The Grammar Logs -- Number One Hundred, Thirteen

The
Grammar
Logs
# 113

Question
My father has/had passed away two years ago. ( 'has' or 'had' ?)
Applicants with computer literacy are much preferable/preferred. (?)
When to use the words 'equal' and 'equivalent' in sentences?
Please check the grammatical error:

Either your parents or someone else is to come here to collect for your report book tomorrow. (?)
I'm going to play football this evening/I will be playing football this evening ( which one is suitable?)

Source & Date
of Question Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response In (i), since you're using a specific time in the past, you would want to use either the past perfect (had passed) tense or the simple past (passed). In (ii), these people are much preferred by someone (especially with the "much" in front of it). In (iii), there isn't much difference between these two words, but I think that equal refers to numerical measures more than equivalent, which has more to do with expressions of equal value (?). (vi-a) I'm not sure what you're asking, but the end of that sentence is a mess. Get rid of the "for." In (iv-b), either is correct, but the first is somewhat more casual and is therefore probably preferable in this context.

Question Can you give two sentences as examples, one of which is consisting of two or maybe more than that clauses with "which" as the word to introduce the restrictive clause, and the other one of which is also composed of some clauses including "which", which connect one with non-restrictive clause.
I just want to know the difference between the two and get to know whether I need to put comma before it or not. Well, I'm using "which" in the sentences above, but I'm not sure if they are used right.
Source & Date
of Question Sunray, Texas
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response There's nothing wrong with the which's you use in your question, but you're not using the word as a subordinating conjunction, so it doesn't count. If you're having trouble with the uses of which, then you should probably adopt the rule that many good writers use: use which to introduce restrictive clauses only, parenthetical elements that can be removed from the sentence without changing the essential meaning of the sentence and will, therefore, be set off by commas. Notice the "that" after the word "elements" in this last sentence? Some writers would use "which" there, but would not use a comma. If you followed the rule I'm recommending for you, the "which" would be a mistake, because you cannot use a comma there. Also, I recommend that you read Michael Quinion's article on the usage of which and that in his World Wide Words.

Question Dear Miss Grammer,
Is there any difference in meaning of the following sentences?

Persistence of vision, the condition when one's eyes bridge the gaps of darkness and flashes of light, explains the magic produced by the stroboscope.
Persistence of vision, which occurs when one's eyes bridge......................light, explains .............. by the stroboscope.
Since English is not my first language, many a time I find it difficult to understand the subtle differences in a sentence. I disturbed you earlier also and you were kind enough to answer my questions.I hope this time also you will answer my question.
Source & Date
of Question United Arab Emirates
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I'm not as disturbed as you might think. The phrase "the condition when" is what we would call a mixed construction; I would avoid it. We could say "the condition in which," I suppose, but I think the second sentence is more clear to begin with.

Question I'm working on a grammar paper for school and am confused about the following sentence: I'm not answering the phone, especially if it is she. Should it be her or is she correct, and why? Thank you!
Source & Date
of Question Jersey City, New Jersey
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response "She" is correct because, after a linking verb ("is," in this case), the predicate should be in the nominative case. Most people, in casual speech certainly, would say "if it is her," and probably most authorities would allow that in informal writing. In formal, academic prose, however, stick with "she."

Question Is it correct to say that nor is usually used together with neither (neither ... nor) and should not be used with not (not ... nor). When using not, use or instead of nor (not ... or). (In other words, are the following correct?)

He neither skates nor skis.
He does not skate or ski (not He does not skate nor ski).
He does not skate, nor does he ski.
He neither skates nor skis.
They said there would be no skating or skiing.
No skating or skiing is allowed.
Does he not skate or ski?
Doesn't he skate or ski? (not Doesn't he skate nor ski?)
He should not ski, nor should he skate with an injured knee.
He should not ski, nor should he skate or play any sport while he has an injured knee.

Source & Date
of Question Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Nor is what Quirk calls an additive adjunct (along with also, either, even, neither, nor, too; as well as, in addiiton). Their function is to specify that part of the sentence is an addtion what has been previously mentioned. Either, neither, and nor differ from the others in requiring the two sentences (independent clauses) they link to be negative but no other negative appears in the sentence/clause containing neither or nor. Notice that your use of nor in that fine line-up of sentences precedes what is a clause or could be a clause: "He neither skates nor skis" = "He neither skates, nor does he ski." Quirk puts it this way: "The anticipatory element (neither, in this case) generally indicates the scope of the additional negation, while the second element (nor, in this case) generally introduces a truncated clause that has corresponding scope."
Authority: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum. Longman Group: Essex, England. 1993. Used with permission.

Question I am in an argument over the capitalization of regions of a country (ie. the West). I think that any region of any country should be capitalized (Ontario is in the East.). He thinks that only regions of the country a person is in should be capitalized (since we are in the United States, the above sentence would be "Ontario is in the east."). Could you please capitalize the following sentence correctly for someone in the United States?
the inca empire stretched from peru in the north to chile in the south.
Thank you
Source & Date
of Question Rock Rapids, Iowa
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response I don't think it has much to do with where you are. Regardless of where I am, I would capitalize that sentence as follows:
The Incan empire stretched from Peru in the north to Chile in the south.
Only when a direction has become the actual name of a political or cultural entity do we capitalize it: The Far East, the Mideast, the West, Western (referring to Europe and the Americas in a cultural sense), the Deep South, the Wild West.
Authority: New York Public Library Writer's Guide to Style and Usage HarperCollins: New York. 1994. Cited with permission.

Question Is this correct? I used "was" because "the granting of options" was one of the unsavory tactics of the era.
Among the unsavory tactics of that era was the granting of options to brokers who then promoted the underlying stock to their customers.

Source & Date
of Question Omaha, Nebraska
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Yes, that's correct. It's one of those rare situations in which the subject follows the verb. "The granting" is singular, so you want a singular verb, "was." Well done.

Question I am not sure if the prepositions used below is correct or not:

I wish to visit you at 3:00 pm, on 27 April.
or
I wish to visit you on 27 April, at 3:00 pm.
or
Shall I skip either one of the prepositions?
Thanks
Source & Date
of Question Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response In the United States, we would probably say April 27, but you've used good international form in both sentences. I wouldn't recommend leaving out any prepositions. (And in the first sentence, we really don't need a comma.)

Question Re: Usage of indefinite numbers with verb

47% is or 47% are?
A number of whatevers is or a number of whatevers are?
The number of whatevers is or the number of whatevers are?
A range of data is or a range of data are?
One-fourth is or one-fourth are?

Source & Date
of Question Hartford, Connecticut
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response Most of these are covered in our section on Subject-Verb Agreement. The percentage depends on what you're talking about: 47% of the people are, but 47% of the sugar is. (Same with the fractions at the end of your list.) A "range" is singular: "the range of data is enormous." When used with the prepositional phrase (of + a plural), "a number" is always plural: "A number of students are leaving." When used with a prepositional phrase (of + a plural), "the number" is singular: "The number of students seems to be decreasing."

Question Please check example no. 50 in notorious confusables. If capital means "funds," then the sentence should read, "The state is running out of capital."
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, New York
27 April 1998
Grammar's
Response You're probably right, and I've erased the word "funds." In the State of Connecticut, anyway, we're always hearing the phrase, "capital funds," meaning money that is set aside for facilities, major pieces of equipment, etc. We seldom get any of it, but it seems to exist for other people. In that sentence, however, the word "funds" is quite unnecessary.

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Question	My father has/had passed away two years ago. ( 'has' or 'had' ?) Applicants with computer literacy are much preferable/preferred. (?) When to use the words 'equal' and 'equivalent' in sentences? Please check the grammatical error: Either your parents or someone else is to come here to collect for your report book tomorrow. (?) I'm going to play football this evening/I will be playing football this evening ( which one is suitable?)
Source & Date of Question	Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	In (i), since you're using a specific time in the past, you would want to use either the past perfect (had passed) tense or the simple past (passed). In (ii), these people are much preferred by someone (especially with the "much" in front of it). In (iii), there isn't much difference between these two words, but I think that equal refers to numerical measures more than equivalent, which has more to do with expressions of equal value (?). (vi-a) I'm not sure what you're asking, but the end of that sentence is a mess. Get rid of the "for." In (iv-b), either is correct, but the first is somewhat more casual and is therefore probably preferable in this context.

Question	Can you give two sentences as examples, one of which is consisting of two or maybe more than that clauses with "which" as the word to introduce the restrictive clause, and the other one of which is also composed of some clauses including "which", which connect one with non-restrictive clause. I just want to know the difference between the two and get to know whether I need to put comma before it or not. Well, I'm using "which" in the sentences above, but I'm not sure if they are used right.
Source & Date of Question	Sunray, Texas 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	There's nothing wrong with the which's you use in your question, but you're not using the word as a subordinating conjunction, so it doesn't count. If you're having trouble with the uses of which, then you should probably adopt the rule that many good writers use: use which to introduce restrictive clauses only, parenthetical elements that can be removed from the sentence without changing the essential meaning of the sentence and will, therefore, be set off by commas. Notice the "that" after the word "elements" in this last sentence? Some writers would use "which" there, but would not use a comma. If you followed the rule I'm recommending for you, the "which" would be a mistake, because you cannot use a comma there. Also, I recommend that you read Michael Quinion's article on the usage of which and that in his World Wide Words.

Question	Dear Miss Grammer, Is there any difference in meaning of the following sentences? Persistence of vision, the condition when one's eyes bridge the gaps of darkness and flashes of light, explains the magic produced by the stroboscope. Persistence of vision, which occurs when one's eyes bridge......................light, explains .............. by the stroboscope. Since English is not my first language, many a time I find it difficult to understand the subtle differences in a sentence. I disturbed you earlier also and you were kind enough to answer my questions.I hope this time also you will answer my question.
Source & Date of Question	United Arab Emirates 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	I'm not as disturbed as you might think. The phrase "the condition when" is what we would call a mixed construction; I would avoid it. We could say "the condition in which," I suppose, but I think the second sentence is more clear to begin with.

Question	Is this correct? I used "was" because "the granting of options" was one of the unsavory tactics of the era. Among the unsavory tactics of that era was the granting of options to brokers who then promoted the underlying stock to their customers.
Source & Date of Question	Omaha, Nebraska 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Yes, that's correct. It's one of those rare situations in which the subject follows the verb. "The granting" is singular, so you want a singular verb, "was." Well done.

Question	I am not sure if the prepositions used below is correct or not: I wish to visit you at 3:00 pm, on 27 April. or I wish to visit you on 27 April, at 3:00 pm. or Shall I skip either one of the prepositions? Thanks
Source & Date of Question	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	In the United States, we would probably say April 27, but you've used good international form in both sentences. I wouldn't recommend leaving out any prepositions. (And in the first sentence, we really don't need a comma.)

Question	I'm working on a grammar paper for school and am confused about the following sentence: I'm not answering the phone, especially if it is she. Should it be her or is she correct, and why? Thank you!
Source & Date of Question	Jersey City, New Jersey 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	"She" is correct because, after a linking verb ("is," in this case), the predicate should be in the nominative case. Most people, in casual speech certainly, would say "if it is her," and probably most authorities would allow that in informal writing. In formal, academic prose, however, stick with "she."

Question	Re: Usage of indefinite numbers with verb 47% is or 47% are? A number of whatevers is or a number of whatevers are? The number of whatevers is or the number of whatevers are? A range of data is or a range of data are? One-fourth is or one-fourth are?
Source & Date of Question	Hartford, Connecticut 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	Most of these are covered in our section on Subject-Verb Agreement. The percentage depends on what you're talking about: 47% of the people are, but 47% of the sugar is. (Same with the fractions at the end of your list.) A "range" is singular: "the range of data is enormous." When used with the prepositional phrase (of + a plural), "a number" is always plural: "A number of students are leaving." When used with a prepositional phrase (of + a plural), "the number" is singular: "The number of students seems to be decreasing."

Question	Please check example no. 50 in notorious confusables. If capital means "funds," then the sentence should read, "The state is running out of capital."
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, New York 27 April 1998
Grammar's Response	You're probably right, and I've erased the word "funds." In the State of Connecticut, anyway, we're always hearing the phrase, "capital funds," meaning money that is set aside for facilities, major pieces of equipment, etc. We seldom get any of it, but it seems to exist for other people. In that sentence, however, the word "funds" is quite unnecessary.