The Grammar Logs -- Number Three Hundred, Forty

The
Grammar
Logs
# 340

QUESTION
Which of these is correct? I'm confused about the use of "one another."

Two processes connect to one another.
Two processes connect to one and another.
Two processes connect to each other.
Two processes connect to one and other.
Is "another" a contraction of "and other"? I looked it up in the dictionary and I don't see a historical reference to "and other."
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Austin, Texas Fri, Aug 13, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Usually the question is whether to use "each other" or "one another." This is an interesting twist. I don't see anything wrong with "to each other" or "to one another" in this context (although some writers will argue that "one another" ought to be reserved for situations where more than two things are involved). I suppose you could also write "one to the other." The other two options you give us—"to one and other" and "to one and another"—seem confusing and just plain wrong. Don't think about this too long; you'll drive yourself mad.

QUESTION
A great variety of aspects "is" or "are" examined? Please tell me which verb to use, singular or plural. Thanks!
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Halifax, N.S. Canada Fri, Aug 13, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I think that the phrase "a variety" works in the same way as "a number": "a number of books are on the table"; "a variety of roses are described. . . ." Use the plural.
If this note seems to contradict what we said earlier on this subject, that's because it does. We would welcome other people's thinking on this matter.

QUESTION
Is the word "reverend" capitalized in every single instance, even when being used as a common noun, or does this word follow the same rules for capitalization as any other job title. For example, is it correct to write this ? "The reverend was very tall and had dark hair." Or would I write it like this? "The Reverend was very tall and had dark hair."
Another example where I'm just referring to the word reverend as a common noun. "There are many good reverends in this part of the country." Or should it be this? "There are many good Reverend in this part of the country."
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
New Castle, Delaware Fri, Aug 13, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The word Reverend is an adjective and ought to be preceded by the word "the" and the person's name (full or initial), as in "The Reverend Alan Darling" or "The Reverend A. Darling." To refer to a member of the clergy as "Reverend Darling" (with only the person's last name) is regarded as incorrect in the UK, but seems acceptable in the U.S. It is still regarded as incorrect, however, to use "reverend" or "Reverend" as a stand-alone noun, singular or plural, as you do above. Use another title instead: "pastor," "minister," etc. The use of reverend as a noun might be acceptable in informal speech, but it's not likely to go over well in formal writing.
Authority: The New Fowler's Modern English Usage edited by R.W. Burchfield. Clarendon Press: Oxford, England. 1996. Used with the permission of Oxford University Press.

QUESTION
I know it is correct to say, "John did an excellent job on the test."
Is it correct to say, "John did a most excellent job on the test?"
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Portland, Maine Sun, Aug 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
It's not anything I would recommend. It seems to be enough to be excellent. Burchfield allows for an occasional "conventional" use of "most excellent," as in "This is a most excellent brandy."
Authority: The New Fowler's Modern English Usage edited by R.W. Burchfield. Clarendon Press: Oxford, England. 1996. Used with the permission of Oxford University Press.

QUESTION
My question concerns the correct usage of who and that. The Associated Press stylebook says: "Use who and whom for references to human beings and to animals with a name. Use that and which for inanimate objects and animals without a name. My question is, when you are addressing mythic, supernatural or spiritual beings, such as ghosts, angels, goblins, jinn, etc., do you use who or that? For instance: "Little goblins -- who -- that -- live in dark forests, why do you hide by day? Thank you.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Freedom, Maine Sun, Aug 15, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'd go with "who" when addressing goblins and the like. The AP stylebook has oversimplified the use of "that" and "who" regarding human beings. We frequently use "that" to refer to people in a generic way. "The students that work the hardest get the best grades." (Unless that's what the AP book means by "animals without a name.")

QUESTION
Would a sentence with a reasoning need a comma?
'It is most important to increase patient awareness and thereby prevent drug interactions.'

SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Stamford, Connecticut Mon, Aug 16, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
I'm not really sure what you mean by "a reasoning." That sentence, though, could use a break after "awareness," though I'm not sure whether you want a comma or a heavier break—like a dash. Personally, I'd get rid of that klutzy "thereby" altogether and say something about "preventing drug interactions by increasing patient awareness" or about "increasing patient awareness of the potential problems of drug interactions."

QUESTION
In business writing, is it more acceptable to use "per" or "as per"?
For example, which is "more correct" - "As per our conversation..." or "Per our conversation..."???
I have always thought it was a matter of preference. Am I correct?
Please advise. Thanks.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Oaks Park, Illinois Wed, Aug 18, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
Frankly, I'd avoid either one if I were you—and use "according to" or some such English phrase ("as we had agreed"). "As per" is sometimes used in business communications ("as per the printed specifications"), but I would avoid it whenever possible.

QUESTION
What is the difference between:

I always listen to the radio while having breakfast and
I always listen to the radio having breakfast
Are they both correct?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Franklin Park, Illinois Wed, Aug 18, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
With your second sentence, I'm picturing your radio sitting down to a bowl of corn flakes, while you sit there, enthralled by its tales about last night's date with an opera star. Somehow that doesn't happen in the first sentence, but you do have to watch modifying phrases (such as "having breakfast"), to make sure they don't end up modifying the wrong thing.

QUESTION
We are aware that times are changing in grammar. Wonder if this is one such case. In the following sentence we want to know if "me" or "my" is correct...or are both?
I hoped God knew my feelings without "me" having to go up to the front of the church.
Thank you for your help. Might be interesting to have a link to section on modernization of grammar such as using "their" in a singular sense ...ie Every child left their coat in the room.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Unknown Thu, Aug 19, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
The "having to go up to the front of the church" belongs to the speaker, so my would have been appropriate in that sentence. Some of these issues are linked to from the FAQ page, but that would make an interesting addition. Thanks for the suggestion.

QUESTION
How do you properly capitalize a person's name like "Van Gunten?"
For example, do you write it van Gunten, or Van Gunten?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE
Washington, D.C. Thu, Aug 19, 1999
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
There are, as you can imagine, a number of variations on this question, and it's going to depend on the family, more than anything else. The Chicago Manual of Style has an entire section on capitalization of non-English names. In this case, they list Ludwig van Beethoven and Wherner von Braun—but then there's Martin Van Buren. Good luck.
Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993. p. 237.

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