Arrant Nonsense
Okay, my ex, along with about two dozen other people, has forwarded the following message to me. “Don’t delete this because it looks weird. Believe it or not you can read it. I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid aoccdrnig to a rscheearch […]
It’s Just a Phase; Don’t Let It Faze You …
and don’t give me any flak … I’m just a flack for good grammar and usage. These two pairs of words are consistently misused, so I want to set the record straight once and for all. Phase is a noun indicating a passing behavioural pattern or a certain stage of development. (Example: Most children go […]
Should You Inquire or Enquire?
This one is very easy if you are an American. In American English, inquire is the preferred form. If you are in Great Britain, however, things get a bit more tricky. Enquire is used of informal questions, but inquire is used of official investigations. Examples: I am going into that pub to enquire whether they […]
Assure, Ensure, or Insure … When to Use Which
These three words cause a lot of confusion. There are some simple ways to remember which one should be used in what circumstance. I referred to the ultimate English reference tool, Fowler’s Modern English Usage, to ensure that I gave you the most accurate information on this sticky little problem. Assure is a verb meaning […]
Today I Am a Prophet Who Wants to Make a Profit
And I want to tell you about the difference between the words prophecy and prophesy. A prophecy is a prediction. This word is a noun, and it’s pronounced /PRAH fuh see/. Example: Cassandra warned the Greeks not to take the Trojan horse into the city, but because of Apollo’s curse, no one believed her prophecy […]
Towing Lines and Hoeing Roads … What ARE We Coming to?
Two quick little corrections for some frequently misquoted idioms. One does not “tow the line;” one “toes the line.” This idiom refers to runners at the beginning of a race. They line up on the start line with their toes on or slightly behind the line. It may also refer to sailors standing in formation. […]
Do Not Exacerbate My Exasperation
Two frequently misused words which can make you sound very foolish when you mix them up, or quite brilliant if you get them right, are exasperate and exacerbate. The problem is really quite simple, as the words have nothing at all in common except the prefix “ex-.” Exasperate (/eks ASS purr ate/) means to make […]
The Past Has Passed ….
Emergency beacons in my Inbox — a concerned blogger wants us to clear up the difference between “passed” and “past.” Actually, this one’s really easy, because the two words are completely different parts of speech. Past is either a noun or adjective. It means “previous times.” noun: His past is a closed book. adjective: That […]
Do You Wear Your Everyday Jeans Every Day?
If so, I hope you wash them at least every third day. The Grammar Guru has been asked to address the confusion between the usage of the compound word everyday and the phrase every day. Yes, they are two totally different things. Everyday is an adjective used to describe something that is commonplace or not […]
I Warned You It Was a Trick Question…
Ricky got it: the difference between the words stalactite and stalagmite is the spelling. This was just a little teaser to illustrate the importance of using the correct words to convey your meaning. Most people (myself included, the first time this was asked of me) assume that you want to know the difference between the […]