YourWritingGuru.com

 

Home

Five Common Errors

Clear Writing

Questions From Visitors

More Questions

Even More Questions

Write to the Guru

Handouts

Exploring Space

Your Writing and Grammar Resource
Google
 
Web yourwritingguru.com


Drawing of faces with question mark hovering over them

More Questions From Visitors

Q: Should I say:  Are you going with her and me? or Are you going with she and I?

A: Remember that she and I are subject pronouns. Her and me are object pronouns. When a pronoun follows a preposition, it is always an object pronoun. So Are you going with her and me (or Are you going with us?) is correct. See http://www.yourwritingguru.com/iorme.html



Q: If the plural of "person" is people, when is it appropriate to use "persons"?

A: Generally, you should use people in all plural uses for person. The exceptions are in legal contexts (murder by person or persons unknown), direct quotes, and parts of titles (Bureau of Missing Persons).
 
If you work for the government, you might find persons used a good deal in regulations. Indeed, your office's style manual may call for persons in these contexts, so be sure to check the manual if your office has one.



Q: Would the term 'the document was signed off on July 4, 2007' be correct?

A: This is an example of throwing in more words than necessary in spoken speech, then doing the same when writing. Why say to sign off when to sign is enough? Likewise, the word on is not needed here. The document was signed July 4, 2007 is correct.
 
Better yet, if you know who signed the document, put the sentence in the active voice: The client signed the document July 4, 2007.

If you are using the phrase sign off on to mean approved, you can say Mr. Simpson approved the document July 4, 2007.


Q: I wanted to know if it is right to use the word "on" before the word "click". For example: Should the sentence be "Click on the Internet Explorer icon" or should it be "Click the Internet Explorer icon". Currently we don't use the word "on" before the word "click" as a best practice. Is that indeed the best way to do it? I would appreciate it if you could please clarify this issue for me."

A: We assume you mean using the word on after, not before, the word click. Your best practice--Click the Internet Explorer icon--is correct. Some authorities accept the addition of on to click in this context, but it isn't necessary.


Q: Can the titles of books and magazines be italicized? Or underlined? What is the generally accepted way?

A: This is entirely a question of style, so it depends on your organization's style manual (if it has one). Many non-newspaper styles manuals call for  you to italicize the titles of books and magazines. Some academic style manuals call for you to underline them instead. Some style manuals "punt": They accept either, as long as you are consistent throughout your document.


Q: Is the phrase, "I've been lied on" grammatically incorrect?

A: The phrase is not standard English, and you shouldn't use it professionally or in writing. The correct expression is I've been lied to.


Q: Which is correct? ... "Please contact either Bryan or myself."  or.... "Please contact either Bryan or me"?

A: The correct sentence is Please contact either Bryan or me. The word myself is not an object pronoun, although people often use it as one. Many critics consider this usage improper; other authorities accept it.


Q: I need help. I'm always stuck with number association. Which is correct?
 You can not be on two course waitlist? Or waitlists?All your staff has lunch today. All your staffs have lunch today?

And what is the correct definition for this type of grammar?
A: You appear to have trouble determining when to use the plural of nouns. In English, when you use a number higher than one (often represented by the indefinite articles "a" or "an") you use the plural form: "One dog, two dogs; one goose, four geese." So your first sentence should read "You cannot be on two course waitlists." (Note that "cannot" is one word.) See http://www.yourwritingguru.com/pluralsofnouns.html.

It's difficult to give an answer regarding your second sentence, because we need more context. In general, however, remember that "all" can take a singular or a plural verb, depending on what you are referring to. Also, collective nouns such as "staff," "family," or "team" usually take a singular noun in American English. If you are referring to one staff, you would say "All your staff is having lunch today." If you're referring to more than one staff, you would say "All your staffs are having lunch today." See http://www.yourwritingguru.com/subjectverbagreement.html


Q: Please tell me if I should use the word "was" or "were" in this sentence.  The sentence here has been written using the word "was" is underlined.
The most common responses given by students was to predict what the story might be about and to determine if the book was one that they could read independently.
Could you please check the grammar in this sentence.  Should the word be ability or abilities?
 

     What effect will implementing formative assessment practices have on students' ability to articulate strategies good readers use?

A: In your first sentence, the subject is responses, a plural noun. Therefore the verb must also be plural: The most common responses given by students were to predict what the story might be about and to determine if the book was one that they could read independently.

 
This sentence is not very readable, however, because of its wordiness. One way to make it a bit more concise is to eliminate the unnecessary passive-voice construction given by students and use the active voice instead: The students' most common responses were to predict what the story might be about and to determine if the book was one they could read independently. (Note that we've also eliminated an unneeded that.)
 
In the second sentence, ability seems most appropriate. But be sure that the audience you are writing for understands the jargon you are using.


Q: Is "a [network] of pipes bring natural gas to homes" correct or is it "a network of pipes brings?"

A: In this case, the subject of the sentence is network, not pipes. So a network of pipes brings natural gas to homes is correct.


Q: Even though I read the section on "what's the difference between 'who' and 'whom,'" I'm still in a [quandary] about the following sentence. Your expertise would be greatly appreciated.
I have to shake hands with a very dear friend of mine, who/whom I hope you'll get to meet after dinner.
 
In this specific sentence, is it "who" or "whom?"'
A: To find the answer in sentences such as this, ask yourself: Who or what is the subject of the sentence or phrase in question? In this sentence, the phrase in question is "whom [I hope] you'll get to meet after dinner." The subject (doer of the action) in the phrase is "you"--"you'll get to meet." The person you'll get to meet is the direct object (receiver of the action), so the answer has to be "whom." "Who" is always the subject, and "whom" is always the object of a sentence or phrase.
 
Another way to get the right answer is to separate the phrase (when you can), turn it into a separate complete sentence, and substitute "he/she" or "him/her," for "who/whom." In this case you'd get: "I hope you'll get to meet him/her after dinner." You obviously wouldn't say "I hope you'll get to meet he/she after dinner," right? So, whenever you'd use "him/her" you should also use "whom."


Q: Do I feel bad or do I feel badly, if I am talking about my feelings, not my health?

A: In either case, I feel bad is the proper usage. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition, notes, however:
"The adverb badly is often used after verbs such as feel, as in I felt badly about the whole affair. This usage bears analogy to the use of other adverbs with feel, such as strongly in We feel strongly about this issue. Some people prefer to maintain a distinction between feel badly and feel bad, restricting the former to emotional distress and using the latter to cover physical ailments; however, this distinction is not universally observed, so feel badly should be used in a context that makes its meaning clear."

Q: I keep seeing people write "towards"... as in "we are working towards a common goal". Isn't it "toward"? Why would you put an "S" on the end of the word?"

A: The difference is a matter of dialect. Toward is the preferred version in American English, but towards is a recognized variant. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition,


"Some critics have tried to discern a semantic distinction between toward and towards, but the difference is entirely dialectal. Toward is more common in American English; towards is the predominant form in British English."

Q: I type for a medical transcription company. The phrase "The patient is a 46-year-old female..." is a common phrase we use but do you use hyphens when the phrase is "This patient is a 46 year old who was seen...."?

 
A: Unless your office uses a style manual that indicates differently, we recommend using hyphens in this instance: The patient is a 46-year-old who was seen....


 


Q:  Can you tell me which of these statements is correct? Statement 1 is the original way it was written by someone else and they could be right.  However, when I did a grammar check on it, it says I should use the word "which" in place of "whom."

I understand you should use whom when referring to people and which when referring to non-humans  The problem is I am not sure what I am referring to in this sentence.

     For example: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended
     solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they ("they" meaning emails or files
     or "they" meaning individuals) are addressed.

I think it should be "which."

     1.    This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for
            the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 

     2.    This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for
            the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed.

A: You're right -- the second statement, using which, is correct, because an entity is not a person ("solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed.").

 
They refers to this e-mail and any files transmitted with it. It does not determine whether you use which or whom in the sentence.


Q: Can you please tell me which sentence below using the pronoun for a female is grammatically correct?
 
     (1) They didn't have an idea Mann, 39, was 17 years younger than her.
 
     (2) They didn't have an idea Mann, 39 was 17 years younger than she.
 
The grammar cues on Microsoft Word show that both of these usages appear to be correct.  When I was taught grammar back in the dark ages (1970 in 7th grade), the second sentence would have been appropriate usage of the pronoun.  The first sentence was used in a newspaper article yesterday from a major southern newspaper and before I write a letter to the editor I wanted to make sure the rules had not changed.

A: You're right, the second sentence is correct. The test for this common error is to add the implied verb after than she/her:
They didn't have an idea [that] Mann, 39, was 17 years younger than she [was].
They didn't have an idea [that] Mann, 39, was 17 years younger than her [was].
This gives you the correct answer immediately--the object pronoun her is obviously incorrect.


Q: Please tell me if the following three phrases should have an apostrophe
after the "S" at the end of the phrase or no apostrophe. These three phrasis
are being used as headings.

     Couples(') Night Out

     Deacons(') Recognition Award

     Ladies(') Night Out

A: Yes, you should use the apostrophe in these phrases: Couples' Night Out. Visit http://yourwritingguru.com/possessivenouns.html for more details.

Q: Is it "maybe" or "may be"?

A: It depends entirely on the context. Maybe means perhaps, as in Maybe it will rain tomorrow. May be is a combination of verbs--the helping verb may and the verb to be, as in Tomorrow may be the only day it will rain.


Q: Is the saying "drive safe" acceptable -- or should it be "drive safely"?

A: Drive safely is correct. Drive in this context is a verb. Safely is an adverb, which can modify a verb. Safe is an adjective, which cannot modify a verb.


Q: Is the use of the phrase "as of yet" correct?

A: As of yet is a highfalutin, pretentious way of saying yet. Use the simpler word to make your writing and speech more concise and clear.



Q: I am in the awards business, and am constantly wrestling with the use of the words "of "or "for."
 
Can you explain the difference? 
 
      In recognition or your years of service....
      In recogniton of your years of service....
 
      In recognition of 10 years of service to the company....
      In recognition for 10 years of service to the company....
 
Can you give me some guidelines?

A: You get recognition for 10 years of service. The award is in recognition of that service.
 
In other words, if you use the word recognition by itself, use for. As part of the prepositional phrase in recognition of use of. The verb recognize also takes for: Tonight we recognize Jane Doe for her 10 years of service.


Q: Which is the correct sentence?
 
      I threw the ball to Jim, whom is tall.
      or
      I threw the ball to Jim, who is tall.
 
      and
 
      I threw the ball to Jim, whom I like.
      or
      I threw the ball to Jim, who I like.

A: Who is always the subject, or doer, of a sentence or clause. Whom is always the object, or receiver, of the verb's action.
 
In the first pair of sentences, who is the subject of the clause who is tall. Therefore the second example is correct.
 
In the second pair of sentences, whom is the object of the clause whom I like. The subject of this clause is I. So the first example is correct.
 
You can learn more about who and whom at http://www.yourwritingguru.com/whowhom.html.


Q: My boyfriend and I have been arguing for years about the use of let and left. I say I let it go, he says it should be I left it go.  I use left as in leaving an object:  I left the book on the table. Please help us as it really has become an issue.

A: The verb to let in this context means to allow or permit. Left is the past tense of the verb to leave. We haven't come across any use of left in the context you describe, certainly not in standard American English.


Q: Which is the correct form?

    Two thousand seven OR
    Two thousand and seven

A: This is a question of style. Normally numbers such as 2007 are written in numerals, not words. When style calls for it however, the preferred form is two thousand seven.


Click here to read even more questions from visitors!


All site contents Copyright © 2006, 2007,  High Stakes Writing, LLC, and its licensors.