Which vs. That and Other Perplexities
By Marion Marking

Marion Marking is editor in chief at ChinaBusiness-Philippines magazine, which publishes monthly in English and Chinese and is available at National Bookstore, Powerbooks, Fully Booked, leading newsstands nationwide, and online via http://ChinaBusinessPhilippines.com. She can be reached at m.marking@fairnewsmedia.com.

It's funny how a word can be so often misspelled that the misspelling sometimes becomes as popular as the actual word!

Take the word MINUSCULE. Taken from the Latin “minus,” meaning “less,” minuscule is commonly spelled MINISCULE. Perhaps, because “mini” means “small.”

“Miniscule” has occurred in print for so long (since the end of the 19th century; while “minuscule” was first used 200 years before that) that some regard it as a variant spelling. It even has its own entry in Merriam-Webster.

Given the origin of the word minuscule (the Latin “minus”), most reputable grammar authorities reject “miniscule.” I'd say they're right.

Began vs. Begun

Began is the past tense of begin. It refers to something that occurred before now.

Example: He began his speech two hours ago; it appears he was only warming up!

Begun is the past participle of begin. It refers to something you've started, are doing, or are still doing.

Example: We've only just begun to live.

Which vs. That

If you want a very brief usage how-to on Which vs. That, just remember: If it's after a comma, the word you're looking for is most likely “which.”

The reason for this is “which” is intended to set off a nonrestrictive clause (a subordinate clause or phrase that describes but doesn't restrict the meaning of the noun, phrase, or clause it modifies).

Example: Halitosis, which can be caused by poor dental hygiene, a dry mouth, sinus problems, or bacteria mixed with decaying food particles caught in the teeth, is common but easily preventable.

Even if you removed “which can be caused by...particles caught in the teeth,” the remaining phrase (Halitosis is common but easily preventable.) can stand alone.

Chinese Filipino vs. Filipino Chinese

This is a usage issue I've encountered many times. I think nationalistic fervor is somewhat responsible for the use of “Filipino Chinese” when referring to Tsinoys (Filipinos of Chinese ethnicity).

At ChinaBusiness-Philippines, we use Chinese Filipino sans the hyphen. Here's why.

Both “Filipino Chinese” and “Filipino-Chinese” violate common sense in US English usage. In the following phrases, the adjective comes before the noun it modifies:

African American
Irish Catholic
Hardworking Chinese
Rich Arab

In Chinese Filipino, “Chinese” is the adjective that describes the noun “Filipino.” We use it sans hyphen—as recommended by the Chicago Manual of Style—even when used as an adjective, as in “Chinese Filipino community.”

Exceptions are phrases like Chinese-Filipino Buddhist, where the hyphen is intended to link “Filipino” to “Chinese.” The consecutive capitalizations may create confusion since “Filipino” could very well serve as an adjective to “Buddhist.”