A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
L
later
often redundant since context will inform the reader: “They will meet this month” rather than “They will meet later this month”
layby
plural laybys
lay off
does not mean to sack or make redundant, but to send workers home on part pay because of a temporary lack of demand for their product
learned
not learnt
legal terms
in camera is now known as in secret and in chambers in private; a writ is a claim form and a plaintiff a claimaint; leave to appeal is permission to appeal
less/fewer
less means smaller in quantity, eg less money; fewer means smaller in number, eg fewer coins
letdown, let-up
nouns let down, let up verbs
licence
noun license verb
lifelong
light year
a measure of distance, not time
likable
not likeable
like/as if
never use the former to mean the latter: “it looks as if he's finished” not “it looks like he's finished”
like/such as
Like excludes; such as includes: “Cities like Manchester are wonderful” suggests the writer has in mind, say, Sheffield or Birmingham; she actually means “cities such as Manchester”
liquefy
not liquify
limpid
means clear or transparent, not limp
linchpin
not lynchpin
lineup, lineout
literally
term used, particularly by sports commentators, to denote an event that is not literally true, as in “Manchester City literally came back from the dead”
loan
noun; the verb is lend
loathe
detest loth unwilling, not loath
lock-in, lockout
nouns lock in, lock out verbs
longitude
like this: 149 deg 18 min E
lottery, national lottery
but Lotto and National Lottery Commission
lovable
not loveable
Lyon
not Lyons
often redundant since context will inform the reader: “They will meet this month” rather than “They will meet later this month”
layby
plural laybys
lay off
does not mean to sack or make redundant, but to send workers home on part pay because of a temporary lack of demand for their product
learned
not learnt
legal terms
in camera is now known as in secret and in chambers in private; a writ is a claim form and a plaintiff a claimaint; leave to appeal is permission to appeal
less/fewer
less means smaller in quantity, eg less money; fewer means smaller in number, eg fewer coins
letdown, let-up
nouns let down, let up verbs
licence
noun license verb
lifelong
light year
a measure of distance, not time
likable
not likeable
like/as if
never use the former to mean the latter: “it looks as if he's finished” not “it looks like he's finished”
like/such as
Like excludes; such as includes: “Cities like Manchester are wonderful” suggests the writer has in mind, say, Sheffield or Birmingham; she actually means “cities such as Manchester”
liquefy
not liquify
limpid
means clear or transparent, not limp
linchpin
not lynchpin
lineup, lineout
literally
term used, particularly by sports commentators, to denote an event that is not literally true, as in “Manchester City literally came back from the dead”
loan
noun; the verb is lend
loathe
detest loth unwilling, not loath
lock-in, lockout
nouns lock in, lock out verbs
longitude
like this: 149 deg 18 min E
lottery, national lottery
but Lotto and National Lottery Commission
lovable
not loveable
Lyon
not Lyons
