our new mission
Sunday 07 March 2010
We have a new mission: to save the world's media from
embarrassment.
We want to teach the world some basic science, one word or phrase at a time.
Let's start with carbon dioxide. The chemical formula is CO2. First note that CO2 is the chemical formula, not the abbreviation (that would be CD, wouldn't it?).
So, it's capital C (the chemical symbol for carbon, an element), capital O (the chemical symbol for oxygen, another element), not a zero, then a subscript 2 to indicate that there are two atoms of oxygen in the molecule. The digit should always be subscript, not on the line and never superscript.
To make this clear, the following are all wrong: CO2, C02 and CO2.
We want to teach the world some basic science, one word or phrase at a time.
Let's start with carbon dioxide. The chemical formula is CO2. First note that CO2 is the chemical formula, not the abbreviation (that would be CD, wouldn't it?).
So, it's capital C (the chemical symbol for carbon, an element), capital O (the chemical symbol for oxygen, another element), not a zero, then a subscript 2 to indicate that there are two atoms of oxygen in the molecule. The digit should always be subscript, not on the line and never superscript.
To make this clear, the following are all wrong: CO2, C02 and CO2.
reticent
Thursday 04 March 2010
Reticent is often used when reluctant or
hesitant would be more appropriate.
Reticent means taciturn or uncommunicative:
He was reticent about his wartime experiences.
You can't be reticent to do something:
They were reticent to agree.
would be better phrased as
They were reluctant to agree.
Reticent means taciturn or uncommunicative:
He was reticent about his wartime experiences.
You can't be reticent to do something:
They were reticent to agree.
would be better phrased as
They were reluctant to agree.
affect and effect
Sunday 28 February 2010
By special request from one of our clients...
This is a tricky one as both affect and effect can be used both as a noun and as a verb. Usually, however, if a verb is being used then affect is correct and if a noun is being used effect is correct.
Affect
As a verb, affect means to influence or to adopt a pose or manner.
The outcome of treatment is affected by patients' degree of compliance.
The girl affected a couldn't care less attitude.
As a noun affect means an emotional state. It is rarely encountered outside the realm of psychiatry. So, most people are unlikely ever to use affect as a noun; however, you may well come across it in medical titles.
Effect
We don't think anyone is likely to have difficulty in comprehending the usual meaning of effect: something brought about; a result.
The effect of treatment was an improvement in patients' quality of life.
But effect may also be used as a verb, meaning to cause to happen.
The drugs effected a significant improvement in patients' quality of life.
This is a tricky one as both affect and effect can be used both as a noun and as a verb. Usually, however, if a verb is being used then affect is correct and if a noun is being used effect is correct.
Affect
As a verb, affect means to influence or to adopt a pose or manner.
The outcome of treatment is affected by patients' degree of compliance.
The girl affected a couldn't care less attitude.
As a noun affect means an emotional state. It is rarely encountered outside the realm of psychiatry. So, most people are unlikely ever to use affect as a noun; however, you may well come across it in medical titles.
Effect
We don't think anyone is likely to have difficulty in comprehending the usual meaning of effect: something brought about; a result.
The effect of treatment was an improvement in patients' quality of life.
But effect may also be used as a verb, meaning to cause to happen.
The drugs effected a significant improvement in patients' quality of life.
benefactor vs. beneficiary
Tuesday 23 February 2010
A
benefactor
provides
largesse and a beneficiary
is
the recipient of it.
phth
Saturday 20 February 2010
The above combination of letters is very common in
scientific terminology. More often than not one of the
consonants is missing, so always, always check. For
example
ophthalmology
diphtheria (caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
phenolphthalein
naphthalene
Other combinations, e.g. chth, are possible.
ichthyology
ophthalmology
diphtheria (caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae)
phenolphthalein
naphthalene
Other combinations, e.g. chth, are possible.
ichthyology