Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Write It Right ~ cited, sited, sighted

I read on someone's blog (that muddled someone shall remain nameless) that a person had "sited a book."  That's when I decided it's time for another Write It Right post.  Today's words are cited, sited, and sighted.  First, notice that I'm using them all as verbs.
cite
–verb (used with object), cit·ed, cit·ing.
1. to quote (a passage, book, author, etc.), esp. as an authority: He cited the Constitution in his defense.
2. to mention in support, proof, or confirmation; refer to as an example: He cited many instances of abuse of power.

site
–verb (used with object), sit·ed, sit·ing.
1. to place in or provide with a site; locate.
2. to put in position for operation, as artillery: to site a cannon.

sight
–verb (used with object), sighted, sighting.
1. to see, glimpse, notice, or observe: to sight a ship to the north.
The blogger's usage of sited means a person had placed a book somewhere.  What she meant was that someone had cited (quoted or referred to) a book.  I rather doubt that the muddler reads my blog, but if she does, maybe she'll sight something worth knowing.

This Write It Right post is part of my new series about words and writing.

3 comments:

Helen's Book Blog said...

Very good! I should do a post on my personal irritation: people who use "myself" incorrectly (as in "feel free to call myself if you have questions). Aaargh!

Anonymous said...

Thanks, everyone can use a refresher course.

Bonnie Jacobs said...

Myself agrees with you, Helen! LOL. Maybe someday I myself should post something about the correct usage of reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, ourselves).

Whaddaya think, Madge? I mean, you yourself. Would that be fun?