GrammarCheck: April 11, 2000

April 11, 2000
VIRGULE (SOLIDUS)--AKA "SLASH"
-------------------------------------------------

The virgule (or solidus), informally called the slash, is used to show optional or alternate word choices: boy/man, spring/summer, Jewish/Hebrew, north/northwest, he/she.

The slash also can replace the word "per" as in miles/hour or words/minute.

Mathematicians use a slash to separate the numerator from the denominator in fractions (1/2) and to distinguish between day, month, and year in dates (04/11/00).

When citing poetry, music lyrics, or dramatic speech, use the slash between the end of one line and the beginning of the next, placing a "space" on either side of the slash:

EXAMPLE: "How I like to go up in a swing / Up in the sky so blue,"

-------------------------------------------------

PAST ISSUES AVAILABLE ON-LINE

Subscribers to GrammarCheck can now read past issues at the following web site address: http://www.grammarcheck.com/archives

-------------------------------------------------

WRITING TIP: SENTENCE COMBINING AND ELIMINATING "WORDS TO AVOID"

For the past several weeks, we have discussed how sentence combining and eliminating "words to avoid" (is, are, was, were, to be, to have, have, has, had, etc.) can make your writing more professional. This week, we conclude this series by looking at instances where BOTH editing techniques should be used.

For the benefit of new subscribers (and as a review for the rest of us), here is a synopsis of our two writing tips:

- - - - - - -

SENTENCE COMBINING

Sentence combining may be necessary in the following instances:

1. Look for word repetition.

2. Look for phrase repetition.

3. Look for pronoun references at the beginning of a sentence.

4. Look for choppy sentence patterns.

5. Look for sentences beginning with conjunctions (and, or, because, but, etc.).

6. Look for "this" without a reference or "this" at the beginning of a sentence.

- - - - - - -

ELIMINATE "WORDS TO AVOID"

1. Eliminate "to be" verbs when possible--is, are, was, were, to be, being, been.

2. Eliminate "to have" verbs when possible--have, has, had, having, to have.

3. Eliminate "expletives" (pronoun + "to be" verb) when possible--there is, there was, there have been, it is, etc.

4. Eliminate unnecessary pronouns when possible--who, that, which, etc.

- - - - - - -

EXAMPLE #1:

It's just that it is kind of hard with so many of us living in different states. But we manage somehow.

This example needs work. Here's an instance where sentence combining and the elimination of several "words to avoid" are needed. Notice how the beginning of the first sentence causes readers to fumble over the words, creating a text more difficult to read than is necessary. How would you make these two sentences sound more professional? Send your answer to grammar@grammarcheck.com and we'll publish the best responses in next week's edition.

- - - - - - -

EXAMPLE #2:

The problem with Wal-Mart's planning now is that it is still a relatively new store. There are still kinks and bugs to work out.

The end of the first sentence and beginning of the second sentence are awkward. How would you edit these two sentences to make them more professional? Send your answer to grammar@grammarcheck.com and we'll publish the best responses in next week's edition.

- - - - - - -

EXAMPLE #3:

For nearly fifty years, we have strived to make quality and service number one. Because of this, we have won numerous consumer excellence awards.

This example isn't quite as weak as the previous two, but it could still use further editing to make it sound more professional. How would you edit it? Send your answer to grammar@grammarcheck.com and we'll publish the best responses in next week's edition.

-------------------------------------------------

YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS:

QUESTION: What are the rules of usage for "which" and "that"?

GRAMMARCHECK: Great question--and complicated, too, since our explanation would necessarily include references to restrictive and non-restrictive clauses, relative pronouns, and other grammatical terms. Rather than address your question in this week's issue, we'll devote a future issue to correct usages of "which," "that," and "who."

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: What is the rule for using the Registry mark in a technical document, say after the name of a marketed product? Some say every time the word is used; others say it is only needed the first time the word is mentioned. Thank you for your assistance.

GRAMMARCHECK: Our sources suggest the registry mark should be included with each mention of the product's name. If and when the product becomes a standard within its industry, however, the symbol may be dropped.

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: What is the correct way to punctuate a question within a statement?

Example: Fortunately, that is what being a full-time RVer is all about--the freedom to move when the desire (or is it a need?) arises.

P.S. Thanks for providing the GrammarCheck service.

GRAMMARCHECK: The parenthetical question above is correct as you've given it. As you probably know from experience, writers can--and often do--take liberties with their own writing. So here are a couple of options which would likewise be correct:

EXAMPLE: Fortunately, that is what being a full-time RVer is all about--the freedom to move when the desire arises (or is it a need?).

EXAMPLE: Fortunately, that is what being a full-time RVer is all about--the freedom to move when the desire (or need) arises.

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: I've noticed some people compensating for the lack of underlining and italicizing in e-mails by typing two lowercase dashes immediately before and after a title.

Example: My favorite children's book is __The Little Engine that Could__ because it shows perseverance and determination as good characteristics.

It's a nice way of setting the title apart. Just thought I'd pass this along. Maybe it will catch on.

GRAMMARCHECK: Thank you for bringing this e-mail tip to our attention. We've seen this alternative to underlining and italicizing (in plain text e-mail messages) before but it slipped our minds when writing last week's column.

Another option used by some is to place asterisks before and after the title of a work.

EXAMPLE: *The Little Engine that Could*

- - - - - - -

QUESTION: Which of the following two sentences is correct and why?

#1: I would appreciate your evaluating Bill and considering heat therapy to help improve his sense of well-being.

#2: I would appreciate you evaluating Bill and considering heat therapy to help improve his sense of well-being.

GRAMMARCHECK: #1 is the winner! The reason why "your evaluating Bill" is better than "you evaluating Bill" is because you should use the possessive case (also called "genitive case") for pronouns when they precede a "gerund" (a verb ending in "ing"). The word "evaluating" is a gerund since it ends in "ing" so the possessive pronoun "your" rather than objective case "you" should be used.