Transcription
TheAMERICANHERITAGE»Guide toContemporaryUsage and Style
TheAMERICANHERITAGE*Guide toContemporaryUsage and StyleHOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANYBoston ' New York
Words included in this book that are known to have current trademark registrationsare shown with an initial capital and are also identified as trademarks. No investigation has been made of common-law trademark rights in any word, because suchinvestigation is impracticable. The inclusion of any word in this book is not, however, an expression of the Publisher's opinion as to whether or not it is subject to proprietary rights. Indeed, no word in this book is to be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark.American Heritage and the eagle logo are registered trademarks of Forbes Inc. Theiruse is pursuant to a license agreement with Forbes Inc.Copyright 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written permission of HoughtonMifflin Company unless such copying is expressly permitted by federal copyright law.Address inquiries to Reference Permissions, Houghton Mifflin Company, 222Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116.Visit our website: www.houghtonmifflinbooks.comLibrary of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataThe American heritage guide to contemporary usage and style,p. cm.ISBN-13: 978-0-618-60499-9ISBN-10: 0-618-60499-51. English language—Usage—Dictionaries. 2. Englishlanguage—Style—Dictionaries. 3. English language—UnitedStates—Usage—Dictionaries. 4. English language—UnitedStates—Style—Dictionaries. I. Houghton Mifflin Company.PE1464.A46 2005423M- -dc222005016513Manufactured in the United States of AmericaQUM 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ContentsEditorial and Production StaffviUsage PanelviiIntroductionxiiPronunciation KeyxviThe American Heritage Guide to Contemporary Usage and Style1
Editorial and Production StaffVice President, Publisher of DictionariesMargery S. BerubeVice President, Executive EditorJoseph P. PickettSenior EditorsSteven KleinedlerSusan SpitzEditorCatherine PrattAssociate EditorsErich Michael GroatUchenna IkonnéPatrick TaylorVice President, Managing EditorChristopher LeonesioDatabase Production SupervisorChristopher GrannissArt and Production SupervisorMargaret Anne MilesEditorial Production AssistantKatherine M. GetzAdministrative CoordinatorKevin McCarthyAssistant EditorNick DurlacherInternTracy DuffContributing EditorDavid PritchardText DesignCatherine Hawkes, Cat & Mouse
The American Heritage Dictionary Usage PanelGeoffrey Nunberg, PhD ChairResearcher, Center for the Study of Language andInformation, and Consulting Professor,Department of Linguistics, Stanford UniversityDiane AckermanPoet; authorSherman AlexiePoet; fiction writerEric AltermanHistorian; authorRoger AngellWriter; editorNatalie AngierScience journalist; recipient,Pulitzer PrizeKwame Anthony AppiahLaurance S. RockefellerUniversity Professor ofPhilosophy and the University Center for HumanValues, Princeton UniversityJames AtlasWriter; editorMargaret AtwoodWriterEdwin Newman Chair EmeritusJournalist; lecturer; authorJohn BaughProfessor of Linguistics, StanfordUniversityCarolyn BellSusan Duval Adams Professor ofEnglish, Randolph-MaconWomen's CollegeDaniel BellScholar; Henry Ford II Professorof Social Sciences Emeritus,Harvard University; Scholar inResidence, American Academy ofArts and SciencesHarold BloomSterling Professor of Humanities,Yale University; MacArthurFellowRoy Blount, Jr.Writer; Contributing Editor, TheAtlantic MonthlyKalliaH.BokserHousing ConsultantThe Hon. William W. BradleyAuthor; former US Senator fromNew Jersey; former professionalbasketball playerLeo BraudyUniversity Professor and BingProfessor of English, Universityof Southern CaliforniaRachel M. BrownsteinProfessor of English, BrooklynCollege and the Graduate Center,City University of New YorkWilliam F. Buckley, Jr.Writer; Editor-at-LargeStephen BudianskyWriterGabrielle BurtonWriterLorene CaryAuthorWalter C. Clemens, Jr.Writer; Professor of PoliticalScience, Boston University;Associate, Harvard UniversityCenter for Science andInternational AffairsKathryn H. AuDai Ho Chun Professor ofEducation, University ofHawaiiThe Hon. Julian BondFormerly Georgia state legislator;Professor, American Universityand University of Virginia; lecturer; host, public affairs television programLouis AuchinclossWriterCharles P. BorenNewspaper editor (retired)Letitia BaldrigeAuthor; lecturerMarisa BoweWriter; editor; ExecutiveProducer, SpencerStuart.comClaire Kehrwald CookEditor; author; former EditorialDirector, Modern LanguageAssociation of AmericaBarbara Taylor BradfordWriterRobin Cook, MDPhysician; writerJacques BarzunWriter; educator; author ofworks on English usagePat ConroyNovelist
The American Heritage Dictionary Usage PanelMaureen CorriganWriter; book reviewer; professorRobert W. CreamerWriter; biographer; formerSenior Editor, Sports IllustratedGene D. DahmenAttorney; past President, BostonBar AssociationLois DeBakeyWriter, lecturer, and consultant;Professor of ScientificCommunication, Baylor Collegeof MedicineAnne EdwardsBiographer; novelist; pastPresident, Authors GuildGretel EhrlichWriter; Guggenheim FellowLouise ErdrichAuthorCarolly EricksonHistorian; writerJames FallowsWriter; national correspondent,The Atlantic MonthlyFrank DefordWriter and commentatorFrances FitzGeraldWriter; recipient, Pulitzer PrizeVine Deloria, Jr.Professor of Law, ReligiousStudies, Political Science, andHistory, University of ColoradoMaria Irene FornesPlaywrightJoan DidionAuthorAnnie DillardWriter; recipient, Pulitzer PrizeMark DotyPoet; Professor, University ofHoustonRita DoveWriter; CommonwealthProfessor of English, Universityof Virginia; recipient, PulitzerPrize; Poet Laureate of theCommonwealth of VirginiaWilliam K. DurrProfessor Emeritus of Education,Michigan State University; pastPresident, International ReadingAssociationEsther DysonPresident, EDventure Holdings;Chair, Electronic FrontierFoundation; Member, USNational InformationInfrastructure Advisory CouncilFreeman J. DysonWriter; Professor of Physics,Institute for Advanced Study,Princeton, New JerseyElizabeth FrankWriter; Joseph E. HarryProfessor of Modern Languagesand Literature, Bard College;recipient, Pulitzer PrizeReuven FrankFormer President, NBC News;former television news producerIan FrazierWriterJohn Kenneth GalbraithEconomist; writer; former USAmbassador to India; Paul M.Warburg Professor Emeritus ofEconomics, Harvard UniversityCatherine GallagherEggers Professor of EnglishLiterature, University ofCalifornia, BerkeleySara GamesLinguist; Director of First YearComposition and AssociateProfessor of English, Ohio StateUniversityMichael G. GartnerLanguage columnist; formerPresident, NBC News; pastPresident, American Society ofNewspaper Editors; pastChairman, Pulitzer Prize BoardvmHenry Louis Gates, Jr.W.E.B. DuBois Professor ofHumanities; Chair, Departmentof Afro-American Studies,Harvard UniversityJ. Edward GatesLexicographer; editor; ProfessorEmeritus of English, IndianaState UniversityJames GleickAuthor; columnistPhilip GourevitchWriterFrancine du Plessix GrayWriterGeorgia M. GreenProfessor of Linguistics; writerStephen GreenblattThe Harry Levin Professor ofLiterature, Harvard UniversityLinda GregersonPoet; critic; Frederick G.L.Huetwell Professor of English,University of MichiganAlma GuillermoprietoWriter; staff writer, The NewYorkerJessica Tarahata HagedornNovelist; poetPatricia HamplWriter; Regents' Professorof English, University ofMinnesotaLiane HansenRadio correspondentRobert HassFormer US Poet LaureateThe Hon. Mark O. HatfieldFormer US Senator fromOregonWilliam Least Heat-MoonWriterMark HelprinWriter; editor; Senior Fellow,Hudson Institute
The American Heritage Dictionary Usage PanelIXOscar HijuelosAuthor; recipient, Pulitzer Prizeand Rome PrizeDouglas R. HofstadterProfessor of Cognitive Scienceand Computer Science; Director,Center for Research on Conceptsand Cognition, Indiana University; recipient, Pulitzer PrizeJenny HolzerArtist; writerGloria HornEducator and consultant;Professor of Economics, MissionCollege; member, CaliforniaState University Board ofTrustees; member, Board ofTrustees, Dominican College ofSan RafaelGarrett HongoWriter; Distinguished Professorof Arts and Sciences, Universityof OregonLaurence HornProfessor; authorFanny HowePoet; novelistSue HubbellScience and nature essayistThe Hon. Shirley M.HufstedlerAttorney; former US Secretary ofEducation; former Judge, USCourt of Appeals for the NinthCircuitMolly IvinsJournalist; columnist; authorJennifer James, PhDCultural anthropologist; writerJoyce JohnsonWriter; recipient, National BookCritics Circle AwardErica JongPoet; novelist; essayistAlfred E. KahnRobert Julius Thome ProfessorEmeritus of Economics, CornellUniversity; former EconomicAdviser to the President of theUnited StatesRoger KahnAuthor; journalistWendy KaminerWriterAlice KaplanGilbert, Louis, and EdwardLehrman Professor of RomanceStudies and Professor of Literatureand History, Duke UniversityJustin KaplanWriter; recipient, Pulitzer Prizeand National Book AwardStanley KauffmannFilm critic for The NewRepublicTrudy Kehret-WardMarketing Faculty, Haas Schoolof Business, University ofCalifornia, Berkeley; writerGarrison KeillorAuthor; radio hostElizabeth T. Kennan, PhDFormer President, MountHolyoke CollegeTracy KidderWriterJamaica KincaidAuthorFlorence KingWriter; critic and columnistBarbara KingsolverWriterMarine Hong KingstonWriter; recipient, National BookAward, National Book CriticsCircle Award, Anisfield-WolfRace Relations Award, and PENUSA West Award in FictionGalway KinnellPoet; Erich Maria RemarqueProfessor of Creative Writing,New York University; recipient,Pulitzer PrizeThe Hon. Jeremy K.B.KinsmanCanadian Ambassador to theEuropean UnionThe Hon. Jeane J. KirkpatrickDiplomat; writer; educator; former US Ambassador to theUnited NationsEd KorenCartoonist/captionist, The NewYorkerJane KramerWriter, The New Yorker; authorMarine KuminWriter; former Consultant inPoetry, Library of Congress;recipient, Pulitzer PrizeRobert KuttnerFounder, co-editor, TheAmerican Prospect; columnist,Business Week, The BostonGlobeDavid LeavittWriter; Professor of English,University of FloridaWendy LesserWriter; Editor, The ThreepennyReviewAnthony LewisColumnist, The New York TimesRobert E. LewisLexicographer; ProfessorEmeritus of English, Universityof Michigan; Editor in Chief,Middle English DictionarySara Lawrence LightfootEmily Hargroves Fisher Professorof Education, HarvardUniversityPhillip LopateWriter; Professor of English,Hofstra UniversityLoisLowryAuthor
The American Heritage Dictionary Usage PanelClaudine B. MaloneThomas M.T. NilesManagement consultant; former President, United States CouncilAssociate Professor, Harvardfor International BusinessBusiness SchoolMarsha NormanPlaywrightRobert ManningWriter; editor; former Editor inMary OliverChief, The Atlantic MonthlyPoet; essayistGreil MarcusCynthia OzickHistorian; essayist; criticNovelist; essayist; member,American Academy of Arts andSuzanne R. MassieWriter; lecturer on Russian his- Letterstory and culture; Fellow,Margaret Sayers PedenHarvard Russian ResearchTranslatorCenterIvars PetersonArmistead MaupinMathematics/Physics Editor,AuthorScience NewsAlice E. MayhewSteven PinkerEditorial Director, Simon &Johnstone Family Professor ofSchusterPsychology, Harvard University;xWilliam James RaspberryUrban affairs columnist andbroadcast commentator; KnightProfessor for the Practice ofJournalism, Duke University;recipient, Pulitzer PrizeRobert ReichProfessor; former US Secretary ofLabor; author; politicaleconomistRichard RhodesAuthor; recipient, National BookCritics Circle Award, NationalBook Award, Pulitzer Prize,MacArthur Foundation GrantFrank RichWriter and critic, The New YorkTimesJohn RickfordMartin Luther King, Jr.Centennial Professor ofLinguistics, Stanford UniversitywriterThe Hon. Eugene McCarthyWriter; poet; lecturer; former US Robert PinskyRichard RodriguezSenator from MinnesotaPoet; translator; former US PoetWriterLaureate; Professor of English,Terrence McNallyBoston UniversityEdward W. RosenheimPlaywrightEditor; writer; Professor ofRobert S. PirieLeonard MichaelsEnglish Emeritus, University ofProfessor of English, University President and Chief ExecutiveChicagoOfficer, Rothschild Inc.of California, BerkeleyJudith RossnerKathaPollittHassan Minor, Jr.NovelistSenior Vice President, Howard Writer; Contributing Editor, TheRobert J. SamuelsonNationUniversityColumnist, The WashingtonAlvin F. Poussaint, MDPost, NewsweekLorrie MooreProfessor of Psychiatry, HarvardWriter; Professor of English,John SaylesMedicalSchoolUniversity of WisconsinFilm director; writer; screenLeah Pricewriter; actorLance MorrowProfessor of English, HarvardEssayist, Time; UniversityAntonin ScaliaUniversityProfessor, Boston UniversitySupreme Court JusticeEllen F. PrinceBharati MukherjeeArthurM. Schlesinger, Jr.Professor of Linguistics,Professor; writer; recipient,Writer;historian; educator; forUniversity of PennsylvaniaNational Book Critics Circlemer Special Assistant to theAwardFranchie ProsePresident of the United States;Writerrecipient, Pulitzer PrizeAlice MunroAuthorE. Annie ProulxLloyd SchwartzNovelistProfessor; poet; music criticCullen MurphyDavid SedarisManaging Editor, The Atlantic Jane Bryant QuinnWriter and humoristMonthlyJournalist;financialcolumnist
The American Heritage DictionaryXIUsage PanelJohn Edgar WidemanNovelist; Professor ofEnglish/Africana Studies, BrownUniversityHarvey ShapiroPoet; editorAnne TylerNovelist; recipient, Pulitzer PrizeElaine ShowalterProfessor of English, PrincetonUniversityThe Hon. Stewart L. UdallWriter; Chairman of the Board,The Archaeological Conservancy,Santa Fe, New Mexico; formerUS Secretary of the Interior andUS Representative from ArizonaTobias WolffWriter; W
tion has been made of common-law trademark rights in any word, because such investigation is impracticable. The inclusion of any word in this book is not, howev er, an expression of the Publisher's opinion as to whether or not it is subject to pro prietary rights. Indeed, no word in this book is to be regarded as affecting the valid ity of any trademark. American Heritage and the eagle .
