Logic? Sure Thing!

Do You Really Understand English  

Everyone who reads my blog knows I love Reader’s Digest.  

In their September 2010 issue, they presented an article by 

Melissa Demeo and Paul Silverman that resonated with me. 

Although I like to think I’m literate when it comes to speaking

 and writing, I honestly had to pause after each example and 

consider if I’m an offender.

I’m going to share some of their tips with you today.  I suppose as

 long as I’ve credited the magazine and authors, I won’t be brought 

up on plagiarism charges.  I’ve “bolded” the correct examples

 below,and in some cases, both are appropriate when used in 

the correct situation:

Could care less versus Couldn’t care less:  Because you care so

 little already, you couldn’t care less.

Less versus Fewer:  Recommend the use of fewer when you

 specify a number of countable things (50 words or fewer).  

Less is appropriate when speaking of mass amount (less than half.)

 *Raising

 hand as guilty on this one.*

Hone in versus Home in: Since hone means to sharpen, Home in

comes from “homing pigeons.” which indicates being single-minded.  

You either want to home in on something or, if you’re confused,

 zero in on the topic.

Brother-in-laws versus Brothers-in-law:  Form the plural by adding 

an s to the thing there is more than one of.  Of course an ‘s would

 indicate possession by one brother-in-law.  (applies to runners-up

and hole in ones, too)

Different than versus Different from: If you can substitute “from: 

for than, then do it.  Use “than” for comparisons.  Example:  My office 

is different from any other in the building.  My office is bigger than 

any other in the building.  *Raising hand as guilty on this one.*

Try versus Try to: If you are planning to do something, then try to

do it.Of course, try and try again makes sense, but remember the rule.

Supposably versus Supposedly: Although spell check tells me that

 supposably is not a word, it is one—meaning “conceivably.”  But, if

 you’re trying to relay, “it’s assumed” than supposedly is what you

 want to say and what most people recognize as correct English.

All of versus All:  Drop “of” whenever you can, but not before a pronoun.

 Examples:  All the children were in their seats.  All of them were in

 their seats.

Outside of versus Outside: Both are prepositions and weren’t meant

 to be used together. 

Each other versus One Another: Each other is appropriate when

 speaking of two people or things. Example: Ginger and Barbara

 present each other with a gift for the occasion.  One another is used

 when more are involved. 

 Example:  The debaters argued with one another.

Now for some confusing pairs:

Wary = suspicious	Weary = tired
Farther = physical distance	Further = metaphorical distance or time
Principle = rule	Principal = School official
Compliment = saying a nice thing	Complement = match
Continual = ongoing but intermittent	Continuous = without interruption
Stationary = doesn’t move	Stationery = paper
Imply = suggest a meaning	Infer = draw meaning from something
Affect (v) = to act upon. (n) = an emotional response	Effect (n) = something produced, but as a verb) to bring about

If you’re like me, you’re still confused about affect versus effect, 

so here are some examples: His bad behavior affected the entire

classroom.  His bad behavior had a negative effect in the classroom.

I still don’t get the “emotional response” usage of affect as a noun.

A few last helpful hints:  Did you know that saying “at this point in time”

is redundant?  Point and time have the same meaning in this instance.  

At this time, at this point…

Past history?  Isn’t all history past?

Be careful where you place your modifiers…if you even need one.  

If you read this sentence with “even” placed after “need”, the meaning

of the sentence is changed.  “Only, also, and even can impact your story

if you aren’t careful.

And one of my favorites,  I versus me:  When comparing yourself to 

someone or something, use I.  “Am” is implied so consider that “me am”

is not apppropriate. Meow is, if you’re a cat.  J

The rules continue to grow the more I write.  Just when I think I have

a grasp on something, one house claims the rule inappropriate and 

I have to change my logic.  What logic, I say….there is none in writing. 

But just in case you want to check out my accomplishments, please

visit my website at http://www.gingersimpson.com and see if you think

I understand English.  Now don’t forget, we’re talking U.S. English, 

not The Queen’s English. You won't find any unnecessary "u" instances,

 such has favour or favourites.

Shouldn’t English be English?  See, I told you…no logic.