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Title: 20 Common Grammar Mistakes That (Almost) Everyone Makes
Source:
Lit Reactor
URL Source: http://litreactor.com/columns/20-co ... hat-almost-everyone-gets-wrong
Published: Jan 31, 2012
Author: Jon Gingerich
Post Date: 2013-04-05 17:14:28 by X-15
Keywords: None
Views: 6455
Comments: 69
I’ve edited a monthly magazine for more than six years, and it’s a job that’s come with more frustration than reward. If there’s one thing I am grateful for — and it sure isn’t the pay — it’s that my work has allowed endless time to hone my craft to Louis Skolnick levels of grammar geekery. As someone who slings red ink for a living, let me tell you: grammar is an ultra-micro component in the larger picture; it lies somewhere in the final steps of the editing trail; and as such it’s an overrated quasi-irrelevancy in the creative process, perpetuated into importance primarily by bitter nerds who accumulate tweed jackets and crippling inferiority complexes. But experience has also taught me that readers, for better or worse, will approach your work with a jaundiced eye and an itch to judge. While your grammar shouldn’t be a reflection of your creative powers or writing abilities, let’s face it — it usually is. Below are 20 common grammar mistakes I see routinely, not only in editorial queries and submissions, but in print: in HR manuals, blogs, magazines, newspapers, trade journals, and even best selling novels. If it makes you feel any better, I’ve made each of these mistakes a hundred times, and I know some of the best authors in history have lived to see these very toadstools appear in print. Let's hope you can learn from some of their more famous mistakes. Who and Whom This one opens a big can of worms. “Who” is a subjective — or nominative — pronoun, along with "he," "she," "it," "we," and "they." It’s used when the pronoun acts as the subject of a clause. “Whom” is an objective pronoun, along with "him," "her," "it", "us," and "them." It’s used when the pronoun acts as the object of a clause. Using “who” or “whom” depends on whether you’re referring to the subject or object of a sentence. When in doubt, substitute “who” with the subjective pronouns “he” or “she,” e.g., Who loves you? cf., He loves me. Similarly, you can also substitute “whom” with the objective pronouns “him” or “her.” e.g., I consulted an attorney whom I met in New York. cf., I consulted him. Which and That This is one of the most common mistakes out there, and understandably so. “That” is a restrictive pronoun. It’s vital to the noun to which it’s referring. e.g., I don’t trust fruits and vegetables that aren’t organic. Here, I’m referring to all non-organic fruits or vegetables. In other words, I only trust fruits and vegetables that are organic. “Which” introduces a relative clause. It allows qualifiers that may not be essential. e.g., I recommend you eat only organic fruits and vegetables, which are available in area grocery stores. In this case, you don’t have to go to a specific grocery store to obtain organic fruits and vegetables. “Which” qualifies, “that” restricts. “Which” is more ambiguous however, and by virtue of its meaning is flexible enough to be used in many restrictive clauses. e.g., The house, which is burning, is mine. e.g., The house that is burning is mine. Lay and Lie This is the crown jewel of all grammatical errors. “Lay” is a transitive verb. It requires a direct subject and one or more objects. Its present tense is “lay” (e.g., I lay the pencil on the table) and its past tense is “laid” (e.g., Yesterday I laid the pencil on the table). “Lie” is an intransitive verb. It needs no object. Its present tense is “lie” (e.g., The Andes mountains lie between Chile and Argentina) and its past tense is “lay” (e.g., The man lay waiting for an ambulance). The most common mistake occurs when the writer uses the past tense of the transitive “lay” (e.g., I laid on the bed) when he/she actually means the intransitive past tense of “lie" (e.g., I lay on the bed). Moot Contrary to common misuse, “moot” doesn’t imply something is superfluous. It means a subject is disputable or open to discussion. e.g., The idea that commercial zoning should be allowed in the residential neighborhood was a moot point for the council. Continual and Continuous They’re similar, but there’s a difference. “Continual” means something that's always occurring, with obvious lapses in time. “Continuous” means something continues without any stops or gaps in between. e.g., The continual music next door made it the worst night of studying ever. e.g., Her continuous talking prevented him from concentrating. Envy and Jealousy The word “envy” implies a longing for someone else’s good fortunes. “Jealousy” is far more nefarious. It’s a fear of rivalry, often present in sexual situations. “Envy” is when you covet your friend’s good looks. “Jealousy” is what happens when your significant other swoons over your good-looking friend. Nor “Nor” expresses a negative condition. It literally means "and not." You’re obligated to use the “nor” form if your sentence expresses a negative and follows it with another negative condition. “Neither the men nor the women were drunk” is a correct sentence because “nor” expresses that the women held the same negative condition as the men. The old rule is that “nor” typically follows “neither,” and “or” follows “either.” However, if neither “either” nor “neither” is used in a sentence, you should use “nor” to express a second negative, as long as the second negative is a verb. If the second negative is a noun, adjective, or adverb, you would use “or,” because the initial negative transfers to all conditions. e.g., He won’t eat broccoli or asparagus. The negative condition expressing the first noun (broccoli) is also used for the second (asparagus). May and Might “May” implies a possibility. “Might” implies far more uncertainty. “You may get drunk if you have two shots in ten minutes” implies a real possibility of drunkenness. “You might get a ticket if you operate a tug boat while drunk” implies a possibility that is far more remote. Someone who says “I may have more wine” could mean he/she doesn't want more wine right now, or that he/she “might” not want any at all. Given the speaker’s indecision on the matter, “might” would be correct. Whether and If Many writers seem to assume that “whether” is interchangeable with “if." It isn’t. “Whether” expresses a condition where there are two or more alternatives. “If” expresses a condition where there are no alternatives. e.g., I don’t know whether I’ll get drunk tonight. e.g., I can get drunk tonight if I have money for booze. Fewer and Less “Less” is reserved for hypothetical quantities. “Few” and “fewer” are for things you can quantify. e.g., The firm has fewer than ten employees. e.g., The firm is less successful now that we have only ten employees. Farther and Further The word “farther” implies a measurable distance. “Further” should be reserved for abstract lengths you can't always measure. e.g., I threw the ball ten feet farther than Bill. e.g., The financial crisis caused further implications. Since and Because “Since” refers to time. “Because” refers to causation. e.g., Since I quit drinking I’ve married and had two children. e.g., Because I quit drinking I no longer wake up in my own vomit. Disinterested and Uninterested Contrary to popular usage, these words aren’t synonymous. A “disinterested” person is someone who’s impartial. For example, a hedge fund manager might take interest in a headline regarding the performance of a popular stock, even if he's never invested in it. He’s “disinterested,” i.e., he doesn’t seek to gain financially from the transaction he’s witnessed. Judges and referees are supposed to be "disinterested." If the sentence you’re using implies someone who couldn't care less, chances are you’ll want to use “uninterested.” Anxious Unless you’re frightened of them, you shouldn’t say you’re “anxious to see your friends.” You’re actually “eager,” or "excited." To be “anxious” implies a looming fear, dread or anxiety. It doesn’t mean you’re looking forward to something. Different Than and Different From This is a tough one. Words like “rather” and “faster” are comparative adjectives, and are used to show comparison with the preposition “than,” (e.g., greater than, less than, faster than, rather than). The adjective “different” is used to draw distinction. So, when “different” is followed by a preposition, it should be “from,” similar to “separate from,” “distinct from,” or “away from.” e.g., My living situation in New York was different from home. There are rare cases where “different than” is appropriate, if “than” operates as a conjunction. e.g., Development is different in New York than in Los Angeles. When in doubt, use “different from.” Bring and Take In order to employ proper usage of “bring” or “take,” the writer must know whether the object is being moved toward or away from the subject. If it is toward, use “bring.” If it is away, use “take.” Your spouse may tell you to “take your clothes to the cleaners.” The owner of the dry cleaners would say “bring your clothes to the cleaners.” Impactful It isn't a word. "Impact" can be used as a noun (e.g., The impact of the crash was severe) or a transitive verb (e.g., The crash impacted my ability to walk or hold a job). "Impactful" is a made-up buzzword, colligated by the modern marketing industry in their endless attempts to decode the innumerable nuances of human behavior into a string of mindless metrics. Seriously, stop saying this. Affect and Effect Here’s a trick to help you remember: “Affect” is almost always a verb (e.g., Facebook affects people’s attention spans), and “effect” is almost always a noun (e.g., Facebook's effects can also be positive). “Affect” means to influence or produce an impression — to cause hence, an effect. “Effect” is the thing produced by the affecting agent; it describes the result or outcome. There are some exceptions. “Effect” may be used as a transitive verb, which means to bring about or make happen. e.g., My new computer effected a much-needed transition from magazines to Web porn. There are similarly rare examples where “affect” can be a noun. e.g., His lack of affect made him seem like a shallow person. Irony and Coincidence Too many people claim something is the former when they actually mean the latter. For example, it’s not “ironic” that “Barbara moved from California to New York, where she ended up meeting and falling in love with a fellow Californian.” The fact that they’re both from California is a "coincidence." "Irony" is the incongruity in a series of events between the expected results and the actual results. "Coincidence" is a series of events that appear planned when they’re actually accidental. So, it would be "ironic" if “Barbara moved from California to New York to escape California men, but the first man she ended up meeting and falling in love with was a fellow Californian.” Nauseous Undoubtedly the most common mistake I encounter. Contrary to almost ubiquitous misuse, to be “nauseous” doesn’t mean you’ve been sickened: it actually means you possess the ability to produce nausea in others. e.g., That week-old hot dog is nauseous. When you find yourself disgusted or made ill by a nauseating agent, you are actually “nauseated.” e.g., I was nauseated after falling into that dumpster behind the Planned Parenthood. Stop embarrassing yourself. If you’re looking for a practical, quick guide to proper grammar, I suggest the tried-and-true classic The Elements of Style, by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White. A few of these examples are listed in the book, and there are plenty more. Good luck!
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#2. To: X-15 (#0)
Good information. Feel like I made a trip back to HS. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken A quick "refresher course" keeps me in line :) Education is a lifelong pursuit.
#3. To: Lod, Dakmar (#2)
-Alex Kurtagic
#4. To: X-15 (#0) (Edited)
Don't you go quoting all these underground honky bullshit to me cracker. Slaves endured weather, underground railroads, icy sidewalks, police throwing their dinner in a dumpster, and thousands of other indignities you don't even want to imagine. For just a few pennies a day you and other guilty white baby rapers can begin to make amends, by contributing to the Dakmar Foundation to Build the Eternal Bucket of Fried Chicken monument on the mall, in Washington DC. Who is with me? Many writers seem to assume that “whether” is interchangeable with “if." It isn’t. “Whether” expresses a condition where there are two or more alternatives. “If” expresses a condition where there are no alternatives. e.g., I don’t know whether I’ll get drunk tonight. e.g., I can get drunk tonight if I have money for booze.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#5. To: Dakmar (#4) (Edited)
I'm in for three pieces of dark, spicy, crispy here.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#6. To: Dakmar (#4)
I'm White, can I have my chicken baked w/o skin??
-Alex Kurtagic
#7. To: X-15, Lod (#6)
I take that as a no, as to the cash flow situation. Fair enough. :)
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#8. To: Dakmar, X-15 (#7)
I don't mind having to repeat my order several time to the cashier, what I do mind is when after all that the order is wrong. When I ask for Spicy chicken, I want spicy chicken. One should not have to bite into a piece to make sure. The only time this happens is when ordering through the drive thru or placing a take home order inside. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Clearly, we need to help these people. one yelp about a Popeyes in deecee -
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#9. To: Lod (#8)
The Drive Thru window presents a challenge. When In-Store we can often monitor the selection process of our piece(s) of chicken, but are rendered helpless once motorized. Next time I visit a chicken joint, I am going to get out of the car, walk in side, and demand not only a good meal, but good service, and maybe even a gospel number. Hallelujah!
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#10. To: X-15, Dakmar, 4um (#3)
Us'n HoosierHicks don't take kindly to edjumicatin'. Your on notice. Education is a lifelong pursuit.
Godfrey Smith: Mike, I wouldn't worry. Prosperity is just around the corner.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#11. To: Dakmar, Lod (#9)
Does Ripple go good w/fried chicken? Can you still even buy Ripple??
-Alex Kurtagic
#12. To: X-15 (#11) (Edited)
Dunno, always been a grenadine man myself
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#13. To: X-15 (#6)
Goddamn homo, next thing you'll be wantin' to marry O'boingo or sumpthin'. Now shut up an' eat your gizzards, honkey. I'm White, can I have my chicken baked w/o skin??
Godfrey Smith: Mike, I wouldn't worry. Prosperity is just around the corner.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#14. To: Esso (#10)
Just pennies a day Esso, I can't retire on your indifference.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#15. To: Dakmar (#14)
Sorry brutha, I was counting on a big contract to install color changing LED strip lighting for a bike builder that fell through and collapsed my company. Goddamned Obie blew all my $529 million grant money on Fisker Motor Company, so you're shit outta luck. So is Fisker.
Godfrey Smith: Mike, I wouldn't worry. Prosperity is just around the corner.
Mike Flaherty: Yeah, it's been there a long time. I wish I knew which corner.
My Man Godfrey (1936)
#16. To: Esso (#13)
So YOU are hoarding the Ripple. I'll have to scrounge around my Bentley for some Grey Poupon and water crackers. Cheerio, mate.....
-Alex Kurtagic
#17. To: X-15, Exxo, Dax, 4 (#16)
Let's go get a couple gallons -
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#18. To: Esso (#17)
Sorry 'bout that. Maybe I don't need any Rip...
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#19. To: Dakmar (#4)
"The Dakmar Foundation: Give before it hurts." I like it.
Support bacteria.
(The world needs more culture)
#20. To: Obnoxicated (#19)
Kinda like the Second Mile Foundation...don't drop the soap, kids.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#21. To: Lod (#18)
sookie sookie sookie lod
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#22. To: Obnoxicated (#19)
I'm planning to launch a memorial cancer fund to get money for smokes. Parasites rule! "The Dakmar Foundation: Give before it hurts." I like it.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#23. To: Lod, Obnoxicated, Esso (#20)
you know there is no morning dew
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#24. To: Dakmar (#21)
Thank God that the nudists were bandaid-ed. Nudists! buy some clothes, or stop posting crap.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#25. To: Lod (#24)
Hippies! I knew it was the hippies even when I didn't!
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#26. To: Dakmar (#25)
I bailed at 2:20 - buckley is insufferable, and the rest of the guests seemed to be beyond stoned. I could be wrong.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#27. To: Lod (#26)
No, the whole thing was like an exorcise in being branded, that was why I thought it was so funny. I could be wrong.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#28. To: Dakmar (#27)
OK - thanks. I'll give it a shot tomorrow, early, when the tolerance level is higher. The first estimate for foundation repairs on some duplexes just came in at 45K, so my humor is not the kindest right now. No, the whole thing was like an exorcise in being branded, that was why I thought it was so funny.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#29. To: Dakmar (#25)
Ugh! Hippies and Buckley, a recipe sure to stupefy the most wired caffeine- addict. Back to food: "Reata selects only the freshest whole foods to ensure we serve only the finest, and most flavorful, Legendary Texas Cuisine available. All of our foods are made to order, from scratch, for each and every meal. Our cuts are carefully chosen and our beef items feature choice selections that have been meticulously prepared to meet Reata's strict aging and taste standards. Reata also proudly offers a selection of premium beef menu items from CF Ranch's Highland Hereford Herd. Nestled in the Davis and Del Norte Mountains, the CF Ranch is one of the Southwest's largest familyowned commercial cattle operations - with cattle raising and ranching traditions over 100 years old."
-Alex Kurtagic
#30. To: Lod (#28)
Alright Lod, but don't expect me to remember what all those numbers mean.
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#31. To: X-15 (#29)
piss off hippie! wow, pc is easy!
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#32. To: X-15 (#29)
Basic protiens, god bless!!!! Nestled in the Davis and Del Norte Mountains,
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#33. To: X-15 (#0)
Interesting piece and worth the read. But fortunately I am liberal enough to use tools such as creative spelling and word use. It's just something expected of people like me, what can I say?
#34. To: Dakmar (#31)
"Throw a loop around him, boys, 'n drag him up to Boot Hill!"
-Alex Kurtagic
#35. To: Ferret (#33)
Hey, stranger, long time no see. Pull up a chair 'n pour yourself a cup of campfire coffee.
-Alex Kurtagic
#36. To: Ferret (#33)
piss off, nazi! It's just something expected of people like me, what can I say?
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#37. To: Ferret, writers, 4 (#33)
That's swell, great, fine and welcomed; but what the article was about was proper grammar. Either we know it, or we don't. If you don't know it, learn it. (English is the most difficult language of all to learn) But fortunately I am liberal enough to use tools such as creative spelling and word use.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#38. To: Lod (#37)
Is using words like ascertain pretentious?
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#39. To: Dakmar (#38)
here's pretentious - Is using words like ascertain pretentious?
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
#40. To: Lod (#39)
On the occasion of Gerald Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon, Kennedy said: Do we operate under a system of equal justice under law? Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty? You're right, Lod, that is pretentious! 10. Ted Kennedy's post-Chappaquiddick comments about privileges for the "High and Mighty"
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
#41. To: Lod (#37) (Edited)
I do try to use proper grammar and did find the article enlightening in the manner intended. Sorry if my attempt at some levity rubbed you the wrong way. I do feel that coining new words is useful in some forms of writing English, as is deliberately mangling grammar and syntax with particular goals in mind. Obviously though to do that one must have skill at doing very proper writing. Much as one should be good at doing art in the classical manner before one is effective as an impressionistic or abstract artist.
#42. To: Ferret (#41)
what if someone sucked all of the color out of coloring books? Wouldn't that make you sad?
"I am not one of those weak-spirited, sappy Americans who want to be liked by all the people around them. I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it." - William S Burroughs
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