Month: February 2008

“Communication mediums:”

Plurals

I saw this in a PowerPoint presentation as the title of a list of ways for teams of employees to communicate with one another during a weekend software-launch project.

Problem:
The plural form of medium for most of its definitions, including the one used in this title, is not “mediums”.

Explanation:
One of the definitions of “medium” is psychic (someone who claims to be able to communicate with the dead or predict the future).

The definition of “medium” that the title writer had in mind is means of communication. The title writer probably put the word “Communication” at the start of title to emphasize that she was using this particular definition.

The plural form of “medium” when it means psychic is “mediums”; the plural form of “medium” for other definitions, such as means of communication, is “media” (not “mediums”).

Solution:
“Communication media:”

“…, spectacular view properties, …”

Hyphens

I saw this in a full-page advertisement on the back cover of the latest “Continental” (Airlines) magazine.

Problem:
A hyphen is missing.`

Explanation:
This phrase appeared in an ad for Costa Rica’s Los Sueños Resort and Marina, so something could have gotten lost in the translation from Spanish to English.

Still, the advertising agency that placed this ad should have at least one native speaker of American English and should have caught this problem.

“With our 200-slip international marina, spectacular view properties, private beach club for residents, challenging 18-hole golf course, charming Marriott hotel and 600-acre rainforest reserve, we are truly Costa Rica’s premier residential resort community.” is the full sentence in which this phrase appeared.

The copywriter properly hyphenated the remainder of the sentence.

When an adjective (“spectacular”) plus a noun (“view”) modify another noun (“properties”), a hyphen must join the adjective and the first noun.

Therefore, what is missing in “spectacular view properties” is a hyphen between “spectacular” and “view”.

Solution:
“…, spectacular-view properties, …”

“Androgenous” vs. “Androgynous”

Adjectives, Versus

I have seen “androgenous” tagged by text-related software as spelled incorrectly.

Problem:
“Androgenous” is a real word but is not a synonym of “androgynous” even though they often sound alike.

Explanation:
Firefox and OpenOffice.org Writer are examples of a software application that puts a red underline beneath the adjective “androgenous” when one uses the default dictionary that accompanies the application.

“Androgenous” is a real adjective. It means tending to produce male offspring. It comprises the parts “andro” (male) and “genous” (producing).

“Androgynous” is the adjective with which more people seem to be familiar. It means having male and female characteristics. It comprise the parts “andro” (male) and “gyn” (female) and “ous” (possessing).

So a person can be androgenous (with an “e”), androgynous (with a “y”), androgenous (with an “e”) and androgynous (with a “y”), or none of these.

Solution:
Use “androgenous” with an “e” when you want to indicate that an animal tends to produce male offspring. Use “androgynous” with a “y” when you want to describe someone who has both male and female characteristics.