The Editor sometimes get ‘fan mails’ from other colleagues with suggestions for clarifying certain word usage and style matters. The following selection is offered after careful research with established authorities.

as well as

The author of Fowler’s Modern English Usage warns that it is not a preposition meaning ‘besides’ but a conjunction meaning ‘and not only’.

between/among

A common misconception is that between is used when referring two things whereas among is used when the number exceeds two. The Chicago Manual of Styles thinks otherwise and states that between indicates one-to-one relationships. Hence, the sentence below is perfectly legitimate:

All of the four players tell lies between themselves.

On the other hand, among is used for undefined or collective relationships as in:

The ship came through the storm with the camaraderie among the crew.

cum

This Latin word means ‘with’ and in its English manifestation usually means ‘combined with’. The familiar phrase cum laude means to graduate with distinction. Caution should therefore be exercised when using it in place of ‘and’.

presently

It pays to take note that ‘presently’ does not mean ‘at present’ but rather ‘soon’. This is supported by The Economist Style Guide.

Editor
www.iso.cuhk.edu.hk/english/features/style-speaks/index.html