baptist Assaults Texas Pitching 10-5,” Austin Am.-Statesman, 26 Apr. 1994, at E1, E6. “Just” probably modifies “foul” —

jurist. Part A: Generally. In British English, this word is reserved for one who has made outstanding contributions to legal thought and legal literature. In American English, it is loosely applied to every judge of whatever level, and sometimes even to nonscholarly practitioners who are well respected. Part B: For “juror.” This is a surprising

Miscellaneous Entries. interregnum. The plural is “interregnums” or (less good) “interregna.” interrogate is a formal word for “question”; it suggests formal or rigorous questioning. interrogatee; interrogee. Webster’s Third lists “interrogee” (= someone interrogated), not “interrogatee.” But the OED lists “interrogatee,” not “interrogee.” Since the agent noun is “interrogator,” it makes more sense to prefer the

judicial; judicious. “Judicial” = (1) of, relating to, or by the court {judicial officers}; (2) in court {judicial admissions}; (3) legal {the Attorney General took no judicial action}; or (4) of or relating to a judgment {judicial interest at the rate of 4% annually}. Sense 4, which is confined to legal contexts, is suspect because

judgment. Part A: Spelling. “Judgment” is the preferred form in American English and in British legal texts, even as far back as the 19th century. “Judgement” is prevalent in British nonlegal texts and was thought by H.W. Fowler to be the better form (Modern English Usage 1 at 310). Part B: American and British Legal

judge; justice. In American English, as a general rule, judges sitting on the highest appellate level of a jurisdiction are known as “justices.” Trial judges and appellate judges on intermediate levels are generally called “judges,” not “justices.” New York and Texas depart from these rules of thumb. In New York, “justices” sit on the trial

Miscellaneous Entries. interface, v.i., is jargonmongers’ talk — e.g.: “This man possesses the ability to interface and relate with people from all social and economic levels.” “Interface” should be left to computerese. intermezzo is pronounced /in-tuhr-MET-soh/ or /in-tuhr-MED-zoh/, but not /-MEZ-oh/. The plural is “intermezzos.” interpersonal. “What this [word] adds to ‘personal’ except five letters

jodhpur. “Jodhpur” /JOD-puhr/ derives from the city of Jodhpur, India. The word (almost invariably used in the plural) refers to a type of flared-at-the-thigh pants used in English horse-riding. Through a kind of visual metathesis, the word is often mispronounced /JOD-fuhr/. And believe it or not, this error pervades the horse-riding industry. The mispronunciation sometimes

jocular; jocose; jocund. “Jocular” (/JOK-yuh-luhr/) is the most common, but the other two aren’t quite needless variants. “Jocular” and “jocose” (/joh-KOHS/) both mean “given to joking” or “intended jokingly; humorous.” But “jocular” suggests a playful disposition {her jocular manner endeared her to others} or deliberate facetiousness {jocular remarks during the business meeting}, while “jocose” often