Posted by
Andrews on Monday, October 13, 2008 5:06:58 PM
It has been a while since
I posted one of these, but I have to mention this one, as it is an error I see all the time. While reading
Best of the Web, they cited someone about the misprint of "Osama" for "Obama" on absentee ballots. The official said, in part:
We need to review the procedures to make sure there are better checks and balances
The problem is, what he means is "checks", not "checks and balances".
"Checks and balances" refers to a specific feature of the constitution, that each branch has both checks, things which restrain their powers, and balances, powers which are equal to those of other branches. It is not an entirely negative concept. Yet many times I see people misuse this phrase as if it meant simply "checks".
Please, if you mean to indicate something which restrains someone or something, just use "checks", not "checks and balances".