November 20, 2009

I’m Glad My Parents Aren’t Alive to See This…

The entire languageandgrammar.com staff went to dinner recently and were taken aback by an excessively loud conversation going on nearby (It was so loud that it was impossible not to hear), most notably when a woman around 60 said to a man in his 80s, “I’m glad my parents aren’t alive to see what’s going on today.”

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, this woman is apparently glad that her parents are dead. Her parents, you see, must have just been too sensitive to deal with the world as it is today; therefore, it’s best that they’re dead.

First of all, I’m sure that her parents had dealt with many things that were difficult–perhaps even worse than–gasp–some of what is going on today. She should have given them some credit. Second, she was saying this to a man who was clearly more in the generation of her parents than her own; was she suggesting that perhaps he’d be better off dead as well?

I know (or at least I hope) that she didn’t mean it in a literal way; she most likely meant that her parents would have objected to things that are going on today or that her parents would be concerned about the future based on the present.

She should have said that, especially since she was talking to an entire restaurant full of people.

–Paul

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November 18, 2009

“From” Does Not Mean “Off”

The word from is not synonymous with the word off or the words off of. This is something that I hear fairly often.

For example, I got these nematodes off the guy in the lab next door or I got these nematodes off of the guy in the lab next door (well, maybe I don’t hear this exact sentence all that often!) should be I got these nematodes from the guy in the lab next door. The only way that off or off of would be correct is if you actually plucked each nematode off the poor guy.

You also borrow five dollars from your brother, steal a cigarette from a co-worker (not that I’m advocating either smoking or thievery), and take your daughter’s car keys from her.

Sherry

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November 16, 2009

350 And Counting…

It’s hard to believe (at least it’s hard for me to believe) that we now have 350 (approximately) separate language and grammar posts on languageandgrammar. com, but since we do, it seems like a good time to highlight two of the main pages on the site.

Nearly all of Sherry Coven’s posts are directly related to grammar and can be found on the page called Sherry’s Grammar List.

While my posts include the occasional grammar error, I also focus (as I did in Literally, the Best Language Book Ever) on words, phrases, and expressions that might be best avoided for other reasons. My posts can be found on the page called Paul’s List.

–Paul

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November 12, 2009

Hubris–Definition in Real Life

Hubris is defined, by the New Oxford American Dictionary, as “excessive pride or self-confidence,” and a British man is a living example of the word.

A criminal suspect actually sent the police an updated photo for his own wanted poster (Man provides photo for his own wanted poster), which was promptly published in the front page of the local paper.

He took the updated picture while standing in front of a police van.

That’s certainly full of hubris–with a little vanity and humor thrown in.

–Paul

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November 10, 2009

Now, Don’t Be Lazy

Why do I more often hear people say LACKSADAISICAL than LACKADAISICAL? I’m asking because lacksadaisical isn’t a word; the correct word is lackadaisical.

Lackadaisical means without enthusiasm or interest or vigor, so someone who is lackadaisical lacks enthusiasm or interest or vigor (he’s just plain lazy)—but don’t make the mistake of including the word lacks in the word lackadaisical.

Sherry

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November 10, 2009

The Appointment is Not for the Doctor!

I know that this is a pet peeve more than a serious language error (A Pet Peeve Warning is in Effect!), but when you have an appointment with a doctor, it should be called a doctor appointment, not a doctor’s appointment.

Think about it.

An apostrophe used in an example like this is generally used as a possessive, such as Bill’s car (the car belongs to Bill). It is also sometimes used in the genitive case, which is when a noun modifies another noun, such as Jack’s height (Jack doesn’t own his height; it’s a trait of his).  

When you say that you have a doctor’s appointment, you’re unwittingly referring to an appointment that the doctor has; it’s parallel to saying  that the car belongs to Bill when saying Bill’s car.

Maybe he has an appointment with his financial advisor, but that’s not what you mean. Technically, the doctor has an appointment with you, but you’re concerned with your appointment with him. In other words, it’s Your (Paul’s) appointment with the doctor, not a doctor’s appointment with  you (Paul).

To further make my case, you never say that you have a dentist’s appointment. You probably say that you have a dental appointment or a dentist appointment instead.

Do the same with the doctor; it’s a medical appointment or doctor appointment.

–Paul

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November 5, 2009

Your Dog Needs a Bath!

A friend of mine once said, “I’m going to bath the dog.” I didn’t have the heart to correct her grammar, but it’s been several years, and it’s still with me. (I know what you’re thinking, but I DO actually have more important matters to think about—-I just have a difficult time letting things go.)

While some might say that using bath as a verb is becoming more common, bathe is the correct verb; bath is a noun.

  • I’m going to bathe the dog.
  • I’m going to give the dog a bath.

From what I’ve seen, using bath as a verb is more of a regional colloquialism, and it should be avoided in favor of the always-correct bathe.

Ok, now I wash my hands of it.

Sherry

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November 3, 2009

Talk Offline

As I mentioned in Literally, the Best Language Book Ever, it’s not surprising that many language trends begin at work since we spend so much time there. Talking offline is certainly one of those trendy phrases–one that started several years ago and now is standard workplace fare.

According to a business dictionary, to talk offline means to continue a line of discussion outside of the original context, typically a different meeting, time, or medium. Since being online or offline is typically understood to mean on the Internet or off the Internet, there is room for confusion, especially for those who haven’t heard the term before.

Besides, it’s annoying to hear time and time again when something more informative, such as ”That’s a good point, but we’ll talk about that next week” or “That’s not directly related, so you and I can discuss that tomorrow” or “We need to discuss that but not with everyone in this meeting” would also work.

A larger question is why businesses have their own dictionaries. I though that business people spoke the same language as the rest of us; thus, they wouldn’t need a business dictionary–they would merely need a dictionary.

Perhaps this is proof that business-speak is not standard English.

–Paul

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October 31, 2009

Best Weekend of the Year!

I know that I’m probably in the minority, but this weekend–the one during which we return to standard time–is one of my favorite weekends of the year, unlike when we start daylight-saving time in the late winter (47-hour weekend).

I understand those of you who miss the extra hour in the evening, but it doesn’t have much value in the northern part of the country in November anyway. The leaves are off the trees, and the weather is turning colder; evening outside time isn’t a priority. Besides, after the change, it won’t be dark when I wake up in the morning, and it seems as if I’m sleeping an hour later for a couple of weeks.

And who wouldn’t enjoy a 25-hour Saturday.

–Paul

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October 30, 2009

Try Less; Do More

Try is one of those simple, little words that we don’t give much thought to, but the difference in how we use the word is the difference between persevering and lacking commitment.

If at First You Don’t Succeed…

If you don’t have multiple examples of situations in which a failed attempt (or several) was  followed by a successful outcome, then you give up too easily. Perseverance and determinations are keys to success, and the common wisdom of “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” is its stated motto.

The number of successful writers, singers, actors, musicians, and businessmen would most likely be very low if they stopped at the first rejection rather than continuing. Nothing is more vital to a successful outcome than continuing to try–unless you’re using it as a way to indicate a lack of commitment.

The Negative Side of Trying

We’ve all said things such as “A Tupperware party on Super Bowl Sunday? Sounds great. I’ll try to make it” when we mean “A Tupperware party on Super Bowl Sunday? No way!” often enough to know that we use the word try as a way to show a lack of commitment.

That lack of commitment doesn’t end with being too passive to say how we really feel (like the previous example); it extends to important parts of our lives.

We often say things such as “I’m trying to find a better job” or “I’ll try to get my homework done on Friday afternoon so that I can enjoy the weekend” or “I’ll try to lose weight after the holidays.”

With all of those statements, the word try (or trying) gives the speaker a way out of meeting that commitment–an escape clause. (The one about losing weight has a double out since it’s pushed back until after the holidays.)

We’ll have much more luck getting that job, completing that homework, or losing that weight if we do so with a strong sense of commitment.

Stop trying and start committing.

–Paul Yeager

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