If I write “WW” in the margin of your paper or above a word, check a dictionary. If you use a thesaurus, use a dictionary too; a thesaurus gives near, but not exact, equivalents.
Frequently confused or misused words
affect and effect
- to effect = to bring about, to make happen
- an effect = a consequence
- to affect = to change, to influence
- an affect = a feeling
dependent and dependant
Dependent is an adjective. Dependant is a noun. Examples:
- Children are dependent on their parents.
- By Canadian tax law, the higher-income parent may claim child-care expenses for each dependant.
- King Lear has 100 dependent knights in his train.
- King Lear has 100 dependants until Goneril tells him to cut back his train a little.
hopefully
“Hopefully” is a widely misused adverb that should be used in academic writing only to modify a verb.
- Wrong: Hopefully, the cat will catch that elusive mouse soon.
- Right: The cat sprang hopefully at the fleeing mouse.
to realize and to recognize
to realize = to fulfil, to bring about, to make happen, to bring something to pass
to recognize = to become aware of something, to understand, to acknowledge
disinterested and uninterested
disinterested = unbiased, detached
uninterested = without curiosity
That versus Which
Style guides differ on how strict they are about the distinction between that and which, but the general rule calls for that to introduce restrictive (necessary) clauses. Save which for non-restrictive (optional, additional) clauses.
New Historicism insisted on analyzing the culture that had produced a text.
New Historicism, which was later widely critiqued for its bad historical methodologies, read texts through the lens of culture.
Janelle Jenstad 