Tag Archives: Grammar

In the two short weeks I’ve been writing this column, I’ve found there is no end to the grammatical bugaboos that frustrate writers.  Last week, some friends of mine started a rant on Facebook citing a number of grammatical infractions they encounter daily. One of the key pet peeves that hit that thread was the misuse of the comma.

Grammarly recently polled over 1,700 of its Facebook fans on what piece of punctuation they are most “thankful” for in their writing.  Overwhelmingly, English writers are most thankful for the comma (45 percent).  The misuse of commas is also among the top grammar mistakes that writers around the world are making, according to Grammarly’s research.

I thought it would be worthwhile to look at the four most common mistakes involving the comma.

1. Not including a comma before a coordinating conjunction (43% of all comma mistakes among Grammarly users.) When a coordinating conjunction connects two independent clauses, it should be accompanied by a comma (if the two independent clauses are brief, many writers will omit the comma, but it is always correct to include a comma in this case). “I need to clean the house before I get my Christmas tree, but I’d rather go out for drinks with the girls instead.”
2. Comma misuse in an introductory phrase (8 percent.) Common starter words for an introductory phrase that should be followed by a comma include after, although, as, because, if, since, when, while.“While I was eating, the cat jumped on the table and knocked over the vase.”You should also include a comma after participial and infinitive phrases, absolute phrases, nonessential appositive phrases, and long prepositional phrases (over four words).

   “Having finished my column before the deadline, I treated myself to a latte from Starbucks.”

   Finally, you should include a comma after common introductory words such as yes, however, well.

   “Well, I’m sure the cat didn’t really mean to knock over the vase.”

3. Comma misuse inside a compound subject (7 percent.) I’m sure many of you have seen advertisements for law firms or pharmaceuticals and the phrases that begin, “If you, or a loved one, has [been injured on the job] or [developed mesothelioma] …” that is an example of a compound subject.  Which is it — If you have been injured or if a loved one has developed mesothelioma? The writer’s intent is that either you or a loved one is in need of such a service.   Remove the commas, they don’t belong there.
4. Comma misuse around interrupters (6 percent.) This is one that I see occasionally in news releases as part of the Customer Content Services Team at PR Newswire.  Interrupters are modifiers that comment upon a noun. We enclose them in commas because they are not essential to the meaning of the main clause. We see this most often as a noun appositive in a news release: “John Smith, president and CEO of ABC, Inc., announced today the signing of a contract with XYZ Company.”Another example of an interrupter is an adjective clause or participial phrase:

   “Jane, whom you met last night, is up for an award at next week’s conference.”

   “Dr. Michael Jones, named as last year’s top doctor, has been promoted to Chief Resident.”

   Remember that these interrupters are not essential to the meaning of the rest of the sentence.

According to Grammarly, there are 28 different types of comma mistakes that English writers can make. Yet, not including a comma before a coordinating conjunction—and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet—is six times more common than any other! What are your most common comma mistakes?

Have a grammar rule you’d like me to explore? Drop me a line at catherine.spicer@prnewswire.com.

Author Catherine Spicer is Manager of Customer Content Services at PR Newswire.

The devastating effects of too much turkey, and too many trimmings.

Were you out shopping on Black Friday, trying to score the ultimate Black Friday deal?  Fighting the crowds of [insert preferred big-box store here] for the football field-sized TV for $17?  Or were you like me, recovering from the effects of the Thanksgiving Dinner you gobbled down on Thursday?

If you’re like me, and justifying to your family that the reason your caboose is fused to the sofa is because of all the tryptophan in the turkey, you are in good company.  But, is the sleep-inducing effect of tryptophan really to blame for your sluggishness? You are most likely being affected by the combination of the turkey and all those delicious carb-heavy goodies that come with it – the cornbread dressing (an absolute MUST in my house – homemade, of course), the mashed potatoes, the rice, the rolls, and the green bean casserole.

Turkey contains no more tryptophan than any other type of poultry. It’s when you add the high-carb side dishes that the body’s serotonin producers kick into overdrive.  The effect (effect, with an “e” – effect means something brought about by a cause or agent; a result) is the overwhelming urge to conk out while your family discusses the issues du jour. Tryptophan needs those infamous mashed potatoes your aunt makes to affect serotonin levels (affect, with an “a” – affect means to have an influence on or cause a change in).

So, remember, use “effect” when you are trying to describe a result – “The effect of the 2,000 calories I consumed in one meal resulted in me sleeping through the entire movie.”

Use “affect” to describe a facial expression – “At Thanksgiving dinner, I announced to my family that I was going to join the circus.  My parents reacted to my decision with little affect.”

Also use “affect” as a verb – “The amount of wine served will affect how quickly I decide to sing the Adam Sandler Thanksgiving Song at the top of my lungs.”

I wish all of my fellow grammarians a very happy holiday season. May your plates and bellies be full, and may there always be a great place to take a tryptophan-induced nap.

(Photo courtesy of my friends, Bill and Leslie Hart-Davidson – this is their dog, Spencer, a retired greyhound they rescued from a track in Florida.)

(Have a grammar rule you’d like me to explore? Drop me a line at Catherine.Spicer@prnewswire.com)

Lt. Col. W. A. Rawl (1912-2007) was an English teacher at Greenbrier Military School — and our new Grammar Hammer’s grandpa.

When I was given the opportunity to start writing for the Grammar Hammer blog, the first person I thought of was my grandfather.  Lt. Col. W. A. Rawl (1912-2007) was an English teacher at Greenbrier Military School. If I were to ever use improper grammar in front of my grandfather, it was met with a stern, but loving look.  He’d say, “Now, granddaughter, the correct term is ‘regardless.’  ‘Irregardless’ is a double negative, and not even a word.” (Double negatives were a particular sticking point with Grandpa.)

Lately, the grammar rule that I’ve been stumbling over in my own writing is who vs. whom. I haven’t had to recite chapter and verse on grammar rules since junior high. I know it’s wrong when I see it, I just don’t always remember the precise rules on WHY it’s wrong. I had to reeducate myself on rules using who vs. whom and whose job it is to remember those rules.

What I do remember – who and whom are both pronouns. I also remember that one of them refers to an object and the other refers to a subject. Use “who” when referring to the subject of a clause and use “whom” when referring to the object of a clause.  Grammar Girl offers a great “quick and dirty” tip on when to use who vs. whom (and as someone who is always on deadline, I appreciate any tips that make my job easier and keep me from looking stupid).

“When you’re trying to decide whether to use ‘who’ or ‘whom,’ ask yourself if the answer to the question would be ‘he’ or ‘him.’ If you can answer the question being asked with ‘him,’ then use ‘whom.’”

“With whom did you talk about your first Grammar Hammer column?” The answer would be “I talked with him.” (well, not really, since Grandpa is long gone, but you get my point.) Whom and him both end with “m,” so you know to use “whom.”

If I ask “Who stepped on my flowers?” the answer is “He stepped on my flowers.” No “m,” so you know to use “who.”

I hope the Colonel would be proud of my first column for Grammar Hammer, regardless of the fact that I had to look up the grammar rules.

Author Catherine Spicer is a manager of customer content services for PR Newswire.

(Photo courtesy of The Greenbrier Military School Alumni Association – http://www.gmsaa.org)

The Muppets’ entertaining and hilarious skits have helped children (and adults) for over 30 years learn about culture, science, art, history, music, life and many other things — but today the Muppets are going to teach us grammar! (Because who doesn’t love the Muppets?!)

In particular, Kermit and crew will be used in examples to explain when to use who, that or which.

Here are the three main rules to determine when you should use who, that or which:

Rule 1: Who always refers to people (or Muppet characters), while that and which refer to groups or things.

• Kermit is the cautious frog who loves Miss Piggy. (No, wait — Miss Piggy is the sassy swine who loves Kermit.)
• Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem is the band that plays rock music on the show.
• Jim Henson created “The Muppet Show,” which premiered in 1976.

Rule 2: Use that in essential clauses and which in nonessential clauses.

• I love Muppet movies that include Fozzie Bear (wocka wocka wocka!)
• “The Muppets Take Manhattan,” which included Fozzie Bear, was the best.
• Fozzie Bear wears a hat, which is brown.

Essential clauses are never surrounded by commas, but non-essential clauses are usually surrounded by commas or preceded by a comma.

Another way to tell if a clause is essential or non-essential is to remove it and see if the meaning of the sentence has changed significantly. Here are the same examples with the clause removed:

• I love Muppet movies. (different, essential)
• “The Muppets Take Manhattan” was the best. (same, non-essential)
• Fozzie Bear wears a hat. (same, non-essential)

Rule 3: If this, that, these or those is already introducing an essential clause, start the next clause with which, regardless of whether it is essential or not

• That is an experiment which only Dr. Bunsen Honeydew can handle.
• Those daredevil performances, which always made me afraid for Gonzo, were still very artistic.

Or you can just drop the which entirely to make it sound more concise:

• That is a drumline which only Animal knows.
• That is a drumline only Animal knows.

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

Ahoy thar mateys! Avast ye — did ye know Sept. 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day? Aye!

In honor of this very important holiday, this old grammar salt will teach you the difference between presume vs. assume, so that you always look and sound like true buccaneer. Yo ho ho.

According to Merriam Webster:

• Assume: to take as granted or true
• Presume: to expect or assume especially with confidence

The dictionary tells us that these two words are basically synonymous, except that presume is used more authoritatively than assume. AR! But let’s give these definitions some heave ho and consider them in usage. For example:

• When the lad saw the man with a peg leg and a parrot on his shoulder, he said “I presume you’re a pirate.”
• Many pirates assume they will be shark bait someday, which is why they are usually three sheets to the wind.
• The doctor presumed the sickly looking pirate had scurvy after being on board a ship for over three years with nothing but biscuits to eat.
• The captain is so sure the white whale exists, he assumes everyone else believes it exists too.

Batten down the hatches now, because a storm is brewing — this bucko disagrees with Merriam Webster’s landlubber definitions of presume and assume. From the crow’s nest, it would appear that assume is really the word that is often said with more confidence, rather than presume (which is the exact opposite of Merriam Webster’s definition). Well blow me down!

Look at this example again:

• When the lad saw the man with a peg leg and a parrot on his shoulder, he said “I presume you’re a pirate.”

In this case, presume suggests that the lad is going out on a limb by assuming the man with a peg leg and a parrot is a pirate — maybe he’s not really a seadog at all. The word presume implies that there is an expectation for clarification or more information that might change the conclusion. Savvy?

On the other hand, the word assume seems like it is indeed said with confidence, since it doesn’t seem like the speaker cares if the conclusion is right or wrong:

• Many pirates assume they will be shark bait someday, which is why they are usually three sheets to the wind.

That’s why the saying goes “Don’t assume — it makes an ‘ass’ out of ‘u’ and ‘me.’” Because assume comes to a conclusion based on the current information provided regardless.

What do you think about these two words?

YARRRR!

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

Photo courtesy of Flickr member Joe Schlabotnik

It’s September! And for many, that means the dreaded or eagerly anticipated first day of school. DUN DUN DUN! While Mom and Dad shed tears of joy, kids shed tears of sorrow as they shuffle onto the school bus all done up in new shoes and a fresh outfit. School has its pluses and its minuses.

Whether you’re the one going back to school, or maybe just the one pushing kids out the door, make sure you and yours are fully prepared to show off some superior grammar skills by understanding this week’s simple but commonly confused lesson:

Main Rule: It’s means “it is” or “it has.” Its indicates possession.

If you’re not sure, try replacing its or it’s with “it is” or “it has.” If it sounds OK, use an apostrophe. Examples:

• The school has its recess at noon — can’t wait!
• The school has it is recess at noon (wrong, no apostrophe)
• It’sthe first day of school.
• It is the first day of school. (right, use apostrophe)

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

It’s August, so no matter where you are in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s safe to assume you’ve probably been encountering a lot of creepy crawlers recently.

Fun fact: It turns out that some flying insects actually move towards a light — even though it ends up zapping them to death — because they use the sun and moon to navigate their courses. Insects that are attracted to light include moths, flies, crane flies, mayflies, beetles and more, according to About.com. They don’t realize that your porch light is actually leading them toward a buggy death trap!

This bring us to our short grammar discussion today: When do we use towards vs. toward?

Main Rule: Toward and towards can be used interchangeably.

Either word is correct, although North American English speakers tend to prefer toward, while other English speakers (specifically British) tend to prefer towards, according to Grammarist.

Examples:

• “No, don’t go towards the light!” the caterpillar screamed to the moth. But it was too late.
• The beetle seemed hypnotized as it moved toward the light bulb, ending with a pop and sizzle.

Stop the bug annihilation — turn your lights out!

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

Everything has its place in Julia’s kitchen, and in the sentences you write. You wouldn’t put the toaster in the fridge.

When I was little and had to stay home sick from school, I’d always watch a TV cooking show with my mom, featuring a tall lady with a peculiar warbly voice making really delicious-looking food with lots of butter. I didn’t realize until many years later — when the movie “Julie & Julia” came out — that my mom and I had been watching reruns of Julia Child.

Watching those reruns was my first introduction to the legendary chef, author and TV personality. I’m sure many of you have your own versions of how you were introduced to Child, whether you’re a longtime fan, like my mom, who owns a weathered copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking; or a newer fan, like me, who was captivated by her charm in reruns and modern adaptations like “Julie & Julia.”

Child penned 18 cookbooks during her 91 years of life, so she surely was aware of grammar rules like parallel structure. In honor of what would have been her 100th birthday last week, we’ll review this principle:

Main Rule: Similar material within a sentence, list or passage should be presented in a consistent manner to ensure grammatical purpose, structure and rhythm.

Within a sentence:

• Julia Child was magnetic, hilarious and wholehearted. [all adjectives]
• Julia Child was charming, a chef and funny. [incorrect]
• Julia Child loved salade nicoise, chicken waterzooi soup and pizza. [all recipes]
• Julia Child loved coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon and baking. [incorrect]

Within a List:

• To cook the duck:
  • Debone the bird.
  • Discard fat.
  • Add the stuffing.
  • Heat the oil.
  • Brown the duck.
• [Each bullet point starts with a verb.]
• To make pastry:
  • Mix flour, salt, sugar and butter.
  • Add water.
  • Dough into a ball.
  • Sprinkle with flour.
  • Knead repeatedly.
• [This list is incorrect because "dough" is not a verb.]

Within a passage:

• Chefs who create delicious food don’t always get television shows, but one always has the advantage of eating well. [incorrect; switches from plural to singular subject]
• Chefs who create delicious food don’t always get television shows, but they always have the advantage of eating well. [correct]

Bon appetit!

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user EvanFuchs.

Because August has no official holidays, today’s post is about the bizarre and wacky unofficial holidays this month!

Did you know that August is Family Fun Month, National Catfish Month, National Eye Exam Month, National Golf Month, Peach Month, Romance Awareness Month, Water Quality Month, National Picnic Month — or my favorite — Admit You’re Happy Month? (Just admit it already!) These themes are the perfect excuses to do some fun/wacky/healthy things for the next few weeks.

Since the beginning of August, I’ve been meaning to cover the rules of when to use since vs. because.

Purists will tell you that there’s a right and wrong answer about when to use since vs. because – but the explanation is confusing and not clearly definable. My answer? Go with your gut. It is, however, helpful to understand the types of sentences where each is most likely to appear, in order to avoid sounding awkward.

Main Rule: Since generally references time and/or causation, while because generally only references causation.

Therefore, it’s more likely you’ll use because awkardly; since can be used appropriately in most sentences that require this type of word.

Here are examples of when the words are interchangeable:

• Because/since it’s National Catfish Month, catch a big one! [correct]
• Give your girlfriend a big kiss because/since it’s Romance Awareness Month. [correct]

Here is an example of when because sounds awkward, due to time reference:

• Since we went peach picking, I’ve been craving peaches. [correct]
• Because we went peach picking, I’ve been craving peaches. [incorrect]

In this instance, try inserting the phrase the time after after since to test for grammaticality.

• Since [the time that] we went peach picking, I’ve been craving peaches. [correct]

Also, there’s the obvious case where because just won’t sound right:

• Since Friday, I’ve been thinking a lot about golf. [correct]
• Because Friday, I’ve been thinking a lot about golf. [incorrect]

Conclusion: If you can’t decide whether since or because sounds better, probably just go with since, since it will likely sound less awkward!

Happy August!

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

“50 Shades of Grey” has taken the “literary” nation by storm. Whether you love it or love to hate it, it seems like it’s being read in every book club, every bedroom, every coffee shop right now. With more than 31 million copies sold worldwide (according to Hollywood Reporter), the novels’ dull vocabulary, flat characters and unfulfilling plot hold no weight compared to the sexy and enticing fantasy escape being offered. For many readers, it’s like a mental vacation from everyday life — and I can appreciate that. If “50 Shades of Grey” gets people to enjoy reading, who am I to criticize?

But in total, brutal honesty, I read “50 Shades of Grey” after hearing the hubbub, and hated it. I’ll spare you the recap — you probably have some idea of what it’s about by now anyway. But the silver lining of reading a book I didn’t like is that I’ve gotten a great deal of enjoyment reading the critiques by people who also found it to be subpar.

One reviewer in particular pointed out an irksome grammar mistake in the first chapter of the first book, when author E.L. James is initially describing main squeeze and heartthrob, Christian Grey:

• He’s tall, dressed in a fine gray suit, white shirt, and black tie with unruly dark copper colored hair and intense, bright gray eyes that regard me shrewdly.

Wow! Where can I buy a tie like that?!

There’s something essential missing from the second sentence of the quote: a semicolon. Without a semicolon after “black tie,” it makes the rest of the description that’s supposed to be about Christian Grey seem likes it’s actually about the black tie – as in, a black tie with hair and eyes. As Anastasia Steele would say, “Oh my!”

Without rewriting the sentence entirely (which seems like the best option), here’s what the sentence should look like:

• He’s tall, dressed in a fine gray suit, white shirt, and black tie; with unruly dark copper colored hair and intense, bright gray eyes that regard me shrewdly.

Lesson: Always be conscious of the subject of the sentence!

Also, check out my post on semicolons: Sherlock Holmes and the Mysterious Case of the Semicolon

What did you think of “50 Shades of Grey”?

Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. Grammar Hammer is published weekly on ProfNet Connect, a free social networking site for communicators. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.