tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36971582773796499712024-02-20T01:43:28.882-08:00Jenz Grammar TipsI care about the proper use of the English language. I never, however, secretly edit my family or friends. Browse my grammar blog, and you might learn something—or you may teach me a thing or two. React, ask a question, talk back. Welcome!Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-12641126470684938212011-09-03T20:47:00.001-07:002011-09-03T20:55:02.069-07:00Careless about caring less?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10lQJiHnnBozQ2khxR4nnneTB5FZma3L_MozFRpjICEIGlJHHBOFSzINkCcU6zjS4UbAJYtham1ahanEe3nT4dqtqVqHj_DFLWsrtee7wIt810_4kKm-RveRF1wAfFbSJdrNZRl31GBQ/s1600/careless.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10lQJiHnnBozQ2khxR4nnneTB5FZma3L_MozFRpjICEIGlJHHBOFSzINkCcU6zjS4UbAJYtham1ahanEe3nT4dqtqVqHj_DFLWsrtee7wIt810_4kKm-RveRF1wAfFbSJdrNZRl31GBQ/s320/careless.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648346211655184946" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">Grammar errors come in all shapes and flavors. Take the common phrase “I couldn’t care less”—or do you mistakenly say, “I <i>could </i>care less”? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; ">The Facebook conversation below was sparked by my question about grammar pet peeves.</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height: 7.5pt"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=820935407"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">S</span></a>.</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; "> My favorite is “I could care less.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jenny.mertes"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">Jenny Mertes</span></a> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">It’s one of my favorites too, especially since someone very close to me (I’m not telling) says “I could care less” a lot. I have to just close my ears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ariverwalker"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">K</span></a>. </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">Okay, I’m trying to figure out what is wrong with “I could care less.” Is it in the semantics; as in, I care but I guess I could care less?<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jenny.mertes"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">Jenny Mertes</span></a> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">K., yes, if you could care less, that’s probably not what you’re trying to say. What you really mean is, I couldn’t care less than I already do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000899216046"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">R.</span></a> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; ">Although there are times when, with just a bit of effort, I could actually care less. ;-)
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<br /><b><i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ariverwalker"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">K.</span></a> </i></b>Okay, Jenny and S., I have been thinking about the phrase “I could care less,” and I think I have it figured out. If you say, “I could care less,” you are really saying that you don’t care at all, right? A person can’t care less than not at all; therefore, that phrase doesn’t work. Oh man, I think figuring that out hurt my brain. ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:12.0pt; margin-left:.5in;line-height:normal"><b><i><span style="font-size: 10pt; " ><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jenny.mertes"><span style="text-decoration: none; ">Jenny Mertes</span></a> </span></i></b><span style="font-size: 10pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Actually K. it’s the opposite. If you could care less, you still care some. If you couldn’t care less, you don’t care at all. It’s really just a basic misunderstanding of the literal meaning that causes people to say “I <i>could</i> care less” instead of the correct “I <i>couldn’t.</i>” </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" >Quick Tip: Remember the big red “<span style="color: red; ">N’T</span>” that should be at the end of “COULD.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-69939991782946312392011-09-03T20:01:00.000-07:002011-09-03T20:08:06.854-07:00Number number isn't necessary necessary<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHw0XARyw5DTrM28_qkj_gYQWMhXImKVSFlFHcBovxahhlRWqSyXA93afKrTDvzCbkTsUfu7wCBdhzRuLps9rDMeg2YJ0Rjj72Ks7qAtEkjbKNUwbdK3NDTJZ7jN0Q603-aueXdI_ZQA/s1600/PIN+VIN.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHw0XARyw5DTrM28_qkj_gYQWMhXImKVSFlFHcBovxahhlRWqSyXA93afKrTDvzCbkTsUfu7wCBdhzRuLps9rDMeg2YJ0Rjj72Ks7qAtEkjbKNUwbdK3NDTJZ7jN0Q603-aueXdI_ZQA/s320/PIN+VIN.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648334523887538274" /></a>
<br />Why do people say “PIN number” and “VIN number”?
<br />
<br />Don't they know they’re really saying, “personal identification number <i>number</i>” and “vehicle identification number <i>number</i>”?
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<br />Really, it’s OK to just say PIN. Or VIN. No need to say “number” twice. Try it!
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<br />“I changed my PIN for the Pillow of the Month Club.”
<br />
<br />“Charlie obliterated the VIN from his stolen tricycle.”
<br />Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-43243913908806525202011-02-08T19:44:00.000-08:002011-02-08T19:51:14.222-08:00I would have liked to have if I had to have...what?Most people appear to be confused about <span style="font-style: italic;">would have. </span>I hear them saying things like this:<blockquote>I would have like to have gone, but I didn't get to.</blockquote> What they don't know is this: you don't need more than one "have." They can say it either of two ways:<blockquote>I would like to have gone...<br />I would have liked to go...</blockquote>TIP: Cut your "haves" in half.Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-55122872378698396482010-09-21T09:31:00.000-07:002010-09-21T10:01:51.134-07:00How to make a word plural<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf83QxiLFk8zCtRFggYCWeT4sSsu53NtCXmrh52p7m3srkpHq0_PEh7exFO9wtkf-3DPJ2UB4xFykRxCkV7NgDEYkxtzfT8ex8xyrBIVqIO9EbZJ1u8MgMy3SUx_dkknjoBjC4kH-DCcCV/s1600/rosaquith09-greengrocer's-a.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 261px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf83QxiLFk8zCtRFggYCWeT4sSsu53NtCXmrh52p7m3srkpHq0_PEh7exFO9wtkf-3DPJ2UB4xFykRxCkV7NgDEYkxtzfT8ex8xyrBIVqIO9EbZJ1u8MgMy3SUx_dkknjoBjC4kH-DCcCV/s320/rosaquith09-greengrocer's-a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519411810308242722" border="0" /></a><br />Just add an <span style="font-style: italic;">s</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">es.</span> It's that simple, really. We learned this in grade school, right?<br /><br />Somehow this simple rule has been forgotten by the masses. I see plurals made with an apostrophe and an <span style="font-style: italic;">s</span> everywhere these days.<br /><br />Here is a good but bad example from Restaurants.com:<br /><a rel="nofollow" title="The Raven Grill" href="http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=363557&mcn=00066862"><span class="restaurant-image-label"><br /></span> </a> <div class="restaurant-address"> <div class="title"> <a title="The Raven Grill" href="http://www.restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=363557&mcn=00066862"> The Raven Grill</a></div><span style="font-style: italic;">Open for breakfast and lunch, the Raven Grill offers a casual dining atmosphere with great service and a diverse menu that has become popular for golfer's, locals and business traveler's alike.</span><br /><div class="restaurant-description"><br />Why did they think they needed an apostrophe in <span style="font-style: italic;">golfers </span>and <span style="font-style: italic;">travelers</span>? And if they are following some unknown rule, why not add an apostrophe to <span style="font-style: italic;">locals</span>?<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>We'll never know.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip:</span> Never use an apostrophe to make a word plural. Never, ever, ever.*<br /><br />Even dates and numbers don't need an apostrophe when made plural.<br /><br />Wrong: I was born in the 1950's<br />Right: I was born in the 1950s<br /><br />Neither do capitalized acronyms:<br /><br />Wrong: Learn your ABC's<br />Right: Learn your ABCs<br /></div></div><br />Nor do proper nouns, like first names or family names:<br /><br />Wrong: Tom's, Dick's, and Harry's (unless you are making them possessive rather than plural) <br />Right: Toms, Dicks, and Harrys <br /><br />Wrong: I visited with the Smith's<br />Right: I visited with the Smiths<br /><br />More examples I often see with apostrophes that don't need them:<br /><br /><div class="example" id="example_1"> <div class="lineatedText">ifs and buts</div> <div class="lineatedText">dos and don’ts</div> <div class="lineatedText">threes and fours</div> <div class="lineatedText">thank-yous</div> <div class="lineatedText">maybes</div> <div class="lineatedText">yeses and nos</div> </div><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*OK, you're right, there is at least one exception to the "just add an s or es" rule. It is hardly worth noting, because it tends to make people default to using an apostrophe just to be safe, but I'll include it anyway (I know you're curious):</span> <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Wrong: I added xs and ys to my list.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> Right: I added x's and y's to my list.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />In other words, if you are making single, lower-cased letters of the alphabet plural, you may correctly add apostrophes with your s's.</span>Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-11459568561692750392010-09-20T15:23:00.001-07:002010-09-20T15:51:57.279-07:00Please send it to myself...um...me?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4bnC-up9HH0FZhAv6g-6jGJMZYCW2j9nQQbqSpnB_a24wgh2ZXL8AliU999GVuYunUeSiJI8xU5QC0CeNzxksmq18a2Q0K_bddH0hdTP51SJdGhtoszYEsNJKTPPrl7tnM7mQVQ3byf1/s1600/reflexive.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 284px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4bnC-up9HH0FZhAv6g-6jGJMZYCW2j9nQQbqSpnB_a24wgh2ZXL8AliU999GVuYunUeSiJI8xU5QC0CeNzxksmq18a2Q0K_bddH0hdTP51SJdGhtoszYEsNJKTPPrl7tnM7mQVQ3byf1/s320/reflexive.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519131518614885506" border="0" /></a><br />I don't know how many times I've heard otherwise intelligent people asking someone to "send such-and-such to Bob and myself." That's impossible, because only <span style="font-style: italic;">I </span>can send, or do, something to or for <span style="font-style: italic;">myself</span>.<br /><br />What you do need to know: the word <span style="font-style: italic;">myself</span> goes only with what I can do to, or for, myself.<br /><br />What you don't need to know: the technical term for the "-self" and "-selves" words.* Trust me, unless you're in an English class, nobody cares.<br /><br />Wrong: Copy that email to Mom and <span style="font-style: italic;">myself,</span> would you?<br />Right: Copy that email to Mom and <span style="font-style: italic;">me,</span> would you? (Not "Mom and I," but "Mom and ME.")<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip:</span> If you're talking about something someone else will do, or is doing, to or for you, use <span style="font-style: italic;">me</span> rather than <span style="font-style: italic;">myself.</span><br /><br />* <span style="font-style: italic;">Reflexive pronouns. </span>They are <b>myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves,</b> and <b>themselves. </b>(Don't even think about using <span style="font-style: italic;">hisself </span>or <span style="font-style: italic;">theirselves</span>, or I shall have to beat you with an English grammar textbook.)Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-26476000565219162432010-09-16T15:35:00.000-07:002010-09-18T09:59:40.112-07:00Stink, stank, stunk—what you need to know<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDcWSHk3CI-KHurnU0uP2hHD5vOjPPLaH5anp1dppG5JPzjtuWUgcKj5f7ijVq2_W8h0DiEOK8MeypttJwlVNN1jouvsT3H6cpWcw6XAsNP1X35mwvCkFdxsogEtVjP4WEFLzDSaKuUgq/s1600/skunk.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDcWSHk3CI-KHurnU0uP2hHD5vOjPPLaH5anp1dppG5JPzjtuWUgcKj5f7ijVq2_W8h0DiEOK8MeypttJwlVNN1jouvsT3H6cpWcw6XAsNP1X35mwvCkFdxsogEtVjP4WEFLzDSaKuUgq/s320/skunk.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517647957068747522" border="0" /></a><br />I was confused about the difference between <span style="font-style: italic;">stank</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">stunk.</span> Are you?<br /><br />Did you ever hear someone say, "Manning really <span style="font-style: italic;">stunk</span> when he threw that pass"? (This would never happen, incidentally, because Manning doesn't stink, ever.)<br /><br />What that football fan really meant was, "Lienart really <span style="font-style: italic;">stank</span> when he threw that pass." Or he might say, correctly: "Manning never <span style="font-style: italic;">has stunk</span> at football." (Unless you're referring to Grandma Manning, and even then, she's probably a powerhouse.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip:</span> Use <span style="font-style: italic;">has, hasn't,</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">hadn't</span> with <span style="font-style: italic;">stunk,</span> but <span style="font-style: italic;">stank</span> stands alone, as will anyone who stinks.Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-91281151115927972022010-09-16T10:46:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:01:05.162-07:00Myriad—many, lot, bunch, or ton?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUk6skVKJfg7v8qgAuFEhzLpk-BEMgLIgVWdBAlCr5hAu6ut7ap6Tqct_nScmFWHhvM2ohDsNt2vrFCYlMUEtK4jKWKomExUcDxTlvUQ3YVxutqGem4eCPAbiYhIi3Qhzn8p4PRrVHfSt/s1600/myriad.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 229px; float: left; height: 81px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517573539790673250" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUk6skVKJfg7v8qgAuFEhzLpk-BEMgLIgVWdBAlCr5hAu6ut7ap6Tqct_nScmFWHhvM2ohDsNt2vrFCYlMUEtK4jKWKomExUcDxTlvUQ3YVxutqGem4eCPAbiYhIi3Qhzn8p4PRrVHfSt/s320/myriad.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Would you write, "A many of friends"? Nope. Then don't write, "A myriad of friends" either. Neither <span style="font-style: italic;">a </span>nor <span style="font-style: italic;">of</span> goes with <span style="font-style: italic;">myriad.</span><br /><br />Myriad means either <span style="font-style: italic;">ten thousand </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">or</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">a very great or indefinitely great number of persons or things.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> (Source: Dictionary.com)</span><br /><div class="dndata"><span id="hotword"></span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip:</span> Use <span style="font-style: italic;">myriad</span> the same way you use<span style="font-style: italic;"> many.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Myriad soldiers stormed the castle. I found myriad bargains at the mall.</span></div>Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-83744711034575999892010-09-14T11:31:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:56:47.254-07:00Is that i.e. or e.g.?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWbBWeRwaEI2u1FkDN2K1F2cWoFwcS1mU4Wzx6kAtGx5U8rSiwMSqm44Wx_nUnlTTJMc5QG_iRNJIGuAkuds9cdH55SZRdWlCFy-9vefkQgVHg5gY2KP3bqmNY6ztH2NnjaeQ6EjQzWKE/s1600/i.e.e.g..jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUWbBWeRwaEI2u1FkDN2K1F2cWoFwcS1mU4Wzx6kAtGx5U8rSiwMSqm44Wx_nUnlTTJMc5QG_iRNJIGuAkuds9cdH55SZRdWlCFy-9vefkQgVHg5gY2KP3bqmNY6ztH2NnjaeQ6EjQzWKE/s320/i.e.e.g..jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516841412818368162" border="0" /></a><br />Do you ever wonder when to use "i.e." and when to use "e.g."? Or do you just throw in an "i.e." as your all-purpose solution, figuring there's no big difference?<br /><br />Well, there is a difference, and if you're interested in what it is and why it matters, read on.<br /><br />The boring stuff: Both come from Latin—<span style="font-style: italic;">id est</span> directly translated is "that is (to say)," or "which means," while the translation of <span style="font-style: italic;">exempli gratia</span> is "for the sake of example," or, more commonly, "for example."<br /><br />They are <span style="font-style: italic;">not </span>interchangeable. As an editor, I often see "i.e." used where "e.g." is meant, and I change it. Learn the difference, and you'll instantly impress the next editor to read your work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip: </span>Use "i.e." to mean "that is," but use "e.g." to mean "for example."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Easier Tip: </span>Think of "e.g." as "example given."Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-19114185135695632252010-09-14T08:34:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:56:47.254-07:00Em dash, en dash, hyphen...whaaaat?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEpsYS4P-NjtFFcd8igqOUeX48bcZ292uyh1niQfEwN-iHTtHpqAS8pM87dhLG7Cy864prC3nZzo04YEYaZol_qruSSZsOPq-4cCUbBevH0BP4FD83B3ZzSxKoqWH_AieY89aR-N3PsFY/s1600/em-dash.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEpsYS4P-NjtFFcd8igqOUeX48bcZ292uyh1niQfEwN-iHTtHpqAS8pM87dhLG7Cy864prC3nZzo04YEYaZol_qruSSZsOPq-4cCUbBevH0BP4FD83B3ZzSxKoqWH_AieY89aR-N3PsFY/s320/em-dash.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516796995515764098" border="0" /></a><br />If you haven't heard of an em dash or en dash, don't feel left out. The distinction between them and the rules for their use are usually limited to formal writing.<br /><br />If, however, you'd like to know what they are and how to use them, read on.<br /><br />Hyphen: short (-)<br />En dash: longer (–)<br />Em dash: longest (—)<br /><br />Most people use a simple "space hyphen space" to indicate a pause or set off a phrase; for example, "He went to town - despite my objections - and bought me roses." For informal writing, that's fine. Everybody's used to it, and ever-helpful Word will even change the hyphen to an en dash. (Word is wrong, but try telling that to Microsoft.)<br /><br />As an editor, I would replace that series of "space hyphen space" with an em dash and no spaces. That's the proper way to indicate a break or pause or to set off a phrase. The sentence now reads, "He went to town—despite my objections—and bought me roses."<br /><br />Where do you use the shorter (en) dash? En dashes are used in place of "to" in a series, for example, "October 2–10."<br /><br />If you want to use em or en dashes, the easy way to insert them is to memorize the keystrokes for each. For em, type <span style="font-style: italic;">Alt0151. </span>For en, type <span style="font-style: italic;">Alt0150.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip: </span>(1) Never use spaces with en or em dashes. (2) Don't get too hung up on ens, ems, and hyphens unless you're writing a résumé, a college paper, or another type of formal communication.Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-81027146557234581992010-09-12T17:08:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:56:47.254-07:00Lie vs. Lay<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU30xoN3XTWDJfSXnyfah3UQUraIvXL4Logr4VBkpNo4A1FFBySZnK9fyzSoMIT43ohd6QG7CsebiXHhAb6Ij2Zb1Hr2ysrYa0m81pCCqPGmUccdPoEyKLc7wMNAa56sQmclXBhBxJwodX/s1600/lay_lie.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU30xoN3XTWDJfSXnyfah3UQUraIvXL4Logr4VBkpNo4A1FFBySZnK9fyzSoMIT43ohd6QG7CsebiXHhAb6Ij2Zb1Hr2ysrYa0m81pCCqPGmUccdPoEyKLc7wMNAa56sQmclXBhBxJwodX/s320/lay_lie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516186319954685090" border="0" /></a><br />Just about everybody mixes up the words "lay" and "lie." Here is an example:<br /><br />Wrong: He lied down. (Or, "He laid down.")<br />Right: He lay down. (If it was himself; or, if it was a package or something he was carrying, "He laid it on the table.")<br /><br />But that's not the most common error made with "lie" and "lay." It gets confusing when you change the tense, because then wrong becomes right:<br /><br />Wrong: He lays down.<br />Right: He lies down.<br /><br />Heard on the local news: "The man was laying on the ground." (Laying what? An egg? He was actually <span style="font-style: italic;">lying</span> on the ground.)<br /><br />Wrong: Lie that package on the table. (Doesn't sound right, does it?)<br />Right: Lay that package on the table.<br /><ul><li>Generally things you are holding are things you "lay" down. A purse, a baby, a package, a grocery bag.<br /></li><li>Conversely, you, your husband, or your toddler should "lie" down when sleepy. </li><li>Teach Rover to "lie down," not "lay down."</li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip:</span> A hen <span style="font-style: italic;">lays </span>eggs. You <span style="font-style: italic;">lay</span> your head on the pillow. Pretty much everything else <span style="font-style: italic;">lies</span>.Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-55009429469765748252010-09-02T15:17:00.001-07:002010-09-16T15:56:47.255-07:00Lead, Lead, Led<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWyT3ANkDBrmc_5EUpoMOgaQpL8U4gQbwO_8lCK5voIdxqzDSO9UjkmlLOp75tXo3JEDQNoezftYxjh45mfBIqrct7LrtgLFpOogKjJkY4MjFjNu03kwvZcqrD6gvtquFvbYNrP9bfU65/s1600/PENCIL.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 133px; float: left; height: 122px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512469036825746146" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWyT3ANkDBrmc_5EUpoMOgaQpL8U4gQbwO_8lCK5voIdxqzDSO9UjkmlLOp75tXo3JEDQNoezftYxjh45mfBIqrct7LrtgLFpOogKjJkY4MjFjNu03kwvZcqrD6gvtquFvbYNrP9bfU65/s320/PENCIL.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />You need to know the difference between "lead," "lead," and "led." You'll only get caught on this one if you use it in your writing, and then only if your reader is as sharp as, well, a freshly sharpened pencil.<br /><br />Wrong: I lead the team to victory last season.<br />Right: I led the team to victory last season.<br /><br />Mistaking "lead" for "led" is a very common error, even in newspapers where copy editors should have caught it. Now that you know about it, watch for it and let me know when you see it in print.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TIP: </span>Just remember that the past tense of "lead" is <em>always</em> "led." The word "lead," when pronounced like "led," means that black stuff in the center of your pencil (that's actually graphite, but you know what I mean).Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-51060999061896965632010-09-02T14:58:00.000-07:002010-09-16T15:56:47.255-07:00If everybody does it wrong, does that eventually make it right?Does widespread incorrect usage over time create a sense that wrong is the new right? I suspect the misuse of pronouns with gerunds is more prevalent among English speakers than almost any other grammatical error. Or maybe it's just a pet peeve of mine right now, so I notice it everywhere.<br /><br />I want to use gerunds correctly. Really I do. But they're used incorrectly so commonly now, <em>my using </em>them correctly (which I just did) may sound affected ("speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression").<br /><br />You probably hear the correct usage one in 100 times. Develop an ear for the difference (see the blog post below), and let me know what you've heard. Or what you've seen in print—writers get the usage wrong nearly as often as speakers. Here's one I just noticed in a professional writer's blog: "My wrestling match with God ended with <span style="font-style:italic;">me accepting</span> the reality that God had called me to write..." ("me accepting" should be "my accepting").Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3697158277379649971.post-65216264493998481232010-09-02T14:29:00.001-07:002010-09-18T10:38:48.551-07:00Anybody know what a gerund is?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhKOpLHTgQ0Gz33bThAJ7RmTgmmEgoBn0X57qey6le2iOs0RFfjZJ0qknL1yC9c-leEuueKtBBOBYoC1waV3LxNV0wdPRyrhLCbyT5bIiRYnNXvLNjk9xv2yWq2TZQtDEjJhB4cAZpG61/s1600/gerunds.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhKOpLHTgQ0Gz33bThAJ7RmTgmmEgoBn0X57qey6le2iOs0RFfjZJ0qknL1yC9c-leEuueKtBBOBYoC1waV3LxNV0wdPRyrhLCbyT5bIiRYnNXvLNjk9xv2yWq2TZQtDEjJhB4cAZpG61/s320/gerunds.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512470250397666450" border="0" /></a><br />When it comes to using gerunds (a noun made from an action word by adding "ing"), just about everybody gets it wrong. Can you hear the difference in these examples?<br /><br /><strong>Examples</strong><br /><br />Wrong: You snoring will keep me awake.<br />Right: Your snoring will keep me awake.<br />(It isn't <em>you</em> keeping me awake; it's <em>your snoring</em>.)<br /><br />Wrong: Will me finishing the dishes make you happy?<br />Right: Will my finishing the dishes make you happy?<br />(It isn't <em>me </em>that will make you happy; it's <em>my finishing.</em>)<br /><br />Wrong: The dog barking kept him awake.<br />Right: The dog's barking kept him awake.<br />(It isn't <em>the dog</em> that kept him awake; it's <em>the dog's barking.)</em><br /><br />And here's one I just saw on a major newspaper's website:<br />"...yet she recalls the Secretariat saga gripping people around the world."<br />(Should be, "...yet she recalls the Secretariat <span style="font-style: italic;">saga's gripping</span> people around the world."<br /><br /><strong>TIP:</strong> Use a possessive pronoun (or possessive proper noun) before a gerund.Jenny Merteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08250994637998183592noreply@blogger.com0