| QUESTION |
| Obviously, spelling is a part of good writing, but is spelling an
official sub-category of grammar? Or are grammar and spelling different
entities under the category of "good writing"?
Thank you
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
Boulder, Colorado  Fri, Nov 6, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| I don't think spelling is really a part of the official study of grammar, which ought to be confined, in the strictest sense, to the structures of sentences, the way words fit together -- not the way letters fit together into words (with the possible exception of endings, prefixes, etc.). Nonetheless, you'll find a chapter on spelling in virtually every grammar handbook ever written. I think you put it well: they're both aspects of writing.
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| QUESTION |
| Please comment on appropriate and inappropriate use of the & character.
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Boston, Massachusetts Fri, Nov 6, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
I'm not well prepared to do that, frankly. Most of the manuals I own suggest that it ought to be limited to use within the names of companies, in inclusive numbers, in some headlining, etc. ![[E-Mail Icon]](../gif/email.gif) I guess that suggests that it ought not to be used as a substitute for and in the normal flow of text -- but historically it has been, simply as a bit of a shortcut for stonecarvers, typesetters, and the like. I'll leave an e-mail icon here in case some one else has something useful to add.
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| QUESTION |
I was wondering if there should be a comma between potential and both in the following sentence:
The Mary Frank staff is committed to facilitating all students in order that they might develop their potential, both academically and socially.
Thanks
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Granger, Indiana Fri, Nov 6, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| There's nothing wrong with the comma before "both" -- it's a bit of an afterthought, or a turn in the sentence, and a comma is appropriate. But, please, don't facilitate your students. Helping them is all that a parent can ask for. I'm not convinced it's logical to "develop a potential," either.
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| QUESTION |
My first-grader was posed the following question:
What is the meaning of antidististablishmenentarianism?
I looked it up in several dictionaries, but, of course, it helps if you are spelling it correctly. I don't believe I am doing so.
(My memories of first grade include: learning the pledge of allegiance, beginning reading, and a good game of kick ball...) This is ridiculous!
Thank you for your help.
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Cheshire, Connecticut Fri, Nov 6, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| Whatever happened to "nap time"? Antidisestablishmentarianism used to be kind of a fun word to know, because it was widely regarded as the longest word in the language and it wasn't that hard for kids to say or remember. I don't think it's anywhere near as long as some scientific words or Welsh bridge crossings, so it's lost some of its charm. Perhaps your dictionary will have it, now that you know how to spell it.
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| QUESTION |
Dear Grammar,
How do you know which verb to use when you are given words like "some", "most", "every", "few", and "many" in the subject, such as in the sentences:
- Most of the apple ______ eaten.
and
- Most of the apples ______ eaten.
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Nassau, Bahamas Fri, Nov 6, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| Now what's a nice lad from the Bahamas doing with sentences like these? 8-) In your first sentence, "most" is describing a noncountable thing, the amount of a single apple that was eaten, so we want a singular verb; in the second sentence, the word "most" is describing countable things, the number of apples that were eaten, so we want a plural verb. The other pronouns and quantifiers work the same way. See the section on determiners and quantifiers and write back if you still have questions.
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| QUESTION |
| Can you use the 3rd person pronoun 'it' with jeans, glasses, and scissors?
I'm almost positive that you have to use 'they' since jeans, glasses and scissors are all plural.
a non-native speaker
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Charlottesville, Virginia Sat, Nov 7, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| You're right. Those are plural words, even though they describe single items. So we say "I've lost them." "They're ripped," etc.
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| QUESTION |
What is the difference between:
"By doing that you will get punished" and "Doing that you will get punished"
Where can I get some useful information about the prepositions before the Gerund? ( ex: While eating,by studying,when meeting,ecc..)
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Franklin Park, Illinois Sat, Nov 7, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| It's not so much a matter of prepositional phrases as it is of creating adverbial phrases as opposed to participial phrases. "When/while meeting a stranger," is an adverbial phrase; "meeting a stranger, he/you" is a participial phrase. You might try reviewing the material in The Garden of Phrases, but I suspect you think you have a problem where there really is none. There isn't much difference between your two phrases, but the adverbial phrase "by doing that" makes it more clear, I believe.
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| QUESTION |
| Is there a comprehensive list of irregular plurals? How can I get a copy?
I need this for a handicapped child who has problems with English, grammar, etc.
Thank You
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| SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE |
| Marietta, Georgia Sat, Nov 7, 1998
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| GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE |
| You might check out our section on Plurals, but the list you can make out of that section will not be comprehensive. Probably most grammar reference books will have the beginnings of such a list, but ESL texts such as Jan Frodesen and Janet Eyring's Grammar Dimensions might be your best bet.
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