Appendix F
A Primer of Good Usage
abstruse. see obtuse.
accede; exceed. Accede = to agree or yield <We acceded to your request>. Exceed = to surpass, to be greater than <Your needs exceeded our capacity for production>.
access; excess. Both are traditionally nouns. Access = the act or opportunity of approaching or entering. Excess = an amount beyond what is required. Of course, access is also common today as a verb meaning “to gain entry to; to penetrate” <I couldn’t access those files> <I accessed the storage unit>.
accord; accordance. Accord = agreement <The partners are in accord about expanding plant capacity>. Accordance = conformance <The materials weren’t in accordance with our specs>.
administer; administrate. The first is standard. Avoid ...
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