Now it’s only due to my parents’ admiration of him that I know Norm Crosby was a comedian of the 1970s whose claim to fame was his mastery of malapropisms. Like our current president, Crosby’s misuse of the English language was both legendary and hysterical (though Crosby’s was actually intentional).
Anyway, over her short lifetime, my daughter has already bested some of Crosby’s famously comical misuses of the language.
For instance, when she was 7, she told me in a rather straightforward manner that a lizard that changes color to blend in with its surroundings is called a “comedian.” (Which I suppose would make Crosby a “chameleon.”)
Later, she chose the unfortunate word “terrorist” to describe a traveler wearing a Hawaiian shirt and toting a camera and binoculars. The “tourist” in question — were he to know this — would have been appropriately freaked out.
She even told her friends of a breed of dog known as the “cocker spaniard.”
This all points to the importance of choosing the right words, and nowhere is that more crucial than in business and professional communication. Following are words commonly misused in business writing, as well as examples of their appropriate use.
Complementary/complimentary: The former means “something that completes the whole,” while the latter means “free” or “characterized by compliments or praise.” Example: “The wine and cheese were complementary to the meal, and both were complimentary for all hotel guests.”
Discreet/discrete: The first means “with discretion” and the second means “specific” or “particular.” Example: “Supervisors need to be discreet with each discrete employee’s information.”
Stationary/stationery: The initial word means “immobile,” but the other refers to the letterhead of an individual or organization. Example: “His assistant sat stationary while the CEO dictated a letter to be typed on the company’s stationery.”
Than/then: The former is used to make comparisons, while the latter refers to the timing or sequence of events. Example: “Then my brother said, ‘I spell better than you.’” (He doesn’t.)
These few tips can help save you from embarrassing mistakes in your professional writing.
For her part, my daughter will have to rely on early intervention ... compliments of yours truly.
Gail Wilkerson owns Accent Business Consulting in Falmouth, which specializes in strategic planning, customer service, marketing and special events consulting for organizations large and small. She has been a communications and planning professional for nearly 20 years. Contact her at wilkerson@springharbor.org.