Style Guide - Spelling & Terms
Stanstead College style favours "our" (neighbour) and "re" (centre) style
advisor
advertise, advertisement
among (not amongst)
analyze
behaviour
centre
cheque
co-curricular
coeducational
coordinator
co-operate
counsellor (but municipal councillor)
defence (but defensive )
email
enrol, enrolling, enrolled
enrolment
extracurricular
faceoff
finals (of a tournament)
focused, focusing
fundraising
grey
honours (but honorary)
interscholastic
intramural
mid-term
offence (but offensive)
online
organize
percent
playoff
power play
practice (noun or adjective)
practise (verb)
prize-giving
Quebec (no accent in English)
rigour
roommate
semifinal (of a tournament)
teammate
theatre
travelled, travelling
program
weekend
Common Confusions
affect = verb: to influence
effect = noun: a result (can sometimes be verb meaning "to bring about")
complementary = completing
complimentary = praising, free
faze = disorient
phase = a period of time
led = past tene of "to lead"
lead = metal or present tense of "to lead"
it's = it is
its = belongs to
onto = on top of or in contact with
on to = move forward (move on to the next subject)
that = introduces a defining clause, one which the subject can't do without: Students must take courses that will lead to university acceptance.
which = introduces a non-defining clause, adding additional information about the subject but not essential: Students may take the professional boxing option, which is offered every spring. There is usually a comma before which.
was = past tense of "to be"
were = used to wish or make a conditional statement: "If I were him, I would study more."
who = stands in for "he, she, they"
whom = stands in "him, her, them"
"Whom should be used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition. When in doubt, try this simple trick: If you can replace the word with “he”’ or “’she,” use who. If you can replace it with “him” or “her,” use whom. Who should be used to refer to the subject of a sentence. Whom should be used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition." - Grammarly Blog
See also: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/commonly-confused-words
Special Terms
Animation
Means “organized activities” but is a very Quebec-centric word. Avoid using in general communications to prevent confusion with “cartoon animation.” Instead, use organized activities or supervised activities.
Diploma
Graduating Grade 11 students receive the Quebec Secondary School Diploma. Grade 12 students receive the Stanstead College Grade 12 Diploma.
Exams
Refer to December exams, not Christmas exams.
French name of school
For French publications and publicity, refer to Stanstead College as Collège Stanstead.
advisor
advertise, advertisement
among (not amongst)
analyze
behaviour
centre
cheque
co-curricular
coeducational
coordinator
co-operate
counsellor (but municipal councillor)
defence (but defensive )
enrol, enrolling, enrolled
enrolment
extracurricular
faceoff
finals (of a tournament)
focused, focusing
fundraising
grey
honours (but honorary)
interscholastic
intramural
mid-term
offence (but offensive)
online
organize
percent
playoff
power play
practice (noun or adjective)
practise (verb)
prize-giving
Quebec (no accent in English)
rigour
roommate
semifinal (of a tournament)
teammate
theatre
travelled, travelling
program
weekend
Common Confusions
affect = verb: to influence
effect = noun: a result (can sometimes be verb meaning "to bring about")
complementary = completing
complimentary = praising, free
faze = disorient
phase = a period of time
led = past tene of "to lead"
lead = metal or present tense of "to lead"
it's = it is
its = belongs to
onto = on top of or in contact with
on to = move forward (move on to the next subject)
that = introduces a defining clause, one which the subject can't do without: Students must take courses that will lead to university acceptance.
which = introduces a non-defining clause, adding additional information about the subject but not essential: Students may take the professional boxing option, which is offered every spring. There is usually a comma before which.
was = past tense of "to be"
were = used to wish or make a conditional statement: "If I were him, I would study more."
who = stands in for "he, she, they"
whom = stands in "him, her, them"
"Whom should be used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition. When in doubt, try this simple trick: If you can replace the word with “he”’ or “’she,” use who. If you can replace it with “him” or “her,” use whom. Who should be used to refer to the subject of a sentence. Whom should be used to refer to the object of a verb or preposition." - Grammarly Blog
See also: https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/usage/commonly-confused-words
Special Terms
Animation
Means “organized activities” but is a very Quebec-centric word. Avoid using in general communications to prevent confusion with “cartoon animation.” Instead, use organized activities or supervised activities.
Diploma
Graduating Grade 11 students receive the Quebec Secondary School Diploma. Grade 12 students receive the Stanstead College Grade 12 Diploma.
Exams
Refer to December exams, not Christmas exams.
French name of school
For French publications and publicity, refer to Stanstead College as Collège Stanstead.
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