| Introduction
Biology,
as a science, is involved with details--the details of nature as well
as the details of communicating biological information to others. Since
language is how we communicate that information to each other, paying
attention to the details of language is very important.
While
it may seem like a small thing, a single misplaced letter in a word
can change its whole meaning. (See, for example, ilium and ileum, below.
As Mark Twain is supposed to have said: "The difference between the
right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning
and the lightning bug.")
So,
yes, spelling does count.
You
may not be a "good speller", but spelling is something that is learned
and, therefore, in general, being a good speller can also be learned.
What it takes is attention to detail (which is important in biology
also!) and practice. Lots of it. This means taking the time to see how
a word actually is spelled and used and then, through practice, incorporating
the correct spelling and usage into your language habits.
Pronunciation
of words in biology has always been problematic. For example, many words
used in biology are derived from ancient Latin words but nobody today
knows exactly how those words were pronounced in ancient times. There
is still much controversy over the pronunciation of many terms, but
some consensus has been arrived at for most terms. The difficulty is
in determining what that consensus is. Since we tend to learn pronunciation
of words from others who use the words, we can only hope that those
persons are using them correctly. (Unfortunately, because they
learned how to pronounce the words from someone else who may not have
pronounced them properly they, too, are passing on incorrect pronunciations--probably
without even knowing it. Unhappily, this is true for many professors,
also. See the word "dissect" below for an example of a word used in
biology that is often mispronounced by both student and teachers alike.)
Learning
correct pronunciation, like spelling, takes paying attention and consciously
making an effort to learn the correct pronunciation (either from a speaker
or from a dictionary).
Because
some words used in biology do not always seem to follow the "normal"
patterns seen in the English language (normal patterns? see "English
is Easy", below!), confusion sometimes exists as to how to spell and
pronounce those words. Below is a list of commonly misspelled or mispronounced
words found in biology, as well as some common English language words
that are sometimes used incorrectly, that usually appear in a course
such as this. Usually, all it takes to use them correctly is a moment's
thought. Take that moment.
And,
don't be surprised if points are taken off for spelling and grammar--one
of the ways of learning is to learn from one's mistakes. The trick is
to learn them correctly ahead of time. That is what this list is all
about.
Common
English Mistakes
To
"accept" means to receive. "Except" means something is not included;
equivalent to "but". He wanted to accept her congratulations
except he was too shy.
Accurate
/ Precise
Accuracy
deals with how close to the actual value a measurement is. Precision
deals with how exact a measurement is. A meter can be precise without
being very accurate or it can be accurate but not very precise.
For example, a wheel is known to be spinning at 30.00 revolutions
per second (rps). Meter A reads 29.9 rps; meter B reads 31.295 rps;
meter C reads 30.001 rps. Meter A is fairly accurate (close to the
actual value) but not very precise. Meter B is precise but not very
accurate. Meter C is both accurate and precise.
Affect
/ Effect
When
something "affects" something it produces an "effect". ("Affect"
is a verb; "effect" is a noun.) The effect of spelling incorrectly
is that it will affect your grade.
Asterisk
An
asterisk (*) is the star-shaped symbol used in various situations,
often to denote a footnote or denote a missing letter. It should
not be pronounced "astericks", which, perhaps, can be
remembered by the following anonymous poem: Pretty Mary donned her
skates / Upon the ice to frisk. / Wasn't she a silly girl / her
little * ?
Could
Of / Should Of / Would Of / _____ Of and so on
These
misused spellings are typically produced because of the way the
contractions are pronounced. The correct form of "could of" is "could've",
short for "could have". The same is true of the other examples.
Criterion
/ Criteria
The
word "criterion" is singular; the word "criteria" is plural. It
is therefore incorrect to say "a criteria".
Datum
/ Data
The
word "datum" is singular; the word "data" is plural. It is therefore,
technically, incorrect to say "the data shows" when it should be
"the data show". (The widespread incorrect usage of the word "data",
particularly in reference to computer output, has become so common
that the incorrect form is now generally regarded as acceptable.)
The preferred pronunciation is "dayta" but "datta" is becoming more
acceptable.
Debt
/ Depth
Often
just a "typographical error" which should be picked up by a spelling
checker, the word "depth"--having to do with how deep something
is--should not be spelled as "debth" (which may be a misspelling
for the word "debt"--owing money).
Good
/ Well
If
you did good on a Biology exam you probably did not do as well on
an English exam. "Good" is an adjective, modifying a noun. "Well"
is an adverb, modifying a verb. Therefore, if you did well
on an exam you probably got a good grade.
Its
/ It's
"Its"
is possessive; "it's" is a contraction for "it is". (In a word,
an apostrophe as part of its makeup doesn't always mean it's
a possessive.)
Less
/ Fewer
"Less"
refers to an amount; "fewer" refers to a number. Fewer kilometers
means less distance.
Maximal
/ Maximum; Minimal / Minimum
"Maximal"
and "minimal " are adjectives and they describe the greatest
or least amount of something. These words refer to the amount of
something, as in a maximal voltage or a minimal stimulus. "Maximum"
and "minimum" are nouns. These words are often used in
situations where a setting is being made, as in "Turn the volume
to maximum and the brightness to minimum."
No
/ Know
Using
"no" when you mean "know" is usually just a mistake of quick writing
and slow thinking. This is a "no-no" (or maybe a "no-know"?).
Phenomenon
/ Phenomena
The
word "phenomenon" is singular; the word "phenomena" is plural. It
is therefore incorrect to say "a phenomena".
Separate
The
word is "sepArate" not "sepErate". (An old mnemonic states that
"there is 'a rat' in the middle of separate".)
Than
/ Then
"Than"
is used in a comparison; "then" generally refers to a time. If he
gets more points on the quiz than she does, then he
will get a better grade in the course.
There
/ Their / They're
"There"
denotes a place. "Their" designates a plural possessive. "They're"
is a contraction for "they are". Correct usage: They're placing
their microscopes there.
Two
/ Too / To
"Two"
is the number. "Too" is the equivalent of "also". "To" is a preposition
with many meanings. Use each appropriately. You may lose two
points, and be very unhappy, too, if you choose to
use the words "to", "too", and "two" incorrectly.
Were
/ Where
"Were"
is the past tense of was; "where" denotes a place. It is usually
just a quick spelling error that turns "where" into "were",
but it does indicate a certain lack of thought when writing. Where
were you when you were supposed
to have learned this?
Weather
/ Whether
"Weather"
refers to the climate; "whether" is usually used in matters of choice.
(Whether you wear a coat or not depends on the
weather outside.) Misuse of one word when you mean
the other usually is just a matter of not paying atention to what
you are writing.
Your
/ You're
"Your"
is possessive; "you're" is a contraction for "you are." Use them
appropriately or you're going to find that your grade
will suffer.
Common
Biological Word Mistakes
Biceps
/ Triceps / Quadriceps
The
biceps and triceps muscles of the upper arm and quadriceps muscle
of the leg are often misspelled and mispronounced. The words "biceps",
"triceps", and "quadriceps" are all singular nouns. (The words mean
that each muscle has two, three, or four "heads" ["ceps"],
respectively.) The words "bicep", tricep", and "quadricep" are all
incorrect. Spelling the words with the addition of a "t", as in
"bicepts", is also incorrect.
Breath / Breathe
A breath
is what you breathe when you move air into and
out of your body.
Diphtheria
Denoting
a disease, this word is often misspelled (it's d-i-p-h-t-h...) and
mispronounced. The correct pronunciation, based on the correct spelling,
is "diff-theria" not "dip-theria".
Drosophila
The
genus name for the fruit fly commonly used in genetic experiments
is "Drosophila" not "Drosophilia" (with an "ia"
at the end)..
Dilate
This
word is pronounced die-late, not di-uh-late. Therefore, it should
not be spelled "dialate".
Humerus
/ Humorous
The
"humerus" is a bone in the upper arm; something that is "humorous"
is amusing. A humorous humerus would be a funny bone.
Ichthyology
The
study of fishes. This is a tricky one. I-c-h-t-h-y. Pronounced "ikthi"
not "ikthee".
Ileum
/ Ilium
The
"ilium" is one of the hip bones. The "ileum" is part of the small
intestine.
Mucus
/ Mucous
"Mucus"
is a noun; "mucous" is an adjective. Mucus is the material
produced by a mucous membrane.
Ophthalmic
/ Ophthalmology / Ophthalmologist / Ophthalmoscope
"Ophthalmic"
refers to the eye and derivatives of it are all spelled similarly,
as in ophthalmology, ophthalmologist, and ophthalmoscope. Notice
the "h" after the "p". It belongs there. Why? Because the correct
pronunciation is "of-thal..." not "op-thal...".
Protozoan
/ Protozoa
"Protozoan"
is singular and "protozoa" is plural. "Protozoas" is incorrect.
Species
The
word "species" (spee-sheez) is both singular and plural. Therefore,
it is correct to say and write "a species" and "many species". In
biology, the word "specie" is incorrect. (The word "specie" does
exist--it means coins instead of paper money--but this spelling
is incorrect when used concerning types of biological organisms.)
Tentacle
The
word tentacle, as in an octopus appendage, is spelled "tentacle"
not "tenticle".
Tetanus
/ Tetany
"Tetanus"
is a disease, such as that caused by a bacterial infection, in which
there is a great degree of muscle stiffness.
In physiology, tetanus is a constant contraction of a muscle caused
by frequent stimulation. Tetany, on the other hand, is a stiffness
of muscles due to some ion imbalance. Tetanus and tetany both come
from the sameGrek root word for stiffness, but they do not mean
the same thing. Note that "tetanus" has an "a"
in the middle of it--it is not spelled "tetnus."
Misused
and Mispronounced Biological Words
"Agar",
the gelatinous material used in microbiology laboratories to grow
bacteria and other microorganisms, may correctly be pronounced either
"a-gar" (long first "a") or "aggar" (short first "a"). (The word
is derived from the Malaysian term for the seaweed from which it
is derived: agar-agar.)
Alga
/ Algae
"Alga",
singular, is pronounced with a "hard g"--"al-ga". The plural, "algae",
is pronounced with a soft g"--"al-jee". (See "Antennae / Pupae /
Plantae / ...ae", below.)
Antennae
/ Pupae / Plantae / ...ae
The
"ae" ending on many biological words should be pronounced "ee" not
"eye", so the correct pronunciation of words such as "antennae"
(the plural of antenna) and "pupae" (the plural of pupa, the larval
stage of insects) is "antennee" and "pyupee", respectively. And
the Kingdom Plantae is pronounced "Kingdom Plantee".
Apoptosis
This
fairly new word in biology, used to describe programmed cell death,
has caused much discussion about how it should be pronounced. Most
authorities prefer "apo-tosis", where the sound of the "p" before
the "t" is dropped, but others argue that it should not be. (Coming
from similar roots, we don't say "heli-coter" for "helicopter",
do we?)
Bacterium
/ Bacteria
The
word "bacterium" is singular and the word "bacteria" is plural.
You should not say "a bacteria" but "a bacterium". Likewise, the
correct form is "many bacteria". Since "bacteria" is already plural,
it is also incorrect to say "bacterias".
Brachii
/ ...ii
The
"ii" ending on many words in biology should be pronounced "ee-eye",
so "brachii", as in biceps brachii, should be pronounced "brake-ee-eye".
Dissect
The
word "dissect" is correctly pronounced diss-ect not die-sect. (It
has two Ss in the middle. If it had only one S then it would
be pronounced like bisect (bye-sect).
Environment
This
word is pronounced en-viron-ment, not env-vior-ment. Therefore,
it is spelled "enVIRONment" not "enVIORment".
Genealogy
Genealogy
is the study of one's ancestors. Although this word is usually pronounced
(correctly) genie-ology it is not spelled that way. It is spelled
with an "a"--genealogy.
Fibia
/ Tibula
Occasionally,
the words "fibia" and "tibula" are accidentally written instead
of "fibula" and "tibia". Since there are no such bones as the fibia
and tibula in the body, points are usually taken off. Be careful.
Fungus
/ Fungi
As
with bacterium/bacteria, the word "fungus" is singular and the word
fungi is plural. Therefore, you may have one fungus but many fungi.
(The word "fungi" is usually pronounced funj-eye.)
Ischium
/ Ischemia
The
word "ischium", one of the pelvic bones, is pronounced iskeeum.
The word "ischemia", a condition produced by a lack of oxygen, is
pronounced iskeemea. (The "ch" in these words is pronounced as in
the word "school".)
Medium
/ Media
In
microbiology, the material on which a microorganism is grown is
called a medium, which is singular. The plural of "medium" is "media".
(In English, the word "mediums" may sometimes be used in place of
"media".)
Meiosis
Meiosis
is pronounced "my-osis" not "mee-osis".
Mitosis;
Mitochondrion
Today,
common American pronunciation of the prefix "mito-" is "my-toe",
but British pronunciation and earlier American pronunciation favors
"mitto", so it may be pronounced or heard either way.
Nuclear
The
word is "nyooclear" not "noocular."
Nucleic
Acid
The
"nucleic" in "nucleic acid" should be pronounced "nuCLEEic" not
"nuCLAYic".
Photomicrograph
/ Microphotograph
A photomicrograph
is a picture taken through a microscope. A microphotograph is a
very, very, very small photograph, one which you may not be able
to see without a microscope (and often used to carry information
in spy movies). (An electronmicrograph is a picture taken using
an electron microscope.)
Prion
Stanley
Prusiner, who invented the term for this infectious agent, calls
them "pree-ons" not "pry-ons" so you should probably do likewise.
pH
Since
it is common practice for words from another language to be italicized
when used in English writing (which is why genus and species names,
being derived from Latin, are italicized), the "p" in pH
should also be properly italicized. The "p" is derived from the
German word potenz, meaning power or potency, and in this
case describes the strength of the hydrogen ions present in an acid.
(Through common usage--or misusage--the "p" is usually no longer
italicized, so...)
Species
The
word "species" is both singular and plural (see above). It is pronounced
"speesheez" not "speeseez".
Stapes
The
stapes, one of the bones of the inner ear, is pronounced stay-peez.
Systole
/ Diastole
The
word "systole", a contracted phase of the heart cycle, is pronounced
sis-tolee. The word "diastole", a relaxed phase of the heart cycle,
is pronounced die-as-tolee.
Telo-
"Telophase",
"telomere", and other "telo-" words should be pronounced "tello"
not "teelo".
Miscellaneous
Biological Mispronunciations
Cochlea:
cocklea (not cokelea). Medulla: meduhlla (not medoola). Gnu:
new (not ganew) [A story about a baby wildebeest being born
at the zoo would be "new gnu news"]. Marcello Malpighi:
Mal-pig-ee (not Mal-fig-ee).
Miscellaneous
Chi,
as in the Chi-Square statistical test, is a Greek letter. It is
pronounced "kai" not "chai".
Giga-
The
preferred pronunciation of this prefix is "jigga", although "gigga"
is commonly heard.
GIF
File
While
not used much biology, you may come across it in a computer science
class. The person who invented this Graphic Interchange Format calls
it a "jiff" file not a "giff" file, so "jiff" should probably be
preferred.
Metric
Pronunciations
In
pronouncing metric measurements neither the prefix nor the standard
should be stressed. Therefore, it is "kilo-meters" (with an even
emphasis on both parts of the word) not "KILOM-eters" and "nano-meters"
not "NANOM-eters".
Sophomore
If
you are in your second year at college then you are a sophomore,
not a sophmore. The word has three Os in it, and it it correctly
pronounced sof-o-more (but it usually isn't pronounced correctly
and therefore it is usually spelled incorrectly).
Wrong
/ Incorrectly
In
general, there are only two words that should be spelled wrong and
incorrectly, and there are only two words that should be pronounced
wrong and incorrectly. Those words are "wrong" and "incorrectly".
(And the only word that should be written misspelled is "misspelled".)
English
is Easy
If
you think learning the spelling and pronunciation of biology words
is hard, just look at how complex it can be in English, as shown by
the anonymous poem below.
I
take it you already know of
TOUGH and BOUGH and COUGH and DOUGH.
Others
may stumble, but not you,
On
HICCOUGH, THOROUGH, LAUGH and THROUGH.
Well
done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To
learn of less familiar traps.
Beware
of HEARD, a dreadful word
That
looks like BEARD and sounds like BIRD.
And
DEAD-it's said like BED, not BEAD.
For
goodness sake, don't call it DEED!
Watch
out for MEAT and GREAT and THREAT.
They
rhyme with SUITE and STRAIGHT and DEBT.
A
MOTH is not a MOTH in MOTHER,
Nor
BOTH in BOTHER, BROTH in BROTHER,
And
HERE is not a match for THERE,
Nor
DEAR and FEAR for PEAR and BEAR.
And
then there's DOSE and ROSE and LOSE--
Just
look them up--and GOOSE and CHOOSE.
And
CORK and WORK and CARD and WARD.
And
FONT and FRONT and WORD and SWORD.
And
DO and GO, then THWART and CART.
Come,
come I've hardly made a start.
A
dreadful language? Man alive,
I'd
mastered it when I was five!
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