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August 8, 2000
Q&A--SPECIAL EDITION
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So many questions have been coming in that we are going to devote this issue to answering some of the more common or challenging ones. Tune in below.
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
Abstract and Concrete Words
Abstract words have vague, general meanings that can mean different things to people. Words such as loyalty, courage, and freedom suggest a variety of definitions. For example, defying a restrictive law may suggest "courage" (an abstract noun) to one person and "recklessness" (another abstract noun) to another. Abstract words often reflect ideologies.
Concrete words are those which appeal to the senses and are tangible, such as pencil, bell, or nylons. Concrete words help to clarify meanings of abstract words.
Look at the following example and decide which sentence is more clear and meaningful:
Fred is very strong.
Fred lifts 150-pound weights twice a week.
(As you can see, "strong" can mean different things to people.)
For next week, check the list below to determine which words are abstract and which are concrete:
life
feather
wholesome
needle
honesty
terror
jacket
Answers will appear in next week's issue.
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NEW WORD OF THE WEEK:
con-fute (v.) prove to be invalid or false
The speaker promised to confute his rival's claims in a later speech.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Sally said, "blablabla" and "blablablabla."
Is the second quote capitalized?
GRAMMARCHECK: Could be. If both quotes reflect complete statements, then both should be capitalized:
Sally said, "Blablabla" and "Blablablabla."
Sally said, "I won't go" and "You can't make me!"
As you can see, however, the punctuation gets tricky when combining complete quoted statements in the same sentence. A better way to handle this follows:
"I won't go," Sally argued. "You can't make me!"
But if the two quoted slots in your example represent words or phrases, neither may require capitalization:
Sally said, "bla" and "bla."
Sally said "ooh" and "ah" as she eyed the expensive vase.
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QUESTION: How should I punctuate the following sentence:
One thing is certain, however, the number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
GRAMMARCHECK: Since the example includes two independent (or main) clauses, you have several choices about how to combine them. But a comma is not strong enough.
1. One thing is certain, however; the number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
2. One thing is certain, however. The number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
3. One thing is certain; however, the number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
4. One thing is certain. However, the number of clubs already in existence draws heavily from the school's limited funds.
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QUESTION: Which is correct?
Please fill in the form.
Please fill out the form.
GRAMMARCHECK: Both are common in American English.
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QUESTION: I would like to know if the sentence below uses proper grammar, specifically in regards to the way the date is typed and if the "th" on the end of the day is correct.
Please allow until August 14th, 2000 to receive your benefits.
GRAMMARCHECK: Many grammar books discourage the use of ordinal numbers (such as August 14th) in dates. Instead, write the date as August 14. Within sentences, use commas after the date and the year (unless the year comes at the end of the sentence):
Please allow until August 14, 2000, to receive your benefits.
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QUESTION: I was wondering if you could help me with "two," "too," and "to." Also I am having a tough time with "their" and "there."
GRAMMARCHECK: The best way to distinguish between the uses of these words simply is to memorize the various usages. For example, "two" is a number, and "too" means "in addition," "also," or "very."
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QUESTION: How should the following be punctuated?
If you want to hear some of the attendees comments about what they learned, go to extension #661.
GRAMMARCHECK: Your sentence should be punctuated as follows:
If you want to hear some of the attendees' comments about what they learned, go to extension #661.
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QUESTION: I would like to know which of the following is correct, and why:
"People who need people are the luckiest people."
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"People who needs people is the luckiest people."
Should we use singular or plural forms of verbs for collective nouns?
"Men are usually stronger than women."
"Humankind is the most intelligent species in the world."
Are the above correct? If yes, why do we use "are" in the former and "is" in the latter?
Thanks!
GRAMMARCHECK: In your first example, the word "people" is a plural noun and should be used with a plural verb:
"People who need people are the luckiest people."
Your second example is correct (at least grammatically!) because "men" is also a plural noun and thus takes a plural verb:
"Men are usually stronger than women."
Your third example also is correct because "humankind" is a collective noun and requires a singular verb:
"Humankind is the most intelligent species in the world."
Collective nouns sometimes are called "non-count" nouns because the substance(s) they refer to typically cannot be counted. Here are examples:
milk
candy
bread
However, you can turn each of the above into "count" nouns by adding words:
milk bottle
candy bar
loaf of bread
Some people now use these words as "count" items in untraditional ways:
Beverly drank two milks at lunch today.
How many candies shall I give the children?
Jenny served three breads at dinner.
However, for best use and accuracy, do not use words like these as "count" items.
To return to your question, "men" is a "count" word while "humankind" is not:
How many men joined the swim team? Six men joined the team.
How many humankinds populate the earth? Four humankinds populate the earth.
(The second example just doesn't work, does it?)
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QUESTION: I'm constantly dismayed at the use of 'website.' I notice you use it as two words. Is it simply in a period of transition before it becomes accepted as one word, and in the meantime, is either correct?
I'm about to put my own site on the web and would like to spell it correctly.
GRAMMARCHECK: We've seen this word spelled in at least three ways:
website
web site
web-site
We agree that it is probably in a state of transition. The most common spelling of the term at this time appears to be as two words, "web site."
Another example of this word structure is "campsite." Some dictionaries list it as one word; others don't list it at all.
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QUESTION: How can I improve my English grammar? How can I improve my writing skill?
GRAMMARCHECK: In the old days (about 100 years ago), students learning English were taught to copy by hand the written works of the classic Greek and Roman orators. The theory behind this task was that students copying quality texts would absorb the skills they copied, little by little.
Today's writing instructors encourage students to practice writing by experimenting with their own ideas and style. Try sitting down for fifteen to thirty minutes and writing about a topical interest or personal concern. At the end of that time, review what you've written and make corrections. Then rewrite your ideas into a more solid structure and correct form, using a dictionary or other tools to assist you.
Some teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) recommend that newcomers to the USA spend time watching television and listening to the radio, as the visual images and aural voices will help reinforce study focused on a textbook.
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QUESTION: Why do I see book titles in quotation marks in so many publications and on television? It really bugs me, since I was taught that book titles should always be either underlined or italicized.
Also, I thought you might like a little poem I submitted to a local paper that continually misspelled the word "its."
GRAMMARCHECK: You are right about book titles needing to be underlined or italicized. Quotation marks should be placed around portions of the whole, such as book chapters or short story titles.
Thanks for your poem! Here it is:
Whole generations are unaware.
They're ignorant. They do not care.
And so I feel great obligation
To save the fate of this great nation
By educating and pointing out
The abuse of a lowly word with a shout.
The word is "its" (or "it's"), you see--
to be confused for eternity.
But take my advice--you'll see and take action.
"It's" means "it is"--not possessive but a contraction.
"It's true. Please believe me."
"It's all in the cards."
"It's getting dark early."
"It's the way you are."
"Its" is possessive.
Don't use an apostrophe!
"Its fur is quite matted."
"Its success is destiny."
If in doubt, try saying "it is" in "its" place.
if it makes sense, then punctuate. [it's]
If not, then save face. [its]
Whew! I feel better
I've vented my rage.
So now take my letter
and edit your page!
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QUESTION: I am a church secretary and need all the help I can get with grammar! I put out a weekly newsletter and a bulletin, and I take minutes for business meetings while keeping up with the by-laws, committee job descriptions, and many other things to keep the church running smoothly. I really enjoy your publication each week as it has been very helpful to me.
The following is from an e-mail that was sent to me a few weeks ago. It really has more to do with spelling and pronunciation than grammar, but I thought you might enjoy it.
GRAMMARCHECK: Thanks for writing--we're glad to be of service! Your forwarded message makes a great point:
No wonder I still ain't too good with this language. . . .
a. The bandage was wound around the wound.
b. The farm was used to produce produce.
c. The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
d. We must polish the Polish furniture.
e. He could lead if he would get the lead out.
f. The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
g. Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
h. A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
i. When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
j. I did not object to the object.
k. The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
l. There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
m. They were too close to the door to close it.
n. The buck does funny things when the does are present.
o. A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
p. To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
q. The wind was too strong to wind the sail.
r. After a number of injections, my jaw got number.
s. Upon seeing the tear in the painting I shed a tear.
t. I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
u. How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?
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