December 14, 2006: Issue 168
Look-alike has a single hyphen. It’s not look-a-like. Remember the root words look and alike; there’s no such word as a-like.
Follow-up: We asked for hints to help remember the difference between principal (money or a leader) and principle (a code or doctrine). Quite a few people suggested remembering that your school principal is your pal. And thanks to freelance CE Angela Renkoski, who suggested that PayPal can help you associate -pal with money.
Contest: Speaking of look-alikes, I’ve been told that I resemble Velma from the Scooby-Doo cartoons. Do you look like a celebrity? Does someone in your department? E-mail us by 5 p.m. Monday. Our favorite pairing wins a prize.
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