The
Grammar
Logs
# 168

QUESTION
How many spaces after a period when using roman numerals in an outline? or after periods in a numbered list? Do periods align at the left? or at the right? Does format depend on font used and/or software default preference? Is there a correct way?

I.  A              1.  A
II. B              11. B
III.C              120.C
         or         
                   
  I.  A              1.  A
 II.  B             11.  B
III.  C            120.  C
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Littleton, Colorado Monday, July 20, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
If your software provides for it, line up the periods, by all means. Since one usually hits a TAB key to get to the next element, we're not really talking about a space or two spaces after the period. You definitely want the equivalent of at least one space, though. (In the Chicago Manual of Style, it appears that they have tabbed over the equivalent of two spaces, but it's hard to say, and the manual doesn't specify. It seems to be up to you -- and your software.)

QUESTION
Please tell me which sentences are correct.
  1. I'm suppose to stop over after work.
  2. I'm supposed to stop over after work.
  3. I use to go every week.
  4. I used to go every week.
Thank you
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Chicago, Illinois Monday, July 20, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
B and D are correct. Although that "d" disappears in the pronunciation as we go from the "s" sound to the "t" sound of "to," it shouldn't disappear in our spelling.

QUESTION
Q1. Should we use a plural or a singlar noun in the following:
  1. It is 0.5 metre(s) long.
  2. It weighs 1.2 kilogram(s).
  3. There is/are 0.3 apple(s).
Q2. Is there any difference in the following two sentences? Which one is better/ correct?
  1. The ten boys should bring with them their handbook.
  2. The ten boys should bring with them their handbooks.
NB. Each boy in fact has one handbook BUT the ten boys together have ten handbooks.

Thank you!

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Hong Kong Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
It weighs 1.2 kilograms. For the "less than one" 0.5, I can't find an authoritative answer in my usually reliable Chicago Manual of Style. I would guess that it's 0.5 meter (we would say five-tenths of a meter), but I am not sure. I also assume that scientific notation (0.5) and non-scientific notation (five-tenths) would yield the same answer. If someone who knows and can cite a proper authority, he or she can use this e-mail icon to get in touch. [E-Mail Icon] Fractional expressions of a singular thing are singular. It's quite unlikely that we would ever use a decimal expression for part of an apple, but if you insist, we would say, "There is three-tenths of an apple on the counter." The expletive construction doesn't help in this sentence: "Three-tenths of an apple is on the counter." (If you had a fractional expression of more than one thing, you would use a plural verb: "Three-tenths of the apples are on the counter.")

You can't win with the ten boys and the handbook. The second version is preferred because, otherwise, they're all going to be bringing the same handbook and they'll end up fighting over it. You're much better off using the word "each" in this sentence (as your explanation suggests): "Each of the ten boys should bring his handbook with him."


QUESTION
When does an ending period go outside quotation marks? For example, is this correct?
They were thrilled to watch "Gone with the Wind".
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Eugene, Oregon Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Periods would go outside the quotation mark if you're outside the United States. In the U.S., periods and commas go inside quotation marks, regardless of logic. So, no, you would enjoy "Hills Like White Elephants." (Gone with the Wind requires an underline or italics, not quotation marks.) Cyperspace is creating an exception to this rule, however. When citing an URL, allow the period to go outside the quotation mark to avoid the impression that the URL ends in a period.

QUESTION
In the question: "What's Spain's country code?" Why isn't possible to ask: "What's Spain's country's code?", as the code also belongs to the country?

Thank you.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Belem, PA, Brazil Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
We're not talking about a code that belongs to the country here; we're talking about a country code, a noun phrase made up of the noun, "code," and another noun, "country," that becomes attributive (turns into an adjective). In other languages, something like country code would immediately become one word -- like wallpaper -- but that process takes a long time in English, and sometimes never happens. The country code belongs to Spain, thus the possessive.

QUESTION
Since most people do their work on a computer, what is the correct Font Style and Size? It makes a big difference with the hundreds of Font Style in the market.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Shreveport, Louisiana Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"In the market" is an important phrase there, and that's probably why reference manuals don't want to restrict users to any one particular font style. Most manuals will, however, venture to say that a sans serif style (like HELVETICA) is too plain and becomes unreadable after a while (though it's fine for headings or captions). Something with a slight serif that's not too fancy, like TIMES, or TIMES ROMAN, is nice. Script styles are absolutely forbidden. Twelve-point seems to be the most often recommended, but ten- and fourteen-point are not unheard of. Even for different purposes you shouldn't mix more than two styles on a page, or even within an entire document for that matter.

QUESTION
I would like to have an explanation about using WHEN/WHILE/DURING/FOR. What is the difference between this words in phrases about time?
  1. We lived in Paris for three years.
  2. We got married when we worked in Paris.
  3. While we were in Paris, we had a child.
  4. During our marriage we were happy.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
[I changed some of the verb tenses in your sample sentences.]
  1. The "for ______" phrase allows you to define a period of time lasting a specific length.
  2. At some point during that time period in which we worked in Paris, this happened ("we got married").
  3. The same as B -- you could use "when" in C, but you would not use "while" in B.
  4. From the time we got married until we stopped being married, we were happy -- or (probably more accurately) there were times in that period that we were happy.
I have a strange feeling that I haven't answered your question yet.

QUESTION
Could you explain parallel structure. Example.
You can improve the soil of your home garden by composting, by mulching, and by avoiding all chemicals.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Virginia Beach, Virginia Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
You don't need to repeat the "by" to conform to parallel structure:
You can improve the soil of your home garden by composting, mulching, and avoiding all chemicals.
See the section on Parallelism and the section on Sentence Variety and then get back to us if you still have questions.

QUESTION
I am having difficulties in categorizing a few words as concrete or abstract nouns. Which category do these fall in to? air, light, oxygen ? I am guessing concrete.

Thanks!

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Phoenix, Arizona Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Yes, those are concrete nouns, even though the things they name don't feel very solid. It's the idea behind the noun that matters in this case. Warmth, experience, freedom -- these are abstract nouns. Although the things you name aren't exactly tangible, they're in another category of experience from peace, love, happiness, etc.

QUESTION
I would like to know in which one of your logs I have to look for a list of compound words? By the way, you have an excellent site! Thanks.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
North Bay, Ontario, Canada Tuesday, July 21, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I don't have a list anywhere -- that would be a very long list! But there is a section in the Guide that defines them and discusses how they are created, spelled, pluralized, etc. Click on Compound Words here or from the Table of Contents.

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