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

O

OAPs, old age pensioners
do not use: they are pensioners or old people; note also that we should take care using the word elderly — it should not be used to describe anyone younger than 70

obtuse
“mentally slow or emotionally insensitive” (Collins); often confused with abstruse (hard to understand) or obscure

offhand, offside
but off-licence

Office for National Statistics

Office of Fair Trading
OFT on second mention

OK
is OK; “okay” is not

ongoing
prefer continuous or continual

online

only
can be ambiguous if not placed next to the word or phrase modified: “I have only one ambition” is clearer than “I only have one ambition”

on to
but into

or
do not use “or” when explaining or amplifying — rather than “the NUT, or National Union of Teachers” say “The NUT (National Union of Teachers)” or, even better, “The National Union of Teachers” at first mention and then just “the NUT” or “the union”

overestimate, overstate
take care that you don't mean underestimate or understate

overrule

google_protectAndRun("ads_core.google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);