The Grammar Logs -- Number Eighty-Nine

The
Grammar
Logs
# 89

Question In the sentence that follows, is the comma needed?
Write a letter to your principal, convincing him of the need to change the school's dress code.

Source & Date
of Question Unknown
22 March 1998
Grammar's
Response Yes, to avoid confusion, I would use the comma. However, the sentence has other problems. First, you're trying to persuade the principal, not convince the principal. Second, it appears that the mere act of writing to your principal is going to persuade him or her to change the dress code and that's not likely. Perhaps rewriting the sentence entirely is your best bet: We must persuade the school administration to change the school's dress code. Join our campaign by writing a letter to Principal Elena Esposito.

Question Dear Sir/Madam,
Would you please tell me which one is correct ?

The sign says you are not allowed to smoke on the subway.
or
The sign says it is not allowed to smoke on the subway.
Thank you.
Source & Date
of Question Recife, PE, Brazil
22 March 1998
Grammar's
Response The first sentence is better than the second sentence; however, you might be better off writing something like "The sign says smoking is not allowed on the subway."

Question Which is correct?

My favourite animal is lion.
My favourite animal is a lion.
My favourite animal is the lion.
My favourite animal is lions.
My favourite animal are lions.

Source & Date
of Question Singapore
22 March 1998
Grammar's
Response We can refer generically to things using either the or the two indefinite articles. Sentences #2 and #3 are correct. In #3, you could be speaking either generically or specifically (i.e., speaking generally about all lions or specifically about that particular lion). See our section on articles. One sentence you didn't give us, "My favorite animals are lions," would also be correct.

Question What is the rule for using either "a" or "an" before a word beginning with the letter "h", such as "an historical", or "a hysterectomy"? Thank you.
Source & Date
of Question Cape Coral, Florida
22 March 1998
Grammar's
Response Check out the section on Articles. The "h" is pronounced in those words (at least it is in the United States), so we would use the "a." (But not for "hour," where we don't hear the "h," so we say "I'll be there in an hour.")

Question Are the following sentences interchangeable?
I wish my mother would give me some more money.
I hope my mother gives me some more money.

Source & Date
of Question Rio de Janiero, Brazil
22 March 1998
Grammar's
Response There's not much difference that I can see. Some people might say that the "wish" sentence has a bit more urgency attached to it, a bit more of the "will" of the speaker being involved. (And they might add, also, that the "hope" sentence is a bit nicer for those reasons.) The "hope" sentence is also a bit more future-oriented it seems to me. But, as I said, there's not much difference.

Question I'd like to know when YET, as a coordinating conjunction, is used. Is it the same as BUT ?
Source & Date
of Question Rio de Janeiro
23 March 1998
Grammar's
Response It's sort of the same, but not quite; it's certainly not interchangeable, at least not always. "Yet" has more of the sense of nevertheless or in spite of. "He's hostile toward most people, yet/but he's always been friendly around me." In "John played football, but his brother played baseball," the conjunction yet would be inappropriate. If you counted conjunctions the way some people count birds, you'd find that yet is relatively rare, yet it's a handy device.

Question In a sentence like the one below, does the period go before the final quotation mark or after it?
The two words he remembered most were "mom" and "dad."
I thought the period should go before the final quotation mark but I am not sure.
Thanks for your help.
Source & Date
of Question Cincinnati, Ohio
23 March 1998
Grammar's
Response In the United States, we put that period before the quotation mark, so your instincts were right. See Quotation Marks.

Question Which is correct, when using the possessive?
Mrs. Stevens's dress
or
Mrs. Stevens' dress
I am outraged at what I believe is an all too common error. But I would like to know for sure.
Source & Date
of Question Somewhere, Vermont
23 March 1998
Grammar's
Response Most authorities on this matter would have us write Mrs. Stevens's dress, but Mrs. Stevens' dress is not exactly wrong; in fact, many writers prefer it. Mrs. Steven's dress, of course, is completely wrong, no matter what Mrs. Stevens says.

Question How many spaces should follow the period after Mr. or Mrs.? Is it one or two?
Source & Date
of Question Cincinnati, Ohio
23 March 1998
Grammar's
Response One

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Question	In the sentence that follows, is the comma needed? Write a letter to your principal, convincing him of the need to change the school's dress code.
Source & Date of Question	Unknown 22 March 1998
Grammar's Response	Yes, to avoid confusion, I would use the comma. However, the sentence has other problems. First, you're trying to persuade the principal, not convince the principal. Second, it appears that the mere act of writing to your principal is going to persuade him or her to change the dress code and that's not likely. Perhaps rewriting the sentence entirely is your best bet: We must persuade the school administration to change the school's dress code. Join our campaign by writing a letter to Principal Elena Esposito.

Question	Dear Sir/Madam, Would you please tell me which one is correct ? The sign says you are not allowed to smoke on the subway. or The sign says it is not allowed to smoke on the subway. Thank you.
Source & Date of Question	Recife, PE, Brazil 22 March 1998
Grammar's Response	The first sentence is better than the second sentence; however, you might be better off writing something like "The sign says smoking is not allowed on the subway."

Question	Which is correct? My favourite animal is lion. My favourite animal is a lion. My favourite animal is the lion. My favourite animal is lions. My favourite animal are lions.
Source & Date of Question	Singapore 22 March 1998
Grammar's Response	We can refer generically to things using either the or the two indefinite articles. Sentences #2 and #3 are correct. In #3, you could be speaking either generically or specifically (i.e., speaking generally about all lions or specifically about that particular lion). See our section on articles. One sentence you didn't give us, "My favorite animals are lions," would also be correct.

Question	Are the following sentences interchangeable? I wish my mother would give me some more money. I hope my mother gives me some more money.
Source & Date of Question	Rio de Janiero, Brazil 22 March 1998
Grammar's Response	There's not much difference that I can see. Some people might say that the "wish" sentence has a bit more urgency attached to it, a bit more of the "will" of the speaker being involved. (And they might add, also, that the "hope" sentence is a bit nicer for those reasons.) The "hope" sentence is also a bit more future-oriented it seems to me. But, as I said, there's not much difference.

Question	In a sentence like the one below, does the period go before the final quotation mark or after it? The two words he remembered most were "mom" and "dad." I thought the period should go before the final quotation mark but I am not sure. Thanks for your help.
Source & Date of Question	Cincinnati, Ohio 23 March 1998
Grammar's Response	In the United States, we put that period before the quotation mark, so your instincts were right. See Quotation Marks.

Question	What is the rule for using either "a" or "an" before a word beginning with the letter "h", such as "an historical", or "a hysterectomy"? Thank you.
Source & Date of Question	Cape Coral, Florida 22 March 1998
Grammar's Response	Check out the section on Articles. The "h" is pronounced in those words (at least it is in the United States), so we would use the "a." (But not for "hour," where we don't hear the "h," so we say "I'll be there in an hour.")

Question	I'd like to know when YET, as a coordinating conjunction, is used. Is it the same as BUT ?
Source & Date of Question	Rio de Janeiro 23 March 1998
Grammar's Response	It's sort of the same, but not quite; it's certainly not interchangeable, at least not always. "Yet" has more of the sense of nevertheless or in spite of. "He's hostile toward most people, yet/but he's always been friendly around me." In "John played football, but his brother played baseball," the conjunction yet would be inappropriate. If you counted conjunctions the way some people count birds, you'd find that yet is relatively rare, yet it's a handy device.

Question	Which is correct, when using the possessive? Mrs. Stevens's dress or Mrs. Stevens' dress I am outraged at what I believe is an all too common error. But I would like to know for sure.
Source & Date of Question	Somewhere, Vermont 23 March 1998
Grammar's Response	Most authorities on this matter would have us write Mrs. Stevens's dress, but Mrs. Stevens' dress is not exactly wrong; in fact, many writers prefer it. Mrs. Steven's dress, of course, is completely wrong, no matter what Mrs. Stevens says.

Question	How many spaces should follow the period after Mr. or Mrs.? Is it one or two?
Source & Date of Question	Cincinnati, Ohio 23 March 1998
Grammar's Response	One