The Grammar Logs -- Number Forty-Eight

The
Grammar
Logs
# 48

Question
When using "such as," does one always need to use a comma beforehand?
Example: Sometimes we prefer to use simple patterns such as stripes or solids in our work.

Source & Date
of Question Atlanta, Georgia
4 December 1997
Grammar's
Response I think I would have put two commas in that sentence, setting off "such as stripes or solids" as a parenthetical element. However, I venture to say that it's a judgment call -- even in your sentence -- and that "such as" does not always introduce an element that is entirely parenthetical or "added information." One could argue that the "such as stripes or solids" is a necessary, integral part of what you mean by "patterns" here, so you don't want commas. (Did I just talk myself out of my own commas?) I'm sure it would be going too far to say that you'd always end up putting a comma before "such as."

Question Is amn't an acceptable contraction for am not? My english teacher said it was, but I've had no luck finding it used anywhere else.
Source & Date
of Question Simi Valley, California
5 December 1997
Grammar's
Response Some people will argue that ain't ought to be an acceptable contraction for "am not," but I've never seen a case for amn't. In fact, I've never seen it at all. I doubt very much if it's an acceptable construction in formal writing, that's for sure, and most of the English-speaking world would regard the writer or speaker quizzically, to say the least. Just remember, though, that your English teacher is always right.

Question I am teaching a group of 12 year olds English. They are Arabic speakers whose command of tenses in English is very poor. All the books I've found are too verbose - they won't be able to access the language.
Have you got any simple approaches to learning tenses?
Source & Date
of Question Qatar, Arabian Gulf
5 December 1997
Grammar's
Response No, but I wish I did. May I suggest you go back online and look up DAVE'S ESL CAFE and pose the same question there? I think you might find several people there with some good ideas about the teaching of tenses.
Good luck with your teaching.

Question I am looking for the specific rule defining why one shouldn't use the phrase "whether or not". If you can find it, please E-mail it to me. Thanks!!!
Source & Date
of Question Unknown
5 December 1997
Grammar's
Response As far as I know, there are no rules against using "whether or not." If the simple whether will do, fine. Also, if a simple if will do the job, use that. But there's nothing really wrong with "whether or not" (as long as you don't spell it weather).

Question Example Sentence: It "used" to be that..........or It "use" to be that.......
Which is grammatically correct?
Source & Date
of Question Eagen, Minnesota
5 December 1997
Grammar's
Response The correct form of this construction is "it used to be" with the "d." As we go from the "s" sound to the soft "t" sound, that hard "d" tends to disappear in our speech (the same thing happens with "supposed to"), but it ought not to disappear in our writing

Question
Which of the following is correct:
"A variety of woods are used in contemporary furniture."
"A variety of woods is used in contemporary furniture."
(My guess is that, although the first sounds smoother, the second is actually correct...)

Source & Date
of Question Atlanta, Georgia
5 December 1997
Grammar's
Response You're right. The subject is "variety," a singular noun, so we'd say, "A variety of woods is used. . . ."

Question
Is a comma required after a job title, before a name, as follows:
"It's the heart and soul of the company," according to Data Control Supervisor Willie Walton.
OR
"It's the heart and soul of the company," according to Data Control Supervisor, Willie Walton.

Source & Date
of Question Ferndale, Washington
5 December 1997
Grammar's
Response In the examples you give us, the name of the individual is not a parenthetical element or "added information" (i.e., if you left out the person's name, your sentence wouldn't make sense). Therefore, you won't put a comma before the person's name. If the person had been more specifically identified with the title, as in "Aetna's Data Control Supervisor," then the name would be added information and you'd have a comma. I hope I haven't confused you.

Question What are the rules for creating bibliographies?
Source & Date
of Question Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
6 December 1997
Grammar's
Response
Please check out the college's two Guides for Writing Research Papers at
http://webster.commnet.edu/mla.htm (mla-style)
and
http://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_index.htm (apa-style)

Question 1)Is there any difference between "each other" and "one another"? Is it true that the correct is to use "each other" only for two people and "one another" for more than two people? Thanks for your comments!

2)May I use the word SHOULD indicating "in case of" as it appears in the following examples?
Should you decide to go please let me know.
Should you have already paid that amount disregard this memo.

Source & Date
of Question Sao Paulo, Brazil
6 December 1997
Grammar's
Response That construction with should can be used in putative expressions meaning "if" or "in case." In the second example you give, it sounds rather stilted.
With two antecedents, you could use each other or one another, although each other would be the more common choice. When more than two are involved, one another is preferred.
Authority: A University Grammar of English by Randolph Quirk and Sidney Greenbaum. Longman Group: Essex, England. 1993.

Question
With regard to using "for" and "to," which sentence is correct, and why?
1. As the proverb goes, "you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" applies to one's inability for refinement in life.
2. As the proverb goes, "you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear applies to one's inability to refine one's life.

Source & Date
of Question Ventura, California
7 December 1997
Grammar's
Response I don't think there's a rule for matters like this, but we do speak of one's ability or inability to do something, not for something. What you're looking for here is the infinitive or infinitive phrase to movify the word inabililty. I don't think there's a particular reason why a prepositional phrase couldn't do the same job -- other than common usage.

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Question	When using "such as," does one always need to use a comma beforehand? Example: Sometimes we prefer to use simple patterns such as stripes or solids in our work.
Source & Date of Question	Atlanta, Georgia 4 December 1997
Grammar's Response	I think I would have put two commas in that sentence, setting off "such as stripes or solids" as a parenthetical element. However, I venture to say that it's a judgment call -- even in your sentence -- and that "such as" does not always introduce an element that is entirely parenthetical or "added information." One could argue that the "such as stripes or solids" is a necessary, integral part of what you mean by "patterns" here, so you don't want commas. (Did I just talk myself out of my own commas?) I'm sure it would be going too far to say that you'd always end up putting a comma before "such as."

Question	I am teaching a group of 12 year olds English. They are Arabic speakers whose command of tenses in English is very poor. All the books I've found are too verbose - they won't be able to access the language. Have you got any simple approaches to learning tenses?
Source & Date of Question	Qatar, Arabian Gulf 5 December 1997
Grammar's Response	No, but I wish I did. May I suggest you go back online and look up DAVE'S ESL CAFE and pose the same question there? I think you might find several people there with some good ideas about the teaching of tenses. Good luck with your teaching.

Question	Example Sentence: It "used" to be that..........or It "use" to be that....... Which is grammatically correct?
Source & Date of Question	Eagen, Minnesota 5 December 1997
Grammar's Response	The correct form of this construction is "it used to be" with the "d." As we go from the "s" sound to the soft "t" sound, that hard "d" tends to disappear in our speech (the same thing happens with "supposed to"), but it ought not to disappear in our writing

Question	Which of the following is correct: "A variety of woods are used in contemporary furniture." "A variety of woods is used in contemporary furniture." (My guess is that, although the first sounds smoother, the second is actually correct...)
Source & Date of Question	Atlanta, Georgia 5 December 1997
Grammar's Response	You're right. The subject is "variety," a singular noun, so we'd say, "A variety of woods is used. . . ."

Question	Is a comma required after a job title, before a name, as follows: "It's the heart and soul of the company," according to Data Control Supervisor Willie Walton. OR "It's the heart and soul of the company," according to Data Control Supervisor, Willie Walton.
Source & Date of Question	Ferndale, Washington 5 December 1997
Grammar's Response	In the examples you give us, the name of the individual is not a parenthetical element or "added information" (i.e., if you left out the person's name, your sentence wouldn't make sense). Therefore, you won't put a comma before the person's name. If the person had been more specifically identified with the title, as in "Aetna's Data Control Supervisor," then the name would be added information and you'd have a comma. I hope I haven't confused you.

Question	Is amn't an acceptable contraction for am not? My english teacher said it was, but I've had no luck finding it used anywhere else.
Source & Date of Question	Simi Valley, California 5 December 1997
Grammar's Response	Some people will argue that ain't ought to be an acceptable contraction for "am not," but I've never seen a case for amn't. In fact, I've never seen it at all. I doubt very much if it's an acceptable construction in formal writing, that's for sure, and most of the English-speaking world would regard the writer or speaker quizzically, to say the least. Just remember, though, that your English teacher is always right.

Question	I am looking for the specific rule defining why one shouldn't use the phrase "whether or not". If you can find it, please E-mail it to me. Thanks!!!
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 5 December 1997
Grammar's Response	As far as I know, there are no rules against using "whether or not." If the simple whether will do, fine. Also, if a simple if will do the job, use that. But there's nothing really wrong with "whether or not" (as long as you don't spell it weather).

Question	What are the rules for creating bibliographies?
Source & Date of Question	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 6 December 1997
Grammar's Response	Please check out the college's two Guides for Writing Research Papers at http://webster.commnet.edu/mla.htm (mla-style) and http://webster.commnet.edu/apa/apa_index.htm (apa-style)

Question	With regard to using "for" and "to," which sentence is correct, and why? 1. As the proverb goes, "you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" applies to one's inability for refinement in life. 2. As the proverb goes, "you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear applies to one's inability to refine one's life.
Source & Date of Question	Ventura, California 7 December 1997
Grammar's Response	I don't think there's a rule for matters like this, but we do speak of one's ability or inability to do something, not for something. What you're looking for here is the infinitive or infinitive phrase to movify the word inabililty. I don't think there's a particular reason why a prepositional phrase couldn't do the same job -- other than common usage.