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The Grammar Logs # 295 |
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| QUESTION |
Which of the two sentences is correct?
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
Brunei  Tue, Mar 2, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| It appears that you have something singular in mind. The singular verb "wishes" feels much more natural to me. It's possible that "management" can act as a collective gathering of individuals, but it's quite unlikely. I think you want the singular "wishes" and singular possessive "its" in this sentence. If you can find a more personal word for these people -- the administrators, the President and Deans, whatever -- the whole thing might sound better. Or, "speaking on behalf of the management of St. Dominic's, I wish to express. . . ."? |
| QUESTION |
What do you think about using "it" in the following sentence (is it obligatory, optional or superfluous - and why)?
I would very much appreciate (it) if you ....Thank you! |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Slovenia Tue, Mar 2, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| I don't think there's anything wrong with that construction, with the "it." What if you simplified the whole thing and said something like "I would appreciate your working with. . . ."? |
| QUESTION |
Would you write
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Unknown Tue, Mar 2, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| We use the "mathematics" (there's no reason to capitalize it) as a simple modifier in that sentence. The possessive apostrophe is inappropriate. (Boy! say that three times really fast!) |
| QUESTION |
| I heard that it is now proper to refer to girls as "guys". Is this true and how can I find it in writing? I heard that just this past year the "grammar board"? changed the rules to allow this to apply to all people. |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Harrisville, Pennsylvania Thu, Mar 4, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| The online Merriam-Webster's (which has a tendency to be rather liberal in such matters) says that guys is "used in plural to refer to the members of a group regardless of sex." Burchfield says it is "sometimes also applied to females." I don't know what the "grammar board" is you refer to, but usage seems to moving in that direction -- although I would avoid that usage, myself, in formal prose (where you probably wouldn't use "guys" anyway, would you?). Authority for this note: WWWebster Dictionary, the World Wide Web edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition. Used with permission. Authority: The New Fowler's Modern English Usage edited by R.W. Burchfield. Clarendon Press: Oxford, England. 1996.
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| QUESTION |
How is the word hang used in a sentence (all forms)?
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Tucson, Arizona Thu, Mar 4, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| When speaking of executions, the customary and acceptable expression is "hanged." (I don't know why.) Burchfield says that it would not be erroneous to say "he hung himself," but "hanged" is the customary way of saying it. So the picture was hung on the wall, but the infamous Peanut Butter Bandit was hanged. |
| QUESTION |
| Which is proper: Politics were the------or Politics was the _______? |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Alexandria, Virginia Thu, Mar 4, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| Politics can mean either the singular entity, the "the total complex of relations between people living in society" -- and thus you would want "was" -- or it can mean the "political actions, practices, or policies" -- and thus you would want "were." So it's up to you and how you intend to use the word. Don't you love it when you're right no matter what you say? Authority for this note: WWWebster Dictionary, the World Wide Web edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition. Used with permission. |
| QUESTION |
Is it appropriate to use the word nor in a sentence that has a negative verb? For usage examples:
Thank you for your assistance |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Chicago, Illinois Thu, Mar 4, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
I agree. I think we'd be much better off with
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| QUESTION |
| My supervisor did not accept my use of "I should like to see Travis (name of the employee)...." She feels that the sentence should read "would like to see". I argued that the use of should is the polite form. Am I wrong to use the form? |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Ontario, Canada Sat, Mar 6, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| One of the many auxiliary functions of should is to express a request in a polite manner or to soften direct statement. The word has so many auxiliary function, however, that it becomes ambiguous in some sentences, sometimes making it seem, for instance, that you have an obligation [to see some employee]. I would use would in that sentence, but I don't think you're wrong to use should. Authority for this note: WWWebster Dictionary, the World Wide Web edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Tenth Edition. Used with permission. |
| QUESTION |
| Dear Grammar: I have searched every guide to English usage I have and have not seen this specific question addressed. I am a manuscript typist and typesetter, and I have been going around and around with one customer. He says that if you call someone "dear," "sweetheart," etc., then you should capitalize it if you are using that term in place of the person's name--especially in direct address. I disagree unless it is a relative such as mother or father, aunt or uncle, where the relationship would be capitalized if used in place of the person's name (but not as in "my mother"). I would write: Look over here, dear; he wants me to typeset: Look over here, Dear (or Sweetheart). Your expertise and a source if you have it for me to tell him are greatly appreciated. He also does not want the comma before and after the directly addressed person's name, but that is a different subject; I have many sources that confirm that the name of the direct addressee must be set off with commas. Thank you in advance. |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Escalon, California Sat, Mar 6, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
First of all, you're absolutely right about setting off the addressed person's name (or nickname or whatever you're calling this person) with a comma or pair of commas. About capitalizing these appelations or vocatives or endearments (whatever they're called), I can't find anything either -- even though the Chicago Manual of Style and the NYPL Writer's Guide both contain extensive chapters on capitalization. I tend to agree with you: I would say "How are you, Auntie?" but I would write "How are you, dear/sweetheart?" Somehow it seems more clear when you're using a very negative word instead of these sweet endearments. If I said, "Get out of here, moron!", I wouldn't even be tempted to capitalize "moron." By a rather perilous analogy, then, I wouldn't capitalize "sweetheart." ![[E-Mail Icon]](../gif/email.gif){kind=small} I will leave an e-mail icon here in case someone has a different opinion or can cite an authority on this matter for us.
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| QUESTION |
Is the sentence after a colon capitalized?
This report raises the question: Is ... the best way to fund local government? |
| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| New Orleans, Louisiana Sat, Mar 6, 1999
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| Most editors and reference manuals say to capitalize the first word of a complete sentence that follows a colon, but there are many who prefer that it remain in lower case. Be consistent within your document and you'll be right either way. Authority: New York Public Library Writer's Guide to Style and Usage HarperCollins: New York. 1994. p. 203. Cited with permission.
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