B
BAD, BADLY
Bad is an adjective and badly is an adverb. Use the adjective bad when referring to human feeling.
Example: I felt bad. [If you said, “I felt badly,” you’d be saying that there was something wrong with your sense of touch.]
Badly is an adverb, but it is often mistakenly used as an adjective.
Incorrect: He wanted badly to go with them.
Correct: He wanted very much to go with them.
Incorrect: She felt badly after her operation.
Correct: She did not feel well after her operation.
BACK-CHANNELING
In conversation, back-channeling is a natural response that shows you understand what a person is saying by using interjections such as I see, yes, okay, and uh-huh.
BACKSLASH, SLASH
The usual slash (/) is sometimes called a forward slash. Slashes are often used to indicate directories or folders in a computer filing system. Slashes are also used in Web addresses.
Example: http://www.videologies.co
A backslash () is often used in computer programming languages and to indicate the directory structure of a computer hard drive.
BACK UP, BACKUP
When used as a verb to describe the action of backing up, back up is two words.
Example: It is important to back up your hard drive.
When used as an adjective or noun, backup is one word.
Example: I searched my collection of backup CDs in order to restore my hard drive.
BASE FORM OF A VERB
The base form of a verb is the same as the infinitive form without to.
Example: wait, speak, come, see
BASICALLY, ESSENTIALLY, TOTALLY
These words often add no additional meaning to a sentence and should be removed from your writing and speech.
B.C.
B.C. stands for before Christ. Some people use B.C.E., which stands for before the common era.
B.C. is always written in all caps with periods.
BECAUSE, SINCE, AS
Because is not to be used in place of that.
Incorrect: The reason he did not attend the company party is because he was in Chicago.
Correct: The reason he did not attend the company party is that he was in Chicago.
Better: He did not attend the company party because he was in Chicago.
Use because when referring to a reason for doing something. Use since when referring to a passage of time. Avoid using as referring to a reason for doing something. Use because instead.
Incorrect: As I forgot to get gas, my car stalled on the freeway.
Correct: Because I forgot to get gas, my car stalled on the freeway.
Correct: Since getting the new computer, I haven’t had any problems with crashes.
BEEN, GONE
Been is the past participle of the word be. Gone is the past participle of the word go. Been is used to describe a past trip; a person has traveled somewhere and returned.
Example: Jennifer has been to India four times.
Gone is used to describe a trip from which a person has not returned.
Example: Jennifer has gone to India for the month of March.
BEING THAT, BEING AS
Being that and being as are nonstandard substitutes for because.
Incorrect: Being that he was the only manager there on Saturday, everyone looked to him for answers when the network went down.
Correct: Because he was the only manager there on Saturday, everyone looked to him for answers when the network went down.
BELOW
BESIDE, BESIDES
Beside is a preposition that means close to or next to.
Example: The house is beside the river.
Example: He sat beside his girlfriend.
Besides can be a preposition that means in addition to or other than.
Example: What are you studying besides business administration?
Besides can be an adverb that means as well or furthermore.
Example: She was articulate and a strong leader. Besides, she was the owner’s daughter.
BETWEEN, AMONG
Between is used to differentiate two, and only two, objects. Among is used to differentiate more than two.
Correct: The dog was sitting between John and me.
Correct: There were three good books among the many he gave me.
BIAS, BIASED
Bias is a noun used to describe a preference toward a particular ideology.
Example: His bias toward Hispanics prevented him from making friends with his new neighbors.
Biased is a verb used to describe an action or judgment influenced by prejudice.
Example: His vote on the jury was biased by his hatred for Hispanics.
BIASED OR SEXIST LANGUAGE
Avoid language that is stereotyped or biased in respect to gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or race. Stereotypical language assumes a stereotype about a particular group of people.
Incorrect: Although he was Jewish, he wasn’t good with his finances.
Correct: He wasn’t good with his finances.
Nonsexist writing is essential for most audiences.
Incorrect: He provides a great service to mankind.
Correct: He provides a great service to humanity.
Incorrect: Landing on the moon was one of man’s greatest achievements.
Correct: Landing on the moon was one of humanity’s greatest achievements.
Incorrect: The common man doesn’t care anything about politics.
Correct: The average person doesn’t care anything about politics.
Incorrect: We need to man the ticket booth.
Correct: We need to staff the ticket booth.
Avoid the use of man when describing various occupations.
Incorrect: businessman
Correct: businessperson
Incorrect: fireman
Correct: firefighter
Incorrect: mailman
Correct: mail carrier
Incorrect: stewardess
Correct: flight attendant
Incorrect: policeman
Correct: police officer
Incorrect: male nurse
Correct: nurse
BIBLIOGRAPHY
A bibliography is a listing of books, magazines, Internet sources, and other reference materials used in writing a document. Bibliographies are located at the end of a document.
A bibliography is normally alphabetized by author’s last name. If the author’s name is unknown, alphabetize by title.
A bibliography is different from a series of footnotes. Footnotes are used to site references used in the text and are listed at the bottom of the page. See Footnotes, Endnotes.
For printed materials, a bibliography should contain the:
Author’s name.
Title of the publication or title of the magazine article.
Place of publication.
Publishing company.
Publication date.
Volume number of a magazine.
Page number(s).
Example of book: Wilson, Kevin. The AMA Handbook of Business Writing, New York: AMACOM Books, 2010: 50–51.
Example of journal article: Wilson, Kevin. “Alaskan B-24 Finds Home in Utah.” Aviation History, October 2011.
For Internet sources, a bibliography should contain the:
Author and editor names.
Title of the page.
Date of publication.
Date you viewed the page.
Web address.
Example: Wilson, Kevin. “Formatting a Bibliography.” Writing Toolkit. http://www.videologies.com/amahandbook. 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
BILLION
A billion is equal to a thousand millions (1,000,000,000). You can write the number in words or numbers:
Example: five billion dollars, $5 billion
BIWEEKLY, BIMONTHLY, SEMIWEEKLY, SEMIMONTHLY
To use these terms correctly, consider the following definitions:
Biweekly means that something occurs every two weeks.
Semiweekly means that something occurs twice in one week.
Bimonthly means that something occurs every two months.
Semimonthly means that something occurs twice in one month.
BLIND
BLOG, WEBLOG
Blog and Weblog are synonymous terms that describe Web-based journals. Blog can be both a noun and verb.
Blog as a noun refers to the Web site where the content is published.
Blog as a verb means to write articles for a blog.
BOLD FONTS
Bold fonts are often used to identify key terms or phrases when writing technical documents or manuals. Consider the following tips for using bold fonts:
Use bold fonts for emphasis to make certain words or phrases stand out.
Use bold fonts for headlines and headings in your documents.
In procedural documents, use bold fonts for warning or caution messages.
Don’t add bold to an entire paragraph of text.
Use the bold font version of the typeface rather than the bold style function (the bold button) of your software. Use the bold style function only as a last resort if there is no bold typeface for the font you are using.
BORED, BORING
Bored is an adjective that describes when someone is uninterested, unhappy, or unoccupied.
Example: He was so bored that he started reading the phone book.
Boring is an adjective that means something is not interesting or exciting.
Example: The seminar was so boring that he fell asleep.
BOTH, ALIKE
Don’t use the combination both alike.
Incorrect: The cars are both alike.
Correct: The two cars are alike. They are both the latest model.
BOTH, EACH
Both is used to describe a condition that applies to two entities. Each is used to describe a single entity.
Incorrect: There is a picture on both sides of the mantel.
Correct: There is a picture on each side of the mantel.
BRACKETS
Brackets and parentheses are sometimes used interchangeably.
Changes to Quoted Material
If you are quoting someone, but make a change to the quote for clarity, you should put your change within brackets. Consider the following:
Original quote: “Everyone knew it was about to break any day now.”
Revised quote: “Everyone knew it [the dam] was about to break any day now.”
Digressions Within Parentheses
Sometimes you will find situations where you need an extra set of parentheses nested within a previous pair.
Example: The computer’s memory (random access memory [RAM] and read only memory [ROM]) is where software is loaded.
BRAKE, BREAK
A brake as a noun means a device that slows a vehicle.
Example: I had to push hard on the brake to stop.
Break can be a noun or a verb.
Break as a verb means to damage something.
Example: He is going to break the chair.
Break as a noun means time off.
Example: I want to go outside on my break.
BRAND NAMES
Capitalize the brand names of products. Some common brand names like Kleenex, Xerox, and Band-Aid are trademarked brand names and should be capitalized. You do not need to use the symbols ® or ™ when writing brand names.
If the product is part of the brand name, then it is also capitalized.
Example: Wonder Classic White Bread
If the product is not part of the brand name, then the product is not capitalized.
Example: Listerine mouthwash
BREATH, BREATHE
Breath is a noun that describes the air passing into and out of our lungs.
Example: The yoga teacher asked us to focus on our breath.
Breathe is a verb meaning to take a breath.
Example: Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and relax.
BRING, TAKE
Bring is used to denote movement toward someone or something. Take is used to denote movement away from someone or something.
Example: Bring me the book.
Example: Take the book to him.
BRITISH ENGLISH
See American English, British English.
BULLETED LIST
Bulleted lists draw attention to important information. Consider these tips for the use of bulleted lists:
Use a numbered list for a sequence of events or ranking items in a list.
Use bullet symbols or checkmarks when the items in the list are not sequential or ranked.
Make all the entries grammatically parallel.
Do not mix clauses and sentences when creating bullet points.
If the bullet points are not complete sentences, they do not need end punctuation.
Indent subtext bullets that provide additional details about a main bullet point.
BUSHEL
Add an s when referring to more than one bushel.
Incorrect: Eight bushel of oats.
Correct: Eight bushels of oats.
BUSINESS, RIGHT
Don’t use business when you really mean right.
Incorrect: What business is it of theirs to question my action?
Correct: What right have they to question my action?
BUZZWORDS
Buzzwords are popular overused words that are common in business environments. Buzzwords are often pretentious and difficult to understand. Avoid them in your business writing.
Some buzzwords may be appropriate in the right context:
Incorrect: We need to architect a software solution.
Correct: John is the architect on the building project.
Common buzzwords to avoid are shown in Table 2.7.
Table 2.7 Common Buzzwords to Avoid
BY, BYE, BUY
By is a preposition and is commonly used in prepositional phrases.
Example: You should have learned that by now.
Bye is an abbreviated form of good-bye or a break in a sports team schedule.
Example: Because we had the best record, we got a bye for the first round of the tournament.
Buy can be both a noun and a verb. As a noun, buy means a very affordable purchase.
Example: The sweater was a great buy.
Buy as a verb means to make a purchase.
Example: I’m going to buy the sweater.
BY, UNTIL
By and until both indicate any time before, but not later than, a certain time.
Until is used to tell how long a situation continued.
Example: He lived in Austin until May 2010.
Until is often used in negative sentences.
Example: Tickets will not go on sale until January 15.
By is used when something will happen before or at a specific time. It is often used to indicate a deadline.
Example: You have to finish the project by December 31.