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# 400
QUESTION When listing a number of items after i.e., should the colon be used as follows: i.e.: or does the colon replace the period and then written: i.e: Thank you.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Princeton, New Jersey Fri, Jul 28, 2000
GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE I would heartily recommend that you not use i.e. in this way. I can't imagine how it would be necessary. Use "that is" or "as follows," instead, or just leave it out altogether and use the colon by itself as the device to introduce your list. If you must use it, don't blow away the period after the "e."
QUESTION Is the expression "as per" a correct grammatical contruction? For example:
As per your request, we are forwarding.......SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Riverside, Connecticut GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE That bit of phrasing is used frequently (and acceptably) in a lot of technical and business writing, but it ought to be avoided in other kinds of writing. Try "according to" or a simple "at," instead. 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 would like to know the difference between 'use' and 'utilize'. I have looked up both words in my dictionary and received definitions that are similar for both words. Is the usage arbitrary? Any help would be appreciated. SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE The verb use has been in use for six centuries longer than the verb utilize and will suffice virtually all the time. Burchfield says that "a case can be made for utilize when the required sense is "to make practical use of, or to turn to account." But use is the more satisfactory choice in nearly all circumstances. 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 "Wave after wave" -- is it singular or plural? The first sounds correct, but that is not always a reliable indication. "After wave" might be a prepositional phrase, making the first "wave" the subject, but then wouldn't I have to separate it with commas? "Wave, after wave, crashes on the shore" just doesn't look right. Thanks
- Wave after wave crashes on the shore.
- Wave after wave crash on the shore.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Washington, D.C. GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE You don't need commas to set off that prepositional phrase; in fact, it would be wrong to set it off with commas. Your first impulse is right: "after wave" modifies the first, singular "wave," but it doesn't compound it. You want the singular "crashes."
QUESTION I have 2 questions. Thanks.
- In the following sentence, would I put commas around "and the one from which most psychopathology develops"? Existential psychologists assert that the central human fear and the one from which most psychopathology develops is the fear of dying. If so, please explain why.
- In the sentence, would I put commas around "over which they have control"? They bury an act over which they have control beneath the appearance of disability. The sentence is a bit confusing without it, but I cannot completely understand why I would put in commas if I were to do so.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Philadelphia, Pennsylvania GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE
- I'd use commas to set off that clause in the first sentence because it's a parenthetical element; it can be removed from the sentence and its essential meaning remains intact. Furthermore, when you run verbs together like "develops is," you run the risk of confusing your reader.
- In your second sentence, the clause "over which they have control" is essential to the meaning of the sentence and cannot be set off with commas. If the sentence is confusing, it's probably because of that phrase "the appearance of disability"; otherwise, I think it's fine.
QUESTION Warranteed? Is there such a word? All equipment is warrantied, warranteed for the life of the system? SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE MMMMM GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE I think you are (or someone else is) confusing the notion that something can be warranted (the provision of a guarantee regarding its performance, for instance) with the notion of its being guaranteed. My dictionaries don't list a verb "warranteed."
QUESTION When is the proper circumstance to use speak vs. talk? SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Watertown, Massachusetts GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE The words are often interchangeable. "To speak" can mean to utter words in an elementary way: "He came out of the coma! He spoke!" Generally, "spoke" is more formal than "talk." If "I spoke with the boss today," that's more important than talking with him in the hallway. But don't make too much over the distinction. And consult a good dictionary.
QUESTION I'm a military officer and deal frequently with award recommendations. While the Army policy is "correspondence will be generally free of errors", there are several people who like to wordsmith everything (sometimes incorrectly). This is a citation on an award:
Sergeant Doe is awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service while assigned to Alpha Company, 51st Signal Battalion. Sergeant Doe's performance of duty is in keeping with the finest tradition of military service and reflects great credit upon him, the 35th Signal Brigade, and the United States Army.My question: Is the use of "him" (...reflects great credit upon...) correct or should it be "himself"? It's gone back and forth several times and I would just like to know which is grammatically correct.I know that "himself" is used like this: Kevin chose to do the work himself.
My example doesn't really match that form though.
I've been able to find the answers to most grammar problems I've encountered, but since this sentence is a little awkward, I can't seem to find an example that fits.
Also, the phrase "...is in keeping with..." sounds awkward. I'm assuming it's not grammatically correct. Is it? I simply don't like the way it sounds.
Thanks for your help.
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Fayetteville, North Carolina GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE I think the him is correct, and the reflexive himself would be inappropriate. The performance reflects upon him, not himself. I don't think there's anything wrong with "in keeping with," exactly, but it does sound like rather faint praise. Something "not in keeping" deserves censure, but it seems that "in keeping" would include everything else — so it's not a very big deal. Maybe it's the vagueness of "the finest tradition of military service" that bothers me. The fact that his performance of duty "reflects great credit (honor?) upon him, the 35th Signal Brigade, and the United States Army" sounds good enough to me.
QUESTION Is there a plural form of Ms. or Mrs.? For example, when addressing several women would you write:
- (plural form of Ms.) Jones, Davis and Smith?
or- Ms. Jones, Ms. Davis and Ms. Smith?
SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE Bowie, Maryland GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE The plural of Mrs. is Mmes (with or without the period), and the pural of Ms is Mss or Mses (some people argue that there should be no period with those abbreviations). Authority: Chicago Manual of Style 14th ed. U of Chicago P: Chicago. 1993. p. 198.
also, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Electronic Edition. 1994. Used with permission.
QUESTION I need your help. Is the following sentence grammatically correct? Or should the verb be in the plural?
"Succumbing to the breathtaking beauty and charm of Marion and understanding the love that David feels for her is unavoidable."Thank you.SOURCE OF QUESTION & DATE OF RESPONSE MMMMM GRAMMAR'S RESPONSE You could argue that all of that is a singular entity and "is" makes sense, but it sounds to me like you've got two discrete things — succumbing and understanding — and you need a plural verb there. Frankly, you've crammed a lot into that sentence and it's rather "subject-heavy" (especially when you try to counter-balance it with that one-word predicate. You might try two sentences or do something more with that predicate: "are unavoidable ________ [something]."
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