LawProse Lessons

stigma. Part A: Plural. “Stigma” (/STiG-muh/) can be pluralized in two ways: “stigmas” and “stigmata” (/stig-MAH-tuh/). The English plural (“-mas”) is preferable in most contexts. But “stigmata” carries the specialized sense “bodily marks resembling the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ.” In this sense the word is sometimes pronounced /STiG-muh-tuh/, after the Greek and Latin. Part […]

Miscellaneous Entries. stick with; stick to. Both phrases are acceptable in figurative senses {stick with it!} {stick to it!}. “Stick with” predominates in American English, “stick to” in British English. stiletto. The plural is “stilettos.” still life. Although the usual plural of “life” is “lives,” the phrase “still life” makes the plural “still lifes.” stock;

stick / stuck / stuck. So inflected. The exception occurs in hockey and other sports, in which “sticked” (= [1] hit with a stick, or [2] having used a stick) is ubiquitous — e.g.: o “No one has pogo-sticked farther.” John Walters, “The Question Is Why?” Sports Illustrated, 2 Nov. 1998, at 16. o “Lightning

staunch; stanch. "Staunch" is preferable as the adjective ("trustworthy, loyal"), "stanch" as the verb ("to restrain the flow of [usu. blood]"). But in practice the adjective is sometimes undesirably used as a verb — e.g.: o "Until now, his most notable move was staunching [read 'stanching'] the flow of red ink by closing New York

statutory; *statutorial. "Statutory" = (1) of or relating to legislation {statutory construction}; or (2) legislatively created {the law of patents is purely statutory}. *"Statutorial" is a needless variant not recognized in the dictionaries. But it sometimes appears in print — e.g.: "Now if you think this statutorial [read 'statutory'] change is something that would cause

statistic. "Statistic" (= a single term or datum in a statistical compilation) is a back-formation from "statistics" dating from the late 19th century. Today its correctness is beyond challenge. E.g.: o "This statistic is a dramatic turnaround from surveys done as recently as five years ago." Vince Vawter, "Snapshot Shows City Growing in Multiple Ways,"

Miscellaneous Entries. statutory rape (= sexual intercourse with a female below the age of consent, regardless of whether it occurs against her will) is an Americanism that originated in the 19th century. Originally, statutory-rape laws applied only to female victims, but today the great majority of American states have sex-neutral legislation dealing with this offense.

stated otherwise. "Stated otherwise," when used at the very beginning of a sentence, is a pompous version of "in other words." E.g.: "Stated otherwise [read 'In other words'], while conservatives contend UDI by Quebec after a victorious Yes vote would be revolutionary and seditious, pragmatists claim Ottawa's refusal to heed the clearly expressed wishes of

Standard English (3). Today: Sociolinguistics. Although some linguists are fond of saying that a standard language is preferred not for any linguistic reason but merely for social reasons, the social factors that affect language users can’t readily be — and shouldn’t be — divorced from linguistics. That is one of the tenets underlying the field

Standard English (2). Today: Social Disapproval. Throughout the 20th century, commentators noted (sometimes in strong terms) the social disapproval that attaches to nonstandard English. Mostly this is put in negative terms. If you don’t speak Standard English, you’re at a social and professional disadvantage — e.g.: o “The intelligent people of America use reasonably pure

Standard English (1). Today: What Is It? This is a troublesome term: we all think we know what it is, but a definition proves elusive. Broadly speaking, it is the English used by educated people. Some Britons contend that it is the English used by educated Britons, and that whatever is used by educated people

Miscellaneous Entries. statistics = (1) the mathematics of collecting and analyzing numerical data; or (2) numerical data. Sense 1 is singular {statistics is an exacting discipline}. Sense 2 is plural {the statistics aren’t yet in}. status (/STAT-uhs/ or /STAY-tuhs/) forms the plural "statuses" (or, in Latin, "status"), not *"stati." status quo; status quo ante; *status

stalactite; stalagmite. They're both deposits of calcium carbonate found in caves and caverns. The difference is that a "stalactite" hangs from the ceiling, while a "stalagmite" rises from the floor. Writers sometimes fall into error by using "stalagmite" for "stalactite" — e.g.: "The Dripstone Trail Tour is a leisurely hour-plus trek known for delicate sodastraw

squash; quash, vb. "Squash" (= to flatten or soften [something] by forceful crushing or squeezing) is not a substitute for "quash" (= to overturn or make legally invalid; to suppress, as a rebellion). Many writers err on this point — e.g.: o "The Alabama story ends for the moment with criminal indictments, and with Windom

stadium. Although several dictionaries seem to prefer *"stadia" as the plural, "stadiums" is the more natural and the more usual form. "Stadiums" is also 30 times as common — e.g.: o "Dozens of stadiums have sprouted up all over the country in recent years." Lisa Respers, "Funds Sought for Stadium in Aberdeen," Baltimore Sun, 28