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Although the only published photograph of him was taken in 1961, Thomas Pinchbeck is recognised by many critics as America’s most important writer. After reportedly spending the past twenty years as a near recluse in a farmhouse in upstate New York, publishing insiders believe that Pinchbeck is preparing his new novel for release this spring. Even Pinchbeck, however, may be forced to accommodate a promotional machine that is loathe to pass up a chance to drum up publicity. There are even rumours of an interview with Oprah Winfrey, whose imprimatur can propel a book to the top of the best-seller list.

“After reportedly spending the past twenty years as a near recluse in a farmhouse in upstate New York, publishing insiders…” This is a classic example of a dangling modifier, in which the verb in the opening clause of the sentence does not “modify” the correct subject in the main clause. In this example, the sentence could be read as saying publishing insiders, rather than the author, spent the past twenty years in a farmhouse in upstate New York. To rectify the sentence, we need to ensure that Pinchbeck becomes the subject of the participle: “After reportedly spending the last twenty years in a farmhouse in upstate New York, Pinchbeck is preparing his new novel…”

“…that is loathe to pass up…” Loath or loth (a variant spelling favoured by the Economist) is the correct form of the adjective implying unwillingness or reluctance to do something: I am loath to spend money tonight. Loathe is the verb used to express extreme dislike or disgust for: I loathe that insipid song!
 

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What Oprah’s audience will make of Pinchbeck’s book is anyone’s guess. Over the decades, critics have accused Pinchbeck’s books of being obscure, characterised by technical jargon, improbable plots, and too many characters. The author’s advocates argue that the novels, especially his 1973 magnum opus Armageddon Next Wednesday, are important because their principle themes continue to remain relevant to successive generations of readers.

“…principle themes…” This is a mistake that even the most accomplished writer can make. (I’m saying that because I have come across it in some my writing.) A principle is a core belief or fundamental truth. It would be against my principles to reject the truth of Darwinian principles. In contrast, principal as an adjective and a noun can mean several things: the most important (Munster’s principal city is Cork), a person holding the most important position in an organisation (a school principal), or the money on which interest is paid. (The word can also be used in a legal context to describe the person or institution from which an agent derives authority.)
 

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Dr. Daniel Zevon, lecturer in comparative literature at the University of Vermont, argues that Pinchbeck’s new novel, tentatively titled The World’s Fair, compliments his earlier work by showing how seemingly inconsequential events in the past have shaped today’s world. Set during the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, Pinchbeck’s book appears part of a trend in publishing. Other novels by major authors this year mine historic details from the early 20th century to furnish source material for their narratives.

“..compliments his earlier work…” Again, this is an example of confusing similar words . Whereas a “compliment” is a polite expression of praise, a “complement” adds to, or enhances, something else. A dry white wine is the perfect complement for this fish. “Complement” should be used as a verb in the extract above, as the critic is trying to state that Pinchbeck’s new novel both fits in with, and adds a new dimension to, his existing work.
 
“…historic details…” The adjective “historic” is applied to denote something famous or important in history—for example, President Kennedy’s historic 1961 speech before the Berlin Wall. In contrast, “historical” describes events that took place in the past, whether famous or not. We need to understand the forgotten historical factors that led to war.

To get a clearer idea of when to employ historic or historical, it might help to know that you could use “historic” to describe an event that’s still taking place. This is shaping up to be a historic match, Jim. The match in question can be described as “historical” only after the newsprint reporting it has long since turned yellow.

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Intended as a symbol of its tenant’s financial power and economic success, the Anglo Hibernia Bank Tower now provides the most visible sign of the bank’s spectacular fall from grace. When the building was conceived in the heady boom years at the start of the decade, bank executives overseeing the project spared no expense. For a start, they hired M.I. Ping, the world-renowned architect who has won many kudos for his pioneering work in North America and Europe.

“…won many kudos…” Kudos has become a fashionable phrase, dropped into paragraphs as a novelty synonym for “tokens of praise.” But the “s” at the end is misleading.  Kudos is not a plural but a singular noun, meaning in Greek “glory” (according to Fowler) or “praise.”  

The correct pronunciation of the word (KOO-das) makes clearer its singular nature.
 

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Planned as the bank’s headquarters, the tower was to house 1,400 staff on 14 floors. But as well as providing office space for hardworking office drones, the building was to accommodate expensive apartments, a gym, and a cluster of retail outlets. The top floor—the 40th—was going to feature an exclusive bar. The plans envisaged floor-to-ceiling windows, long leather couches, and a water feature behind the marble-counter bar—a luxuriant setting in which the city’s cocktail-sipping elite could mingle.

“…hardworking office drones…” Perhaps it is the increasing use of pilot-less aircraft, known as “drones,” that has led people to understand this word as signifying an automaton that mechanically performs assigned tasks.
In the bee world, however, a drone doesn’t work at all. Leaving the grind of collecting pollen and constructing honeycombs to the worker bees, drones have the single task of fertilizing the queen. Not exactly back-breaking.

In a tribute to this indolent existence, the comic novelist P.G. Wodehouse created the fictional Drones Club, in which Bertie Wooster and other affluent layabouts were members.

“….a luxuriant setting…” The adjective “luxuriant” denotes something growing profusely, such as jungle undergrowth or a head of hair. Discerning bar-flies are more likely to prefer luxurious surroundings to luxuriant ones (stray tendrils might flop into their martinis). 
 

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Difficulties in the bank’s loan book began to emerge only weeks after the foundations were poured. Such has been the speed of the collapse in confidence that only five floors were partially constructed when the government stepped in to nationalise the organisation. The bare cement shell of what was to be the city’s “first landmark skyscraper” is now wrapped in plastic cladding—nobody can say when it will be removed. 

“The bare cement shell…” Cement is a powdery substance that is typically composed of limestone, clay, and gypsum. It is used as a “binder” in a concrete mixture into which water, ash, and aggregates can be added. A cement wall, unlike a concrete one, would vanish in the first strong breeze.
 

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Trento Quarantine’s latest collaboration with Mexican director Roberto Banderas is likely to stir up more controversy than their last venture together, Killing Me Softly.  According to the handful who have seen it, Quarantine’s and Banderas’s new film, Poco Loco, pushes the envelope in cinematic gore.

“Quarantine’s and Banderas’s new film…” is an example of how confusing it can be when using the “’s” form to indicate ownership. If both directors had made a film each, it would be accurate to write “Quarantine’s and Banderas’s new films.” But in this case the two worked together on a single film, so the correct thing to do is add the “’s” to the end of the last name in the partnership.  Here, it would be “Quarantine and Banderas’s new film”. 

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It is arguable that the directors have done their upmost to shock audiences in an effort to win back fans who were unimpressed by the relatively low body count in Killing Me Softly.  Critics were also ambiguous about the film’s love story, which some dismissed as sentimental.

“…the directors have done their upmost…” Although used all the time in conversation, “upmost” is not the correct word for such contexts.  Suggesting the highest or most prominent position occupied, “upmost” is a form of the more commonly used “uppermost.” (“Gonzalez said that the safety of the public is always upmost in his mind and in the minds of his officers when dealing with cases of this importance.”)

In contrast, “utmost”—which should be used in the above paragraph—suggests doing all that you possible can in pursuit of a goal.

 “Critics were also ambiguous about…”  It should be “Critics were also ambivalent about…” There is often confusion about the difference between ambiguous and ambivalent.  As a rule of thumb, things are sometimes ambiguous whereas people can be ambivalent.

For example, when asked her views on bank bailouts, a left-wing minister could give an ambiguous answer to avoid embarrassing the government (which has just spent billions nationalising a major bank). Supporters have an ambivalent attitude to this politician: they know she is fighting against the policy behind the scenes but they are disappointed she is towing the line in public.

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With hardcore fans of Quarantine and Banderas pouring over early press reports and blog postings, the film is likely to have a major opening when it is finally released this June.  In the meantime, the picture faces a torturous journey through the film classification process as members of the Motion Picture Association of America and the directors haggle over scenes that might have to be cut. 

“With hardcore fans of Quarantine and Banderas pouring over…”. You pour milk over breakfast cereal and the rain pours down during a storm, but you pore over the words on a page when reading them carefully. 

“…the picture faces a torturous journey…” Unless members of Motion Picture Association of America are planning to hold lit cigarettes against the print of Poco Loco, the film does not face a torturous journey but a tortuous one.  A torturous experience might involve being stretched on a rack, having thumbscrews applied to your hands, or sitting through the results segment of Pop Idol.  The adjective tortuous (with only one “r”) is derived from the Latin tortus, meaning twisting. So a tortuous route is likely to take you from A to B via G, H, J, X, and Z.

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Among industry insiders, the general consensus is that Quarantine and Banderas will be lucky if their picture, in its uncut form, receives an R certificate. 

Pedants feel like violently twisting their steering wheels to face the oncoming traffic whenever the phrase “general consensus” floats out of their car speakers. Why? Well, a consensus is the “collective opinion” of a group of people.  By its very nature a consensus is general.