affect, effect
In general, affect is the verb and effect is the noun: Location affects the size of a meet. The new rule has not had an effect on Masters meets.
comprise
It means “to contain, to include all, or embrace.” Therefore, it’s incorrect to say “comprised of.” You probably mean “composed of.”
- WRONG: USMS is comprised of eight zones.
- RIGHT: USMS comprises eight zones.
- RIGHT: USMS is composed of eight zones.
continual, continuous
Continual means “a steady repetition, over and over again”: We continually argue about time standards. Continuous means “uninterrupted”: She swam continuously for an hour.
different
Say different from not different than.
dive, dived, diving
Do not use dove for the past tense.
drunk, drunken
Use drunk after a form of the verb to be: He was drunk. Use drunken as an adjective before a noun: drunken driver, drunken driving.
equal
It means all amounts are the same, so something cannot be more or less equal.
farther, further
Farther refers to distance: She walked farther away. Further refers to time or degree: I will consider it further.
fewer, less than
Use fewer for individual items (fewer calories, fewer entries) and less than for a group of items (I had less than 10 minutes to finish the race).
forego, forgo
Forego means to go before: a foregone conclusion. Forgo means to do without: I will forgo breakfast.
good, well
Good is the adjective (good swim) and well is the adverb (I swam well). But good is still being used as an adjective in the sentence "I feel good." If you say "I feel well" you’re really saying your sense of touch is working well. The same principle applies to bad and badly. "I feel bad" is correct (to indicate sickness) and "I feel badly" is incorrect, unless you mean your sense of touch is not working well.
hopefully
This means “in a hopeful manner.” If you say "Hopefully, she finished the 200 butterfly," what you really mean is "I hope she finished the 200 butterfly," not that she was hopeful while she was swimming (in fact, she was probably despairing!).
however
When used as a conjunction, it must be preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma; otherwise, you have a run-on sentence.
- WRONG: I did my best, however I still lost.
- RIGHT: I did my best; however, I still lost.
include
This means you are listing only part of the whole: The individual medley includes backstroke and breaststroke. If you are in fact listing all elements, use comprises, consists of, or is composed of: The individual medley is composed of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. The phrase "includes but is not limited" to is redundant and not necessary except in legal documents.
Internet
The Internet (note capitalization) is not synonymous with World Wide Web. The Web and email are components of the Internet (literally, a network of computers).
irregardless
No such word. You mean regardless.
it’s, its
It’s is the contraction for it is. Its means “belonging to it.”
like, as
Use like to compare two things: You swim like a little torpedo. Use as to introduce a phrase: Winston tastes good as a cigarette should.
myself
Do not use instead of me or I: WRONG: Jane and myself went to the meet. RIGHT: Jane and I went to the meet.
people, person
Use person for one person and people for more than one person. Avoid using individual to refer to a person, unless you’re distinguishing an individual from a group.
- Only one person showed up.
- Many people came to the meet.
principle, principal
Principal means “first in rank, authority or importance”: principal of the school, principal ballerina. Principle is something you believe in: I believe in the principle of free speech.
record
Don’t use the redundant new record. If it’s a record, it’s got to be new.
that, which
Use that for essential phrases (essential to the meaning of the sentence) and which for nonessential phrases (merely conveys additional, nonessential information). Say "the fruit that was rotten" if the fact that the fruit is rotten distinguishes it from other fruit, and "the fruit, which was rotten," if the fact that the fruit is rotten is only an interesting sidelight. Which should be preceded by a comma.
their, there, they’re
Their means “belonging to them”: It’s their problem. There means “a direction”: We won’t come home till it’s over, over there. They’re is a contraction for they are: They’re coming home tomorrow.
under way, underway
Spell as two words unless referring to ships: The convention got under way. The fleet is underway.
unique
It means “one of a kind,” so it cannot be more unique, very unique, etc.
who’s, whose
Who’s is a contraction for who is: Who’s going to the meet? Whose means “belonging to whom”: Whose comb is this?
who, whom
Who is always the subject of a sentence or phrase: the spy who came in from the cold. Whom is always the object of a verb or preposition: for whom the bell tolls.
