Common Errors Starting with Q

quantum leap

The thing about quantum leaps is that they mark an abrupt change from one state to a distinctly different one, with no in-between transitional states being possible. It makes sense to use “quantum le…

Read More

question vs ask

<p>Question is a sentence, phrase or word which asks for information, reply or response. It entails having doubts, interrogating and enquiring for the process of acquiring information.</p><pre>"The d…

Read More

queue

If you’re standing in a queue you’ll have plenty of time to ponder theunusual spelling of this word. Remember, it contains two “U’ s.”

Read More

quick claim vs quitclaim

The term for a legal document relinquishing a legal claim to some property is a “quitclaim deed.” It is not a “quick claim,” and “quitclaim” is a single word.

Read More

quiet vs quite

This is probably caused by a slip of the fingers more often than by a slip of the mental gears, but one often sees “quite” (very) substituted for “quiet” (shhh!). This is one of those common errors y…

Read More

quotation marks

The examples below are set off in order to avoid confusion over the use of single and double quotation marks.There are many ways to go wrong with quotation marks. They are often used ironically:She r…

Read More

quote

A passage doesn’t become a quote (or—better—“quotation”) until you’ve quoted it. The only time to refer to a “quote” is when you are referring to someone quoting something. When referring to the orig…

Read More