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September 12, 2000
AVOIDING DISCRIMINATORY DICTION
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In a previous issue we discussed the importance of avoiding sexist language, that is, language that favors or disparages one gender over the other.
It also is important to avoid language that discriminates against particular groups of people on the basis of age, disabilities, ethnicity, politics, race, religion, and socioeconomic or geographical differences.
Use positive words and phrases to refer to someone from a distinctive group:
senior citizen (vs. old person)
disabled or -challenged (vs. handicapped)
conservatives (vs. right-wingers)
Native American (vs. red man)
villager (vs. hick)
blue-collar worker (vs. redneck)
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SPELLING OR WRITING TIP
Use idioms correctly. Some idioms are acceptable in academic or business writing, but when in doubt, avoid them until you know for sure that they are appropriate.
Popular American idioms:
a play on words (not "a play of words")
to keep abreast of the latest trend (not "to keep abreast on")
to provide for a child's needs (not "to provide to")
over the long haul (means for the duration)
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NEW WORD OF THE WEEK:
hi-a-tus (noun) 1: a break in an object: gap; 2: a lapse in continuity; 3: the occurrence of two vowel sounds without pause or intervening consonantal sound.
My wealthy aunt is taking a hiatus from her weekly charity work.
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YOUR GRAMMAR AND WRITING QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Which is correct?
Information regarding any disability payments you or your spouse receives must also be provided.
-or-
Information regarding any disability payments you or your spouse receive must also be provided.
GRAMMARCHECK: Always strive for clarity and simplicity. Try this instead:
Information regarding disability payments received by you or your spouse also must be provided.
Otherwise, your first example is correct.
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QUESTION: Hello from Sydney. Regarding the following:
1. "The student said 'I don't understand punctuation,'" reiterated the teacher.
My reading of this also would require a comma after said if only to indicate the point of vocal inflection--a case for pitch, pause, and pace, where the silence is just as important for the comprehension of the message, at least in spoken form.
2. Would not "reiterated the teacher" be redundant, unless the teacher was repeating the phrase, in which case "repeated" would have been a more simple choice?
3. Another point . . . An original sentence a few issues back was punctuated by you in this way:
"French Vanilla (my favorite), Amaretto, and Orange Cappuccino are three popular choices."
I believe it could be written as meaning that Amaretto was the favourite:
"French Vanilla, (my favourite) Amaretto, and Orange Cappuccino are three popular choices."
Perhaps you betray _your_ preference? And please pardon my Australian spelling of 'favourite.' I enjoy your mail. :-)
Thank you, Reg.
GRAMMARCHECK: We enjoy hearing from you as well. It seems the more we discuss these examples, the more confusing they become! Let's take them one by one:
1. Your interpretation is at least as logical as ours; however, we have no rule to support it either way. Consider the following example:
"The student said 'hello,'" reiterated the teacher.
We believe the comma after "said" is unnecessary, just as it would be in the original example. But again, we've no rule to support it.
2. In the example, we assumed the teacher was reiterating the phrase, in which case "repeated" would have been a more simple choice.
3. You're correct. The comma could go after "Vanilla" or before "Amaretto." Perhaps you are right about the favourite--any way you spell it! :-)
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QUESTION: Which is correct?
I went to Tim and Dan's house.
-or-
I went to Tim's and Dan's house.
GRAMMARCHECK: Your first example is correct, because you need show possession only once in cases of shared ownership. However, if "I" had gone to Tim's house and also Dan's house (assuming they lived separately), you would write it like this:
I went to Tim's and Dan's houses.
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QUESTION: Hi. In your last newsletter you wrote and I quote:
Numbers should be spelled out if they can be written in one or two words.
WRONG!!!! Where is your source for this?? The rule is that you spell out numbers 10 and less, and use the numerics for those numbers above 10.
GRAMMARCHECK: Our sources suggest several ways of handling numbers, including the method cited in your comments. When possible, we recommend the simpler or more feasible way of using cardinal and ordinal numbers, which was our intent in the last issue.
Two references which support our recommendation are the SCOTT FORESMAN HANDBOOK FOR WRITERS (HarperCollins) and Allyn and Bacon's NEW CENTURY HANDBOOK. Numbers one through ten can be written as single words, right? So naturally you would spell them out. As for using numerics for eleven and above, follow the prevailing style guide (such as MLA) for your writing situation. Rules can vary a little bit with regards to spelling vs. numerics in numbers above ten.
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QUESTION: When answering the telephone, is it correct to reply to the question, "Is Iris there?" by saying, "This is she." Or is it "This is her."
GRAMMARCHECK: Your first example is correct: "This is she."
Normally, you should use the subjective case pronouns (I, he/she/it) as subjects within a sentence:
I threw the book at Harry. (not "Me threw the book at Harry.")
He didn't come home last night. (not "Him didn't come home last night.")
She refused to answer the phone. (not "Her refused to answer the phone.")
The objective case (me, him/her/it) indicates the pronoun's use as an object:
Give that bill to me. (not "Give that bill to I.")
Clyde looked at him strangely. (not "Clyde looked at he strangely.")
Bert hit her at least once. (not "Bert hit she at least once.")
But when the verb "be" is used, especially in business or formal writing, the subject case (I, he/she/it) should be used:
The teacher was he.
The performer is who?
It will be she who finishes the project.
However, the objective case (me, him/her/it) can be used when it sounds more natural in an informal context:
That's me!
It will be her who finishes the project.
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QUESTION: I saw an on-line news report today that read "The Kurst nuclear-powered submarine, one of the most modern in the Russian fleet, sunk on August. 12. . ." When did everybody stop using "sank" for the simple past tense of "sink"? I've seen this more than once in print. I thought "sunk" was reserved for usage such as "several submarines HAVE SUNK in the past fifty years."
GRAMMARCHECK: You are correct and the press is not. The error may result from a typo or it may be a translation blip, but whatever the reason, you are in the know and we salute you!
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QUESTION: Can you tell me which is the right form?
When did you finish your work?
-or-
When have you finish your work?
Thank you for your help.
Marc in Brasil
GRAMMARCHECK: Your first example is correct, Marc. Your second example can be written to reflect the correct present perfect tense only as a question:
Have you finished your work?
You cannot ask like this because the sentence won't make sense. (One cannot continue doing something that has already been "finished.")
INCORRECT:
When have you finished your work?
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