Spies, that is. Mental Floss has collected highlights from the (Central Intelligence Agency’s) Directorate of Intelligence Style Manual & Writer’s Guide for Intelligence Publications. Before you drop the microfiche into the third trash barrel on the west side of the park pond at 12:20 on Tuesday, double check your report for these common errors: http://mentalfloss.com/article/57743/11-grammar-lessons-leaked-cia-style-book
Category: Common Slips
Everyday usages that miss the mark
Sep 03
Don’t feel bad: you overlook typos because you’re really smart
Here’s an interesting science-based explanation of why we fail to see mistakes in our own writing. This supports the common practice of having someone with ‘fresh eyes’ proofread any important document. From Nick Stockton at wired.com.
Aug 08
The most unique
On vacation last month, I saw this tour bus. It illustrates a common problem with unique. According to Merriam-Webster, unique means sole or unequaled. A item either is unique, or it isn’t — there aren’t degrees to which an oil painting can be sole or unequaled, nor can a Halloween costume be more or less …
Apr 17
So…what?
Using ‘so’ to intensify an adjective is common in speech and informal writing (I was so tired after the exam, or we waited in line for so long this morning) but avoid it in formal or professional writing. Instead of ‘so tired,’ ‘exhausted’ or ‘beat’ might convey the same meaning in a richer way. Instead …
Feb 13
Perscription or Prescription?
When unsure how a word is spelled, the best resource, of course, is a dictionary. But without one on hand, I often ‘sound out’ the word using the phonetics I learned in grade school. Here’s where I run into trouble with prescription, because I mispronounce it! Many Americans also say the word as if the …
Jan 13
Your and You’re
David and I had dinner in Stephenville, Texas last week and saw this sign in the parking lot. Sometimes mistakes are so big that you literally must take a step back to see them! Use you’re only as a contraction of you are: you’re late for breakfast, you’re angry with Lucinda, you’re only as good …
Nov 07
But if you don’t need directions, it’s x3845.
I’ve been noticing how often writers and speakers are sloppy with the word “if.” The example I caught myself typing this week: “If you need directions, my phone number is x3844.” How silly. My extension is 3844 whether or not you need directions. If you need directions, you can call x3844. Another example: “I’ll be …