| Equal and unequal variants are given following the main entry word. An equal variant is a spelling of a word that is just as acceptable as the entry word spelling. Equal variants are signaled by use of the connective or: |
down-at-heel or down-at-the-heel
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| An unequal variant is a spelling that is less common than the entry word spelling but is nevertheless acceptable. Unequal variants are signaled by the connective also: |
lese majesty or lèse majesté
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| When a single idiom can be worded in a variety of ways, the variant wordings are given parenthetically, as at fall, VERB: |
Idioms: take a fall (or header) (or plunge) (or spill) (or tumble).
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| When variation exists between a verb and a two-word verb, the variation is shown parenthetically. For example, run (around) means that one can use either run or run around to mean “ to be with as a companion.” |
