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March 28, 2000
AMERICAN VS. BRITISH SPELLING
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English is neither spoken nor spelled the same way around the world. Common English words can be spelled differently, yet still be correct. Keep differences in mind when writing for American, British, Canadian, or other English-speaking readers.
American: center, civilized, enroll, odor, practice, pretense, theater
British: centre, civilised, enrol, odour, practise, pretence, theatre
Word usage also can vary among English-speaking cultures. We'll address these differences in a future issue.
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http://www.grammarcheck.com/archives
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WRITING TIP: SENTENCE COMBINING
We continue our series of writing tips with Part Two of Sentence Combining, which involves combining two or more sentences into fewer sentences (for example, combining 2 sentences into 1 sentence; or combining 3 sentences into 1 or 2 sentences; and so forth). New subscribers: for more information about sentence combining, read last week's edition of GrammarCheck, now posted on-line at http://www.grammarcheck.com/archives/3-21-2000.htm [.]
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HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN TO COMBINE SENTENCES?
Last week we reviewed two patterns that may indicate the need for sentence combining: (a) look for word repetition, and (b) look for phrase repetition. This week we'll look at two more patterns.
PATTERN #3: LOOK FOR PRONOUN REFERENCES AT THE BEGINNING OF A SENTENCE
MY MOTHER was happy that year. SHE got married that year.
Notice how two "red flags" should alert you to the need for sentence combining in these two sentences: (a) the pronoun reference--My mother/she--and (b) the repetitious use of "that year." In terms of pronoun references, whenever you have a noun at the beginning of one sentence ("My mother") and a pronoun reference to that noun at the beginning of the second sentence ("She"), you should ask yourself whether sentence combining is needed.
COMBINED INTO ONE SENTENCE:
A: My mother was happy that year because she got married.
B: My mother was happy the year she got married.
As a result of sentence combining, the original two sentences--11 words in length--have been reduced to one sentence of 10 words (example A), a 9% reduction in sentence length, or 9 words (example B), an 18% reduction in sentence length. Sentence combining not only made the text sound better by eliminating repetition and an unnecessary pronoun reference, but it also made the text more efficient.
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PATTERN #4: LOOK FOR CHOPPY SENTENCE PATTERNS
Choppy sentence patterns don't read smoothly. They sound "choppy." See if you can recognize the choppy pattern in the following passage:
Christmas was and still is my favorite time of the year. There is so much meaning to Christmas and what it's about. Christmas brings families and friends together in a way that no other holiday does. Christmas always brings my family together.
Not only is "Christmas" repeatedly used in this passage, but the continuous use of simple sentence structures creates a choppy reading pattern that can drive readers away from your writing. Notice how smoothly and efficiently sentence combining can make this passage sound:
COMBINED INTO TWO SENTENCES:
Christmas was and still is my favorite time of the year because of what it's all about--bringing families and friends together in a way that no other holiday does. At least it always brings my family together.
As a result of sentence combining, the original four sentences were combined into two sentences, resulting in a 9% reduction in text length--and notice how much better the revised passage sounds to readers.
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FOR PRACTICE:
1. Choose a one-page letter or one page from a multi-page document you have written and find any instances of word repetition, phrase repetition, pronoun references at the beginning of a sentence, or choppy sentence patterns. Combine sentences if necessary.
2. Combine the following two sentences into one sentence:
Friends have played a large part in my life this year. They have played such a large part because they helped me through some difficult times.
3. Combine the following four sentences into three or fewer sentences:
Harry is my best friend. He has been my best friend for twelve years. He's been my best friend that long because he takes time to listen to me when I'm upset or excited about something. Harry has lived next door since I was nine years old.
Possible answers for Practice #2 and #3 are posted on the GrammarCheck web site at
http://www.grammarcheck.com/answers/32800.htm
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS:
QUESTION: Hello! I am involved in putting together a monthly newsletter at my company. We argue each month over the following issue: When used prior to an acronym, when should we use "a" and when should we use "an"? For example, "He bought an MPCI policy."
"M" is a consonant, so some people think we should use "a," but you pronounce it as "em" so some people think we should use "an." Which is correct? Thanks for your help on this!
GRAMMARCHECK: If the first letter of an acronym starts with a vowel sound, you should use "an." If it starts with a consonant sound, you should use "a." Your co-workers who chose "an" before "MPCI" are correct. There is one concern about acronyms and the use of "a" vs. "an," however. Suppose you have the following acronym: MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). In the following sentence, would you precede it with "a" or "an"?
A/An MADD conference will be held next week in Miami.
The correct answer is posted on our web site at http://www.grammarcheck.com/answers/32800.htm
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QUESTION: I was taught the following rule: one person, two or more people. These days, I see "persons" used when referring to more than one person. When, if ever, is "persons" correct?
GRAMMARCHECK: Your original teaching is textbook-correct. However, some dictionaries show "persons" as an acceptable plural of "person" along with "people." We have observed that using "persons" rather than "people" suggests a more formal or business-like tone.
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QUESTION: Many times I have read where the singular subject of a sentence is referenced with a plural pronoun for the purpose of being politically correct by avoiding the use of "he" or "she." I can understand one's concern about political correctness, but is this practice grammatically correct? Please comment on the following sentence; should "they" be changed to "he/she"?
Example: Maybe the customer wants this item or maybe they don't.
GRAMMARCHECK: The principle of avoiding "he" or "she" by using a gender-neutral noun (such as "customer") is useful when you remember to make the pronoun agree with the noun in "number" (singular vs. plural). The example above is incorrect because the singular subject word ("customer") is followed by a plural pronoun ("they").
The following sentences could replace the incorrect example above:
Maybe the customer wants this item or maybe not.
Maybe customers want this item or maybe not.
Maybe customers want this item or maybe they don't.
Maybe a customer wants this item or maybe he or she doesn't. (more awkward)
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QUESTION: I love this site. Thanks for the great job! How do I find answers to questions from previous postings? Thanks.
GRAMMARCHECK: The web site location of all answers should be posted with the questions. We'll check to make sure all the links are working. Thank YOU.
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QUESTION: I'd like to know who or where this information came from: "Commas and periods ALWAYS go inside quotation marks." I see punctuation used after quotations within sentences quite often. The M. Webster's Manual for Editors and Writers states that punctuation may follow a quote within a sentence. Example: What did Andrew mean when he called the project "a fiasco from the start"?
GRAMMARCHECK: Your example is correct because question marks may be placed outside quotation marks (and sometimes inside), but not all punctuation marks may be placed on either side of a quotation mark. According to grammar handbooks, commas and periods always go inside quotation marks.
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READER COMMENT: Thank you! Your instructions regarding commas inside vs. outside quotation marks came at just the right time for me. I just asked that very question at a workshop chat and was told that the comma could come AFTER the quotation mark.
GRAMMARCHECK: It's not uncommon for people to get this one wrong, but the grammar books are clear. Thanks for e-mailing us!
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