Preventive/Preventative 3-15-04

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="042d05a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Big Ring Media Team, Inc.</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Big Ring Media Team, Inc."><B>home</B></A></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="043d2123.jpg"> <div> Click on this link to return to <A HREF="id40.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Word Watch by Subject">Word Watch by Subject</A>.</div> <div> Click on this link to go to <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Word Watch by Date">Word Watch by Date</A>.</div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Preventive/Preventative 3-15-04</I></div> <div> We've been admonished for years that there is no such word as “preventative.” The correct word is “preventive.” Our observation here at Big Ring is that “preventative” is about to become accepted usage. </div> <div> Not by us, however. We generally advise against being an early adopter of usage that results from sloppiness or limited literacy. For many readers, “preventative” will remain a mark of carelessness for years to come. We'd rather they not think of us, our clients, or our clients' products and services in that light. We're sticking with “preventive.”</div> </td> </tr></table></body>