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dad or Dad?
depends: "Go and ask your Dad.", "That's his dad."
data is or data are?
data are: The word data is actually a plural, and most people will expect it to be followed by the plural are, even if we use the word as a collective noun (therefore singular) like information. It might sound strange, but that's the way it is.
data set or dataset?
dataset: .
at the dead of night or in the dead of night?
In the US the only option is in the dead of night. While this is also the most commonly used form in the UK, at the dead of night does occur and is accepted as a variant.
deaf ears
Avoid using this phrase.
debateable or debatable?
The standard spelling in all forms of English is debatable.
decimate
The debate about the "true" meaning of decimate has gone on for at least 150 years – rather, some have tried to argue that its one and only meaning is "reduce by a tenth". This battle futile batte has long been lost.
Meanwhile, the 21st Century battle over the meaning is being fought over other matters. In British English its sole meaning is reduce substantially (often with great force). This same meaning is true also in US English, except that it also appears to endorse the meaning raze to the ground, which is not recognised by all.
Also not recognised in British or US English is the incorrect use of decimate to mean destroyed completely. This has never been correct, nor has the recent meaning as a synonym of devasted. Do not write: the fans were decimated by the news.
defence or defense?
The UK spelling is defence and the US spelling is defense.
defuse or diffuse?
You defuse a bomb. Diffuse means spread around.
Democratic party or Democrat party?
It always has been the Democratic party. Democrat party is incorrect.
dependent or dependant?
A dependant (noun) is someone who is dependent (adjective) on someone else, like a young child.
desert or dessert?
The desert is full of sand and dessert is usually full of sugar.
desiccated or dessicated?
The only correct spelling is desiccated.
diaeresis or diaresis?
The British spelling is diaeresis and the American spelling is diaeresis (or diaeresïs with an ï).
diagrammed or diagramed?
Unlike program/programme Britsh and US spelling share the same spelling of diagram. However, they do differ in diagrammed and diagramming (UK), and diagramed and diagraming (US).
dialling or dialing?
The Britsh spelling is dialling, the US spelling is dialing.
different from or different than?
Only use different from. Don't write different to or different than.
digitalisation or digitisation?
It's easy to see how all things digital might lead to talk of 'digitalisation' (sic), but the word is digitisation.
the disabled
Avoid this term. Disabled people or person is OK.
disc or disk?
Use the word disc for something flat and circular, as well as the optical format for storing data (compact disc), while magnetic variety of disk a is used for the type involving a computer. In the US, there is only disk.
discreet or discrete?
Discreet is for circumspect, while discrete is separate.
disinterested or uninterested?
depends: Uninterested means to not care or be interested; disinterested means to have no pre-existing or vested interest in something, which means that they have an unbiased or neutral position in the matter.
distances
It's not small distance, it's short distance.
domestic flight or internal flight?
domestic flight: No matter how many advertisements you see advertising them, don't be tempted to try an internal flight, it might hurt.
dos and don'ts
Not to be spelt "do's and don'ts".
dot-com boom/bubble or dotcom boom/bubble?
dotcom bubble:
at the double or on the double?
In the both the US and the UK, on the double is the norm. In the UK, the variant at the double is sometimes used.
downplay or play down?
The Americans may use downplay all the time. In Britain, careful writers make sure that they only write or say play down, and it does not make you seem conservative or boring for using it.
down the years or through the years?
Down the years is more common in the UK than in the US, where through the years is the preferred phrase.
duct tape
It is not spelt as duck tape.
due to
......
due to or because?
......
dwarfs or dwarves?
The plural of dwarf is dwarfs. Dwarves is the UK variant used for fairytales only.
