A few years ago I was chastened by a client who informed me that the word ‘once’ means ‘one time,’ and it should not be used to mean anything other than that. He was so adamant about it that I didn’t bother to look it up. I have heard this admonition more than once (in fact, several…
Use ‘whether’ when there is an alternative involved . . . I can’t decide whether I should leave or stay. Can you tell me whether you intend to pay me? (The alternative is not to pay me.) Use a moisture analyser to visually indicate whether the dehydrator is functioning within its designed range. In most cases, do not use ‘or not’ with ‘whether.’ It is redundant. Please…
‘Further’ and ‘farther’ are often (and sometimes incorrectly) used interchangeably. Use ‘further’ when writing about additions or progress. Hint: ‘further’ is also a verb, meaning ‘to develop or help grow.’ Any further comments must be submitted in writing. To further your career, get a college education. Use ‘farther’ when writing about physical distance. Hint: ‘farther’ is the comparative form of ‘far.’ If ‘far’ doesn’t make sense…
Is it correct to say, “All of the cars had been stolen”? Or should I write, “All the cars had been stolen”? According to The Chicago Manual of Style, we should delete the ‘of’ whenever possible. (All the cars had been stolen.) There are exceptions, however. (It seems that there are always exceptions when it…
Flammable Did you know that both flammable and inflammable mean ‘capable of being set on fire’? Nonflammable means ‘not capable of being set on fire.’ Always use the word flammable to mean ‘capable of being set on fire’ to avoid misunderstanding! Continual Continual implies ‘happening over and over again.’ His continual tardiness finally got him…
Here’s the deal. There are basically three schools of thought regarding the use of any more and anymore: Anymore is a misspelling of any more. Don’t do it. Anymore and any more are just two ways of spelling the same thing. Don’t worry about it. Just be consistent in your writing. Anymore and any more…
‘Compose’ and ‘comprise’ are two verbs that are easy to mix up if the writer isn’t aware of their differences. ‘Compose’ means ‘to form by putting together,’ while ‘comprise’ means ‘to include, contain, or consist of.’ In both cases, we are dealing with parts and a whole. Hint: when using ‘comprise,’ the whole always comes…
The technician and/or the coordinator (meet, meets) with the manager . . . First, you have to determine if the subject is singular or plural. “Technician and coordinator” implies that the subject is plural, but “technician or coordinator” implies that it is either one or the other, so the subject would be singular. (Remember that…
When is it okay to use ‘myself,’ and when must I use ‘me’ or ‘I’? All three words are pronouns. That means that they take the place of nouns. So if my name is Elvira and I say, “Please give it to me,” I mean, “Please give it to Elvira.” ‘Me’ and ‘I’ are personal…
Dave Johnson of Southern Union Gas has a pet peeve that bugs us, too. And don’t assume that just because you’ve seen the misuse of this phrase in print, that it’s okay to be WRONG! Here’s the dilemma-which is correct? I will try and make a lot of money this year. or I will try…