Berkeley Advancement Identity

acknowledgment

adviser but advisory

African American (adj., n.)

archaeology

Asian American (adj., n.)

bioengineering

campuswide

canceled

catalog (-ed) (-ing)

chairholder (but professorship holder)

check-in (n., adj.)

check in (v.)

checkout (n., adj.)

check out (v.)

clean-up (n.)

co-author

co-chair

co-worker

coeducation

cooperate

coordinate

course work (but fieldwork)

cross-cultural

cross-fertilize

cutback (n.), cut back (v.)

cutting edge (n.), cutting-edge (adj.)

decision mak(er) (-ing) (n.)

decision-making (adj.)

dialogue

email

ex officio

filmmaking

follow up (v.)

follow-up (n., adj.)

full-time (adj.)

fundrais(er) (-ing)

grade-point average

groundbreaking

health care or healthcare

high-tech (adj.)

homepage

interdisciplinary

Internet

interrelationship

judgment

K–12 (en dash)

kickoff (n.), kick off (v.)

long-range

longstanding

long-term

longtime

millennium

modeling

multicultural, multimedia, multidisciplinary (but multi-year)

nationwide

No. 1

nonprofit, nonresident, nonstudent

note-taking

on-campus (adj.), on campus (n.)

off-campus (adj.), off campus (n.)

ongoing

online

part-time (adj.)

percent

policy mak(er) (-ing) (n.)

postdoctoral

postgame, pregame

preeminent

preprofessional, preregister, preschool

problem solv(er) (-ing) (n.)

P.S., P.P.S

reent(er), (-ry), reexamine

R.S.V.P.

schoolchildren

sociocultural, socioeconomic

startup

statewide

student-athlete (n.)

tenfold

theater (except Greek Theatre)

trailblazer, trailblazing

travel(er) (-ing)

underrepresented

underway (adj.), under way (adv.)

versus (use vs. in graphics, invites)

workflow

workstation

work-study

worldwide

World Wide Web, the web

website, webmaster, webcast

X-ray

ZIP code

appraise, apprise Appraise: set a value on; apprise: inform.

capital, capitol Capital: the city that is the seat of government; capitol: the building in which the legislative body sits. Also capital: relating to or being assets that add to the long-term net worth of an organization (capital improvements).

comprise, compose, constitute Comprise: to contain or embrace (The university comprises 14 schools and colleges); do not use is comprised of. Compose and constitute are used in the opposite manner for the parts that make up the whole (The university is composed of 14 schools and colleges. Fourteen schools and colleges constitute the university).

continual, continuous Continual means over and over; continuous means without interruption (We come to work continually every day. She spoke continuously for an hour).

dilemma A dilemma is a choice between undesirable alternatives. It is not a synonym for problem or quandary.

disinterested, uninterested A disinterested person is impartial; an uninterested person is indifferent.

enervate, energize Enervate: weaken; energize: instill with vigor.

every day, everyday Every day means “each day.” Everyday is an adjective that means commonplace, ordinary, or normal.

farther, further Farther refers to physical distance (We can go no farther on this road); further may be used in this sense but is most often used figuratively to refer to extent or degree (We will proceed no further with these fruitless deliberations).

fewer, less Fewer is used of numbers; less, of quantity (Fewer men require less food).

its, it’s Its is a possessive pronoun (Every dog will have its day). It’s is a contraction of it and is (It’s time to go home).

lectern, podium A lectern is a tall stand on which the speaker places notes. A podium is a platform on which the speaker stands while speaking.

lie, lay The verb to lie (indicating a state of reclining) does not take a direct object (I lie down). Its past tense is lay (I lay down); its past perfect tense is have lain (I have lain down all day); and its present participle is lying (I am lying down; I was lying down). The verb to lay is an action word and takes a direct object (I lay the book down); its past tense is laid (I laid the book down); past perfect is have laid (I have laid the book down); and its present participle is laying (I am laying the book down; I was laying the book down). The verb to lie (as in to speak an untruth) takes the forms lied, have lied, and lying.

principal, principle Principal (adj.): most important (His principal demand); principal (n.): a leading person or chief (She is the school principal. He is a principal with Watkins & Watkins); principle (n.): a basic belief or truth (Stick to your principles).

quality Quality is a noun, so it can’t be used to modify anything. Form a compound adjective by adding high- or top- (UC Berkeley offers a high-quality education).

segue Use segue not segueway or segway to indicate a transition without interruption from one activity, topic, scene, or part to another, according to Merriam-Webster. Segueway and segway are not found as entries, although the latter is a trade name for a company that makes electric transportation devices.

that, which That heads a restrictive clause; which heads a descriptive clause. Note the difference in meaning between these sentences: The Navy is mothballing all of its ships that are rusty (the only ships being mothballed are the rusty ones); The shirt that you lent me is in my bag. The shirt, which is red, is in my bag.