ProofreadNOW_Blog (37)

It's me or It's I?

Posted by Phil Jamieson May 1, 2013 6:30:00 AM

You're trying to make the right impression as you knock on the door of your blind date's apartment, or on the door of the personnel manager who has your job application. "Who's there?" you're asked. What's your reply? If you've ever been unsure, read on.

Topics: subject complements, complements, pronouns

Happy (belated) Earth Day!

Posted by Phil Jamieson Apr 23, 2013 5:35:00 AM

Will there ever be a Mars Day on Mars? What would they do? Rake red dirt all day? Just something to ponder as you consider today's list of earthy words.

1. meliorism: (a) marked by or showing concern for the environment; (b) advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment; (c) the belief that the world tends to improve and that humans can aid its betterment; (d) active demand by two or more organisms or kinds of organisms for some environmental resource in short supply.

Topics: word test, vocabulary test

Prayers

Posted by Phil Jamieson Apr 17, 2013 5:30:00 AM

No grammar posts today - just a word of reflection regarding the events in nearby Boston.

Comma Comment

Posted by Phil Jamieson Apr 10, 2013 5:30:00 AM

Don't use a comma to indicate an understood word unless the sentence requires it for clarity.

His office gave him little satisfaction, and his wife, none requires the comma after wife so that the reader can be certain that something has been omitted there--a repetition of gave him. Without the comma, the sentence could easily be taken to mean His office gave him little satisfaction and gave his wife none. (The comma after satisfaction in the original sentence does not prevent this misreading, because it may be there just to give the second predicate a parenthetical effect.) Note that the comma after wife, required as it is, is really rather a nuisance; His office gave him little satisfaction, and his wife gave him none gives more satisfaction as a sentence.

He quit his job, and his wife, her excessive social engagements does not require the comma after wife, because the only possible meaning is his wife quit her excessive social engagements. We can take out the comma and still be sure both where a word is missing and what the word is. Since the comma has no function, it should be taken out.

He had always had a secret yearning for a more contemplative life, she for a life of toil and accomplishment requires no comma after she, even though the omission-- had always had a secret yearning--is quite long.

He now has ample time to dream, she the self-respect of the breadwinner, they the loving marriage both had longed for, and I the suspicion that their solution would not work for us requires no commas to indicate the omissions, even though the omitted word changes form: she has; they have; I have.

The use of a comma to indicate an understood word or group of words is apt to make a sentence seem old-fashioned and fussy. If a sentence does seem to require such a comma for clarity, perhaps the sentence can be improved by supplying the omitted word or words or by otherwise changing the basic sentence to make the comma necessary.

From The Handbook of Good English by Edward D. Johnson.

Topics: punctuation

Video: Could you care less?

Posted by Phil Jamieson Apr 3, 2013 5:30:00 AM

How often have you heard someone say they "could care less" about something? Watch this GrammarTip video to find out why this slang expression is often misused.

Topics: slang, slang expressions, GrammarTip video, Video

Public Speaking Tips

Posted by Phil Jamieson Mar 27, 2013 5:30:00 AM

Studies show that the fear of speaking in public ranks higher in most people's minds than the fear of dying. Today's tip combines some advice for speaking in public with a dab of encouragement to carefully proofread what you would say to your listeners. While we specialize in the advice in bullet four, we wish you well in taking all of the following points seriously as you prepare to wow your audience.

Topics: public speaking, proofread

Clash of Words

Posted by Phil Jamieson Mar 20, 2013 5:30:00 AM

Here are some interesting word choices people too often fumble. Make sure you don't!

Topics: word choices, which word is correct

Video: Reflexive Pronouns - Yourself? Myself?

Posted by Phil Jamieson Mar 13, 2013 5:30:00 AM

When, if ever, is it correct to use the pronoun yourself or myself? Watch this short video to find out!

Topics: GrammarTip video, Video, pronouns

Are you all set with question marks?

Posted by Phil Jamieson Feb 27, 2013 5:30:00 AM

Believe it or not, some people have actually cried 96 Tears over where and when to use a question mark. It's not always as straightforward as one might think. In fact, sometimes it's downright mysterious - some might say, "It's a Mysterian." We'll begin with the obvious and end with the less so.

Topics: question mark