Common Confusables: They’re, There, & Their

They're, they're now, their all here. They're's no need to worry anymore.

Here's a set of words that we get right all the time in speech.

Every time we say any of them, we're using the right one because no one can see how those words are spelled. When we write, though, getting one of them wrong makes us look like we're a few letters short of an alphabet. So let's work to get them right, shall we?

They're

This one is the easiest, I think, because it's a contraction. Contractions are shortened forms of two words. A few examples:

• Don't = do not
• Aren't = are not
• It's = it is

Simple, right? Well, there're is just a contraction of there are. So if there are would be correct in what you're writing, then go ahead and use they're.

There

This form is directional, basically. It points to something. It's not over here, it's over there.

Their

This form is possessive, meaning somebody owns somethin', and it probably ain't me. So if it ain't mine, and it ain't yours, it must be theirs. Am I right, people? Of course I am!

Oh, and by the way. The word "ain't" is perfectly acceptable grammatically. Sure, some people frown on its use, but it's a colloquial term, meaning its use in formal settings should be avoided.

But this blog is rather informal, don't you think, and so using a colloquialism would be acceptable. Besides which, it's my blog and I happen to like the word.

So there.

Common Confusables: Effect & Affect

Lots of intelligent folks sometimes get affect confused with effect in their writing, so don't fret none if you struggle with differentiating the two. I should say three, actually, because those of us in health care deal with patients and their emotional presentation, or affect. So let's see if we can straighten out the confusion.

Effect

Let's take this one on first. By and large, an effect (pronounced eh-FEKT) is a noun. It is something that results from something. "The drug had the desired effect." "The intervention caused no effect on his behavior."

This form is also used to describe one's belongings. "We stored the patient's personal effects in a bag."

Scientists use effect to describe a law of some kind such as the photovoltaic effect. There are other meanings as well but nearly all of them are used as nouns.

Sometimes effect is used a verb, but not often, at least not in health care. "The Director of Nursing is trying to effect a change in the way adverse reactions are reported." Clinically, though, effect isn't used much as a verb.

Affect

By and large, the word affect (pronounced uh-FEKT) is used as a verb. It is something that happens. "Rheumatic fever can affect the heart and cause lasting damage to the myocardium." "Those two Code Blues have affected the staff's ability to deal with other patients."

But another meaning of the word, one used as a noun, is highly pertinent to healthcare professionals: affect (pronounced AH-fekt). This noun refers a patient's mien, countenance, or emotional presentation. "The mother exhibited a flat affect as she explained how her son was burned." "Expect to see a flat or blunted affect when dealing with a patient with schizophrenia."

So, aside from describing a person's demeanor, figure using effect when you need a noun and affect when you need a verb. Hope that helps.

Common Confusables: Since & Because

This one may turn out to be a losing cause, but I'd like to fight to keep it "old school."

These two words are commonly misused, even by intelligent, articulate writers and speakers. Here's how to use them correctly:

Because is used when providing a reason for something. "I went to the store because we needed milk."

Since is used when dealing with time. "We've needed milk since this morning."

Unfortunately a great many people use since as a replacement for because. I'm not sure why, but that's the way it is, which leads me to think that eventually, if it hasn't happened yet, the two words will be considered officially synonymous. Bummer, man.

Common Confusables: Introduction

This post introduces a periodic look at words and phrases commonly confused, abused, and misused in our endlessly variable vernacular. I hope to present a Common Confusables post every week, and for your enjoyment I present the first one, Regime & Regimen.

Regime & Regimen

You've heard of several "fitness regimes," haven't you? Of course you have, they're all over the place. Same with "diet regimes." And even US Representatives have been heard asking—in this case NC Rep. Virginia Foxx asking of Roger Clemens about steroid use—"Mr. Clemens, maybe you'd like to talk about your regime and how hard you work?"

Okay, um, no!

Clemens doesn't have a regime, okay? Really, he doesn't. He may think he does, but he doesn't. What he has is a regimen. Huge difference. Huge.

A regimen is a regular course of action or treatment or a period of training or schooling, as in "My morning regimen includes a brisk walk." Or, "This program has an aggressive learning regimen."

A regime is a political system, as in "Saddam Hussein's regime was finally taken out of power." Or, "Our principal is a jerk. I think we should work toward a regime change. Wanna?"

So let's have no more of these fitness regimes, okay, Andy Green? Jennifer Scott? Women Fitness.com?

No more diet regimes, okay, Dr. Kiki Sidhwa? OK! Magazine? And Encyclopedia.Com?

Stop the madness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!