BETWEEN YOU AND I #3

                        bad

a little book of ^ english

James Cochran 

Many usage mistakes in English are not "lost causes", but could be corrected to polish our writing and conversation. Some examples:

1. RETICENT - Since reticent means "disinclined to speak freely; reserved", there is no need to say "reticent to talk about". A better phrase would be "reluctant to talk about".

2. SAFE HAVEN - A haven is by definition a safe place for a ship, or person, to shelter in. The adjective "safe" is redundant.

3. STILL CONTINUES - No meaning is lost if you simply say "continues".

 

4. ON-GOING SITUATION -  If a situation is not on-going, it's not a situation anymore.

5. REFUTE - To refute is to disprove by argument or by the production of evidence. It is not simply to deny. When someone is accused of something and immediately "refutes" the charges, what he is really doing is "denying" them.

 

6. TANDEM - People, animals, or things in tandem are one in front of the other, not side by side. A couple may jointly pedal a tandem bicycle. The phrase does not mean simply "jointly" or "together." A pair of oxen are yoked together, but they are not in tandem.