Bryson's Dictionary for Writers and Editors - Bill Bryson [40]
e.g., i.e. (Lat.) The first is an abbreviation of exempli gratia and means “for example,” as in “Some words are homonyms, e.g., blew and blue.” The second is the abbreviation for id est and means “that is” or “that is to say,” as in “He is pusillanimous, i.e., lacking in courage.”
eggplant. Commonly known elsewhere as aubergine.
Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
egoism, egotism. The first pertains to the philosophical notion that a person can prove nothing beyond the existence of his own mind. It is the opposite of altruism and is better left to contexts involving metaphysics and ethics. If all you wish to suggest is inflated vanity or preoccupation with the self, use egotism.
Eichmann, Adolf. (1906–1962) Notorious Nazi war criminal, head of Gestapo; captured in Argentina by Israeli agents in 1960 and tried and executed in Israel.
Eiffel Tower, Paris, but Eifel Mountains, Germany.
Eileithyia. Greek goddess of childbirth.
Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Eisenbahn (Ger.) Railroad.
Eisenhower, Dwight David. (1890–1969) U.S. general and president (1953–1961).
Eisenstaedt, Alfred. (1898–1995) German-born American photographer.
Eisenstein, Sergei. (1898–1948) Russian filmmaker.
eisteddfod. Welsh festival or competition of music or literature; pl. eisteddfods or (in Welsh) eisteddfodau.
either. Either suggests a duality and is almost always better avoided when the context involves quantities of more than two, as in “Decisions on Mansfield’s economy are now made in either Detroit, Pittsburgh, or New York.” Often in such constructions, either is unnecessary anyway; delete it and the sentence says no less. A separate problem with either is seen here: “But in every case the facts either proved too elusive or the explanations too arcane to be satisfactory.” Either should be placed before “the facts” or deleted; for a further discussion, see BOTH…AND. For a discussion of errors of number involving either, see NEITHER.
eke means to add to something in a meager way or with difficulty, not to gain a close but favorable result. A hungry person might eke out a supply of food, but a football team does not eke out a victory.
El Alamein/Al Alamayn. Egyptian village that gave its name to two battles in World War II.
El Dorado. Legendary city of gold.
Electra. In Greek mythology, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and the subject of plays by Sophocles, Euripedes, and Aeschylus. An Electra complex is an unnatural attachment to a father by a daughter.
electrolyte. A solution that conducts electricity.
elegy, eulogy. The first is a mournful poem; the second is a tribute to the dead.
elemental, elementary. Elemental refers to things that are basic or primary: “Physiology is an elemental part of a medical student’s studies.” Elementary means simple or introductory: “This phrase book provides an elementary guide to Spanish.”
elephantiasis. Condition of abnormal swelling caused by disease of the lymph nodes.
Elgin Marbles, British Museum, is pronounced with a hard g: el-gin, not el-jin.
elicit, extract, extort. These three are broadly synonymous, but are distinguished by the degree of force that they imply. Elicit, the mildest of the three, means to draw or coax out, and can additionally suggest an element of craftiness: you can elicit information without the informant being aware that he has divulged it. Extract suggests a stronger and more persistent effort, possibly involving threats or importuning. Extort is stronger still and suggests clear threats of violence or harm.
Eli Lilly. Not Lilley. U.S. pharmaceuticals company.
Eliot, George. Pen name of Mary Ann (later Marian) Evans (1819–1880), English author.
Eliot, T. S. (for Thomas Stearns) (1888–1965) American-born British poet, critic, and playwright; awarded Nobel Prize for Literature (1948).
Ellice Islands. Pacific island group; now called Tuvalu.
Elliott Bay, Seattle.
Elliott, Denholm. (1922–1992) British actor.
Ellis Island. Site of former immigration center in New York.
El Salvador. Central American