A telltale sign of poor English fluency is the use of double negatives. When you want to express an idea, make sure to curtail your use of such words as not and hardly; these terms often conflict with other parts of a sentence. Let's take a look at an example:
I could care less about your family's money, my dear; although I don't hardly have any money, I don't need nothing from you but love.
The above sentence contains an appalling number of double-negative errors, so I'll review them one at a time. First of all, the phrase "could care less" REALLY gets on my nerves. I'm not sure what people are thinking when they use it, because it makes absolutely no sense. If a mother "could care less" about her son, then she DOES care about him—how else would she be able to care LESS? If you're trying to convey a sense of little or no concern, use the phrase "couldn't care less," which, unlike its oft-used, oft-abused counterpart, isn't a nonsensical corruption of language.
I couldn't care less about your family's money, my dear; although I don't hardly have any money, I don't need nothing from you but love.
On to the next problem, which lies in the subordinate clause following the semicolon. Hardly is, contrary to Southern dialect in the United States, a negative adverb that is at odds with the negative contraction. Thus, either negative piece can be removed, but considering that the man probably has at least some money, I'll remove the contraction.
I couldn't care less about your family's money, my dear; although I hardly have any money, I don't need nothing from you but love.
Finally, if not is anywhere near nothing in a sentence, your grammar intuition should alert you either to nix the former or to change the latter to anything.
I couldn't care less about your family's money, my dear; although I hardly have any money, I don't need anything from you but love.
Yay! Now that mess of a sentence is much more appealing, and that means this short lesson is coming to a close. Before you scamper off to other blogs, though, keep in mind that double negatives are perfectly fine in conversation and in informal writing.
Furthermore, less offensive double negatives are sometimes useful for emphasis. For instance, let's imagine that CoughAway and ThroatSoother are two rather useless cold medicines and that CoughAway is better than ThroatSoother. You could say that CoughAway is "more effective" than ThroatSoother, but such a statement might be misleading, considering that neither one produces any tangible benefits. In that case, it'd be better to say that CoughAway is "less ineffective" than ThroatSoother. Yes, you're using a double negative. Blasphemy? Not quite. The phrase "less ineffective" as opposed to "more effective" highlights the inadequacy of both medicines rather than the superiority of CoughAway. Sure, you could go with "more effective," and no one (other than I) would bat an eyelash, but truly powerful manipulation of language, also known as rhetoric, relies on minuscule distinctions like this one to sway audiences.
Anyway, I'm kinda digressing, so I'll cut myself short here. Again, I hope you learned something new this time around, and I'll see y'all in a week! =]
Mittwoch, 22. Juni 2011
Freitag, 10. Juni 2011
English grammar snob
This posts will be nothing like a rant but rather a teaching lesson, since I'm slightly getting tired of all malapropisms.
Have you ever wanted to improve your writing in english in little steps? Do you often find yourself questioning the mechanics of your sentences? Do you just like feeling smarter than everyone else? Well, then, this post/blog is for you! Here, just to feel good about myself by pretending to promote literacy when I'm really touting my snobbishness, I'll be providing bite-sized grammar lessons every week or so. I encourage you to pop on in and join the party of condescending, seemingly well-read individuals!
DISCLAIMER: I'm not trying to prove that people who type well online are better than other people in any way—the Web is a medium in which negligence of formalities is perfectly acceptable. I also admit that some of these tips may seem unnecessary or nitpicky, but hey, you don't have to use them!
Lesson One: Em Dashes vs. En Dashes vs. Hyphens (6/9/11)
WTH? There are different types of dashes? you may be asking yourself. And the answer would be yes! The em dash (—), en dash (–), and hyphen (-). Each item serves a very different purpose, and although it's not imperative to differentiate between all of them, it's nice to know.
Let's start with the em dash. Many of you readers are probably all too familiar with this device; it can indicate a shift in thought or additional information, among other things, and demonstrates fluidity in writing. Usually, the em dash touches the words that it separates, but some writers prefer a space to either side. Commas and em dashes are occasionally interchangeable. The following are some examples of its use and variants. Notice that if a word processor is unavailable or the [ALT + numerical code] is unknown, two hyphens will suffice.
As the head--well, former head, anyway--of the science department, Jenna was responsible for ordering lab materials.
Dan -- an engineer for Google -- slaves over his computer for hours every day.
The light—that is, the one I'd seen on Monterey—seemed out of place in the context of its dreary neighborhood.
Rock and roll is the heart of our lives — and we'll do anything it takes to continue listening to it!
Next up are the en dash and hyphen, which people so frequently confuse that even editors now rarely make any distinction between the two. The hyphen, of course, is more popularly employed, simply because it's more accessible. The differences between the two are so nuanced that I won't try to delve into them all in this lesson; however, I do intend to cover the basics. The hyphen, the shorter of the two, is for compound adjectives in which the elements are not compounds themselves. The en dash, the longer of the two, is for ranges and compound adjectives in which one or more elements are compounds or in which two or more parties exist. The following are some correct (green) examples and incorrect (red) illustrations.
disease–causing bacteria (should be a hyphen because it's a simple compound adjective)
pg. 7-19 (should be an en dash because it's a range)
post-Cold War (should be an en dash because Cold War is a compound noun)
New York-Miami flight (should be an en dash because there're two parties)
disease-causing bacteria
pg. 7–19
post–Cold War
New York–Miami flight
I hope you enjoyed this segment. Tune in next time for another (fun) lesson!
Lesson Two: Homonyms, Homonyms, and More Homonyms—Part I (6/10/11)
One of the mistakes that really get on my nerves is when people use the wrong homonyms, or words that sound the same but carry completely different meanings. Although plenty of pairs and trios exist in the English language, I'll be covering only the most common ones in this update.
Your, You're, and Yore
Your is a possessive pronoun. It's as simple as that. As a rule of thumb, possessive pronouns never have apostrophes. You're is a contraction. Pronouns with apostrophes always represent two words rather than a possessive form. Yore, while an archaic word, still makes an appearance every now and then in modern-day manuscripts. It refers to ancient times.
You're mom is ridiculously overweight.
Yore a real imbecile.
In times of your, most people were hunter-gatherers who picked fruit rather than farmed land.
Your mom is ridiculously overweight.
You're a real imbecile.
In times of yore, most people were hunter-gatherers who picked fruit rather than farmed land.
Their, They're, and There
Their is a possessive pronoun. Again, as a rule of thumb, such a word pretty much never has an apostrophe. They're is a contraction of the words they and are. Finally, there is a word that functions as many parts of speech, but it most commonly serves as a noun or adverb.
Despite the rigor of the course, they're will never wavered.
Andy respects his friends, even though there remiss in completing homework on time.
The treasure that we're looking for is over their!
Despite the rigor of the course, their will never wavered.
Andy respects his friends, even though they're remiss in completing homework on time.
The treasure that we're looking for is over there!
Then and Than
Then is an adverb that either describes something to follow in a sequence of events or conveys the sense that something has passed. Than is a conjunction used to compare two ideas. Common phrases that involve it are more than, less than, rather than, and [comparative adjective] than.
If a = b and b = c, than a = c.
Will Smith is way cooler then Lady Gaga.
If a = b and b = c, then a = c.
Will Smith is way cooler than Lady Gaga.
Affect and Effect
Don't listen to your English teachers on this one, as both of these words can function as either nouns or verbs. Affect is usually a verb that means "to influence" or "to take on artificially." However, it can also be a noun meaning "emotion." Effect is usually a noun that means "result." However, it can also be a verb meaning "to result in" or "to accomplish." Let me warn you now, though, that the noun form of affect is almost never the one you want, unless you're majoring in psychology or the like.
The hurricane drastically effected the lives of those who lost their families.
The stimulant produced in the child a gleeful effect.
Mrs. Coburn's more lenient grading policy affected a more motivated class.
Although scientists lay claim to a positive affect on the drug industry, midazolam has also increased the number of date-rape cases.
The hurricane drastically affected the lives of those who lost their families.
The stimulant produced in the child a gleeful affect.
Mrs. Coburn's more lenient grading policy effected a more motivated class.
Although scientists lay claim to a positive effect on the drug industry, midazolam has also increased the number of date-rape cases.
It's and Its
It's is a contraction of the words it and is, while its is a possessive pronoun, which, like all of its brethren, has no apostrophe. The distinction between these two terms is incredibly simple, but I swear that society is slipping further and further into the clutches of illiteracy. And PLEASE, I implore you not to form the irrelevant its'—it's not a word.
Its the perfect weather today for swimming and playing volleyball.
The desktop lasted us a long while, but it's decrepit construction ultimately doomed it to fail.
It's the perfect weather today for swimming and playing volleyball.
The desktop lasted us a long while, but its decrepit construction ultimately doomed it to fail.
I know this segment's extremely dense, but I hope you learned something new! Next update will probably be within the time frame of that "every week or so" I mentioned earlier; I made this second update so quickly only because of the eagerness that inevitably entails a new venture. Stay tuned, children! ;D
Future Updates
Misplacement of the Word Only
Quoting, Underlining, and Italicizing
Is It June 1 or June 1st?
Punctuation Next to Quotations + Anyway vs. Anyways
Between vs. Among
That vs. Which vs. Who and Zero Relative Pronouns
Usage, In Order, and Other Verbosities
Do I Work Everyday or Every Day?
...
Any suggestions are welcome, too!
And yes, I admit, I, in fact, abused the dictionary this time. Practice is half the battle, folks!
Have you ever wanted to improve your writing in english in little steps? Do you often find yourself questioning the mechanics of your sentences? Do you just like feeling smarter than everyone else? Well, then, this post/blog is for you! Here, just to feel good about myself by pretending to promote literacy when I'm really touting my snobbishness, I'll be providing bite-sized grammar lessons every week or so. I encourage you to pop on in and join the party of condescending, seemingly well-read individuals!
DISCLAIMER: I'm not trying to prove that people who type well online are better than other people in any way—the Web is a medium in which negligence of formalities is perfectly acceptable. I also admit that some of these tips may seem unnecessary or nitpicky, but hey, you don't have to use them!
Lesson One: Em Dashes vs. En Dashes vs. Hyphens (6/9/11)
WTH? There are different types of dashes? you may be asking yourself. And the answer would be yes! The em dash (—), en dash (–), and hyphen (-). Each item serves a very different purpose, and although it's not imperative to differentiate between all of them, it's nice to know.
Let's start with the em dash. Many of you readers are probably all too familiar with this device; it can indicate a shift in thought or additional information, among other things, and demonstrates fluidity in writing. Usually, the em dash touches the words that it separates, but some writers prefer a space to either side. Commas and em dashes are occasionally interchangeable. The following are some examples of its use and variants. Notice that if a word processor is unavailable or the [ALT + numerical code] is unknown, two hyphens will suffice.
As the head--well, former head, anyway--of the science department, Jenna was responsible for ordering lab materials.
Dan -- an engineer for Google -- slaves over his computer for hours every day.
The light—that is, the one I'd seen on Monterey—seemed out of place in the context of its dreary neighborhood.
Rock and roll is the heart of our lives — and we'll do anything it takes to continue listening to it!
Next up are the en dash and hyphen, which people so frequently confuse that even editors now rarely make any distinction between the two. The hyphen, of course, is more popularly employed, simply because it's more accessible. The differences between the two are so nuanced that I won't try to delve into them all in this lesson; however, I do intend to cover the basics. The hyphen, the shorter of the two, is for compound adjectives in which the elements are not compounds themselves. The en dash, the longer of the two, is for ranges and compound adjectives in which one or more elements are compounds or in which two or more parties exist. The following are some correct (green) examples and incorrect (red) illustrations.
disease–causing bacteria (should be a hyphen because it's a simple compound adjective)
pg. 7-19 (should be an en dash because it's a range)
post-Cold War (should be an en dash because Cold War is a compound noun)
New York-Miami flight (should be an en dash because there're two parties)
disease-causing bacteria
pg. 7–19
post–Cold War
New York–Miami flight
I hope you enjoyed this segment. Tune in next time for another (fun) lesson!
Lesson Two: Homonyms, Homonyms, and More Homonyms—Part I (6/10/11)
One of the mistakes that really get on my nerves is when people use the wrong homonyms, or words that sound the same but carry completely different meanings. Although plenty of pairs and trios exist in the English language, I'll be covering only the most common ones in this update.
Your, You're, and Yore
Your is a possessive pronoun. It's as simple as that. As a rule of thumb, possessive pronouns never have apostrophes. You're is a contraction. Pronouns with apostrophes always represent two words rather than a possessive form. Yore, while an archaic word, still makes an appearance every now and then in modern-day manuscripts. It refers to ancient times.
You're mom is ridiculously overweight.
Yore a real imbecile.
In times of your, most people were hunter-gatherers who picked fruit rather than farmed land.
Your mom is ridiculously overweight.
You're a real imbecile.
In times of yore, most people were hunter-gatherers who picked fruit rather than farmed land.
Their, They're, and There
Their is a possessive pronoun. Again, as a rule of thumb, such a word pretty much never has an apostrophe. They're is a contraction of the words they and are. Finally, there is a word that functions as many parts of speech, but it most commonly serves as a noun or adverb.
Despite the rigor of the course, they're will never wavered.
Andy respects his friends, even though there remiss in completing homework on time.
The treasure that we're looking for is over their!
Despite the rigor of the course, their will never wavered.
Andy respects his friends, even though they're remiss in completing homework on time.
The treasure that we're looking for is over there!
Then and Than
Then is an adverb that either describes something to follow in a sequence of events or conveys the sense that something has passed. Than is a conjunction used to compare two ideas. Common phrases that involve it are more than, less than, rather than, and [comparative adjective] than.
If a = b and b = c, than a = c.
Will Smith is way cooler then Lady Gaga.
If a = b and b = c, then a = c.
Will Smith is way cooler than Lady Gaga.
Affect and Effect
Don't listen to your English teachers on this one, as both of these words can function as either nouns or verbs. Affect is usually a verb that means "to influence" or "to take on artificially." However, it can also be a noun meaning "emotion." Effect is usually a noun that means "result." However, it can also be a verb meaning "to result in" or "to accomplish." Let me warn you now, though, that the noun form of affect is almost never the one you want, unless you're majoring in psychology or the like.
The hurricane drastically effected the lives of those who lost their families.
The stimulant produced in the child a gleeful effect.
Mrs. Coburn's more lenient grading policy affected a more motivated class.
Although scientists lay claim to a positive affect on the drug industry, midazolam has also increased the number of date-rape cases.
The hurricane drastically affected the lives of those who lost their families.
The stimulant produced in the child a gleeful affect.
Mrs. Coburn's more lenient grading policy effected a more motivated class.
Although scientists lay claim to a positive effect on the drug industry, midazolam has also increased the number of date-rape cases.
It's and Its
It's is a contraction of the words it and is, while its is a possessive pronoun, which, like all of its brethren, has no apostrophe. The distinction between these two terms is incredibly simple, but I swear that society is slipping further and further into the clutches of illiteracy. And PLEASE, I implore you not to form the irrelevant its'—it's not a word.
Its the perfect weather today for swimming and playing volleyball.
The desktop lasted us a long while, but it's decrepit construction ultimately doomed it to fail.
It's the perfect weather today for swimming and playing volleyball.
The desktop lasted us a long while, but its decrepit construction ultimately doomed it to fail.
I know this segment's extremely dense, but I hope you learned something new! Next update will probably be within the time frame of that "every week or so" I mentioned earlier; I made this second update so quickly only because of the eagerness that inevitably entails a new venture. Stay tuned, children! ;D
Future Updates
Misplacement of the Word Only
Quoting, Underlining, and Italicizing
Is It June 1 or June 1st?
Punctuation Next to Quotations + Anyway vs. Anyways
Between vs. Among
That vs. Which vs. Who and Zero Relative Pronouns
Usage, In Order, and Other Verbosities
Do I Work Everyday or Every Day?
...
Any suggestions are welcome, too!
And yes, I admit, I, in fact, abused the dictionary this time. Practice is half the battle, folks!
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