Problematic Practice

see also type composition, typography

comma splices are a problematic practice

rhetorical questions are are useful to attract attention, but should not be used to prove a point

using a full term after defining an acronym is a problematic practice

not citing sources; in technical writing, when information is not referenced, it is taken to be an evidence-based opinion or common knowledge

improperly using a similar word to the one meant is a problematic practice

examples

• number and amount
• fewer and less
• imply and infer
• if and whether
• can and may
• simple and simplistic
• continually and continuously
• later and latter
• discreet and discrete
• appeared and seemed
• principle and principal
• classic and classical
• precede and proceed
• farther and further
• complement and compliment
• among and between

examples

examples

• science says that ... is the only way to ... science doesn't say anything, and it is unlikely that there is only one way to do something
• our cutting-edge editorial software was designed to replace an editor. it is designed to, but does it really work?
• I will do whatever it takes to beat the competition and make sure we are first on the road. but what about safety? the product will likely be rushed
• the cases of the deadly COVID-19 virus are soaring. deadly makes it seem like the death rate compared to the infection rate is high, but it isn't the case with COVID
• the amount of people who continuously use the word literally [...] use number instead of amount and contitually instead of continuously