Word Choice

• Be as clear and direct as possible. Avoid pompous, ambiguous, and meaningless words.
  
  

  Less clear: Individuals who have access to the Internet may utilize our electronic registration/application form
  Better: Those with Internet access may use our electronic application form

  Note that the word utilize is often misused as a synonym for the more appropriate word use. Utilize, a more formal word, has the connotation of "practical, profitable, or creative use."

Age

• Use the word age rather than aged when referring to a person's age.
  
  

  Mary Simpson, age 41, is experiencing headache number 6,842.

Historic/Historical

• Historic is used to denote something memorable or famous; historical is used to indicate something that has to do with history.
  
  

  This historic book changed the attitude of the Southern citizens.
  Historical photographs of the battle reveal the great damage done to the orchards.

• Historic, historical, and history should be preceded by the article a, not an.
  
  

  The book is a historical novel.

People/Persons

• People is used when referring to a large, indefinite group. Persons is used when referring to a small, specific group.