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

The
Grammar
Logs
# 129

Question Dear Grammar
How can you tell the difference between a comma splice and a comma used to separate an introductory phrase from the beginning of a sentence?
Source & Date
of Question Grand Rapids, Michigan
Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Grammar's
Response A Comma Splice is created when we try to connect two Independent Clauses with only a comma (where a comma and a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon would be appropriate). When the comma sets off an introductory phrase, that first element is not an independent clause. (Phrases, for one thing, do not contain subject-verb relationships.)

Question See below.
Source & Date
of Question Sunray, Texas
Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Grammar's
Response Will the person from Sunray, Texas, please send me his or her e-mail address? (Click HERE for mailer.) Sometimes I have questions about questions that I prefer to clear up before I post the answer and response. I have sworn never to divulge e-mail addresses to anyone.

Question What is narrative genre in terms of grammatical features and structures?
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Australia
Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Grammar's
Response There is narrative in both poetry and fiction, and there can be narrative elements in expository prose, too. So the word genre is probably inappropriate to describe narrative. Generally, narrative devices are used to tell a story, to give the reader a sense that they are viewing, on the page, something from life. I think we can also say, generally, that the grammatical structures that govern formal, academic prose are apt to be relaxed in narrative forms, where the voice of the speaker is often informal (if not casual), genuine (which is not to say that formal prose is not also genuine), a person speaking to other persons. In fiction, some relaxation of grammatical structures might even be encouraged to give a sense of reality, of the common touch, of the writer being in touch with how "real people" really talk and think. If you had something more specific in mind, I might try to answer that question -- if this is too vague.

Question I am looking for the correct use of is/are.
e.g. Proaxiom are/is the ideal choice as a strategic business partner.
Also has/have.
e.g. Proaxiom have/has developed leading edge solutions for its clients.
An explanation on which is correct would be useful.
Thanks
Source & Date
of Question Wellington, New Zealand
Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's
Response I take it that Proaxiom is the name of a corporation or business. If so, it is one thing and therefore you will want a singular verb to go with it. Proaxiom is/ Proaxiom has. This is true even if the name of a corporation ends in -s (and therefore sounds plural): General Motors is, Friendly's is. . . .

Question Please can you tell which is correct in following sentence.

Your goods will be ready on 22/05/98.
Your goods will be ready by 22/05/98.
Are there any differences? Please clarify.
Thank you very much for your great service.
Source & Date
of Question Doha, Qatar
Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's
Response In the first version, with "on," we suggest that there is no point in expecting your goods before the 22nd; that's when we're planning to have them ready for you and not before. The second version, with "by," leaves that open a bit: we are regarding the 22nd as a deadline for having the goods ready, but they might, in fact, be ready before then.

Question Is the use of "effected" proper in the following sentence:
Your company sent three replacement doors that are effected by poor workmanship.
Thanks. Your answer will determine the winner of a bet in my office.
Source & Date
of Question Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's
Response "Affected" is the verb you want. "Effect" can be a verb, but only in the sense that "you have effected a change in policy." I get 30% of all income from bets, regardless of who wins.

Question Is it better to use "Invoice(s) enclosed" or "Invoice[s] enclosed"?
Background - We are changing our business invoicing process from every single invoice goes in separate envelopes to some customers receiving up to four invoices in the same envelope. We want to alert customers that in some cases more than one invoice may be in the envelope. (They currently see our envelope message "Invoice enclosed" which works fine since all are single.)
Grammar rules seem to say only use a parenthesis to include material that you want to de-emphasize. We do not. Your "Ask Grammar", however, in Section IX uses a parthenesis in ...changed letter or word(s) within brackets:... in the same way we are trying to convey our message.
Any advice is appreciated.
Source & Date
of Question Rochester, New York
Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's
Response Standard practice seems to be to use parentheses to enclose that "optional s," if we can call it that. A set of brackets, in fact, might suggest that you're providing an optional spelling of the word (or that somebody had accidentally left off the "s"), which isn't really what you're doing.

Question There is a radio personality who uses the phrase "Take a decision" instead of "Make a decision" almost every day in his commentary. I know he is wrong, but I can't find proof in any grammar text I have. Am I correct in faulting him for this, and if so, where is the proof?
Thank you
Source & Date
of Question Unknown
Baltimore, Maryland, May 21, 1998
Grammar's
Response Look in the dictionary. The definition of "make" in my dictionary, the Oxford American, lists "make a decision." "Take a decision" is also listed, but in the sense that one "deals with" a decision. For instance, I suppose it's possible to "take a decision badly," in the sense that you gripe about it, but as a general substitute for "make a decision," your radio personality's usage needs to be stopped.

Question Like fingernails on the chalkboard, the unfailing use of "an" preceding words like "historical" drive me crazy. ("It was an historical event.") Even noted newscasters and educated people say this. Is it just me? People don't say, "I'm go ing on an holiday," or "It was an highlighted passage."
Source & Date
of Question Ronkonkoma, New York
Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's
Response I have done that before -- even written it "an historical event." I don't think the "h" sound is quite as pronounced as it is in "holiday" or "highlighted" or even "history," for that matter. That's my excuse, at least -- but it's just that, an excuse for making a mistake.

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Question	Dear Grammar How can you tell the difference between a comma splice and a comma used to separate an introductory phrase from the beginning of a sentence?
Source & Date of Question	Grand Rapids, Michigan Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Grammar's Response	A Comma Splice is created when we try to connect two Independent Clauses with only a comma (where a comma and a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon would be appropriate). When the comma sets off an introductory phrase, that first element is not an independent clause. (Phrases, for one thing, do not contain subject-verb relationships.)

Question	I am looking for the correct use of is/are. e.g. Proaxiom are/is the ideal choice as a strategic business partner. Also has/have. e.g. Proaxiom have/has developed leading edge solutions for its clients. An explanation on which is correct would be useful. Thanks
Source & Date of Question	Wellington, New Zealand Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's Response	I take it that Proaxiom is the name of a corporation or business. If so, it is one thing and therefore you will want a singular verb to go with it. Proaxiom is/ Proaxiom has. This is true even if the name of a corporation ends in -s (and therefore sounds plural): General Motors is, Friendly's is. . . .

Question	Please can you tell which is correct in following sentence. Your goods will be ready on 22/05/98. Your goods will be ready by 22/05/98. Are there any differences? Please clarify. Thank you very much for your great service.
Source & Date of Question	Doha, Qatar Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's Response	In the first version, with "on," we suggest that there is no point in expecting your goods before the 22nd; that's when we're planning to have them ready for you and not before. The second version, with "by," leaves that open a bit: we are regarding the 22nd as a deadline for having the goods ready, but they might, in fact, be ready before then.

Question	Is the use of "effected" proper in the following sentence: Your company sent three replacement doors that are effected by poor workmanship. Thanks. Your answer will determine the winner of a bet in my office.
Source & Date of Question	Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's Response	"Affected" is the verb you want. "Effect" can be a verb, but only in the sense that "you have effected a change in policy." I get 30% of all income from bets, regardless of who wins.

Question	Is it better to use "Invoice(s) enclosed" or "Invoice[s] enclosed"? Background - We are changing our business invoicing process from every single invoice goes in separate envelopes to some customers receiving up to four invoices in the same envelope. We want to alert customers that in some cases more than one invoice may be in the envelope. (They currently see our envelope message "Invoice enclosed" which works fine since all are single.) Grammar rules seem to say only use a parenthesis to include material that you want to de-emphasize. We do not. Your "Ask Grammar", however, in Section IX uses a parthenesis in ...changed letter or word(s) within brackets:... in the same way we are trying to convey our message. Any advice is appreciated.
Source & Date of Question	Rochester, New York Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's Response	Standard practice seems to be to use parentheses to enclose that "optional s," if we can call it that. A set of brackets, in fact, might suggest that you're providing an optional spelling of the word (or that somebody had accidentally left off the "s"), which isn't really what you're doing.

Question	See below.
Source & Date of Question	Sunray, Texas Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Grammar's Response	Will the person from Sunray, Texas, please send me his or her e-mail address? (Click HERE for mailer.) Sometimes I have questions about questions that I prefer to clear up before I post the answer and response. I have sworn never to divulge e-mail addresses to anyone.

Question	What is narrative genre in terms of grammatical features and structures?
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, Australia Wednesday, May 20, 1998
Grammar's Response	There is narrative in both poetry and fiction, and there can be narrative elements in expository prose, too. So the word genre is probably inappropriate to describe narrative. Generally, narrative devices are used to tell a story, to give the reader a sense that they are viewing, on the page, something from life. I think we can also say, generally, that the grammatical structures that govern formal, academic prose are apt to be relaxed in narrative forms, where the voice of the speaker is often informal (if not casual), genuine (which is not to say that formal prose is not also genuine), a person speaking to other persons. In fiction, some relaxation of grammatical structures might even be encouraged to give a sense of reality, of the common touch, of the writer being in touch with how "real people" really talk and think. If you had something more specific in mind, I might try to answer that question -- if this is too vague.

Question	There is a radio personality who uses the phrase "Take a decision" instead of "Make a decision" almost every day in his commentary. I know he is wrong, but I can't find proof in any grammar text I have. Am I correct in faulting him for this, and if so, where is the proof? Thank you
Source & Date of Question	Unknown Baltimore, Maryland, May 21, 1998
Grammar's Response	Look in the dictionary. The definition of "make" in my dictionary, the Oxford American, lists "make a decision." "Take a decision" is also listed, but in the sense that one "deals with" a decision. For instance, I suppose it's possible to "take a decision badly," in the sense that you gripe about it, but as a general substitute for "make a decision," your radio personality's usage needs to be stopped.

Question	Like fingernails on the chalkboard, the unfailing use of "an" preceding words like "historical" drive me crazy. ("It was an historical event.") Even noted newscasters and educated people say this. Is it just me? People don't say, "I'm go ing on an holiday," or "It was an highlighted passage."
Source & Date of Question	Ronkonkoma, New York Thursday, May 21, 1998
Grammar's Response	I have done that before -- even written it "an historical event." I don't think the "h" sound is quite as pronounced as it is in "holiday" or "highlighted" or even "history," for that matter. That's my excuse, at least -- but it's just that, an excuse for making a mistake.