The
Grammar
Logs
# 275

QUESTION
In editing a piece of writing, the sentence "there is now an abundance of alligators" came up. My first instinct is to say it is wrong because abundance would fit better with non-countable nouns like water, or life. My colleague thinks the sentence is good as it stands because abundance is a noun with a preposition. Is the sentence correct?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Johnson, Iowa Tue, Dec 29, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I don't see anything in the definition of "abundance" that precludes its being used in that sentence. I suppose other phrases might be more clear: "a burgeoning alligator population"? Is an "abundance of alligators" a good thing?

QUESTION
Help me rewrite this sentence. I am having a hard time making it sound right. Thank you.
Sentence: You may pay these bills by mail in the enclosed envelope or in our Main office, the Foothill Service Center, or the South Area Customer Service Center.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Sacramento, California Tue, Dec 29, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I think the best way of sorting out these or's is to add another clause (which goes against the grain a bit, but try it):
You may pay these bills by mail in the encosed envelope, or you may pay in person at the Main Office, the Foothill Service Center, or the South Area Customer Service Center.
QUESTION
My question is: First, what is "because of"? Is it a prepositional phrase? Second, is the "of" with because redunant in the following sentence?
Because of my age I was denied Social Security benefits.
Thank you for your help.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Minneapolis, Minnesota Thu, Dec 31, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I had never thought of "because of" as the introducer of a prepositional phrase, but that's exactly what Burchfield says it is. Followed by a noun or noun phrase, the "because of" construction is "straightforwardly admissible" in most of its uses, says Burchfield. Just don't use "because of" with the word reason: "The reason I was denied benefits was because of my age."

Authority: The New Fowler's Modern English Usage edited by R.W. Burchfield. Clarendon Press: Oxford, England. 1996. p. 100.
QUESTION
Should zero be followed by singular countable nouns or plural countable nouns? Which of the following two phrases is correct, zero point or zero points? Thank you!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China Thu, Dec 31, 1998
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
We would use "zero" just as we would use "no." They scored no points; they scored zero points.

QUESTION
Too many commas?

Help me with this sentence:

The reason for this charge is that a test of your electric meter, number 123456, on December 11, 1998, found it to be inoperative.
It doesn't sound right to me. Thank you.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Sacramento, California Fri, Jan 1, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I don't think there's anything wrong with the commas in that sentence. If you prefer, you could set off the number thingie with a pair of dashes -- number 12345 -- although that isn't necessary. You could make the sentence more direct: "You are being charged [for ???] because a test of your electric meter . . . ."

QUESTION
Please identify the phrase in capital letters in the following sentences. The theory THAT I BELIEVE was discovered by Nicolaus Copernieus. SINCE YOU'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT THE PLANETS, you should read Tycho Brahe's theory on the sun ond moon.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Goodwater, Alabama Fri, Jan 1, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"That I believe" is an adjective clause modifying "the theory"; "Since you're interested in learning about the planets," is an adverb clause modifying the verb "should read" (telling us why we "should read" something). Check out the section on Clauses and take the quizzes.

QUESTION
This is a capitalization question. When using the words "new year" do you only capitalize them if you use them when refering to New Year's Day (the holiday). If I used the following as part of a sentence would you or would you not capitalize new year? With the new year comes additional challenges.... or .....to lift equity markets in the new year or ...have a healthy and prosperous new year. Should New Year be capitalized in any of these instances?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Towson, Maryland Fri, Jan 1, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I would capitalize "new year" only when it's a clear reference to the idea of the holiday. In your first two examples, I wouldn't capitalize it, but when you say, "Have a healthy and prosperous New Year," that sounds like you're referring to the idea of the holiday (which isn't quite the same thing as the holiday itself, but it's close enough) and I would capitalize it. I can't find anything in my reference books to back me up on this, but it makes sense to me. Is it time to go buy a new calendar?

QUESTION
I need help with "of" and "from."

My dilemma:

...we offer a comprehensive program that can provide:

  • - relief of snoring (or should it be "relief from snoring")
  • - relief of sinus related headaches, facial pain, and eye pressure (or should "of" be replaced with "from")
Please advise. THANKS!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Buffalo, New York Fri, Jan 1, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
"OF" is not impossible, but I think we need relief FROM those things. The "relief of" is a bit ambiguous: do you mean that headaches offers relief? Of course not. I'd go with "from."

QUESTION
Is there a rule regarding the order in which you use nouns and pronouns in the same sentence? (e.g. Tom, Mary, you and I were selected to head the committee.) My understanding is that the nouns are first, followed by second person pronouns, and first person pronouns are always last. Thanks!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Newport Beach, California Fri, Jan 1, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'm not aware of any rule that says we have to put those proper nouns before the "you," but it makes sense to take care of the names and then sort out your pronouns (putting the "I" last, of course). In writing, I would certainly stick to this strategy, but if we were sitting around table, talking, [E-Mail Icon]I don't think it would be wrong to say something like "You, Tom, Mary, and I were selected." I'll leave an e-mail icon here in case someone has a better idea.

QUESTION
Can you please elaborate or explain "parenthetical elements" cause I do not understand it. And if you can would you please give me some example of it. It'll help me a lot. Thank you so much!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Houston, Texas Fri, Jan 1, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I trust you've seen this term in the section on Commas? This is the most difficult concept in punctuation because it's often quite difficult to decide what's parenthetical and what's not. "Parenthetical" refers to something you can remove from a sentence without changing the essential meaning of the sentence. (But "essential meaning" is problematical.) Another term for "parenthetical element" is "added information," if that helps. In the sentence "Those bookshelves, which I built last summer, have been quite handy." you know what bookshelves I'm referring to, so the "which I built last summer" is parenthetical (and is thus set off by commas). In the sentence "The bookshelves that I built last summer are falling down." the information in "that I built last summer" is essential to the meaning of the sentence (otherwise, which shelves am I referrring to?) so it's not parenthetical, so no commas.

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