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April 24, 2001
Using "There is" and "It is"
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Some sources suggest that in emphasizing the subject of a sentence, writers should use "there" or "it" in the subject position:
EXAMPLES:
There were many problems in their marriage.
It is a stitch in time that saves nine.
However, using "there" and "it" at the beginning of a sentence also adds unnecessary wording. Use these words sparingly and to good purpose. The above examples could be rewritten to make the writing more effective:
Many problems plagued their marriage.
A stitch in time saves nine.
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
When adding prefixes like the following, do not change the spelling of the root word.
dis + similar = dissimilar
im + plant = implant
mis + spell = misspell
re + evaluate = reevaluate
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NEW WORD OF THE WEEK:
LANGUID (lang'gwid) adjective: 1. Lacking energy; faint. 2. Unwilling to stir; listless.
With a languid air, Jeanne leaned her head against the sofa back.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Congrats on your work; it's helped me a lot with getting my classes to use simple and clear explanations.
Can you give a simple explanation concerning unemphatic meaning vs. emphatic meaning? Most grammar books give long, intense samples and the students here have a hard time trying to understand. Any help would be greatly appreciated, along with other sites that you can recommend for ESL classes. Thanks from Brasil--Amazon Jungle.
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for writing! Here are our responses.
1. Emphatic meaning can be expressed in a variety of ways, but we assume you're looking for an explanation of active vs. passive voice. Keep in mind that basic English often uses a sentence pattern like this one:
subject + verb + object
EXAMPLE:
The dog (subject) bit (verb) the cat (object).
However, to emphasize the object and de-emphasize the subject, we change the sentence structure from active voice to passive voice by turning the sentence around:
object + verb + subject
The cat (object) was bitten (verb) by the dog (subject).
Notice that the verb shifts to passive voice by adding some form of "to be":
"bit" (active voice) changes to "was bitten" (passive voice)
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2. The Web contains many great sites for helping non-native speakers learn English. Here are a few to check out:
http://leo.stcloud.msus.edu/style/sentencev.html (sentences)
http://webster.commnet.edu/hp/pages/darling/grammar/numbers.htm (numbers)
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/writers/ty-topic.html#spell (spelling)
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/fragments.htm (sentence fragments)
http://interserver.miyazaki-med.ac.jp/~kimball/w/logo.htm (writing for the sciences with ESL focus)
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/WritingCenter/references/
documents/bletter/page2.htm (business letters)
http://webster.commnet.edu/hp/pages/darling/grammar/vocabulary.htm (vocabulary)
Hope these help!
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QUESTION: In the example below, you suggest that the number "sixteen" should be written out. My understanding is that numbers zero through nine are written out, and that numbers ten and above are written as numerals. Please clarify this rule.
Example from April 19:
Hal was born in Virginia sixteen years ago.
GRAMMARCHECK: At least two rules about numbers seem to contradict each other; there may be more. Here are the two dominant rules:
1. Spell out numbers one through ten; use digits for numbers eleven and up.
Examples:
seven
17
2. Spell out numbers expressed in two words or less; use numerals for numbers expressed in three or more words.
seven
seventeen
twenty-seven
127
Follow the prevailing style guide at your school or at work.
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QUESTION: I'm back in college after twelve years and I'm taking an English refresher course. This Web site already has helped a lot. Thanks, Jon P.
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for letting us know. Our goal is to facilitate the study and practice of English, especially in writing. We're glad to be of service!
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QUESTION: Which is correct?
My 14 years of customer service has taught me much.
-or-
My 14 years of customer service have taught me much.
GRAMMARCHECK: The subject word is "years" and requires a plural verb, so your second example is correct:
My 14 years of customer service have taught me much.
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QUESTION: Help!
"Effective April 1, 2001, the Outrigger Waikiki and Outrigger Reef on the Beach started to offer its Greenline member guests' complimentary continental breakfast, winning hors d'oeuvres, a private sun deck, concierge services, and computers with Internet access. Offer applies to any room category booking."
I am looking at the plural as "guests'" or is it "guest's"? Thanks for your help. Rox
GRAMMARCHECK: Lose the apostrophe in "guests" unless you plan for guests to give up their own breakfasts to the readers of this message. Possession is unnecessary; use the plural -s only:
"...the Beach started to offer its Greenline member guests complimentary continental breakfast,..."
Sounds great! Are you taking reservations?
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