Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words - Bill Bryson [48]
majority, like major, has been wearied by overuse, particularly in the expression “the vast majority of,” as in these three examples, all from authorities: “The vast majority of conditional sentences . . .” (Partridge); “In the vast majority of instances . . .” (Bernstein); “The vast majority of such mistakes . . .” (Fowler). Even when written by the most discriminating writers, “the vast majority of” seldom says more in four words than “most” says in one.
Majority should be reserved for describing the larger of two clearly divisible things, as in “A majority of the members voted for the resolution.” But even then a more specific description is usually better: “52 percent,” “almost two thirds,” “more than 70 percent,” etc. When there is no sense of a clear contrast with a minority (as in “The majority of his spare time was spent reading”), majority is always best avoided.
maleficence, malfeasance. The first means a propensity to cause hurt or harm. The second is a legal term describing wrongdoing.
Malory, Sir Thomas, for the fifteenth-century English author and compiler of Arthurian legends (notably Le Morte d’Arthur), but George Mallory (two l’s) for the Everest explorer.
Manila for the capital of the Philippines. The paper and envelopes are usually spelled lowercase: manila. See also PHILIPPINES.
manner born, to the. Not manor. The line is from Hamlet.
mantel, mantle. The first is the usual spelling for the frame around a fireplace (Burchfield insists upon it), the second for all other senses. Note also the spellings of the associated words mantelshelf and mantelpiece.
marginal is unobjectionable when used to describe something falling near a lower limit (“a marginal profit”). But it is a lame choice when all you mean is small or slight, as was the case here: “There has been a marginal improvement in relations between police and blacks in the community” (Guardian).
It is also worth noting that margin denotes the difference between two quantities, not their range. Thus if the Boston Red Sox were to beat the New York Yankees 26–0 (and one can always dream), the Red Sox would have won by a margin of twenty-six runs. They did not have “a margin of 26–0” or “a 26–0 margin.”
masterful, masterly. Most authorities continue to insist that we observe a distinction between these two—namely, that masterly should apply to that which is adroit and expert and masterful to that which is imperious and domineering. So in the following quotation masterly would have been the better word: “Leroy (Satchel) Paige, a masterful pitcher and baseball showman . . .” (Washington Post). As useful as the distinction might be, no leading dictionary insists on it, and most don’t even indicate that such a distinction exists. Moreover, it must be conceded that masterly often makes a clumsy adverb. Although it is grammatically correct to write, “He swims masterly” or even “He swims masterlily,” few writers would be content to do so. Masterly should perhaps be your first choice when you mean in the manner of a master, but to insist on it at the expense of euphony or clarity is overfussy and probably indefensible.
materialize is usually no more than a somewhat pompous synonym for occur, develop, or happen. If the urge to use it is irresistible, at least try to ensure that it is not qualifying the wrong noun, as it was here: “Hopes of an improvement in the second half of the year have not materialized” (Times). The hopes had not been realized; what had not materialized was the improvement.
Maudsley Hospital, London. Not Maude-.
Mauretania, Mauritania. The first is the spelling for the ancient African country and two famous Cunard ships. The second is the spelling of the modern African country formally known as the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
may well be. This expression frequently signals that what follows