|
The Grammar Logs # 220 |
|
| QUESTION |
My question is:Everyone of the singers was complaining about the song they had to sing.Is this sentence correct? |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
Vidalia, Georgia  Thu, Sep 24, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| No, you want "Every one" (two words) for that sentence. "Everyone" would serve as its own subject: "Everyone was complaining about the songs." |
| QUESTION |
In a formal document referring to a seasonal program is it all right to
write "In the fall, counselors resume their territories. Because this is the most crucial time for recruiting, Fall programs include campus visits"?In the first usage of "fall" I am referring to as a space in time. In the second usage, I am using it as a name. Correct or incorrect? Thanks. |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Liberty, Missouri Thu, Oct 1, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| "A space in time"? I don't think you're really using "Fall" as a proper noun in the second usage. It's still just an adjective. I wouldn't capitalize fall in either case here. If it's truly a proper noun, as in the Fall Festival of Small Appliances, then you'll capitalize it. |
| QUESTION |
What is the rule for making sure a list of verbs in a sentence has a parallel structure? As a copy editor, I am constantly running into sentences such as:
"We want to meet customers' evolving retirement savings needs, invest in new technologies, compete aggressively in the global marketplace and make acquistions."I am pretty sure that the sentence should read: "We want to meet customers' evolving retirement savings needs, TO invest in new technologies, TO compete agressively in the global marketplace and TO make acquisitions."Please confirm if I am right! |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Toronto, Ontario, Canada Thu, Oct 1, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| Well, I'd like to, and I don't want to say that your rendering of the sentence is wrong, but it isn't really necessary to repeat the lead-in parts of the parallel elements (i.e., you can omit the "to" of the infinitive in subsequent phrases).
Authority: The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers by Chris M. Anson and Robert A. Schwegler. Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.: New York. 1997. p. 370.
|
| QUESTION |
I have a question about the relationship between 'a' and 'the'.
Example: James always studies the dictionary to enrich his vocabulary.I really don't understand whether 'a' or 'the' should be used in this sentence.. |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Hong Kong Thu, Oct 1, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| You can use either the definite article or the indefinite article before a generic word (which is what "dictionary" is, in this case). See the section on Articles for help. |
| QUESTION |
| When writing the sentence, "We are on board," should "on board" be two words or one, as it is when used as an adjective? Secondly, then, what part of the sentence is "on board" in this example? Finally, when, definitively, should we use "on board" vs. "onboard"? |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| St. Louis, Missouri Thu, Oct 1, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| You're almost always going to use "on board" (two words). Occasionally, you'll run into something like a spacecraft employing its onboard computers (when it's being used as an adjective, as you point out). |
| QUESTION |
| I'm not sure of using the pronouns: e.g I and Mary / Mary and I Me and my friend / My friends and me/I |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia Sat, Oct 3, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| In one of the few areas of English in which we record a level of politeness, the other person comes before me or I. Then, when you're using a pronoun as subject, you use "I"; when you're using the pronoun in the object place, you use "me." My friends and I are going to the movies. They gave tickets to my friends and me. |
| QUESTION |
Should you always place a comma after using "i.e." or "e.g." ?
For example:
Thank you. |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Atlanta, Georgia Sat, Oct 3, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| I'm not sure what a "red shoe manufacture" is, but yes, put a comma after the e.g. and i.e. because they always serve as an introductory modifying phrase. Most of the reference manuals I use suggest using "for example" or "that is" instead of their latin equivalents. |
| QUESTION |
Do you have a list of verbs with their corresponding preposition?
|
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Bogota, Colombia Sat, Oct 3, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| You can go to the section on Prepositions and find a list there. See, also, the section on Phrasal Verbs. The lists are not nearly complete, of course -- there must be hundreds of such verbs, but it might help give you an idea of how the prepositions and verbs work together. |
| QUESTION |
When writing a degree title is is correct not to capitalize, such as:
|
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Lake Worth, Florida Sat, Oct 3, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| As far as the capitalization goes, yes, #2 is correct. The writing manuals seem to be getting away from the capitalization of majors and degrees -- unless they're part of list -- say, in a list of majors in a commencement program or a list of departments to which someone might apply. |
| QUESTION |
My daughter is having problems when using "me" and I. I was taught that you can tell when to use it by example.....
EX...He got tickets for Susan and me.You would use me here by removing the prep clause "for susan" and see if it still sounds right -- which in this case it does. My BF INSISTS this is wrong. Help! thanks! |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Nags Head, North Carolina Sat, Oct 3, 1998
|
| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| I'm a bit intimidated by the prospect of going up against a BF. What on earth does that mean? BF is wrong and you're right. "He got tickets for Susan and me" is correct. |
Previous Grammar Log