Category: Grammar

December 17, 2020January 13, 2021

A Grammar Rule We Know But Not Taught

The English Language is Both Fickle and Structured

by Kelly R. Smith

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The English language is quirky. The rules are generally spelled out but they don’t always apply. Take that “i before e” thing, for example. The grammar rules we learned in school, elementary or college, are fairly pliable but that does not give us license to flunk a test, did it? Then there’s the word order grammar rule we know and use every day but were not taught in school.

At least that’s true if your first language is English. If your native language is something else and you are learning English, this rule is in your text book and you will be drilled on it. I’m not sure about how they handle the Oxford comma debate. I’m firmly for it but I know many writers who are not. So, what is the mysterious rule this article is concerned with?

It’s All About Revering the Noun

The noun is quite the thing, isn’t it? All the other elements, the adjectives in particular, exist to serve it. Their structure and order are critical or else we risk sounding like goofballs. Mark Forsyth, author of The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase says that adjectives, “absolutely have to be in this order: opinion-size-age-shape-colour-origin-material-purpose Noun. So you can have a lovely little old rectangular green French silver whittling knife. But if you mess with that order in the slightest you’ll sound like a maniac.”

Native English speakers understand the rule intuitively but not so others. For example, in English I might say, “The big house,” but in Spanish, “La casa grande.” In English I would say, “There are many rooms here.” In Irish Gaelic I would say, “Tá seomraí go leor anseó.” It certainly seems that English is the odd man out here.

Here is an example of a textbook page for English learners from the book English Grammar in Use:

How Does English Rank in Languages Difficult to Learn?

According to Language Next, it doesn’t make list. None are easy or trivial, it’s true, but, as they put it, “The language difficulty depends on multiple factors — Native or related Languages, methodology, convolution, interest, and available resources. Some are difficult languages to acquire, whereas many are relatively straightforward. I’ve only considered major world languages here, which means no less taught languages.”¹ Here is their list:

Mandarin Chinese (no surprise there.)
Korean (both North and South, we can assume)
Japanese (I can attest to that; I tried it when I was stationed on Okinawa)
Russian
Arabic
Turkish
Persian (Farsi, Dari, Tajik)

These did not make the list but got honorable mention: Cantonese, Croatian, Czech, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Mongolian, Polish, Slovenian, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, and Thai.

Our cognitive abilities don’t come into play when we learn or use a new language but that doesn’t make it any less difficult. The word order grammar rule can be perplexing, but luckily, it’s intuitive for native English speakers.

Resources

Vikash Gupta, Language Next, 7 Most Difficult Languages to Learn in the World, https://www.languagenext.com/blog/difficult-languages/

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About the Author:

Photo of Kelly R. Smith Kelly R. Smith is an Air Force veteran and was a commercial carpenter for 20 years before returning to night school at the University of Houston where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. After working at NASA for a few years, he went on to develop software for the transportation, financial, and energy-trading industries. He has been writing, in one capacity or another, since he could hold a pencil. As a freelance writer now, he specializes in producing articles and blog content for a variety of clients. His personal blog is at I Can Fix Up My Home Blog where he muses on many different topics.

August 12, 2020November 18, 2020

The Eternal Wisdom of Irish Proverbs

Kelly R. Smith, údar

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The Irish have been at times denigrated in the past, by the Romans, the British, in other European countries, and even in America when they came as immigrants. But you have to acknowledge, not only did the Irish save civilization from the fall of Rome until the rise of the Medieval period by secreting away books in their monasteries, they’re also full of wit and wisdom. Enjoy the following Irish proverbs and wear your Irish Lives Matter t-shirt with pride!

Can You Relate to These Wise Irish Sayings?

The older the fiddle the sweeter the tune. Meaning that people and things improve with time.
It’s often that a man’s mouth broke his nose. Meaning that not watching what you say could land you in big trouble.
The longest road out is the shortest road home. Meaning that if you invest enough time and effort into something important, it will yield dividends in the end.
You’ll arrive back with one arm as long as the other. Meaning that when you head out on a thankless quest you’ll find that you arrive back with nothing to show for it.
For every mile of road there are two miles of ditches. Meaning that that it’s good to remember that there are two sides to every story, as our two-faced politicians take note of!
There’s no use boiling your cabbage twice. Meaning don’t go over and over the same worries in your head because it solves nothing.
As the old cock crows, the young cock learns. Meaning that your children learn by your examples. That’s a good thing to remember as you keep them close all day during the COVID-19 lockdown.
If there was work in the bed he’d sleep on the floor. Meaning, “That fella is super falsa (lazy)!
A woman planted feathers in the dunkel and thought she’d grow hens. Meaning that just because you thought something would work doesn’t mean you were right. Ever been there? Yeah, thought so.

No need to fear the ill wind when your haystacks are tied down. Meaning that once you’ve prepared correctly for the task at hand, then there’s no need to fret over the outcome. Yet another sign of maturity, bean mhór (old woman).
He didn’t lick it off a stone. Meaning that his actions are influenced by those around him. But if it is any consolation, tá an chloch mhór sin go deas (that big stone is nice).
You’ll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind. Meaning sure and it’s nice sitting and thinking about something, but that won’t get it done, mate.
It’s a long road there’s no turn in. Meaning no matter how bad your current situation is, things always change. Stiff upper lip now.
Now you know you’re home. Meaning that now you’re in your happy place. Or safe space with rainbows and legos to play with if you are a social warrior.
I wouldn’t call the Queen my aunt. Meaning that you are in such a blissful frame of mind that even suddenly becoming royalty couldn’t improve it.
What I’m afraid to hear I had better say first myself. Meaning that you have to be honest and guard against your own shortcomings.
The road to Heaven is well signposted, but it’s badly lit at night. Meaning that life has many challenges in store for us but the reward is well worth it. Once again, the Irish spirit of optimism in future rewards for hard work and diligence.
It’s as easy to catch a cold in a king’s castle as in a shepherd’s hut. Meaning that wealth gained won’t protect you from the trials that life brings you.
It’s better to pay the butcher than the doctor. Meaning don’t skimp on healthy food as it will cost you your health dearly in the long run.
A broken man is better than no man. Meaning that you shouldn’t wait for Mr. Perfect to come along at the expense of becoming an old maid. The same applies to men about the fairer sex. Tá bean mhór bhreá anseo. Ach tá mé sásta! (There is a fine big woman there. But I am satisfied!)
A lamb’s bleat is often more telling than a dog’s bark. Meaning a subtle way and a quiet approach can yield more beneficial results than brute force and loudness. As Teddy Roosevelt said, “Walk softly and carry a big stick.”
It’s a lonely washing that has no man’s shirt in it. Meaning that more’s the pity for the widow woman or the one who has spurned all her suitors.
No matter how many rooms you have in your house you can only sleep in the one bed. Meaning, your possessions might not be what ye think they are.
Even black hens lay white eggs. Meaning that, as ye are wont to say, never judge a book by its cover.
An empty sack does not stand. Meaning that folks that bluff and are truly ignorant will always be found out in the long run. If you like your doctor you can keep him comes to mind.

So, now you are well-armed for your next office meeting or dinner party. Wow ’em with your new-found array of the wisdom of Irish proverbs.

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September 18, 2018March 6, 2021

Common Grammatical Mistakes

It’s Easy to Make English Language Errors; Here are Some Malaprops to Be Aware of.

by Kelly R. Smith

Don't Make Grammar Blunders — *Don’t Make Grammar Blunders*

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This article was updated on 03/06/21.

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There are two types of people who have been prepared (to some arbitrary extent) to function in society; those who make grammatical errors on a regular basis (and sometimes don’t care) and others who pull their hair out unhappily when they see them in print or hear them spoken. There’s no doubt that there are an increasing number of errors online. Social media only compounds the problem. Are there no editors employed at Yahoo or are we being dumbed down? Anyway, we have compiled a list of some common grammatical errors, because, as with many other things, we should know the rules before we break them.

Capitalize Properly

Almost everyone knows to capitalize proper nouns and adjectives derived from proper nouns, such as the Grand Canyon. However, with the passage of time the requirement is sometimes dropped, such as the evolved word herculean (from the Greek Hercules). Why? Who knows.

You should capitalize brand names but not necessarily the product type itself. For example, Tabasco sauce. Capitalize days of the week and months of the year–a Sunday in September.

Religions can be tricky. Capitalize the Bible but not biblical. But do not capitalize the words heaven, hell, the devil, or satanic. How about organizations that claim to be religions but operate like the Scientology cult? Well, they might also be a commercial enterprise so they get a pass. How about Extraterrestrial objects? They are also tricky. The names of planets are capitalized but not the moon or the sun. Confused yet?

Capitalize specific geographical regions. Do not capitalize points of the compass. You might live in the Northwest but specifically in the northwest area of your burg.

Titles are simple yet not exact. Capitalize the title’s first and last word. Capitalize all adjectives, adverbs, and nouns. Do not capitalize a coordinating conjunction (and, or, nor, but, for, yet, so) unless it is first or last in the title. These rules vary so check house rules with your editor.

Who vs Whom

Although it might just seem pretentious to use whom, there is also a good reason. Basically, who is subjective (he, she, it, they, etc.) while whom is objective (her, us, them, etc.). Test your prose. When in doubt, substitute who with the subjective pronouns he or she, (Who loves you? He loves me. Similarly, you can also substitute “whom” with the objective pronouns him or her. I consulted with a consultant whom I met in L.A. I consulted him.

I know, I know, it makes my head spin as well, and I write for a living! This video makes things a bit less turbid:

Is it who or whom? Ay, there’s the rub.

Lie vs Lay

This one should not be difficult (in my humble opinion) but it shows up all the time. Lay is transitive and calls for a direct subject. On the other hand, lie (or its past tense lay) is intransitive meaning that it needs no direct object. Example: The Rocky Mountains lie between the East and West coast.

In other words, you lie down, but you lay something down. Lie does not require a direct object. Lay requires a direct object.

Comma and Semicolon Usage

Commas and semicolons are used interchangeably by many authors but this is really just sloppy writing. The rule is really fairly simple. If the two phrase fragments are really related but can stand on their own, use a semicolon (see what I just did?), otherwise use a comma.

Another point of contention is the so-called Oxford comma. This is the final comma in a list. There are apples, oranges, and limes. Or, there are apples, oranges and limes. Should you use it? It depends on who you are writing for. If a boss or client is paying you, it’s a no-brainer. I prefer it because it makes the writing more clear and less ambiguous; others do not. Why generate potential confusion when deciding how and when to use this ambiguous writing rule?

Know the difference between i.e. and e.g.

The term i.e. is a shortening of the Latin phrase id est, which in English means “that is.” It’s used to introduce a rephrasing or elaboration on something that has already been stated. The term e.g. is a shortening of the Latin expression exempli gratia, meaning “for the sake of example” or more simply, “for example.” This term is also used to refer to something that has already been stated.

Affect and Effect

The problem with the confusion over these two words might be the fact that they sound so similar. I see them used interchangeably every day on the internet. But in reality, they are somewhat related but completely different.

Affect is almost always a verb (as in., Twitter affects people’s attention spans as it engages in social behavior modification), and effect is almost always a noun (as in, Facebook’s effects can be politically selective). Affect works to either influence or produce an impression. Effect is the thing produced by the affecting agent It describes a result or outcome. The effect of Hurricane Florence was primarily on the coast, but even communities inland were affected.

Is This a Moot Point?

How often have you heard moot misused? More often than you think is my guess. It does not mean the “point” being referred to is unimportant or irrelevant, it actually means it is up for debate. Who knew? So when you see “The city council thinks speed bumps in our neighborhood is a moot point,” it means it is still up for debate, not that they don’t give a solitary hoot for your safety.

These are just a few of the common grammatical mistakes we see in writing today, both online and offline. The takeaway is that it is important to sharpen your writing skills with the proper application of grammar rules because you can’t always trust your editor to catch everything. This is not a moot point.

The Character that was Removed from the Alphabet

*The ampersand, a useful character banned from the alphabet*

The ampersand. We all see it more than we actually write it and yet it is one of the handiest characters around. In fact one of its primary uses is in business names, presumably so that they will fit on business cards.

Unlike the Oxford comma, there is no raging battle among grammarians about the use of this character.

Where Did the Ampersand Come From?

The physical shape of the character predates the name (ampersand) by at least 1,500 years. Back in the first century, Roman scribes plied their trade in cursive. Because of this they penned the Latin word et which means “and” they linked up the e and t. As time went on the combination of letters came to signify the word “and” in English too. Some versions of the character, like that clearly reveal the origin of the shape.

“Ampersand” as a name came years later when “&” was a full-fledged member of the English alphabet. During the early 1800s school children reciting their ABCs finished their recitation with the &. It was too confusing to say “X, Y, Z, and.” So instead the students said, “and per se and.” “Per se” is Latin for “by itself,” so the students were basically saying, “X, Y, Z, and by itself and.” As time unfolded, “and per se and” was slurred together into the very word we use today — ampersand. When a word comes about from a mistaken pronunciation, it’s called a mondegreen.

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July 29, 2018September 27, 2020

What is the Oxford Comma and Why Care?

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Please use the Oxford comma for clarity. — *Please use the Oxford comma for clarity*

This article was updated on 09/26/20.

It is often said that the English language is the hardest to master, at least as a second language. This is hardly surprising given the vast number of colloquialisms, spelling variants, accents, and word-construction options. (see, I just used the Oxford comma).

English is a fascinating language in that it has roots in many different languages and the origins of many words have been forgotten. For example, did you know that Baltimore is an Anglicization of the Irish Baile an Tí Mhóir, which means “town of the big house?” The same applies to grammar. Few people know that the ampersand character was once in the alphabet, but alas, it was banned long ago. More the pity.

But what is the Oxford comma? Oxford Living Dictionaries tells us, ” The Oxford comma is an optional comma before the word ‘and’ at the end of a list: We sell books, videos, and magazines. It’s known as the Oxford comma because it was traditionally used by printers, readers, and editors at Oxford University Press. Not all writers and publishers use it, but it can clarify the meaning of a sentence when the items in a list are not single words: These items are available in black and white, red and yellow, and blue and green.”

Should You Use the Oxford Comma or Not?

Ah, one of the great grammatical debates. There are writers on both sides of the fence and very few are convinced to hop over that fence of their own volition.

Largely it is a point of personal preference. I like to use it because it lends an air of clarity to the prose; no room for the reader to guess the writer’s intent. Opponents are likely to cite brevity as a reason to omit it. But seriously fellow scribe, how much real estate does one more comma consume?

Preferences aside, most of us write for money or grades and we must bow to authority. The Oxford comma is stylistic, which simply means some style guides, university professors, and employers require its use while others do not. For example, AP Style, the style guide that many newspaper reporters follow, doesn’t demand the use of the Oxford comma. That said, your employer may demand it for the sake of publication consistency.

So, each writer must make up his own mind given the circumstances. Meanwhile, the great debate over the Oxford comma rages quietly on.

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Category: Grammar

A Grammar Rule We Know But Not Taught

The English Language is Both Fickle and Structured

It’s All About Revering the Noun

How Does English Rank in Languages Difficult to Learn?

You Might Also Enjoy:

Resources

About the Author:

The Eternal Wisdom of Irish Proverbs

Can You Relate to These Wise Irish Sayings?

About the Author:

Common Grammatical Mistakes

It’s Easy to Make English Language Errors; Here are Some Malaprops to Be Aware of.

Capitalize Properly

Who vs Whom

Lie vs Lay

Comma and Semicolon Usage

Know the difference between i.e. and e.g.

Affect and Effect

Is This a Moot Point?

Further Reading

About the Author:

The Character that was Removed from the Alphabet

Where Did the Ampersand Come From?

What is the Oxford Comma and Why Care?

Should You Use the Oxford Comma or Not?

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