Bryan A. Garner

transpire. The traditionally correct meaning of this word is “to pass through a surface; come to light; become known by degrees.” But that sense is now beyond redemption, though writers should be aware of it. Today, of course, the popular use of “transpire” is as a formal word equivalent to “happen,” “occur,” or “take place.” …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: transpire. Read More »

transparency. During the accounting scandals of 2001, when elaborate financial arrangements of major corporations were exposed as frauds on their stockholders, “transparency” became a vogue word for no-nonsense openness with information — e.g.: “‘Transparency in financial reporting, both to investors and internally, would make a big difference,’ [Michael] Synk added.” Mark Watson, “Seminar Will Look …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: transparency. Read More »

transgender; transgendered. The precise meaning of this new term (dating only to the mid-1970s) is hard to pin down, but it’s most commonly used as a broad adjective describing people whose self-identity does not match the sex they were labeled with at birth — e.g.: “[Dr. Norman] Spack subjects his patients to a lengthy evaluation …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: transgender; transgendered. Read More »

Miscellaneous Entries. total, vb., makes “totaled” and “totaling” in American English, “totalled” and “totalling” in British English. to the effect that is often verbose for “that.” totting up (= adding up, calculating) is sometimes incorrectly made *”toting up” (which means “carrying up”) — e.g.: “Toting [read ‘Totting’] up a lifetime of 35 campaigns, in primaries …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: Miscellaneous Entries. Read More »

toward. “Toward” implies movement. It shouldn’t be used when the sentence would be served by “to” or “against” — e.g.: o “The parks and recreation department has no objections toward [read ‘to’] selling the West Suffield School.” Rubaina Azhar, “Suffield Holds Off on Sales,” Hartford Courant, 14 Mar. 1997, at B1. o “Perhaps he should …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: toward. Read More »

tortuous; torturous; tortious. “Tortuous” (/TOR-choo-uhs/) = full of twists and turns {a tortuous path through the woods}. “Torturous” (/TOR-chuhr-uhs/) = of, characterized by, or pertaining to torture {torturous abuse}. “Tortious” (/TOR-shuhs/) = (1) of or relating to a civil wrong (i.e., a tort) for which a person can sue {tortious liability}; or (2) constituting a …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: tortuous; torturous; tortious. Read More »

too. Part A: Beginning Sentences with. It is poor style to begin a sentence with “too” (= also), although there is a tendency in facile journalism to use the word this way. Instead of *”Too, we shouldn’t forget,” write “Also, we shouldn’t forget” or, better, “And we shouldn’t forget.” Words such as “moreover,” “further,” and …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: too. Read More »

Miscellaneous Entries. tolerance; toleration. The former is the quality, the latter the act or practice. tome refers not to any book, but only to one that is imposingly or forbiddingly large. tornadic (= of or relating to a tornado or tornadoes) is often a pomposity because “tornado” generally serves as its own adjective {tornado activity}. …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: Miscellaneous Entries. Read More »

Titular Tomfoolery. Nowadays almost any appositive is likely to be treated as if it were a title. This trend is primarily the fault of newspapers and magazines, which create descriptive titles for people on the fly. So instead of “Timothy McVeigh, the convicted bomber,” journalists want to say “convicted bomber Timothy McVeigh.” Worse yet, some …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: Titular Tomfoolery. Read More »

tithe. “Tithe” (= a donation of 10% of one’s income to support charitable or religious activities) derives from Middle and Old English words for “tenth.” That percentage is commonly understood — e.g.: “After her conversion, it took her three years to start giving the 10 percent, or tithe. Now she would never consider not giving …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: tithe. Read More »

tipster; tipper. tipster; tipper. Both mean “a person who gives a critical piece of information (i.e., a ‘tip’).” “Tipster” often refers to one who gives tips to police in criminal investigations or sells tips relating to speculative or gambling subjects {an anonymous tipster called the police and implicated Mr. Kryder}. “Tipper” shares with “tipster” the …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: tipster; tipper. tipster; tipper. Read More »

Miscellaneous Entries. tinsel, vb., makes “tinseled” and “tinseling” in American English, “tinselled” and “tinselling” in British English. tintinnabulum (= a small tinkling bell) forms the plural “tintinnabula.” The corresponding adjective, “tintinnabulary,” is more common than the noun; it means “of or relating to bells or their sounds.” E.g.: “Tunes like ‘The Ukrainian Bell Carol’ and …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: Miscellaneous Entries. Read More »

timpani. Part A: Spelling Dilemma: “timpani” vs. *”tympani.” In modern print sources, the spelling “timpani” is more common than *”tympani” by a 5-to-1 ratio. The latter ought to be rejected as a variant spelling (though the medical term for “eardrum” is “tympanic membrane,” so spelled). Of course, British English writers solve the problem by using …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: timpani. Read More »

*time period. “Time period” is a common redundancy. The word “period” is almost always sufficient — e.g.: o “And the average low drops from 70 to 62 for the same time period [read ‘period’].” Bill Bair, “September a Wet Month, but It Wasn’t a Soggy One,” Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.), 1 Oct. 1996, at B3. o …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: *time period. Read More »

till; until. “Till” is, like “until,” a bona fide preposition and conjunction. Though less formal than “until,” “till” is neither colloquial nor substandard. As Anthony Burgess put it, “In nonpoetic English we use ’till’ and ‘until’ indifferently.” A Mouthful of Air 158 (1992). It’s especially common in British English — e.g.: “He works from dawn …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: till; until. Read More »

Miscellaneous Entries. timorous; temerarious. These similar-sounding words are antonyms. “Timorous” (/TiM-uh-ruhs/) = timid; fearful. Temerarious (tem-uh-RAIR-ee-uhs/) = foolhardily daring; rash and reckless. tine (= a prong on a fork, pitchfork, or antlers) is the standard spelling. *”Tyne” is a variant. tinge, vb., makes the present participle “tingeing.” tinker’s damn (= something valueless) is the standard …

Garner’s Usage Tip of the Day: Miscellaneous Entries. Read More »