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In
my books, referenced below, I have written extensively about good and
bad words to use in your emails. Here is another nice list below. If you
have even ever used them, keep this list handy (as well as my book!)
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Updated November 14, 2017
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Purists may tell you that many of the words in
the list below aren't "really" words at all, but that's misleading at
best. A few of the words are simply misspellings, and the rest often appear in
people's everyday speech (or vernacular).
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Nevertheless, according to the
conventions of Standard English, all 10 words should generally
be avoided in reports, essays, research papers, and other kinds of formal writing.
- alot
Alot (one word) is a common misspelling of a lot (two
words). "[W]e all may write alot one day," says The
American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage (2005), but for now
"keep in mind that alot is still considered an error in
print."
- and etc.
Because the abbreviation etc. (from the Latin et cetera)
means "and so on," and etc. is redundant. In any case, avoid
using etc. in your essays: often it gives the impression that you
simply can't think of anything else to add to a list.
- anywheres
Huck Finn can get away with saying, "There warn't a sound
anywheres," but on formal occasions drop the terminal s. If anywheres
appears anywhere in your dictionary, it's probably labeled "nonstandard" or "dialectal."
- could of
Don't confuse this nonstandard form with the contraction could've. Could of
(along with should of and would of) can and should be
replaced by could have (and should have and would have).
As for coulda, shoulda, woulda, avoid dwelling on them—both in
writing and in life.
- hisself
This alternative form of the reflexive pronoun himself is commonly
heard in certain dialects, but in formal writing steer clear
of hisself (and theirself as well—though both were regarded
as good usage in Middle and Early-Modern English).
- furtherest
The comparative form of far is farther
or further. The superlative form is farthest or furthest.
Nothing's gained by combining the two forms.
- irregardless
This double negative (ir- at the beginning
and -less at the end) may not deserve Bryan Garner's label of
"semiliterate . . . barbarism," but he's probably right
that in print it "should have been stamped out long ago" (Garner's
Modern American Usage, 2009). Use regardless instead.
- its'
Its is a possessive pronoun (like his or her).
It's is a contraction of it is or it has. That leaves
nothing for its' to do—so toss it.
- let's us
Let's us means "let us us." To avoid the repetition,
write lets ("She lets us play in her
yard") or let's ("Let's play in her yard") or let
us ("Let us pray").
- nohow
If you have the know-how to write, you don't need to be told to avoid nohow.
Instead use in no way or not at all.54/
- +++++++++++++++++++++++
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Good Netiquette
And A Green Internet To All! =====================================================================
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In addition to
this blog, Netiquette IQ has a
website with great assets which are being added to on a regular basis. I have
authored the premiere book on Netiquette, “Netiquette IQ - A Comprehensive
Guide to Improve, Enhance and Add Power to Your Email". My new book,
“You’re Hired! Super Charge Your Email Skills in 60 Minutes. . . And Get That
Job!” has just been published and will be followed by a trilogy of books on
Netiquette for young people. You can view my profile, reviews of the book and
content excerpts at:
Anyone who
would like to review the book and have it posted on my blog or website, please
contact me paul@netiquetteiq.com.
In
addition to this blog, I maintain a radio show on BlogtalkRadio and an online newsletter via paper.li.I have established
Netiquette discussion groups with Linkedin and Yahoo. I am also a member of the
International Business Etiquette and Protocol Group and Minding Manners among
others. I regularly consult for the Gerson Lehrman Group, a worldwide network
of subject matter experts and I have been contributing to the blogs Everything Email and emailmonday . My work has appeared in numerous
publications and I have presented to groups such as The Breakfast Club of
NJ
and PSG of Mercer County
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