Category: Monday Muddle

Monday Muddle: marinade, marinate

Monday Muddle

Last week we saw that a space can make the difference between a noun and a verb. This week a single letter makes the difference. The more-frequent use of marinade as a verb in the last decade has led some dictionaries to accept it as an alternative, but it is still unacceptable to many. My recommendation, for the sake of clarity and to avoid harsh judgement from language purists, is to use marinate as the verb. Marinate has been in use as a verb since the 1640s.

Monday Muddle: marinade: (n) an acidic liquid, made of vinegar or wine with spices, used for soaking foods to flavour or tenderize them marinate: (v) to soak something in a marinade

Monday Muddle: set up, setup

Monday Muddle

If you can logically place a word between “set” and “up”, you need a space. For example, you can say that you need to set up the computer, and wonder whether there should be a space or not. But you can also say that you need to set the computer up. Now it’s obvious that you need the space. Either way, once you finish the job, you’ll have a great computer setup.

Monday Muddle: set up: (phrasal verb) arrange; construct; organize; make ready for use; start (a business) setup: (noun, adjective) organization, organizational; preparation, preparatory As a noun, setup is the result of setting something up. (e.g. a great camera setup) As an adjective, setup describes something that will be used in setting something up. (e.g. use the setup checklist)