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Author Archives: languageandgrammar
Fake AP Stylebook
Fellow grammar and language geeks might enjoy a twitter page called the Fake AP Stylebook, where humorous (well, at least supposedly humorous) contributions are given to a Fake AP Stylebook. Some of the content is genuinely funny, such as: The … Continue reading
Hitherto and Tautologies
I recently wrote an article about an art exhibit for a local newspaper. Having been both an editor and a copy editor for many years (and those of you who are editors, copy editors, and proofreaders know what I’m talking … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged English, grammar errors, hitherto, language, tautology, writing
4 Comments
Guestimate
This is just a rough guestimate, but I believe that I’ve heard “guestimate” said five times in the past two weeks. If you ask me, that’s six times too many–if you count the time I just said it. I’m not … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged grammar, guestimate, guestimation, ineffective language, language, writing
6 Comments
Adverse Versus Averse
Averse, related to the word aversion, means opposed and should be applied only to people because it is a feeling. It comes after a form of the verb to be and has the word to after it. He was averse … Continue reading
Oh, Brother Moment
I recently had an “oh, brother moment” when I learned that there was a dispute between Mutual of Omaha and Harpo Productions, Oprah Winfrey’s media company, about whether Mutual of Omaha could use the term “aha moment” in an advertising … Continue reading
Posted in language
Tagged aha moment, charlie brown, language, mutual of omaha, oprah winfrey
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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 … Continue reading
Posted in language, writing
Tagged glad my parents aren't alive to see this, ineffective speech, language, writing
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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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Posted in humor, language, off topic
Tagged excessive self-confidence, hubris, humor, language, off topic, wanted poster
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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 … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged English, grammar errors, lackadaisical, lacksadaisical, language, writing
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Everything Language and Grammar 