Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors - Bill Bryson [120]
together with, along with. With in both expressions is a preposition, not a conjunction, and therefore does not govern the verb. This sentence is wrong: “They said the man, a motor mechanic, together with a 22-year-old arrested a day earlier, were being questioned” (London Times). Make it “was being questioned.”
Togolese. Of or from Togo.
Tojo, Hideki. (1884–1948) Japanese prime minister (1941–1944), executed as war criminal.
Tolkien, J.R.R. (1892–1973) English philologist and author of fantasies; the initials stood for John Ronald Reuel.
Tolstoy, Count Leo. (1828–1910) Russian novelist.
tomato, pl. tomatoes.
tomorrow.
Toms River, New Jersey.
ton, tonne. There are two kinds of ton: a long ton (used principally in the United Kingdom), weighing 2,240 lbs./1,016 kg., and a short ton (used in the United States and Canada), weighing 2,000 lbs./907 kg. A tonne is the British term for what in America is normally called a metric ton; it weighs 2,204 lbs./1,000 kg.
tonnages of ships. Deadweight tonnage is the amount of cargo a ship can carry. Displacement tonnage is the weight of the ship itself. Gross tonnage measures the theoretical capacity of a ship based on its dimensions. When using any of these terms, it is only fair to give the reader some idea of what each signifies.
tonsillitis.
Tontons Macoute. Civilian militia in Haiti; supporters of the Duvalier regimes.
Tony Awards. Theatrical awards named for the actress and producer Antoinette Perry. They have been awarded since 1947. Pl. Tonys.
topsy-turvy.
Torino. Italian for Turin.
tormentor. Not -er.
tornadoes.
Torquemada, Tomás de. (1420–1498) Spanish monk who organized the Inquisition.
torsos.
tortuous, torturous. Tortuous means winding and circuitous (“The road wound tortuously through the mountains”). When used figuratively it usually suggests deviousness (“a tortuous tax avoidance scheme”). The word is thus better avoided if all you mean is complicated or convoluted. Torturous is the adjectival form of torture and describes the infliction of extreme pain.
Toscanini, Arturo. (1867–1957) Italian conductor.
total. Three points to note:
1. Total is redundant and should be deleted when what it is qualifying already contains the idea of a totality, as here: “[They] risk total annihilation at the hands of the massive Israeli forces now poised to strike at the gates of the city” (Washington Post).
2. The expression a total of, though common, is also generally superfluous: “County officials said a total of 84 prisoners were housed in six cells” (New York Times). Make it “officials said 84 prisoners.” An exception is at the start of sentences when it is desirable to avoid spelling out a large number, as in “A total of 2,112 sailors were aboard” instead of “Two thousand one hundred and twelve sailors were aboard.”
3. “A total of 45 weeks was spent on the study” (London Times) is wrong. As with “a number of” and “the number of,” the rule is to make it “the total of…was,” but “a total of…were.”
totaled, totaling.
to the tune of. A hackneyed circumlocution. “The company is being subsidized to the tune of $500 million a year” would be more succinct as “The company receives a subsidy of $500 million a year.”
Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de. (1864–1901) French painter; full name Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse-Lautrec-Monfa.
toupee. (No accent.)
Tourette syndrome (pref.), Tourette’s syndrome (alt.). Neurological disorder named for the French physician Georges Gilles de la Tourette (1859–1904).
Tournai, Belgium, but Tournay, France.
tournedos. (Sing. and pl.) Choice cut or cuts of beef.
tout à l’heure. (Fr.) Soon, just now, a moment ago.
tout de suite. (Fr.) Immediately.
tout le monde. (Fr.) Everybody.
tovarich/tovarish. Either is acceptable for the Russian word for comrade; in Russian, tovarishch.
toward, towards. The first is the preferred form in America, the second in Britain, but either is correct. Untoward, however, is the only accepted form in both.
toxemia. Blood