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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><SPAN class=478270916-15022008>Those
of you who do a lot of writing might want to sign up to receive Deb Seltzer's
weekly language usage tips (see example below). Deb
is </SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2><FONT color=#000000>Director
of Research Development<SPAN class=478270916-15022008> of the</SPAN> Center
for Research on Health Care <SPAN class=478270916-15022008>and
</SPAN>Associate Director<SPAN class=478270916-15022008> of
the</SPAN> RAND-University of Pittsburgh Health Institute</FONT><SPAN
class=478270916-15022008><FONT color=#000000>. More importantly, she is a
terrific writer<SPAN class=452401616-15022008>. The topics generally cover
examples of incorrect word usage she has uncovered while editing proposals so
they are highly relevant, and she is happy to take suggestions for future
subjects to address</SPAN>. If you want to be added to <SPAN
class=452401616-15022008>the </SPAN></FONT><FONT color=#000000>distribution
list, email Deb at <A
href="mailto:seltzer+@pitt.edu">seltzer+@pitt.edu</A>.</SPAN><BR><SPAN
class=478270916-15022008>Best,</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000000 size=2><SPAN
class=478270916-15022008>Ora</SPAN></FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Deborah Seltzer
[mailto:seltzer+@pitt.edu] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, January 31, 2008 4:24
PM<BR><B>Subject:</B> Weekly Language Usage tips<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>A number of
us have been working on a grant proposal the last few weeks (going to the Office
of Research for electronic submission this afternoon), and, in many ways, the
grant proposal was inspiring. After all, that proposal inspired me to write
today's tips. (And the grant proposal is the reason for this email being sent so
late in the day>)<BR><BR><B>Tip 1</B> What word to use: assure, ensure, or
insure:<BR><BR><B>Assure</B>: you can assure a person--not a thing
<BR><BR>Example: I assure you, I will come to Point Brugge
tonight.CORRECT<BR><X-TAB> </X-TAB>
I will assure that a table is available. WRONG
(although it IS true that there are hardly ever tables readily available
there)<BR><BR><B>Ensure</B>: use in sense of 'make sure' something or
someone<BR><BR>Example: I will ensure that all the ducks are in a
row.<BR><BR><B>Insure</B>: pretty much interchangeable with ensure but not
preferred in formal writing; usually used when talking about insurance (life,
car, health, etc.)<BR><BR>Example: I will insure that we get this project done
in time. (JUST DOESN'T FEEL GOOD BUT IT'S OKAY IN A PINCH)<BR><BR><BR><BR><B>Tip
2 </B>What is the difference between affect and effect?<BR><BR>These two words
are often confused. Affect is USUALLY a verb. Effect is USUALLY a noun. Since
using affect as a verb and effect as a noun is the most common usage, that's
what I think of first when deciding which word to use.<BR><BR>Affect:
Influencing or changing something or
someone<BR><BR>Example:<X-TAB> </X-TAB>
The original finding affected the way I want to approach this problem.
CORRECT<BR> <X-TAB> </X-TAB><X-TAB>
</X-TAB> I can't believe the
affect those words had on me. WRONG<BR><BR>Effect: Something brought about by a
cause; a result: a change.<BR><BR>Example:
<X-TAB> </X-TAB> The effect of the
blizzard was a huge traffic jam.
CORRECT<BR><X-TAB> </X-TAB><X-TAB>
</X-TAB> Talking to him effected
the way I viewed life.<X-TAB> </X-TAB>WRONG<BR><BR>We can go through the
other meanings another day but these are the most common
definitions.<BR><BR><BR><BR>And finally, <B>Tip 3 </B>(I told you the proposal
was inspiring--and I have even more for another day.)
Utilize<BR><BR><B>Utilize</B> is over-utilized.<BR></BODY></HTML>