If there is one thing in the last several years that has proven to me that people would rather type phonetically rather than use a dictionary, it’s Facebook. One of the most common phonetic spellings I’ve seen is the phrase “should of”. Or, for that matter, “could of”, “would of”, etc.
Category: Grammar
Valentines Day vs. Valentine’s Day
Every so often, I see the phrase “Valentines Day” pop up. I saw it today in fact, and it prompted me to write this short post. The holiday that occurs on 14 February every year is written as Valentine’s Day. Notice the apostrophe. The holiday is originally a Christian feast day—and still is in some… Continue reading Valentines Day vs. Valentine’s Day
Difference between bemused and amused
Every once in a while, I come across someone using a word in a way that makes me think they think it means something else. One of those words is “bemused”.
Why we use eleven and twelve instead of oneteen and twoteen
Earlier this week, one of my children asked me why eleven and twelve aren’t “oneteen” and “twoteen”, so I thought that would make an interesting blog topic today.
4 tips for properly using “not only . . . but also”
Something many writers trip up on is properly using correlative conjunctions. A correlative conjunction links elements like words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence. Some well-known examples are either…or, neither…nor, but…and, and, of course, not only…but also. Of the bunch, “not only…but also” is probably the hardest to master. Here are 4 tips to help you… Continue reading 4 tips for properly using “not only . . . but also”
Is funner a real word?
Grammar purists will insist that the comparative form of fun is more fun. That’s because for centuries, fun was used as a noun (or a verb), and nouns never take an -er ending. The use of fun as an adjective appeared in the early 20th century, and funner, according to Google, didn’t appear until the mid-20th century, but even then… Continue reading Is funner a real word?
More than me vs. more than I
I heard our 13-year-old son say something today that ended with the phrase “than me” (as in, he is taller than me or she is smarter than me). It reminded me of a debate that I thought I’d touch on briefly today. Grammarians have been arguing for years on whether “than” always operates as a… Continue reading More than me vs. more than I
Putting Christ back in Xmas
You don’t have to go far this time of year before you hear someone bemoaning the demise of Christian Christmas. You’ll hear such phrases as “reason for the season” and “put Christ back in Christmas”. One particular complaint that seems to be common is the use of “Xmas”. The way Christmas defenders explain it, secular… Continue reading Putting Christ back in Xmas
I vs. me: are you using them correctly?
When you were growing up, did your parents ever correct you by saying something like, “No, it’s Susie and I.”? Oftentimes, they were correct, but I think this popular correction has led to a practice of actually using “I” incorrectly.
Why I use “will you” when making a request
If I want someone to, say, bring me a screwdriver, I probably say something like this: Will you please bring me that Robertson screwdriver? I use “will you” virtually every time I need someone to do something for me. I’ve had people tell me it sounds stuffy or too formal, but I have my reasons. You… Continue reading Why I use “will you” when making a request