Subtle Grammatical Usage Notes

aka Common edits when writing scientific papers.

• Alternate / Alternative
  Alternate means "every other one" in a series. Alternative means "another option". (REL)
• Bacteriophage / Bacteriophages
  Even though it sounds strange, the plural of bacteriophage is really bacteriophages.
• By contrast / In contrast
  Use By contrast when the next word is a noun. Use In contrast when followed by a preposition such as "with" or "to". (REL)
• This data / these data
  Use this data when you can replace "data" with "information". Use these data when you can replace "data" with "facts". (source)
• Where / Wherein
  Use wherein when you can replace with "in which" or "in what".