The following list includes easily confused words, as well as the preferred spelling or usage for words commonly used in Binghamton University writing.
A downloadable version of the list is available here (81 kb .pdf).
| Preferred term/spelling | Over this |
| acknowledgment | acknowledgement |
| advisor | adviser |
| aesthetic | esthetic |
| afterward | afterwards |
| amid | amidst |
| archaeology | archeology |
| artwork | artworks |
| Bearcats | Lady Bearcats |
| Binghamton University | BU, SUNY-B |
| break down (v.) | breakdown or break-down |
| breakdown (n. and adj.) | break down or break-down |
| break in (v.) | break-in |
| break-in (adj.) | break in |
| break up (v.) | breakup or break-up |
| breakup (n. and adj.) | break up or break-up |
| build up (v.) | buildup or build-up |
| buildup (n. and adj.) | build up or build-up |
| campus wide (adv.) | campus-wide or campuswide |
| campus-wide (adj.) | campus wide or campuswide |
| canceled | cancelled |
| canceling | cancelling |
| cancellation | cancelation |
| cannot | can not |
| catalog | catalogue |
| chair | chairman, chairwoman or chairperson |
| check up (v.) | checkup or check-up |
| checkup (n.) | check up or check-up |
| childcare | child care or child-care |
| clean room | cleanroom |
| clean up (v.) | cleanup or clean-up |
| cleanup (n. and adj.) | clean up or clean-up |
| corequisite | co-requisite |
| coursework | course work or course-work |
| criterion (sing.) | criteria |
| criteria (pl.) | criterion |
| cut off (v.) | cutoff or cut-off |
| cutoff (n. and adj.) | cut off or cut-off |
| database | data base |
| daycare | day care or day-care |
| degree-seeking | degree seeking |
| disc (phonograph records, optical and laser-based devices, brakes) | disk |
| disk (computer-related and medical references) | disc |
| download | down load or down-load |
| everyday (adj.) | every day |
| every day (adv.) | everyday |
| farther (physical distance) | further |
| first | firstly |
| firsthand | first hand or first-hand |
| first-come, first-served | first-come, first-serve |
| flier (aviator or handbill) | flyer |
| follow up (v.) | followup or follow-up |
| follow-up (n. and adj.) | followup or follow up |
| forward | forwards |
| full-time (adj.) | full time or fulltime |
| fundraiser | fund raiser or fund-raiser |
| fundraising | fund raising or fund-raising |
| further (time or matter of degree) | farther |
| hand-held | handheld or handheld |
| healthcare | health care or health-care |
| homepage | home page |
| Internet | internet |
| judgment | judgement |
| kickoff (n. and adj.) | kick off or kick-off |
| kick off (v.) | kickoff or kick-off |
| language | foreign language |
| lifespan | life span or life-span |
| lifelong | life long or life-long |
| lifestyle | life style or life-style |
| lifetime | life time or life-time |
| login (n.) | log in or log-in |
| log in (v.) | login or log-in |
| logoff (n.) | log off or log-off |
| log off (v.) | logoff or log-off |
| logon (n.) | log on or log-on |
| log on (v.) | logon or log-on |
| newsgroup | news group or news-group |
| offline | off line or off-line |
| ongoing | on going |
| online | on line or on-line |
| premier (adj.) | premiere |
| premiere (n.) | premier |
| prerequisite | pre-requisite |
| preventive | preventative |
| regardless | irregardless |
| résumé (employment history document) | resume |
| runner-up (runners-up) | runner up or runnerup (runners up or runnersup) |
| second | secondly |
| second-guess (v.) | second guess |
| second guess (n.) | second-guess |
| secondhand (adj. and adv.) | second hand |
| start up (v.) | startup or start-up |
| startup (n. and adj.)* | start-up or start up* |
| student | coed |
| T-shirt | T shirt, tee-shirt or tee shirt |
| theater (facility) | theatre |
| theatre (art form or University dept.) | theater |
| third | thirdly |
| to | in order to |
| toward | towards |
| webpage | web page |
| website | web site |
| World Wide Web | world wide web |
| Web (Internet) | web |
| X-ray | x-ray |
| 5K, 10K (run or walk) | 5k, 5-k or 5-K; 10k, 10-k or 10-K |
| 401K | 401k, 401-k or 401-K |
