satellite
SATELLITE
Originally a satellite was a follower. Astronomers applied the term to smaller bodies orbiting about
planets, like our moon. Then we began launching artificial satellites. Since few people were familiar
with the term in its technical meaning, the adjective “artificial” was quickly dropped in popular
usage. So far so bad. Then television began to be broadcast via satellite. Much if not all television
now wends its way through a satellite at some point, but in the popular imagination only broadcasts
received at the viewing site via a dish antenna aimed at a satellite qualify to be called “satellite
television.” Thus we see motel signs boasting:
AIR CONDITIONING,*
SATELLITE
People say things like “the fight” s going to be shown on satellite.” The word has become a pathetic
fragment of its former self. The technologically literate speaker will avoid these slovenly
abbreviations.
*At least motels have not yet adopted the automobile industry” s truncation of “air conditioning” to
“air."
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/satellite.html03/09/2005 15:39:53
say/tell
SAY/TELL
You say “Hello, Mr. Chips” to the teacher, and then tell him about what you did last summer. You
can’t “tell that” except in expressions like "go tell that to your old girlfriend."
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schizophrenic
SCHIZOPHRENIC
In popular usage, “schizophrenic” (and the more slangy and now dated “schizoid") indicates “split
between two attitudes.” This drives people with training in psychiatry crazy. “Schizo-” does indeed
mean “split,” but it is used here to mean “split off from reality.” Someone with a Jekyll-and-Hyde
personality is suffering from “multiple personality disorder” (or, more recently “dissociative identity
disorder” ), not “schizophrenia."

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seam/seem
SEAM/SEEM
"Seem” is the verb, “seam” the noun. Use “seam” only for things like the line produced when two
pieces of cloth are sewn together or a thread of coal in a geological formation.
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second of all
SECOND OF ALL
SECOND
“First of all” makes sense when you want to emphasize the primacy of the first item in a series, but it should not be followed by “second of all,” where
the expression serves no such function. And “secondly” is an adverbial form that makes no sense at all in enumeration (neither does “firstly” ). As you
go through your list, say simply “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc.
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/second.html03/09/2005 15:39:55
saw/seen
SAW/SEEN
In standard English, it’s “I” ve seen” not “I” ve saw.” The helping verb "have” (abbreviated here to
“” ve” ) requires “seen.” In the simple past (no helping verb), the expression is “I saw,” not “I seen.”
“I” ve seen a lot of ugly cars, but when I saw that old beat-up Rambler I couldn’t believe my eyes."
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/seen.html03/09/2005 15:39:55
select/selected
SELECT/SELECTED
“Select” means “special, chosen because of its outstanding qualities.” If you are writing an ad for a
furniture store offering low prices on some of its recliners, call them “selected recliners,” not “select
recliners,” unless they are truly outstanding and not just leftovers you’re trying to move out of the
store.
List of errors
file:///C|/Temp/livres/commonerrors/errors/select.html03/09/2005 15:39:55