may, might, can. indicates permission or possibility. indicates the ability or “May” “Can” power to do something. Example: You may leave whenever you wish. She might be able to start work in the fall. He can be trusted to carry out the assignment. mean, median, norm, average. The is an intermediate figure between two extremes. “mean” The temperature of the day, which had a high of 56 degrees and a Example: mean low of 34 degrees, was 45. The is the middle number of points in a series arranged in order of size. “median” Example: The median grade in the group of 50, 55, 85, 88, and 92 is 85; the average is 74. The implies a standard of average performance for a given group. “norm” Example: The child was above the norm for his age in reading ability. The is the result obtained by dividing a sum by the number of quantities “average” added together. Example: The average of 7, 9, and 17 is 33 divided by 3, which equals 11. media. Usually plural: Radio and television are electronic media. Singular when collective: The news media is resisting attempts to limit its freedom. median. See mean, median, norm, average. mediate, arbitrate. Not interchangeable. One who mediates interposes between parties in order to reconcile them. One who arbitrates hears a case in controversy and presents a decision. megabyte. Capitalize as when abbreviating. Use numeral before abbreviation: 3 “MB” MB. mid-. See the Hyphens, and Dashes” section. “Compounds, middle grades. Use numerals with or California has 21 million millions, billions. million billion: inhabitants. The programs have cost $2 billion nationwide. Decimals are preferred to fractions (not 1/2 million).
may, might, can. “May” indicates permission or possibility. “Can” indicates the ability or power to do something. Example: You may leave whenever you wish. She might be able to start work in the fall. He can be trusted to carry out the assignment. mean, median, norm, average. The “mean” is an intermediate figure between two extremes. Example: The mean temperature of the day, which had a high of 56 degrees and a low of 34 degrees, was 45. The “median” is the middle number of points in a series arranged in order of size. Example: The median grade in the group of 50, 55, 85, 88, and 92 is 85; the average is 74. The “norm” implies a standard of average performance for a given group. Example: The child was above the norm for his age in reading ability. The “average” is the result obtained by dividing a sum by the number of quantities added together. Example: The average of 7, 9, and 17 is 33 divided by 3, which equals 11. media. Usually plural: Radio and television are electronic media. Singular when collective: The news media is resisting attempts to limit its freedom. median. See mean, median, norm, average. mediate, arbitrate. Not interchangeable. One who mediates interposes between parties in order to reconcile them. One who arbitrates hears a case in controversy and presents a decision. megabyte. Capitalize as “MB” when abbreviating. Use numeral before abbreviation: 3 MB. mid-. See the “Compounds, Hyphens, and Dashes” section. middle grades. millions, billions. Use numerals with million or billion: California has 21 million inhabitants. The programs have cost $2 billion nationwide. Decimals are preferred to fractions (not 1/2 million).
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