CORRECT USE OF COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS AND PHRASES

Correct Use of Commonly Confused Words and Phrases

It has been observed that some words and phrases are used incorrectly in APP’s
copy. The correct use of some of these expressions is explained below for
guideline and compliance. ‫اصول کے مطابق عمل‬

1. Enquire After vs Enquire About

‘Enquire after somebody’ is correct but ‘enquire about the health’ is incorrect.
Enquire after somebody means to ask for information about somebody, especially
about their health or about what they are doing. Example: Arshad enquired after
your son.

2. Beacon of Light vs Beacon of Hope

It is wrong to write ‘beacon of light.’
Beacon means a fire or light set up in a high or prominent position as a warning,
signal, or celebration. Examples: This hill is suitable for a beacon.
The new government is a beacon of hope for millions.

3. Phone Up or Phone Someone Up vs Telephoned

Phone up means to contact someone by telephone.
It is wrong to say: He telephoned me 15 minutes ago.
You say: He phoned me 15 minutes ago. Or he phoned him at work.
You can also say: He phoned me up with his concerns. She phoned them up and
demanded they redeliver ‫دوبارہ سپرد کرنا‬the painting. They phoned me up
immediately to say they were taking her to operation theatre. ‫ لے‬F‫وہ اسے ٓاپریشن تھیٹر‬
‫جارہے تھے۔‬

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4. Wreath vs Floral Wreath

The correct word is ‘wreath.’ It is wrong to say ‘floral wreath.’
Wreath means an arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring and
used for decoration or for laying on a grave.
For example: The president laid a wreath on the grave.
Mourners placed flowers and wreaths at the graves.

5. Tribute Vs Rich Tribute

It is wrong to say ‘rich tribute.’
Tribute is something that you do or say to show that you respect and admire
someone, especially in a formal situation.
Tribute (to somebody) is an act, a statement or a gift that is intended to show your
love or respect, especially for a dead person.
For example: The President paid tribute to (= expressed his admiration for) the
brave soldiers who had defended the country.
The concert was organized as a tribute to the singer who died last year.
Tributes flooded in ‫ میں خراج تحسین پیش ٓاگیا‬when her death was announced.
This book is a fitting tribute to the bravery of the pioneers. ‫راستہ دکھانے واال‬
‫یہ کتاب علمبرداروں کی بہادری کے لئے ایک خراج تحسین ہے۔‬
Replying, Ahmed thanked all for the good wishes, the tributes and the gifts.
Many travelled long distances to join in the tributes and pay their respects.
‫خراج تحسین میں شامل ہونے اور عقیدت پیش کرنے کے لئے بہت سے لوگوں نے طویل سفر کیا‬
Many people made the long journey from Karachi to Islamabad to pay their
respects and tributes.
‫بہت سے لوگوں نے اپنے احترام اور خراج عقیدت پیش کرنے کے لئے کراچی سے اسالم ٓاباد کا طویل‬
‫سفر کیا‬

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6. One Wheeling Vs Wheelie

Wheelie is a trick or manoeuvre ‫ دأو کرنا‬whereby a bicycle or motorcycle is ridden
for a short distance with the front wheel raised off the ground. ‫ تھوڑی‬F‫موٹرسائیکل‬
‫ اٹھا ہوا تھا‬F‫فاصلے پر سوار ہے اور سامنے کا پہی وہیل زمین سے اوپر‬
For example: I can do great wheelies on this motorbike.

7. Met vs Met With

In British English only the word ‘met’ is used for a meeting, while the Americans
say ‘met with.’
It is not APP style to write: The secretary health met with the prime minister.
Rather it should be written as: The secretary health met the prime minister.
In British English ‘met with’ means to experience something unpleasant.
For example: I heard she had met with an accident.
If you meet with any difficulty, just let me know. ‫مجھے بتاوو‬

8. One-To-One vs One-On-One
One-to-one and one-to-one have the same meanings, i.e. ‘between two people
only.’
In British English, one-to-one is used while in American English one-on-one is
used.
Please note one-to-one is written with hyphens.
For example: A one-to-one meeting.
Teachers do not have much time for one-to-one contact with their students.
There is no one-to-one correspondence.
If two people discuss something one-to-one, they discuss it directly, without
involving anyone else.

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9. Government of Pakistan vs Pakistan Government

Government of Pakistan is written with a capital G and P, but Pakistan government
is written with a small G. Similarly, you will write Government of Sindh and
Government of Punjab but Sindh government and Punjab government
government should be abbreviated as govt.
For example: The government is expected to announce its tax proposals today.
She has resigned from the government.
The governments of many countries are giving medical facilities.
Government of Pakistan is giving medical facilities to its people.
10. In The Wake Of vs In Wake Of
The correct idiom is “in the wake of” and not “in wake of’
If something happens in the wake of something else, it happens after and often
because of it.
For example: There have been demonstrations on the streets in the wake of ‫نتیجے‬
‫ کے طور پر‬the recent bomb attack.
The committee was set up in the wake of the inquiry.

11. The Armed Forces vs The armed forces (or services)

The armed forces mean a country’s army, navy and air force.
‘the armed forces’ is written in small letters.
It is incorrect to write ‘the Armed Forces, or ‘armed forces’ (dropping the word
‘the’)
For example: The ceremony was attended by top brass representing all the armed
forces (or services).
As soldiers, we are members of the armed services, not the social services.
Nevertheless, Pakistan Army, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Air Force would be written
in upper and lower letters.
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12. Free of Charge vs Free of Cost

Free of charge means without payment.
The correct phrase is ‘free of charge.’ It is incorrect to write ‘free of cost.’
For example: We will send you our booklet free of charge.

13. Every Nook And Corner vs Every Nook And Cranny

Every nook and corner means every part, or aspect of something.
The phrase every nook and corner is also written as every nook and cranny.

14. Appealed vs Appealed To

Appeal to means request. The word ‘to’ must follow the word ‘appeal” for a
request. For example: The police have issued an appeal to the public to stay away
from the area over the weekend.
It is incorrect to say: The president appealed the people to stay at home.
The correct sentence is: The president appealed to the people to stay at home.

15. The United Nations vs The United Nation

The correct name is the United Nations (with S).

16. Centigrade Vs Celsius

Centigrade and celsius have the same meanings.
The British English uses centigrade, while the American English uses Celsius, so
APP should use centigrade.

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16. Placard vs Playcard Play Card

The correct word is placard.
Placard means a printed or handwritten notice, or sign for public display, either
fixed to a wall or carried during a demonstration.
For example: The students carried placards and posters on water conservation.

17. Standard Operating Procedure vs standard operating procedure

Write ‘standard operating procedure’ in small letters.
It means the usual method followed in doing a particular thing.
For example: Running a credit check before opening new accounts is standard
operating procedure.

18. Gulf:
It means, a deep inlet ‫ چیز کو کاٹ کر اس میں جوڑ دی جائے راہ‬F‫ وہ چیز جو کسی دوسری‬of
the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth such as The Persian Gulf.
For example: The Arab states of the Persian Gulf are Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

19. The UAE vs UAE.

The is always written before UAE. Similarly, the United Kingdom, the United
States of America, the Netherlands, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

20. Ulema vs Ulemas

Ulema is a body of Muslim scholars who are recognized as having specialist
knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology.
Ulema is a plural of Aalim. So it is incorrect to write ulemas.
So the correct use is: Ulema should come forward with their opinions on this issue.

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21. Flour vs Atta

Since the meaning of Atta is found in English language, so the word flour should
be used and not atta.

22. Direction vs directive

Direction means a guidance of someone or something, while directive means an
official instruction.
It should be noted that courts give directions.
For example: What are the court directions?
The government has issued new directives on food hygiene.

23. Emergency Meeting vs Emergent Meeting

Emergency means a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring
immediate action.
For example: An emergency (not emergent) meeting was held between the
president and the prime minister.
The aircraft crashed while trying to make an emergency landing at Karachi airport.
Emergent means in the process of coming into being or becoming prominent.
For example: Too much pressure now could derail ‫ پٹری سے اترنا‬Pakistan’s
emergent democracy.

24. Piece of Mind vs Peace of Mind

The correct usage is "peace" of mind, meaning calmness and tranquility. The
expression "piece of mind" actually would suggest doing sections of mind.

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25.First Come, First Serve vs First Come, First Served

First come first serve suggests that the first person to arrive has to serve all who
follow. The actual phrase is "first-come, first-served," to indicate that the
participants will be served in the order in which they arrive.

Ends

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