It is still happening. The dreaded one of the only is being heard on radio and television, maybe right this minute. Duh-duh-duh-duh. I heard it again on the radio last week and was glad I didn't call in a pledge. I have even seen it in print. What is so bad about the phrase? It really doesn't mean anything. I shouldn't have to guess whether the speaker means the only, one of only a few, or one of the only two remaining restaurants in the city. You get the idea. Of course I would never use an unclear or confusing group of words such as one of the only.
Or would I? The previously mentioned offending phrase obviously makes no real sense and should therefore be illegal. But I'm sure I have used and heard equally vague terms such as one of the first or its fraternal twin, one of the last. These too should have qualifiers, such as one of the first three explorers or one of the last few rows in the theater.
It all goes back to Gramma's idea that accuracy breeds understanding and clarifies intention. A little time to think, to listen to yourself, or to re-read can be valuable for you and for your listeners or readers. I'm sure I am not one of the only people to think that way.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Possessive vs Plural
This week's blog is inspired by a help wanted ad in an IL newspaper. It read
Now Hiring
Students, Retiree's, Mother's, Others
Apparently students and others are plural, but retirees and mothers are possessive. As you know, all four singular nouns, should merely have an s added to make them plural. By adding 's, the words become singular possessive. Compare these two sentences.
The retirees enjoyed two weeks of travel last month.
The retiree's pension allowed her to travel.
The first is plural, talking about more than one retiree, and the second is talking about the pension that is the property of one retiree. Therefore, it is possessive rather than plural. Using the correct form of a word makes the meaning much clearer, and it makes the writer appear singularly intelligent.
Now Hiring
Students, Retiree's, Mother's, Others
Apparently students and others are plural, but retirees and mothers are possessive. As you know, all four singular nouns, should merely have an s added to make them plural. By adding 's, the words become singular possessive. Compare these two sentences.
The retirees enjoyed two weeks of travel last month.
The retiree's pension allowed her to travel.
The first is plural, talking about more than one retiree, and the second is talking about the pension that is the property of one retiree. Therefore, it is possessive rather than plural. Using the correct form of a word makes the meaning much clearer, and it makes the writer appear singularly intelligent.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Watch the Words!
An Illinois newspaper printed the following story:
Police say a 15-year-old boy has died and eight people wounded in a shooting at a party.
One of the criteria for a group of words to comprise a sentence is that they have to make sense. In the above sentence, wounded needs a helping verb unless the people did the wounding. I am sure that the writer intended to say and eight people were wounded in a shooting. We now have two subjects and two complete verbs as part of the police description.
You may have noticed that there is no comma after died. That is because the sentence is an informal quote from the police rather than a sentence describing the tragedy. If it were just a news story, it would read A 15-year-old boy has died, and eight people were wounded in a shooting.
To clarify our example sentence, it would accurately read Police say a 15-year-old boy has died and eight people were wounded in a shooting at a party. What is the lesson here? Don't bring guns to a party. It can be more dangerous than lawn darts. Also, watch what you write to make sure it makes sense.
Police say a 15-year-old boy has died and eight people wounded in a shooting at a party.
One of the criteria for a group of words to comprise a sentence is that they have to make sense. In the above sentence, wounded needs a helping verb unless the people did the wounding. I am sure that the writer intended to say and eight people were wounded in a shooting. We now have two subjects and two complete verbs as part of the police description.
You may have noticed that there is no comma after died. That is because the sentence is an informal quote from the police rather than a sentence describing the tragedy. If it were just a news story, it would read A 15-year-old boy has died, and eight people were wounded in a shooting.
To clarify our example sentence, it would accurately read Police say a 15-year-old boy has died and eight people were wounded in a shooting at a party. What is the lesson here? Don't bring guns to a party. It can be more dangerous than lawn darts. Also, watch what you write to make sure it makes sense.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Anyway You Splice It
An e-mail ad contained the following sentence:
We know how important giving is to you, we're no different, we feel the same way.
Admittedly, advertising isn't always textbook writing, and it can be creative. However, this example feels and sounds wrong, even for advertising. This is an example of comma splice. The term comma splice refers to the use of commas to separate sections of a sentence that should be separated by periods or semi-colons. There are three independent clauses in the example, and no conjunction is used.
The best way to write the sentence is
We know how important giving is to you. We're no different; we feel the same way.
Three separate sentences would also be correct, but it would feel more choppy because of the short phrasing. When you write, check for complete sentences containing a subject and verb, and make sure that you don't join them with a comma. Punctuation is important for comprehension, comfort, and accuracy of a sentence. Period.
We know how important giving is to you, we're no different, we feel the same way.
Admittedly, advertising isn't always textbook writing, and it can be creative. However, this example feels and sounds wrong, even for advertising. This is an example of comma splice. The term comma splice refers to the use of commas to separate sections of a sentence that should be separated by periods or semi-colons. There are three independent clauses in the example, and no conjunction is used.
The best way to write the sentence is
We know how important giving is to you. We're no different; we feel the same way.
Three separate sentences would also be correct, but it would feel more choppy because of the short phrasing. When you write, check for complete sentences containing a subject and verb, and make sure that you don't join them with a comma. Punctuation is important for comprehension, comfort, and accuracy of a sentence. Period.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Hay You!
There is a handy little word in the Spanish language. It is hay, and it means there is or there are. For example, Hay una escuela en la esquina means There is a school on the corner. Hay dos pajaros en el arbol means There are two birds in the tree. In other words, number, or singular and plural, doesn't matter in the case of hay.
In English, however, it is important for accuracy and understanding to make them agree in number. Read these two quotes from Illinois and Georgia newspapers.
A little bird told me there's some voters here.
There's so many venues in the city, and they keep building more.
These lines should read there are some voters and there are so many venues because both refer to plurals. You will be happy, as I was, to read the following correct usage in a Georgia newspaper:
There are many ways to lose.
The plural ways corresponds to the plural there are. If it isn't clear, try turning around the order, as in Some voters are there or Venues in the city are there. The meaning is different, but it helps with whether to use there is or there are. And hay, it does make a difference.
In English, however, it is important for accuracy and understanding to make them agree in number. Read these two quotes from Illinois and Georgia newspapers.
A little bird told me there's some voters here.
There's so many venues in the city, and they keep building more.
These lines should read there are some voters and there are so many venues because both refer to plurals. You will be happy, as I was, to read the following correct usage in a Georgia newspaper:
There are many ways to lose.
The plural ways corresponds to the plural there are. If it isn't clear, try turning around the order, as in Some voters are there or Venues in the city are there. The meaning is different, but it helps with whether to use there is or there are. And hay, it does make a difference.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Effectively Affected
Read what was written in a Georgia newspaper.
Some people are calling on politicians to undo some of the law's unintended affects.
In this sentence, the last word, affects, should be effects. What is the difference? The word affects is a verb, as in The gloomy weather affects her mood. The word effects, on the other hand, is a noun and belongs at the end of our sample sentence or in the sentence The effects of his actions were widespread.
As with many grammar rules, there are exceptions. Effect can be a verb when it means to cause to happen. A common use of this is to effect change.
Keep it simple, and remember that affect is usually a verb and effect is usually a noun. You'll be right most of the time, and if you aren't, you can effect change in your usage.
Some people are calling on politicians to undo some of the law's unintended affects.
In this sentence, the last word, affects, should be effects. What is the difference? The word affects is a verb, as in The gloomy weather affects her mood. The word effects, on the other hand, is a noun and belongs at the end of our sample sentence or in the sentence The effects of his actions were widespread.
As with many grammar rules, there are exceptions. Effect can be a verb when it means to cause to happen. A common use of this is to effect change.
Keep it simple, and remember that affect is usually a verb and effect is usually a noun. You'll be right most of the time, and if you aren't, you can effect change in your usage.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Hwo Decided How to Pronounce Interrogatives?
Today's topic is based on the spoken word again. It involves commonly used interrogatives, or words used to ask questions, such as what, when, where, and why. I hope that I am not the only person who is bothered by the "correct" pronunciation of the aforementioned words.
A childhood memory (and that goes way back) is of my mother returning home from a teachers' conference and telling us that an alleged English expert confirmed that the correct pronunciations are hwat, hwen, hwere, and hwy. Hwy is that? I promise not to confuse where with wear because the meaning will be obvious from the surrounding words. Only a well-known football player should verbally mix the order of the letters and pronounce them out of order. The rest of us should be happy to ignore the Hs and pretend that they are as silent as the t in listen.
Who makes the decisions regarding correct pronunciation? I don't know, but maybe it should be I. Whenever I hear television announcers or game show hosts or people with otherwise good radio programs using the proper form of those interrogatives, I think about how ignorant it sounds. This usage doesn't seem to have the excuse that it is based on a language of derivation, either. Please join me in my campaign to end the use of hw words. It isn't sophisticated, it's ingorant.
A childhood memory (and that goes way back) is of my mother returning home from a teachers' conference and telling us that an alleged English expert confirmed that the correct pronunciations are hwat, hwen, hwere, and hwy. Hwy is that? I promise not to confuse where with wear because the meaning will be obvious from the surrounding words. Only a well-known football player should verbally mix the order of the letters and pronounce them out of order. The rest of us should be happy to ignore the Hs and pretend that they are as silent as the t in listen.
Who makes the decisions regarding correct pronunciation? I don't know, but maybe it should be I. Whenever I hear television announcers or game show hosts or people with otherwise good radio programs using the proper form of those interrogatives, I think about how ignorant it sounds. This usage doesn't seem to have the excuse that it is based on a language of derivation, either. Please join me in my campaign to end the use of hw words. It isn't sophisticated, it's ingorant.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Subjectively Objective
I found this sentence in an Illinois newspaper:
A friend just invited my husband and I to her home for some good cooking.
Did you see an error in that sentence? I'm sure you noticed that the "I" should be "me." That is because "I" is a subject, and in the example, it is used as the object of the verb "invited." I remember that when I was very young my mother suggested using the second object alone if I couldn't decide which word to use. For example, you wouldn't say "She invited I to her home," so it is equally wrong when another direct object precedes the pronoun.
Don't be afraid to show your intelligence while using correct grammar. It sounds better, it makes the meaning clearer, and it might be a good example to others who want to improve their English usage.
A friend just invited my husband and I to her home for some good cooking.
Did you see an error in that sentence? I'm sure you noticed that the "I" should be "me." That is because "I" is a subject, and in the example, it is used as the object of the verb "invited." I remember that when I was very young my mother suggested using the second object alone if I couldn't decide which word to use. For example, you wouldn't say "She invited I to her home," so it is equally wrong when another direct object precedes the pronoun.
Don't be afraid to show your intelligence while using correct grammar. It sounds better, it makes the meaning clearer, and it might be a good example to others who want to improve their English usage.
Monday, March 5, 2012
An Uncomma-n Verb
This sentence is from an Illinois newspaper:
The third time the dog attacked, an officer fearing for his safety, shot the animal once.
The second comma in the sentence isn't needed because it separates the subject and the verb. It is like saying The dog, chewed the bone, which no one would do. If the writer wanted to include a phrase telling why the officer shot the dog, a third comma should be added after "officer." It would read, "The third time the dog attacked, an officer, fearing for his safety, shot the animal once." Also acceptable is "The third time the dog attacked, an officer fearing for his safety shot the dog once." Here the words "fearing for his safety" describe the officer.
Sometimes life lessons are more important than grammar lessons. In this story, a man had let two dogs get out of a fenced yard. Neighbors and police officers feared for their lives, and one dog was killed. It is important to use commas correctly to communicate well, and it is important to use common sense to live well.
The third time the dog attacked, an officer fearing for his safety, shot the animal once.
The second comma in the sentence isn't needed because it separates the subject and the verb. It is like saying The dog, chewed the bone, which no one would do. If the writer wanted to include a phrase telling why the officer shot the dog, a third comma should be added after "officer." It would read, "The third time the dog attacked, an officer, fearing for his safety, shot the animal once." Also acceptable is "The third time the dog attacked, an officer fearing for his safety shot the dog once." Here the words "fearing for his safety" describe the officer.
Sometimes life lessons are more important than grammar lessons. In this story, a man had let two dogs get out of a fenced yard. Neighbors and police officers feared for their lives, and one dog was killed. It is important to use commas correctly to communicate well, and it is important to use common sense to live well.
Monday, February 27, 2012
There, Their, Now
The following is from a reader comment in an Illinois newspaper:
Tell them that there services will no longer be needed.
You likely noticed that "there" should have been "their." "There" is an adverb, as in "Please put it over there." It can also be other parts of speech, but we can deal with those later. The referenced example needs the possessive adjective "their," showing whose services are not needed.
A similar word that can be misused is the contraction "they're," short for they are. It is a combination of the subject "they" and the verb "are," and it is neither an adverb nor a possessive adjective.
Although "there," "their," and "they're" are similar, they can never be used in place of each other. Each has its own meaning and proper usage.
Tell them that there services will no longer be needed.
You likely noticed that "there" should have been "their." "There" is an adverb, as in "Please put it over there." It can also be other parts of speech, but we can deal with those later. The referenced example needs the possessive adjective "their," showing whose services are not needed.
A similar word that can be misused is the contraction "they're," short for they are. It is a combination of the subject "they" and the verb "are," and it is neither an adverb nor a possessive adjective.
Although "there," "their," and "they're" are similar, they can never be used in place of each other. Each has its own meaning and proper usage.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Who Put the "h" in the "Str . . . ?"
This has been increasing in the last few years, and I can think of famous people who might have popularized it. To what am I referring? I refer to the annoying extra "h" sound added to words with an initial or internal "str." Listen to news broadcasts, interviews, and talk shows, and you will hear someone say "shtreet," "indushtrial shtrength," or "shtructure." This could be another example of lazy speech or of ordinary people trying to emulate and relate to celebrities. Is it really such a big deal?
No, it isn't a big deal, but it is bad enough that it will likely die out with other vocal fads. Like gravel speak, it is the artificiality of the speech that is irritating. After you listen to radio or television for examples, listen to yourself. Be sure you don't sound shtrange or, heaven forbid, even a little shtupid.
No, it isn't a big deal, but it is bad enough that it will likely die out with other vocal fads. Like gravel speak, it is the artificiality of the speech that is irritating. After you listen to radio or television for examples, listen to yourself. Be sure you don't sound shtrange or, heaven forbid, even a little shtupid.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Now and Than
Can you find the error in this Georgia newspaper ad?
We would rather sell it for less then move it!
Do you have trouble differentiating between then and than? Remember that then is often used as an adverb meaning "at that time" or "consequently," while than is a conjunction used after a comparative adjective or adverb. In the ad, the writer is comparing the preference of selling for less to having to move the inventory. It should read, "We would rather sell it for less than move it!"
Read this example using both words.
If you would rather go now than then, then you should get ready now rather than later.
In this sentence you see a comparison, an adverb, a consequence, and a comparison. It isn't a smoothly flowing sentence, but it clarifies the difference in usage between then and than. If it is still confusing, look for examples in written material that you know has been proofread. For even more entertainment, read a dictionary or grammar book!
We would rather sell it for less then move it!
Do you have trouble differentiating between then and than? Remember that then is often used as an adverb meaning "at that time" or "consequently," while than is a conjunction used after a comparative adjective or adverb. In the ad, the writer is comparing the preference of selling for less to having to move the inventory. It should read, "We would rather sell it for less than move it!"
Read this example using both words.
If you would rather go now than then, then you should get ready now rather than later.
In this sentence you see a comparison, an adverb, a consequence, and a comparison. It isn't a smoothly flowing sentence, but it clarifies the difference in usage between then and than. If it is still confusing, look for examples in written material that you know has been proofread. For even more entertainment, read a dictionary or grammar book!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Play Must of For Me
The following sentence is from a newspaper in the Chicago suburbs:
Think how abused this poor animal must of felt.
When writing, we need to think about using the correct words. The spoken word might sound like more than one word, and we need to make sure that what is written makes sense. The writer had to have been thinking "must've," and she should have written "must have" instead of "must of" to make it accurate.
We are all guilty sometimes of speaking before we think. At least if we write before we think, we can correct it before anyone notices.
Think how abused this poor animal must of felt.
When writing, we need to think about using the correct words. The spoken word might sound like more than one word, and we need to make sure that what is written makes sense. The writer had to have been thinking "must've," and she should have written "must have" instead of "must of" to make it accurate.
We are all guilty sometimes of speaking before we think. At least if we write before we think, we can correct it before anyone notices.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Make Me a Preposition I Can't Refuse
This is from a real estate company's e-mail:
(Mr. Smith) closed the following transactions between 5/19/2011 to 6/23/11.
I would prefer consistency in the writing of years, but my main concern with this message is something I see fairly often. "Between" should be followed by "and," or the dates can also be expressed as "from - to." If, in this example, the dates 5/19 and 6/23 are included, the best wording is " . . . following transactions from 5/19/2011 to 6/23/2011." Just remember, between - and or from - to. You'll find that it sounds more natural and accurate.
Until next Monday,
Gramma
(Mr. Smith) closed the following transactions between 5/19/2011 to 6/23/11.
I would prefer consistency in the writing of years, but my main concern with this message is something I see fairly often. "Between" should be followed by "and," or the dates can also be expressed as "from - to." If, in this example, the dates 5/19 and 6/23 are included, the best wording is " . . . following transactions from 5/19/2011 to 6/23/2011." Just remember, between - and or from - to. You'll find that it sounds more natural and accurate.
Until next Monday,
Gramma
Monday, January 23, 2012
Erratica
I took a picture of two signs posted on the back of one school bus in Illinois. We had started to move again, and the picture isn't clear enough to share with you. They said,
To report erratic driving, call 1-800-xxx-xxxx.
To report eratic driving, call 1-800-xxx-xxxx.
Unfortunately, there was no number available to report erratic spelling. You guessed it - the correct spelling is "erratic." Drive and spell carefully, but not at the same time.
To report erratic driving, call 1-800-xxx-xxxx.
To report eratic driving, call 1-800-xxx-xxxx.
Unfortunately, there was no number available to report erratic spelling. You guessed it - the correct spelling is "erratic." Drive and spell carefully, but not at the same time.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Gravel Speak
I would have saved this subject for a later post, but the Today Show on NBC brought the issue to light a few weeks ago, so I'll add my one cent's worth. The guest described a speaking style that was called "Vocal Fry." I noticed the style two or three years ago and named it "Gravel Speak," based on the gritty, gravelly sound emanating from the users.
Why do I find Gravel Speak or Vocal Fry annoying? I think it is because it is affected, or phony, speech. My observation is that it is the aftermath to the Valley Girl speaking style of some decades ago. When forced to listen, I hear the superiority-based ennui of sophisticated dowagers of days gone by. Today, however, it is more often the parlance of lazy or artificial young people that falls on my innocent ears.
We can only hope that this fried grits speech does not spread further, and that those so afflicted will heal soon. Whether the aforementioned speakers are on radio or television or hanging out at the mall, I hope they will drink hot tea with honey and lemon, eat chicken soup, and soothe those cords into vocal silk.
Why do I find Gravel Speak or Vocal Fry annoying? I think it is because it is affected, or phony, speech. My observation is that it is the aftermath to the Valley Girl speaking style of some decades ago. When forced to listen, I hear the superiority-based ennui of sophisticated dowagers of days gone by. Today, however, it is more often the parlance of lazy or artificial young people that falls on my innocent ears.
We can only hope that this fried grits speech does not spread further, and that those so afflicted will heal soon. Whether the aforementioned speakers are on radio or television or hanging out at the mall, I hope they will drink hot tea with honey and lemon, eat chicken soup, and soothe those cords into vocal silk.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Who or What Is Gramma's?
Gramma's is the name of my new blog featuring grammar, spelling, typos, the spoken word, and anything related to communication. The fact that I am an older woman interested in grammar made the name a good fit.
The purpose of the blog is to entertain or educate while making readers think about the English language. My goal is to present an idea each week based on something I have seen in newspapers, heard on the radio, or gleaned from other sources. As I learned in a business English class, errors are "noise" that distract the reader from the message.
Admittedly, the closest I have come to reading blogs is watching the movie Julie and Julia, and I realize that there could be many people doing what I am doing. At least I can't be accused of copying something I haven't seen, and all of my ideas will be original or will include references to other sources.
I do not claim to be an English expert. In fact, I was a foreign language major in college, and I guarantee you that I have made and will make mistakes in English. I am, however, occasionally annoyed or mildly shocked by things I see and hear, and I would like to share these things with you. I believe that we can combine traditional language rules with the inevitable use of modern technology to communicate with one another.
Next Monday I will share an example of written or spoken issues, and, if appropriate, I will address the error and suggest a correction or alternative. Until then, have a great week. And to quote my late grandma, "Do your best, your very best, and do it every day."
The purpose of the blog is to entertain or educate while making readers think about the English language. My goal is to present an idea each week based on something I have seen in newspapers, heard on the radio, or gleaned from other sources. As I learned in a business English class, errors are "noise" that distract the reader from the message.
Admittedly, the closest I have come to reading blogs is watching the movie Julie and Julia, and I realize that there could be many people doing what I am doing. At least I can't be accused of copying something I haven't seen, and all of my ideas will be original or will include references to other sources.
I do not claim to be an English expert. In fact, I was a foreign language major in college, and I guarantee you that I have made and will make mistakes in English. I am, however, occasionally annoyed or mildly shocked by things I see and hear, and I would like to share these things with you. I believe that we can combine traditional language rules with the inevitable use of modern technology to communicate with one another.
Next Monday I will share an example of written or spoken issues, and, if appropriate, I will address the error and suggest a correction or alternative. Until then, have a great week. And to quote my late grandma, "Do your best, your very best, and do it every day."
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