Archive for the ‘grammar geeks’ Category

Grammar Geeks 4.17: The Best Nouns

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Background

“Schoolhouse Rock” taught us that a noun is a person, place or thing . Of course, nouns are more complicated than that, especially the ones we like to use in grown-up writing. Here are some tips if you find yourself grasping for the right noun.

Usage

The best nouns are concrete rather than abstract, specific rather than general.

Mother is better than female, because it reveals gender as well as personal information. Soccer mom or mother hen say even more because they also give clues about age and attitude.

The best nouns are also evocative.

Some of the synonyms for boat, like vessel, are so vague they could apply to any means of transportation — or any container, for that matter. Commonplace nouns like boat, ship or sea craft are less abstract. Yacht is more descriptive (it reveals size and is a statement, perhaps, about the owner’s social status). A brand name, such as Boston Whaler, or a proper noun, such as the Titanic, are even more precise, allowing the reader to picture an exact boat or a specific era.

Adjectives, when used judiciously, help nouns evoke distinctive images.
“We’d wandered into a forest, surrounded by shaggy sugar pines that stood like brooding hens.” (This is no ordinary forest; vivid imagery transports the reader to a different world.)

Tip

The primary role of a noun is to paint a clear picture. When you write, don’t feel like you have to use a string of lush adjectives to replace a few precise nouns. Better to say, “I’m not in the mood for Olive Garden” than “I’d prefer not to eat commercialized Italian food in a loud, crowded, family restaurant.”

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Grammar Geeks 3/14

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Commonly Misused Words

Background

We all have our random grammatical slip-ups, like writing “their” when we mean “there” or using “it’s” instead of “its.” There are many word pairs in English that sound and look very similar, and writers may have trouble remembering which one should be used when. Let’s look at some frequent word culprits and how to remember to tell them apart.

Usage

Your/You’re

  • Your is a possessive pronoun, as in “your car” or “your blog.”
  • You’re is a contraction of “you are,” as in “You’re screwing up big-time, Jenkins!”

(Similarly, its is a possessive pronoun, meaning “of it” or “belonging to it.” It’s is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”)

Affect/Effect

  • Affect is a verb, as in “Your ability to communicate clearly will affect your earning power.”
  • Effect is a noun, as in “The effect of poor grammar on a person’s income is well documented.”

(Effect is sometimes, though not often, used as a verb, meaning “to cause,” “to bring about/into existence” or “to produce as a result.” Example: “Professor John Keating wanted to effect a change in the system.”)

Then/Than

  • Then has a variety of meanings, including “at a point in time” or “in addition to,” as in “J.J. McIntire went on for an hour and then some.”
  • Than is used to compare two different things, as in “Mr. Smithers cried harder than a baby.”

Fewer/Less

  • Use fewer with countable, individual things, as in “Carly has written fewer short stories since she got a real job.”
  • Use less with uncountable amounts, volumes, etc.: “I should drink less coffee.” (One might vow to eat fewer doughnuts.): “Judy Jay has less incentive to do the right thing.”

(Also use less with a number that describes a quantity considered as a single bulk amount: “The police recovered less than $1,500″; “It happened less than five years ago”; “The recipe calls for less than two cups of sugar.”)

Tip
Plug his or her into your sentence where you think its belongs. If the sentence still works grammatically (if not logically) then your word is indeed its.

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Parallel Structure

Friday, February 17th, 2012

Background
Some writers like to constantly vary the form or pattern of a sentence to make it seem more interesting. But this technique can make the writing clunky, awkward and confusing. The principle of parallel structure requires that the elements of a sentence that are alike in meaning or function be alike in construction. Parallelism creates rhythm and balance and enables the writer to present ideas clearly, concisely and smoothly. It makes reading easier to understand, pleasing to the ear and more persuasive.

Usage

Non-parallel: Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method, while now the laboratory method is used.

Parallel: Formerly, science was taught by the textbook method; now it is taught by the laboratory method.

In the second example, both clauses use the same pattern (“taught by”). The writing is decisive and easier to read.

More examples of parallel vs. non-parallel structure:

Non-parallel: “Biff’s application was correctly completed, on time, and it was neat.” Parallel: “Biff’s application was correctly completed, on time, and neat.”

Non-parallel: “John Belushi is remembered for his physical style of comedy, his blues singing, and for behavior that was self-destructive.” Parallel: “John Belushi is remembered for his physical style of comedy, his blues singing, and his self-destructive behavior.”

Tip

Parallelism also applies to lists — something to keep in mind when writing a memo or PowerPoint presentation. For example:
MSLGROUP Americas has three distinct strengths:

+ We are stewards of ROI
+ Trusted advice
+ We deliver insights-guided thinking

By using parallel structure and changing the second bullet to “We offer trusted advice,” your point will come across more clearly.

Jeff Young is Vice President, Editorial Services. As a dedicated writer in the MSL New York office, Jeff advises on editorial content and provides communications counsel across practices. He also helps manage the firm’s quality control processes to maintain consistency of branding elements across all communication channels. Jeff is open to all inquiries about grammar and the complexities of the English language. Contact him at jeffrey.young@mslgroup.com.

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Which vs. That

Friday, August 26th, 2011

Disclaimer: Dust off your middle school notebooks because we’re about to enter the hot land of clauses. Oh yes, clauses. Yowza!


Background
People tend to use “that” and “which” interchangeably to combine two thoughts or sentences; however they serve different purposes. “That” and “which” are pronouns used before a clause in a sentence. “That” is used in restrictive clauses while “which” is used in nonrestrictive clauses. As it may have been a while since you’ve thought about said clauses, let’s dive deeper.

Restrictive Clause – That

A restrictive clause is a part of a sentence that limits or restricts the subject. Removing a restrictive clause changes the meaning of a sentence.

Nonrestrictive Clause – Which

A nonrestrictive clause adds further information to a sentence, but is not vital to its meaning. Nonrestrictive clauses can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

Usage

That:

  • Songs that include a fiddle are often considered bluegrass.

If we remove “that include a fiddle” from the sentence, the statement becomes inaccurate as not all songs are considered bluegrass.

Which:

  • I like bluegrass music, which usually includes a fiddle.

If we remove the clause, “which usually includes a fiddle,” the sentence can still stand alone. I can still like bluegrass music with or without a fiddle.

Tip

To determine whether to use “that” or “which,” ask yourself if the clause can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. If it can, use “which.” If it can’t, use “that.”

Another tip: Ask yourself if you need a comma. If you do, use “which.”

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Me, Myself or I?

Monday, August 15th, 2011

Background
The misuse of “myself” is caused by uncertainty about the use of “me.” Many people believe “me” sounds awkward or incorrect as the object of a sentence, leading them to overcorrect and avoid it where it’s perfectly appropriate.

Usage

Myself and the rest of the self-ish crew (yourself, himself, herself, ourselves, themselves) shouldn’t take the place of the ordinary pronouns I and me. They should be used for only two purposes: to emphasize and to refer to the subject.

Correct:

  • She hates herself.
  • Love itself is a riddle.
  • They consider themselves lucky to be alive.
  • I made the cake myself.
  • And you call yourself a grammarian!

Incorrect:

  • Jack and myself were married yesterday. (It’s Jack and I.)
  • The project made money for Marley and myself. (It’s for Marley and me.)
  • Please send an email to myself and Alina in the next hour or so. (It’s Alina and me.)

Tip

Myself is rarely used in business writing. So, if you are confused, just don’t use it.

I vs. Me

It is a common occurrence to see/hear the incorrect usage of I and me. To keep it simple, follow this rule:

I must be the subject of a verb; me must be the object of the verb. The easiest way to decipher the two is to eliminate the other person from the sentence, leaving I or me by itself, and see if it still makes sense.

For example, you would write, “The odds were against you and me.” (“The odds were against you and me.”) [You wouldn't say, "The odds were against I," right?]

Then there’s the conundrum of whether to use I or me after than. Either one may be correct depending on the meaning of the sentence.

  • David loves pasta more than I. (means “more than I do”)
  • David loves pasta more than me. (means “more than he loves me”)

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