The following list includes easily confused words, as well as the preferred spelling or usage for words commonly used in Binghamton University writing.
Comments or additions? If you have comments about the guide or wish to suggest an addition, deletion or change, contact Natalie Blando-George in University Communications and Marketing at ngeorge@binghamton.edu.
| Preferred term/spelling | Over this |
|---|---|
|
acknowledgment |
acknowledgement |
|
advisor |
adviser |
|
afterward |
afterwards |
|
amid |
amidst |
|
archaeology |
archeology |
|
artwork |
artworks |
|
Bearcats |
Lady Bearcats |
|
Binghamton University |
BU, SUNY-B |
|
break down (v.) |
breakdown or break-down |
|
breakdown (n. and adj.) |
break down or break-down |
|
break in (v.) |
break-in |
|
break-in (adj.) |
break in |
|
break up (v.) |
breakup or break-up |
|
breakup (n. and adj.) |
break up or break-up |
|
build up (v.) |
buildup or build-up |
|
buildup (n. and adj.) |
build up or build-up |
|
campus wide (adv.) |
campus-wide or campuswide |
|
campus-wide (adj.) |
campus wide or campuswide |
|
canceled |
cancelled |
|
canceling |
cancelling |
|
cancellation |
cancelation |
|
cannot |
can not |
|
catalog |
catalogue |
|
chair |
chairman, chairwoman or chairperson |
|
check in (v.) |
checkin or check-in |
|
check-in (n. and adj.) |
check in or checkin |
|
check out (v.) |
checkout or check-out |
|
checkout (n. and adj.) |
check out or check-out |
|
check up (v.) |
checkup or check-up |
|
checkup (n.) |
check up or check-up |
|
childcare |
child care or child-care |
|
clean room |
cleanroom |
|
clean up (v.) |
cleanup or clean-up |
|
cleanup (n. and adj.) |
clean up or clean-up |
|
corequisite |
co-requisite |
|
coursework |
course work or course-work |
|
criterion (sing.) |
criteria |
|
criteria (pl.) |
criterion |
|
cut off (v.) |
cutoff or cut-off |
|
cutoff (n. and adj.) |
cut off or cut-off |
|
database |
data base |
|
datathon |
data-thon |
|
daycare |
day care or day-care |
|
degree-seeking |
degree seeking |
|
disc (phonograph records, optical and laser-based devices, brakes) |
disk |
|
disk (computer-related and medical references) |
disc |
|
download |
down load or down-load |
|
|
|
|
everyday (adj.) |
every day |
|
every day (adv.) |
everyday |
|
farther (physical distance) |
further |
|
first |
firstly |
|
firsthand |
first hand or first-hand |
|
first-come, first-served |
first-come, first-serve |
|
flier (aviator or handout) |
flyer |
|
follow up (v.) |
followup or follow-up |
|
follow-up (n. and adj.) |
followup or follow up |
|
forward |
forwards |
|
first-year student/students |
freshman/freshmen |
|
frontlines |
front lines |
|
full-time (adj.) |
full time or fulltime |
|
fundraiser |
fund raiser or fund-raiser |
|
fundraising |
fund raising or fund-raising |
|
further (time or matter of degree) |
farther |
|
hackathon |
hack-a-thon |
|
hand-held |
handheld or handheld |
|
healthcare |
health care or health-care |
|
homepage |
home page |
|
internet |
Internet |
|
judgment |
judgement |
|
kickoff (n. and adj.) |
kick off or kick-off |
|
kick off (v.) |
kickoff or kick-off |
|
language |
foreign language |
|
lifespan (n. and adj.) |
life span or life-span |
|
lifelong |
life long or life-long |
|
lifestyle |
life style or life-style |
|
lifetime |
life time or life-time |
|
livestream |
live stream, live-stream |
|
livestreamed |
live streamed, live-streamed |
|
livestreaming |
live streaming, live-streaming |
|
login (n.) |
log in or log-in |
|
log in (v.) |
login or log-in |
|
logoff (n.) |
log off or log-off |
|
log off (v.) |
logoff or log-off |
|
logon (n.) |
log on or log-on |
|
log on (v.) |
logon or log-on |
|
newsgroup |
news group or news-group |
|
nonprofit |
non-profit |
|
offline |
off line or off-line |
|
ongoing |
on going |
|
online |
on line or on-line |
|
pre-health |
prehealth |
|
pre-med |
premed |
|
premier (adj.) |
premiere |
|
premiere (n.) |
premier |
|
prerequisite |
pre-requisite |
|
preventive |
preventative |
|
regardless |
irregardless |
|
résumé (employment history document) |
resume |
|
runner-up (runners-up) |
runner up or runnerup (runners up or runnersup) |
|
second |
secondly |
|
second-guess (v.) |
second guess |
|
second guess (n.) |
second-guess |
|
secondhand (adj. and adv.) |
second hand |
|
send-off (n.) |
sendoff or send off |
| send off (v.) | send-off or sendoff |
|
smart car (i.e., the category of car; there is a brand of smart care named Smart) |
smart-car or smartcar |
|
smartphone |
smart phone or smart-phone |
|
smartwatch |
smart watch or smart-watch |
|
start up (v.) |
startup or start-up |
|
startup (n. and adj.)* |
start-up or start up* |
|
student |
coed |
|
T-shirt |
T shirt, tee-shirt or tee shirt |
|
theater (art form or facility) |
theatre |
|
theatre (University dept. or degree) |
theater |
|
third |
thirdly |
|
to |
in order to |
|
toward |
towards |
|
underway |
under way |
|
wastewater |
waste water or waste-water |
|
web (internet) |
Web |
|
webpage |
web page, Web page, Webpage |
|
website |
web site, Web site, Website |
| well-being | wellbeing, well being |
| Wi-Fi | Wifi, Wi-fi or wi-fi |
|
X-ray |
x-ray |
|
3D |
3-D |
|
5K, 10K (run or walk) |
5k, 5-k or 5-K; 10k, 10-k or 10-K |
|
401K |
401k, 401-k or 401-K |
*Exception: Innovative Technologies Complex Start-Up Suite
