We should be careful about casual uses of words associated with mental illness. Here's what The Times's stylebook says about one:
schizophrenia is a mental illness often characterized by episodic disorientation, delusions and hallucinations. It is not characterized by a split personality, and the word schizophrenic does not mean two-faced, of two minds or self-contradictory.
Outside the specific context of mental illness, “schizophrenic†is usually a good word to avoid. Besides the misconception that it suggests a split personality, using the word lightly or metaphorically can seem insensitive. But as a reader noted recently, we still do it occasionally:
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A recipe from the restaurant in Greenwich Village seems schizophrenic but tastes terrific.
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Conducting Ives's symphony, with its vast forces often subdivided into groups playing in different meters and keys, requires courage. In fact, the Philharmonic brought in a second conductor, Case Scaglione, to lead certain sections in some of the work's more schizophrenic moments, a strategy common in performances of this piece.
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But the Nation piece, which was written by Eric Alterman and went online in late March, also raised the specter of an almost schizophrenic political pragmatist whose progressive agenda stands in stark contrast to his low opinion of new taxes, which Mr. Alterman said made Mr. Cuomo “the soul brother to Grover Norquist.â€
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And Another One
We should also take care with “bipolar.†Given its primary sense of “having two poles or charges,†it can legitimately be used to mean “having two opposite or contradictory ideas or natures,†as the American Heritage Dictionary says. But avoid using it as a jocular or figurative description of someone's mental state. Here's one we should have thought twice about:
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The Sundance Film Festival has long had a dual personality. The atmosphere is typically fun and fizzy - Stars! Swag! Hot tub hopping! - while the films are dark and depressing, sometimes to the point of self-parody. This year, however, Sundance is looking a lot less bipolar.
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In a Word
This week's grab bag of grammar, style and other missteps, compiled with help from colleagues and readers.
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“Some were able to survive,†said Lidia Fischer, 38, a blonde-haired descendant of a family that was among Nueva Germania's first settlers. …
While there are still a few blond-haired children running around, after generations of intermarriage, many of the town's 4,300 residents have German surnames but are indiscernible from other Paraguayans.
As the stylebook says, use “blonde†only as a noun, referring to a woman or a girl. The adjective is always “blond.†And “blond-haired†is redundant.
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[Caption] Mary McCartney, a daughter of Sir Paul and the author of a vegetarian cookbook called “Food,†preparing an eggplant wrap during a visit to New York.
As the stylebook notes, we don't generally use “Sir†or “Lord†for people already well known as pop stars, business leaders, etc.
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Even as the speeches ground on in a huge meeting hall, thousands of members were downstairs, where acre-upon-acre of kiosks displayed the latest in hunting and camping equipment, and weaponry, from futuristic black-matte rifles to six-shooters to knives that would have made Jim Bowie envious.
Why the hyphens?
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But as productivity has slowed substantially in recent years, doubts have re-emerged about whether information technology can power economic growth like the steam engine and the internal combustion engine did in the past.
Avoid this use of “like†as a conjunction. Here, make it “as†or “the way.â€
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Ms. van Doten said later that while she appreciated the mayor's recognition of her son, she did not want her son to be “part of a political battle, a pawn,†in the debate over stop-and-frisk tactics, which she generally supports through she believes there needs to be adjustments.
“Though,†of course, not “through.†Also, make it “there need to be adjustmentsâ€; the plural “adjustments†is the subject of “need.â€
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Under the agreement, once the Malkins achieve the 80 percent approval, anyone who voted against it has 10 days to switch, or they could receive only $100 for their share.
The plural “they†doesn't go with the singular “anyone.†One simple fix: “investors who voted against it have 10 days … or they could receive …â€
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Mark Williams-Thomas, a former detective who amassed much of the evidence against Mr. Savile in a documentary that touched off the scandal and police investigation last year, said that he has been continuing to help the police in coaxing people who might have been victimized years ago to come forward.
After the past-tense “said,†sequence-of-tense rules require “had been continuing†or “was continuing.â€
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The investigators also referenced an April 2011 e-mail in which Ms. Masters ordered a “rewrite†of an internal document that raised questions about whether the bank had run afoul of the law.
Avoid this jargony use of “reference†as a verb. Make it something like “cited.â€
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The library's budget for the year has declined to $598.4 million, a 4 percent cut that is likely to slow its digitalization effort and has already caused copyright applications to back up.
Make it “digitization,†formed from the verb “digitize.†(“Digitalization†is formed from “digitalize,†which actually means to administer digitalis drugs to a heart patient. Really.)
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As the malicious Abigaille, her diva act was as delicious as it was in the role at the Met recently, and on Saturday she was in even better voice, some passages worn but others - including many of the high notes and softer, gentler lines - secure.
Dangler; her diva act wasn't the malicious Abigaille.
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And Apple itself provided an opening for competitors when it changed the way its phones connect to other devices, aggravating both its business partners and consumers.
As the stylebook notes, in precise usage, “aggravate†means to make worse, not anger or irritate.
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At this point, the transition from public disgrace to college lectern is so familiar that when Mr. Galliano merely stepped foot on the campus of Central Saint Martins, an art and design school in London, speculation rippled around the world - incorrectly - that he would soon be teaching there.
Make it either “set foot†or “stepped.â€
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The move to appeal the court ruling came just a day after the F.D.A. staked out a new position, setting the age restriction on nonprescription access to the most well-known brand of emergency contraception - Plan B One-Step - at 15 years old and telling pharmacies to stock the product on display shelves rather than behind the counter.
A common mistake; make it “best-known.â€
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During an interview, he proudly declared that “I am a good capitalist.â€
“That†is not needed to introduce a full clause in a direct quote. Omit it and put a comma after “declared.â€
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Before the new edition is in anyone's hands, however, we have pre-emptive strikes against it in the form of two industrious and perfervid new books, Gary Greenberg's “Book of Woe†and Dr. Allen Frances's “Saving Normal.â€
An often-overlooked rule from the stylebook. After two sibilant sounds, form the possessive with just the apostrophe, not yet another “sâ€: Frances'.
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The city has been particularly hard hit by the shrinking of the financial services industry, which, much like in Midtown Manhattan, had been a primary driver of growth.
“Like†is a preposition that should be followed by a noun or pronoun. Here, make it “as in Midtown Manhattan.â€
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Americans are exhibiting an isolationist streak, with majorities across party lines decidedly opposed to American intervention in North Korea or Syria, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.
The description seems overblown. An “isolationist†opposes all foreign intervention; these questions just related to policies on North Korea and Syria.
