More Frequently Confused and Misunderstood Words
Let’s look at some words that are frequently misused and misunderstood. The problem with the completely wrong word is becoming more and more rampant, and we really need to address it. Founder as a verb means “to sink, to fail completely, or to cave in.” Flounder as a verb means “to flop about clumsily, to […]
The Car That Ran the Light Hit Some People Who Were in the Crosswalk
The Grammar Guru’s teeth grind when she hears someone say “people that.” This rule is simple: A person is always a who, never a that. Despite its simplicity, this is one of the most often violated rules of grammar. I have seen this error in many well-respected publications. Part of the problem is that authorities are […]
It Seems That the Who/Whom Dilemma Still Affects Some of Us…
Who is the subjective or nominative case of the word; in plain English, who acts as a subject or predicate nominative…most of the time. I don’t know who you are. Who steals my purse steals trash. Whom is objective case; that is, it must be an object. It will follow a preposition or a verb […]
Every Beach Was Crowded, and Each of Us Drank Something Different
When to use each; when to use every. Sometimes it’s hard to know for sure. I hope these guidelines are helpful. Each is a singular word that may be used as a pronoun, adverb, or adjective. When functioning as a noun, it always takes a singular verb. Examples: as a pronoun: Each of the girls has a […]
Lay Your Book Down and Lie Down for a Rest! I Want to Tell You Something.
If it’s hard to read your computer screen lying down, then you may sit up, but please pay attention! The Grammar Guru is having a cow. I’ve been surfing a bit this morning, and I am appalled by the writers, professional and non, who do not understand how to use the verbs lay and lie. […]
I Couldn’t Care Less….Could You?
Contrary to popular usage and belief, the statement is “I couldn’t care less,” not “I could care less.” The reason is simple. If one could not care less, then one is as completely un- or dis-interested in something as it is possible to be. It would not be possible for the person to be any […]
I Did Not Allot a Lot of Time for This Post
So let me get straight to the point. There seems to be a great deal of confusion over this little issue. Allot is a verb. It means to parcel out, to assign, to apportion. Example: That doctor allots only five minutes to each patient. A lot is two words. It is a noun phrase and […]
Don’t Snigger at Me, You Oaf!
Once again, a controversy over spellings darkens the skies. Is it “snicker” or “snigger”? Let the Grammar Guru help, won’t you? Snicker means “to utter a half-stifled, possibly snide, laugh.” Snigger means “a disrespectful laugh, usually partly-stifled.” In essence, they are synonyms, although snigger carries more negative connotations of disrespect or furtiveness, usually giving the […]
Serial Killers Don’t Murder Cereals
A cereal killer would be someone who takes the life out of your bowl of porridge. A serial killer, on the other hand, is someone who makes a habit of taking the lives of others according to a pattern. Cereal, you see, is a noun meaning a type of grain product. In Europe, it can […]
When You Need Advice, Ask Someone to Advise You!
The Grammar Guru has been asked to explain the difference between advise and advice, two frequently misused words that should be easy to tell apart. Advise is a verb, meaning “to tell someone what they ought to do.” It is pronounced /ad-VIZE/. Someone advised him not to invest in widgets. Advice is a noun, meaning […]