E

earlier, later Earlier and later (also older and younger) are commonly misused in geological reports and maps. Earlier and later are time terms: Late Cretaceous or earlier. Older and younger refer to rocks and rock formations: Blackstone River Group or older strata.

early, late These are time terms applied to geochronological units (period, epoch, age, etc.) and should be used for age or intervals of time only; the terms lower and upper being used for stratigraphic intervals.

The current rule is to use early and late for informal, loosely defined divisions: early Paleozoic, late Paleozoic, early Cenomanian, late Tertiary, early in the Devonian, late Cretaceous deformation.

Early and Late are used for formal, clearly defined divisions: Early Cambrian, Late Devonian, Early Jurassic, Late Cretaceous.

See also BASAL; EARLY, LOWER; LATE, UPPER; LOWER, UPPER; MIDDLE.

early, lower A stratigraphic unit may be referred to in either physical (rock) or temporal (time) terms, depending on the context, and regardless of whether or not the word age is used. Early and Lower, for example (also Late and Upper), are not interchangeable as they have different meanings:

See also BASAL; EARLY, LATE; LATE, UPPER; LOWER, UPPER; MIDDLE.

Early Precambrian (=Archean), but early Precambrian (indefinite)

Earth (planet); earth (material)

earthflow

earthquake See AFTERSHOCK, FORESHOCK; FORECAST, PREDICTION; INTENSITY, MAGNITUDE.

east-central

easterly, eastward See WESTERLY

Eastern Canada, Eastern Townships

east-northeast

ebb tide

echogram, echo sounder

effect See AFFECT.

e.g. Abbreviation of the Latin exempli gratia, meaning 'for example'. This abbreviation introduces an example or examples of what precedes: sedimentary rock types, e.g. siltstone, sandstone, and limestone.

Note that a comma (sometimes a dash, semicolon, or bracket) is written directly before e.g. but that as a rule there is no need for a comma immediately afterwards. If you use e.g. at the beginning of a list, do not use etc. at the end of it. Avoid using e.g. at the beginning of a sentence. Do not use e.g. in place of i.e. (i.e. restates and specifies, whereas e.g. just exemplifies). Where for example is written out, it is usually followed by a comma, and may be preceded by a comma, a dash, a period, or a bracket. The abbreviation e.g. is preferably confined to parenthetical references, and is set in vertical (roman) type.

See also I.E.; VIZ.

eighteenth century (not Eighteenth Century)

eldest See OLDEST.

electron microprobe (not electron probe or probe)

elevation See ALTITUDE.

elongated-clast fabric measurement

elude See ALLUDE.

email (v. and n.)

embedded (not imbedded)

emphasis Many writers overlook the emphasis that can be gained by rearranging the order of words in a sentence. For example, in the following sentence the emphasis is on discovery: The discovery of gold in the Klondike was made in 1896. If it is desired to emphasize gold, the sentence should read: Gold was discovered in the Klondike in 1896. To emphasize the Klondike, the sentence should read: The Klondike gold discoveries were made in 1896, and, to stress the date: In 1896, gold was discovered in the Klondike.

enclose

encounter This verb is commonly misused for 'observe'. One encounters a grizzly bear, but observes a deformation pattern.

encrustation (not incrustation)

endorse This word should not be used in the sense of 'corroborate', 'subscribe to', or 'be in agreement with'. It means 'confirm' or 'ratify'.

en échelon

enriched, depleted Avoid misusing these words when richer or poorer, or higher or lower will suffice. Remember that enrichment and depletion are 'processes', and so if you are tempted to use enriched or depleted, ask yourself what process is implied and whether the word is appropriate and justified in that context. If you use the words, be sure to say 'what' is enriched or depleted, that it is something that can be enriched or depleted, and that you identify the standard of comparison.

en route (not enroute)

entail Entail means 'to impose upon, to involve', or 'to require as a necessary condition'. (For example, in terms of labour or expense.) This verb is frequently used where no verb is necessary, or where the words need, cause, impose, necessitate, or involve should be substituted. See also INVOLVE.

entropy ratio, but fixed entropy-ratio

environments (multiple) Although an 'en dash' is commonly used to link multiple environment entries, an 'oblique' (slash) provides a much clearer, less ambiguous linkage. For example, a lagoon-coastal swamp environment could be a single, special, swamp environment rather than the intended dual or composite environment, because the dash links lagoon and coastal, not lagoon and coastal swamp. The entry lagoon/coastal swamp environment avoids ambiguity and clearly separates two distinct entities. Never use a hyphen for this construction. See also 'Oblique' in 'Punctuation'.

eolian (not aeolian)

epeirogeny

epicentre

equally as As should be omitted. Not equally as good, but equally good.

erosional, erosive Do not confuse erosional with erosive — the two words are not interchangeable. Erosional describes 'the state or origin of something as the result of erosion'. Erosive means 'having the function or property of eroding'. Surfaces and contacts can be erosional but cannot be erosive. Currents and streams are erosive. It is impossible to have an erosive surface or an erosive contact.

erratum (pl. errata)

error ranges See PLUS, PLUS/MINUS.

essentially Essentially means 'necessarily or indispensably'. In scientific writing, it should not be used as a substitute for 'principally, chiefly, mainly, virtually, in effect, most of', and 'almost': The formation comprises mainly limestone, or Most of the formation is limestone, are preferable to 'The formation is essentially limestone'.

et al. Abbreviation of the Latin et alii (or et aliae, the feminine form) meaning 'and others' or 'and other people'. The abbreviation et al. is set in vertical (roman) type. When the list is of nonhuman items, the appropriate term is etc. If et al. follows a list of two or more items, then it is preceded by a comma. Do not use et al. at the end of a list that begins with e.g., such as, or for example. Never write 'and et al.' See also ETC.

etc. Abbreviation of the Latin et cetera, meaning 'and the remaining things'. The abbreviation etc. is preceded by a comma if it follows a list of two or more items: A typical metasedimentary sequence of quartzite, marble, pelite, etc. If there is only one item, however, the comma is usually omitted. Since etc. means 'and the rest', it is redundant to write and etc. Do not use etc. at the end of a list if the list begins with e.g., for example, or such as. The abbreviation etc. is preferably confined to parenthetical references, and is set in vertical (roman) type. See also ET AL.

euphemism, euphuism Euphemism is 'a figure of speech in which a mild or gentle expression or word is used instead of a strong or unpleasant one': passed away, instead of died. Euphuism denotes 'a high-flown and affected style of writing or speaking, using excessive elegance'.

eustasy

even, evenness

everyone, every one See ANYONE.

evidence of (something), evidence for (a theory)

evident See APPARENT.

exaggerate, exaggeration

exceed

except that As a conjunction introducing a clause, except that is better replaced by unless, or if not.

excerpt

existence, existent

extend Consider the merits of give, accord, or offer as alternatives when expressing thanks to your associates.

extraglacial

Extranet (capitalized)