The Grammar Logs -- Number One Hundred, Two

The
Grammar
Logs
# 102

Question A recently revised form used for tracking our goals and accomplishments contains several occurrences of the phrase "Weighting Factor". I believe it should be "Weighing Factor", and expressed my concern when the new form was presented to us. I was told that unless I provide proof that the form is incorrect, it will remain as is. So far I have not found any sources referencing this phrase (in either form). Do you know which is correct?
I am pleased to have found your Web Page. For years I have been called "The Grammar Police" because I consistently react to "violations" in the media and correspondence from people in high grade levels here at work. Yesterday I found a Web Page explaining how to write the perfect resume; the instructions contained a blatant "it's" infraction which signficantly lowered the author's credibility in my eyes. Thank you making me aware that there are others who still care about being "grammatically correct"!
Source & Date
of Question East Hartford, Connecticut
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response We can use the word "weight" as an intransitive verb meaning "to give statistical value to." Although I don't have a context to go on, I think that probably fits the uses in that manual (assuming, especially, that it's about something mathematical). They will assign weight to something based on certain factors, right? It's probably not the happiest phrase in the world, but it does make sense.

Question I am a student of english philology from Klaipeda University (Lithuania). I need some material about adjectives of modern english for my course paper. Please help me if it is not too difficult for you.
Thank you in advance
Source & Date
of Question Lithuania
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I'm afraid I need something a bit more specific to go on, Aleksej -- especially since you mention "modern usage" (as opposed to what?) There is some information on forming the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in the definitions page.

Question I need everything about Present Perfect Continuous.
Source & Date
of Question Sao Paulo, Brazil
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I doubt if you'll ever find "everything" about Present Perfect Continuous online, but Chuck Mahoney does have a marvelous page on just this grammatical construction at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2527/presentperfect.html#pa_pr.

Question Hello,
I am trying to get the correct way to express the following:

The car is not red, blue AND (?) pink.
The car is not red, blue OR (?) pink.
The car is NEITHER (?) red, blue NOR (?) pink.
Thanks!
Source & Date
of Question Basingstoke, England
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Option "a" suggests that the color may be any color or combination of colors, but one combination that does not describe it is red, blue, and pink. I'm not sure what "b" means; I'm afraid it's too ambiguous to mean anything. "C" also has problems in that neither/nor is used in situations of dual reference (the "nor" wants to be a conjunction between two things). Probably the best wording of this color combination (or non-combination)is as follows: "The car is neither red, nor blue, nor pink.

Question The problem concerns the sentence position of the adverb already. The case seems straightforward enough, at least according to grammar textbooks. Leech, for example, suggests that there are three positions for already: in front of the verb; in front of the participle; and at the end of the sentence (English Grammar and Usage, p.41). Alexander states that the adverb already is positioned the same as adverbs of indefinite frequency (Longman English Grammar, p. 130, 134), that is after the auxiliary or before the main verb. I do not know of any grammarian who sanctions the front position for the adverb already.
Nonetheless, already is appearing in the front position in news magazine journalism. Two recent examples -- from respected sources on each side of the Atlantic -- indicate that this phenomenon is exclusive neither to British nor American writers.
"Already GM says it has 250 'very serious prospects.'" (Business Week)
"Already, his trip has generated much excitement." (The Economist)
In Denmark, where I work as an English teacher at a business school and where the curriculum includes translating from Danish into English, I and my colleagues would not hesitate to revise the syntax of sentences as in the above examples, placing the adverb in the mid-position. Learning to place already in English is complicated for Danes by the fact that the adverb already (allerede) in the front position is perfectly correct Danish syntax in some sentences.
While trying to teach correct written English, I am aware of the fact that the standards of correct English are dynamic, being redefined by English users all over the world. Perhaps this is an example of just that. I am looking forward to hearing Grammar's comments on this quandary of adverb position.
Source & Date
of Question Aalborg, Denmark
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I can't find anything that justifies the initial placement of the adverb already. Normally, as you point out, the adverb will end up in the medial position, immediately before the lexical verb: "I already paid for the book." The final position is also possible: "I paid for the book already." If, however, the adverb is not regarded as integrated in the sentence (i.e., it operates in a disjunctive as opposed to an adjunctive function), it might end up in the initial position. Let me try to explain that with an example: In the normal, adjunctive, integrated fashion, the word "naturally" appears in the final position in this sentence: "They aren't walking naturally" (meaning that they aren't walking in natural way). If the adverb appears in the initial position, it will not be "integrated"; it will be disjunctive: "Naturally, they aren't walking" (meaning they're moving in some other way). Although the word "already" in the Economist's sentence does not change meaning (I don't think), it does become nearly peripheral to the sentence and is not integrated into the meaning of the sentence in the same way it would be in its normal position.
I'm afraid this explanation is more confusing than anything, and, it really doesn't excuse those two placements of "already." I think the word belongs either in the medial or final positions in both sentences.
Authority: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum. Longman Group: Essex, England. 1993. 207-209. Used with permission.

Question I want you to explain to me the syntax of either, neither, or, nor and the meanings of them.
Thanks a lot
Source & Date
of Question Athens, Greece
23 April 1998
Grammar's
Response When they are paired as either-or and neither-nor, we use these correlative conjunctions to express choice or the negation of choice. (Click on the hyperlink for further information.) Either this is true, or that is true. Neither my brother nor my sister will give me a loan. The words either and neither can be used, also, as pronouns: Either is true. Neither is true. If you need better definitions, you probably should consult a dictionary.

Question Hi, Grammer.
I am an esl teacher. I would like some extra resources on prepositions in order to help my student. Prepositions always seems to be a difficult one to teach and only time will help. I would appreciate any resources that you would suggest.
Source & Date
of Question Ft. Thomas, Kentucky
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response There is a new section on Prepositions in the Guide, which might be of help. There is also a quiz at the end of that section. In addition, go to the Quiz List and click on the TOEFL hyperlink at the end of that page. You'll find several additional quizzes on prepositions that should prove helpful. The TOEFL web-site probably has other resources for the teaching of prepositions.

Question I have a question about the word "cannot". What is the more proper spelling, "cannot" or "can not"?
Examples:
"I cannot fix that car." or would it be "I can not fix that car."
Thank you for any help.
Source & Date
of Question Kentwood, Michigan
13 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I've never seen a good explanation why this is so, but cannot (one word) is the preferred spelling. We would use can not (two words) only if we're really stressing the negative element, almost as if we're shouting the not part of the sentence. In the sentence you give us, use cannot.

Question I've read a novel called Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt written in present tense for things happening in the past. Is that grammatically correct?
Source & Date
of Question Selangor, Malaysia
15 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Many writers have experimented in using the present tense throughout a novel or memoir. It's probably an effort to lend a sense of immediacy to their writing. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Carolyn Chute's Beans of Egypt Maine uses it to great effect, and most readers seem to find it an effective element of McCourt's style. It's not something that beginning writers ought to do, as it is very difficult to carry out consistently and it can lead to all kinds of difficulties in logic.

Question Iwant to know how to make an autobiography. I am fourteen years old.
Source & Date
of Question Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
15 April 1998
Grammar's
Response That's very young to be writing an autobiography, but there are some fourteen-year-olds who have more to say than a lot of octogenarians. I don't think there are any rules about writing an autobiography. Read some good ones. The writer before you mentions Angela's Ashes, and that would be a good place to start. Have you read Gary Soto's A Summer Life? That might be even better, as a source of inspiration for a young man.

Question I have read several grammar books, but I still have a doubt about the following sentences:

I have seen Karen in Math class.
I have been seeing Karen in Math class.
Is there a meaningful difference between them? In my opinion, the first sentence has not finished yet because I will probably see Karen again tomorrow or some other day, so the action still goes on. Am I right ? My second question is if both structures can be used in the same sentence.
Ms. Redding has been acting since she was 4 years old and has been in over 50 plays.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Mexico City, Mexico
15 April 1998
Grammar's
Response There is a difference in meaning in those two sentences. The second sentence suggests that the process of seeing Karen has been going on for some period of time. Actually, I think the second sentence has more of the suggestion that you will be seeing her again. Incidentally, you should know that "seeing" someone can mean that you are dating or going out with someone (that's one of its possible meanings). The sentence with Ms. Redding is ok. It might be better written as two independent clauses connected with a semicolon: "Ms. Redding has been acting since she was four years old; she has been in over fifty plays." But there's certainly nothing wrong with the way the sentence was written. (Write out those numbers, though.)

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Question	A recently revised form used for tracking our goals and accomplishments contains several occurrences of the phrase "Weighting Factor". I believe it should be "Weighing Factor", and expressed my concern when the new form was presented to us. I was told that unless I provide proof that the form is incorrect, it will remain as is. So far I have not found any sources referencing this phrase (in either form). Do you know which is correct? I am pleased to have found your Web Page. For years I have been called "The Grammar Police" because I consistently react to "violations" in the media and correspondence from people in high grade levels here at work. Yesterday I found a Web Page explaining how to write the perfect resume; the instructions contained a blatant "it's" infraction which signficantly lowered the author's credibility in my eyes. Thank you making me aware that there are others who still care about being "grammatically correct"!
Source & Date of Question	East Hartford, Connecticut 13 April 1998
Grammar's Response	We can use the word "weight" as an intransitive verb meaning "to give statistical value to." Although I don't have a context to go on, I think that probably fits the uses in that manual (assuming, especially, that it's about something mathematical). They will assign weight to something based on certain factors, right? It's probably not the happiest phrase in the world, but it does make sense.

Question	I am a student of english philology from Klaipeda University (Lithuania). I need some material about adjectives of modern english for my course paper. Please help me if it is not too difficult for you. Thank you in advance
Source & Date of Question	Lithuania 13 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I'm afraid I need something a bit more specific to go on, Aleksej -- especially since you mention "modern usage" (as opposed to what?) There is some information on forming the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives in the definitions page.

Question	Hello, I am trying to get the correct way to express the following: The car is not red, blue AND (?) pink. The car is not red, blue OR (?) pink. The car is NEITHER (?) red, blue NOR (?) pink. Thanks!
Source & Date of Question	Basingstoke, England 13 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Option "a" suggests that the color may be any color or combination of colors, but one combination that does not describe it is red, blue, and pink. I'm not sure what "b" means; I'm afraid it's too ambiguous to mean anything. "C" also has problems in that neither/nor is used in situations of dual reference (the "nor" wants to be a conjunction between two things). Probably the best wording of this color combination (or non-combination)is as follows: "The car is neither red, nor blue, nor pink.

Question	I want you to explain to me the syntax of either, neither, or, nor and the meanings of them. Thanks a lot
Source & Date of Question	Athens, Greece 23 April 1998
Grammar's Response	When they are paired as either-or and neither-nor, we use these correlative conjunctions to express choice or the negation of choice. (Click on the hyperlink for further information.) Either this is true, or that is true. Neither my brother nor my sister will give me a loan. The words either and neither can be used, also, as pronouns: Either is true. Neither is true. If you need better definitions, you probably should consult a dictionary.

Question	Hi, Grammer. I am an esl teacher. I would like some extra resources on prepositions in order to help my student. Prepositions always seems to be a difficult one to teach and only time will help. I would appreciate any resources that you would suggest.
Source & Date of Question	Ft. Thomas, Kentucky 13 April 1998
Grammar's Response	There is a new section on Prepositions in the Guide, which might be of help. There is also a quiz at the end of that section. In addition, go to the Quiz List and click on the TOEFL hyperlink at the end of that page. You'll find several additional quizzes on prepositions that should prove helpful. The TOEFL web-site probably has other resources for the teaching of prepositions.

Question	I need everything about Present Perfect Continuous.
Source & Date of Question	Sao Paulo, Brazil 13 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I doubt if you'll ever find "everything" about Present Perfect Continuous online, but Chuck Mahoney does have a marvelous page on just this grammatical construction at http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/2527/presentperfect.html#pa_pr.

Question	I have a question about the word "cannot". What is the more proper spelling, "cannot" or "can not"? Examples: "I cannot fix that car." or would it be "I can not fix that car." Thank you for any help.
Source & Date of Question	Kentwood, Michigan 13 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I've never seen a good explanation why this is so, but cannot (one word) is the preferred spelling. We would use can not (two words) only if we're really stressing the negative element, almost as if we're shouting the not part of the sentence. In the sentence you give us, use cannot.

Question	I've read a novel called Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt written in present tense for things happening in the past. Is that grammatically correct?
Source & Date of Question	Selangor, Malaysia 15 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Many writers have experimented in using the present tense throughout a novel or memoir. It's probably an effort to lend a sense of immediacy to their writing. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Carolyn Chute's Beans of Egypt Maine uses it to great effect, and most readers seem to find it an effective element of McCourt's style. It's not something that beginning writers ought to do, as it is very difficult to carry out consistently and it can lead to all kinds of difficulties in logic.

Question	Iwant to know how to make an autobiography. I am fourteen years old.
Source & Date of Question	Toa Baja, Puerto Rico 15 April 1998
Grammar's Response	That's very young to be writing an autobiography, but there are some fourteen-year-olds who have more to say than a lot of octogenarians. I don't think there are any rules about writing an autobiography. Read some good ones. The writer before you mentions Angela's Ashes, and that would be a good place to start. Have you read Gary Soto's A Summer Life? That might be even better, as a source of inspiration for a young man.

Question	I have read several grammar books, but I still have a doubt about the following sentences: I have seen Karen in Math class. I have been seeing Karen in Math class. Is there a meaningful difference between them? In my opinion, the first sentence has not finished yet because I will probably see Karen again tomorrow or some other day, so the action still goes on. Am I right ? My second question is if both structures can be used in the same sentence. Ms. Redding has been acting since she was 4 years old and has been in over 50 plays. Thanks in advance for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Mexico City, Mexico 15 April 1998
Grammar's Response	There is a difference in meaning in those two sentences. The second sentence suggests that the process of seeing Karen has been going on for some period of time. Actually, I think the second sentence has more of the suggestion that you will be seeing her again. Incidentally, you should know that "seeing" someone can mean that you are dating or going out with someone (that's one of its possible meanings). The sentence with Ms. Redding is ok. It might be better written as two independent clauses connected with a semicolon: "Ms. Redding has been acting since she was four years old; she has been in over fifty plays." But there's certainly nothing wrong with the way the sentence was written. (Write out those numbers, though.)