2022
CPUT Style Guide
affect, effect
“Affect”, verb, means “cause a change in, has an influence on”: e.g. “Some plants are easily affected by cold.” More often than not, “effect” occurs as a noun, meaning “result, outcome”, e.g. “The disastrous effect of acid rain on the environment is clear.” In formal English, “effect” can also be used as a verb meaning “to bring about” or “to accomplish”: e.g. “The new monetary policy has effected great improvements in the economy.”
affidavit
Note spelling
AIDS
Acronym for acquired immune deficiency syndrome; takes capitals, e.g. HIV/AIDS
allude, elude
“Allude”, verb, means to refer to something indirectly “Elude”, verb, means to not be caught by or to avoid someone or something; or a thought that you cannot remember; or something that you do not succeed in achieving
alternate, alternative
“Alternate”, verb, means to happen or exist one after the other repeatedly “Alternate”, adjective, means with first one thing, then another thing, and then the first thing again “Alternative”, adjective, means a second or further choice
all together, altogether
“All together”, adverb, means to be together in a single group
alumna
Female former member (of college, etc.); not italicised
alumnae
Plural form for female-only former members (of college, etc.); not italicised
alumni
Plural form for either male-only or mixed-gender former members (of college, etc.); not italicised
alumnus
Male former member (of college, etc.); not italicised
among, between
“Among” means “surrounded by and associated with”, e.g. “Children among the crowd were the most taken with the story.”
“Altogether”, adverb, means “completely” or “in total”
“Between” refers to the position of something in relation to two other points, both literally and figuratively, e.g. “The child walked between her two brothers.”; and “There is a fine balance between freedom of speech and libel.” (OED)
7
