## [English Usage Guides (1974, volume 7, 4)](/favourite-articles/english-usage-guides-1974-volume-7-4) ## Avertissement Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement. Peter Gawn (*Terminology Update*, Volume 7, Number 4, 1974, page 2) At the editor’s suggestion, I have undertaken to prepare a series of guides to English usage. I shall discuss in my Guides points that appear to give trouble to those whose work I revise. I hope that others may find my remarks useful. It is with some misgivings that I don the mantle of a dominie, particularly to teach English to those already familiar with it. Many books on usage have been published in the last ten years or so, however, and I shall see what they have to say on each topic: I shall then summarize the consensus of these authorities, give my opinion and suggest a fiche for readers to make for future reference. In this way I shall support my own judgements with that of others, thereby lending some weight to my recommendations. I know that the editor will be pleased to receive your comments. ## TOPIC: (*Individual*) *Individual*, as a noun. ### PROBLEM: (*Individual*) *Individual* is not equivalent to *person*; it refers to the single members of a group as opposed to the group as a whole (CGSM, p. 22). #### Incorrect Use: This individual writes poor English. #### Correct Use: The individual often feels helpless in his dealings with society. ### AUTHORITIES: (*Individual*) The incorrect use is described as colloquial (Chambers), heavy and pretentious (DCE), vulgar (COD), chiefly a colloquial vulgarism or term of disparagement (OED) and a Vogue Word now past its vogue but lingering in its vogue sense as a nuisance (MEU). Webster has no definition corresponding to the incorrect use, Mencken disparages it, with other newspaper words (p. 211). Treble recommends that the word be thought of as an adjective: its use as a noun in contrast with *general* will then become clearer. ### SUMMARY: (*Individual*) The condemned use appears to be a hangover from Victorian social criticism and Edwardian humour. It is not an Americanism. Its current use by, inter alia, the CBC News Service does not offset the consensus of the authorities. ### SUGGESTED FICHE: (*Individual*) Do not use *individual* as a synonym for *person*. \* \* \* ## TOPIC: (*Consider*) *Consider as …* *Consider that …* ### PROBLEM: (*Consider*) It is unidiomatic to use *consider* followed by *as* (except as noted below) or a *that* clause. #### Incorrect Use: He was considered as a good worker. He considered that he had done a good job. #### Correct Use: Omit *as* and *that* or replace *consider* by *regard* and *believe*. ### AUTHORITIES: (*Consider*) Although *consider* is frequently seen followed by *as*, this usage is condemned as unidiomatic by all the authorities consulted (except of course in a sentence such as: The lecturer considered Eisenhower first as a soldier and second as administrator) (Strunk, p. 38). The problem arises from confusing the construction with that used with *regard*. Vallins says "*Regard* welcomes the *as* that *consider* rejects" (p. 158) and MEU that "*regard* is now beginning to have its revenge" (p. 106). The American Heritage Dictionary and Webster both agree with the foregoing. The use of *consider* with a *that* clause is no longer modern idiom (OED). The *that* is superfluous. The authorities also agree that *consider* is overworked and that it should be reserved for situations involving real mental activity or thinking over (Bernstein, p. 116). Synonyms such as *regard*, *think*, *believe*, *feel* or *suppose* should be used instead. ### SUMMARY: (*Consider*) The idiom is *consider* (noun) *to be* (noun), or *consider* followed by an object clause. The verb *to be* is frequently omitted, but that, says Vallins, ’is no reason why *as* should take its place’ (p. 158). *Consider* is in danger of losing its full meaning through overuse. ### SUGGESTED FICHE: (*Consider*) *Consider* should not be followed by *as* or *that*. The construction is *consider* (noun) *to be* (noun), with *to be* often omitted. *Consider* should only be used when there is deliberation. Otherwise, use *regard*, *think*, *feel*, *believe*, or *suppose*. ## KEY TO REFERENCE WORKS: - Bernstein: The Careful Writer, T.M. Bernstein, Atheneum NY, 1968. - CGSM: Style Manual for Writers and Editors, Queen’s Printer, 1962. - Chambers: Chambers Twentieth Century Dictionary, Edinburgh, 1972. - COD: Concise Oxford Dictionary, OUP, 1969. - DCE: Dictionary of Canadian English, The Senior Dictionary, W.J. Gage Ltd, Toronto, 1967. - Mencken: The American Language, H.L. Mencken, Knopf, 1971 (Abridged). - MEU: A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, H.W. Fowler, Second Edition, OUP, 1965. - OED: Oxford English Dictionary. - Strunk: The Elements of Style, W. Strunk & E.B. White, Macmillan, 1972. - Treble: An ABC of English Usage, H.A. Treble & G.H. Vallins, OUP, 1965. - Vallins: Good English, G.H. Vallins, Pan, 1968. - Webster: Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, 1963. ## Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil Favourite Articles © Sa Majesté le Roi du chef du Canada, représenté par le ou la ministre des Services publics et de l’Approvisionnement Un outil créé et mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada ## Rechercher par thèmes connexes Vous voulez en apprendre davantage sur un thème abordé dans cette page? Cliquez sur un lien ci-dessous pour voir toutes les pages du Portail linguistique du Canada portant sur le thème choisi. 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