The Grammar Logs -- Number One Hundred, Twenty-One

The
Grammar
Logs
# 121

Question In using a word in reference to a government agency or official which is ordinarily capitalized, should the reference word used alone be capitalized? For instance when using the word "commission" alone in reference to the Atomic Energy Commission, should "commission" be capitalized? When referring to the Commissioner of Revenue by use of the word "commissioner" alone, should the word "commissioner" be capitalized?
Source & Date
of Question Nashville, Tennessee
7 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Yes, it would probably prove useful to capitalize those words within a particular document in order to distinguish that particular commission from other, generic commissions and that particular commissioner from other, generic commissioners.

Question In scientific writing, what is the correct style for use of e.g. and i.e.? Are they always followed by a comma or not? Is it: (e.g., ...) or (e.g. ...) Is it the same rule for i.e.?
Source & Date
of Question Moscow, Idaha
7 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Yes, but that's only because they stand for phrases that are virtually always introductory modifiers -- that is and for example -- and thus get set off as parenthetical elements.

Question How do you properly use slash marks? See choices below.

Theory/Ops/Level I/Level II for Model ABC-9000
Theory / Ops / Level I / Level II for Model ABC-9000
I have always used Choice 1, but at my new place of employment Choice 2 is used. I not only would like to tell them which is correct, but show them what my source to substantiate it is.
Thanks for your help. This has been bothering me since I started working here.
Source & Date
of Question San Diego, California
7 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Unless you're using the slash mark to separate lines of poetry (as they are sometimes run into text), you don't put a space between the mark (sometimes called a virgule, sometimes called a solidus) and contiguous letters. I suppose readability with bad printers might have led to the habit of inserting a space.
Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993.

Question I have heard that the sentence "I am" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. What about "I do". Isn't do a helping verb and am could be a helping or linking verb? Also, does a linking verb HAVE to link to something?
Thanks
Source & Date
of Question Chicago, Illinois
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response If you accept the definition of a complete sentence as a subject plus a predicate, then I guess either one will do, especially if you're counting letters, not words. Linking verbs don't have to link, although we can say that they do link to something understood. Except in the existential statement "I am" (as in "I exist"), there is an understood completer in the sentence "I am." I am something.
David Eason suggests that if you accept an understood subject (as in a command), then the shortest sentence is probably "Go!"

Question When does one use the pronouns "which" (nonrestrictive) and "that" (restrictive)? What's the difference (there is a wager on it)?
Please provide an example (Strunk & White isn't helping).
Thank You.
Source & Date
of Question Washington, D.C.
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Please visit the "That and Which" Notorious Confusable article. Also, click on Michael Quinion's article on this matter (in the Confusable note.) If you still have questions or need more examples, get back to us -- along with part of the bet money.

Question as to who will receive
OR IS IT
as to whom will receive
Source & Date
of Question Manchester, New Hampshire
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response This is a weird one. You're looking for the subject of the clause here: "who will receive." That whole clause, then, is the object of the preposition "to."

Question I believe it is better English to say "become afraid" rather than "get afraid". Am I correct? Is there a rule about which adjectives are used with "become" and which with "get"? Is there a list?
Thanks.
Source & Date
of Question Meilen, Switzerland
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Yes, you're right about "becoming afraid" as opposed to "getting afraid." I'm not aware of any list, though. I would say that "becoming" is simply more formal, but I can't imagine saying "I become lonely" as opposed to "I get lonely." The speed of change has something to do with it, at least in a sense: "The furniture got dusty" happens more quickly than "the furniture became dusty." I'll post this response and if someone sends in more information, I'll get back to you.

Question The use of these and those and this and that in written and spoken discourse. I contend the following to be correct. Apples, oranges, and pears are healthy foods. Those fruits are delicious eaten raw or cooked. (I believe _these_ woul d be incorrect. Next: The meat was raw before it was served the first time. That is something that never should be done. I believe _this_ would be incorrect.
Please compare and contrast the more appropriate use of quotation marks or italics for words used in a special sense such as screwy, loco, etc. I know overusing either for such purposes is not recommended, but I prefer italics now that we have word processors. My advanced grammar professor in undergraduate school said that quotation marks should really be reserved for quotes. We studied Kitteridge's works (sp?).
Source & Date
of Question Springfield, Missouri
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Regarding the italics first: when you're referring to words as words, it's conventionally proper to set those words aside using italics or underlining. I end up using quotation marks a lot when using e-mail and the World Wide Web because it's so much easier than coding in italics or underlines. But italics is definitely the way to go with today's word-processors and inexpensive, good printers.
As for these and those and this and that, I don't think it's right to say that either choice is incorrect in the sentences you cite, but the choices you make are preferable. The only distinction I can find for these words is a matter of proximity. So if you set something up for your reader to look at -- apples, oranges, and pears, in this case -- and behold them over there, then you want to use "those." And the same thing goes for "that" in your second sentence. It's a matter of spatial and chronological rhetorical proximity between your spoken or written word (the "moment" that the language exists in) and the event or the object you're describing. I believe you are right in your choices. I would be curious to know if you have reasons for your choice that I haven't thought of -- curious, but not at all surprised.

Question Lately, I hear more and more people using the phrase "Aren't I ..." instead of "Am I not ...". Is this correct usage? Has it always been so?
Thanks.
Source & Date
of Question San Jose, California
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response I don't know about the history of its acceptance, but "aren't I" is widely accepted as a contracted form for the inversion of "Am I not?". The only alternative (which makes more sense, in a way) is "Ain't I?". But that doesn't go over very well.
Authority: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum. Longman Group: Essex, England. 1993. Used with permission. 38.

Question I have problems with this sentence every time I go to the bank for quarters: Could I have $10 in (on) quarters?
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Canada
8 May 1998
Grammar's
Response Ten dollars in quarters is what you want. Come to think of it, we all do.

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Question	I have heard that the sentence "I am" is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. What about "I do". Isn't do a helping verb and am could be a helping or linking verb? Also, does a linking verb HAVE to link to something? Thanks
Source & Date of Question	Chicago, Illinois 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	If you accept the definition of a complete sentence as a subject plus a predicate, then I guess either one will do, especially if you're counting letters, not words. Linking verbs don't have to link, although we can say that they do link to something understood. Except in the existential statement "I am" (as in "I exist"), there is an understood completer in the sentence "I am." I am something. David Eason suggests that if you accept an understood subject (as in a command), then the shortest sentence is probably "Go!"

Question	When does one use the pronouns "which" (nonrestrictive) and "that" (restrictive)? What's the difference (there is a wager on it)? Please provide an example (Strunk & White isn't helping). Thank You.
Source & Date of Question	Washington, D.C. 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Please visit the "That and Which" Notorious Confusable article. Also, click on Michael Quinion's article on this matter (in the Confusable note.) If you still have questions or need more examples, get back to us -- along with part of the bet money.

Question	as to who will receive OR IS IT as to whom will receive
Source & Date of Question	Manchester, New Hampshire 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	This is a weird one. You're looking for the subject of the clause here: "who will receive." That whole clause, then, is the object of the preposition "to."

Question	I believe it is better English to say "become afraid" rather than "get afraid". Am I correct? Is there a rule about which adjectives are used with "become" and which with "get"? Is there a list? Thanks.
Source & Date of Question	Meilen, Switzerland 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Yes, you're right about "becoming afraid" as opposed to "getting afraid." I'm not aware of any list, though. I would say that "becoming" is simply more formal, but I can't imagine saying "I become lonely" as opposed to "I get lonely." The speed of change has something to do with it, at least in a sense: "The furniture got dusty" happens more quickly than "the furniture became dusty." I'll post this response and if someone sends in more information, I'll get back to you.

Question	The use of these and those and this and that in written and spoken discourse. I contend the following to be correct. Apples, oranges, and pears are healthy foods. Those fruits are delicious eaten raw or cooked. (I believe _these_ woul d be incorrect. Next: The meat was raw before it was served the first time. That is something that never should be done. I believe _this_ would be incorrect. Please compare and contrast the more appropriate use of quotation marks or italics for words used in a special sense such as screwy, loco, etc. I know overusing either for such purposes is not recommended, but I prefer italics now that we have word processors. My advanced grammar professor in undergraduate school said that quotation marks should really be reserved for quotes. We studied Kitteridge's works (sp?).
Source & Date of Question	Springfield, Missouri 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Regarding the italics first: when you're referring to words as words, it's conventionally proper to set those words aside using italics or underlining. I end up using quotation marks a lot when using e-mail and the World Wide Web because it's so much easier than coding in italics or underlines. But italics is definitely the way to go with today's word-processors and inexpensive, good printers. As for these and those and this and that, I don't think it's right to say that either choice is incorrect in the sentences you cite, but the choices you make are preferable. The only distinction I can find for these words is a matter of proximity. So if you set something up for your reader to look at -- apples, oranges, and pears, in this case -- and behold them over there, then you want to use "those." And the same thing goes for "that" in your second sentence. It's a matter of spatial and chronological rhetorical proximity between your spoken or written word (the "moment" that the language exists in) and the event or the object you're describing. I believe you are right in your choices. I would be curious to know if you have reasons for your choice that I haven't thought of -- curious, but not at all surprised.

Question	In using a word in reference to a government agency or official which is ordinarily capitalized, should the reference word used alone be capitalized? For instance when using the word "commission" alone in reference to the Atomic Energy Commission, should "commission" be capitalized? When referring to the Commissioner of Revenue by use of the word "commissioner" alone, should the word "commissioner" be capitalized?
Source & Date of Question	Nashville, Tennessee 7 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Yes, it would probably prove useful to capitalize those words within a particular document in order to distinguish that particular commission from other, generic commissions and that particular commissioner from other, generic commissioners.

Question	In scientific writing, what is the correct style for use of e.g. and i.e.? Are they always followed by a comma or not? Is it: (e.g., ...) or (e.g. ...) Is it the same rule for i.e.?
Source & Date of Question	Moscow, Idaha 7 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Yes, but that's only because they stand for phrases that are virtually always introductory modifiers -- that is and for example -- and thus get set off as parenthetical elements.

Question	I have problems with this sentence every time I go to the bank for quarters: Could I have $10 in (on) quarters?
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, Canada 8 May 1998
Grammar's Response	Ten dollars in quarters is what you want. Come to think of it, we all do.