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Author Archives: languageandgrammar
Does This Happen Everyday or Every Day?
Everyday is an adjective; it describes a noun and answers the question what kind of, as in the old song I Am Everyday People (what kind of people are you?), so it normally comes right before the noun. Temper tantrums … Continue reading
Exact Opposite
An oxymoron is a word or phrase that is contradictory. My favorite is jumbo shrimp–although I’m not sure that this is actually contradictory. You have your small shrimp. You have your medium shrimp. You have your large shrimp. Finally, you … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged exact opposite, grammar, language, oxymoron, writing
2 Comments
Manage the Game
I’ve been a professional sports fan for a very long time, but it’s only been during the last couple of years that quarterbacks have started to manage the game. I’m not sure why this trend of talking about a quarterback … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, sports, writing
Tagged Donvan McNabb, grammar, Joe Flacco, language, Manage the game well, NFL, Peyton Manning, quarterbacks, T.J. O'Sullivan, writing
1 Comment
Biden-Palin Vice-Presidential Debate
It turned out that the conservative (i.e., mainstream) media had a point when they said that they feared a tone of condescension might be set at the Vice-Presidential debate. Where they were wrong was in their insistence that it would … Continue reading
Posted in language, off topic, politics
Tagged Biden-Palin debate, Joe Biden, politics, Sarah Palin, vice presidential debate
4 Comments
Being Condescending Toward Palin
We know that this is a blog about language and grammar, not politics, but we can stand it no longer. This nonsense about how difficult it will be for Senator Biden not to appear condescending to Governor Palin in this week’s … Continue reading
Posted in language, off topic, politics
Tagged Clinton, Governor Palin, McCain, Obama, politics, Senator Biden, vice presidential debate
2 Comments
Up to More than the Limit
Many a late-night infomercial and women’s magazine hawk products that promise we can lose up to 50 pounds or more, save up to 100 dollars or more, and cut housework by up to 2 hours or more. I don’t buy … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged grammar error, language, up to 50 pounds or more, writing
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One of Your Problems Is…
While we, especially Sherry, focus on common grammar errors, my book (Literally, the Best Language Book Ever) discusses words or phrases that should be avoided for other reasons. That brings me to any sentence that begins with the phrase One … Continue reading
Posted in language, writing
Tagged Do you know what your problem is?, language, personal flaws
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See, Saw, Seen: See the Difference?
I seen (or he seen, she seen, you seen, they seen, or we seen) is substandard grammar. Do not use seen as the past tense of the verb to see. The past tense is saw, as in the old movie … Continue reading
Pardon the Interruption
A recent Internet headline read Bear Interupts Live TV Broadcast. I had planned to read the article, but I got interrupted—and sidetracked—by that headline. If it had been possible, I would have interrupted the site editor before he or she … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged English, grammar error, interrupt, interupt, language, spelling error, writing
2 Comments
Everything Language and Grammar 