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Author Archives: languageandgrammar
If It’s the Same, Then It’s Exact
How often do we hear people say things such as This is exactly the same problem as the one we had the last time or I have the same exact shoes or Why do politicians use the same exact words … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language
Tagged exactly the same, grammar error, language, writing
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As You Like It: Like Versus As
If you thought that I was going to talk about Shakespeare, then prepare to be disappointed. I’m going to talk about the use of like versus the use of as. It’s not nearly as stimulating, but it’s still necessary. The like/as … Continue reading
What Is Breaking News
In my recent mock news report (Olbermann Predicts Daring Clinton Heist), I used the term breaking news. I used it incorrectly, but that was part of the intended humor of the post; in the world of actual news reports, however, it’s … Continue reading
The Age-old Question: Is It Due to or Because Of?
Some writers, editors, and dictionaries don’t care about the interchangeable use of due to and because of. Is that, perhaps, because of a lack of grammar information, or is that, perhaps, due to a lack of grammar information? Others (and … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged because of, due to, English, grammar error, verb to be, writing
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Stainless Steel Appliances
I almost feel like a lawyer as I head into this mostly off-topic post since I have to begin with the question: How do you define clean? Stainless steel appliances have become more popular than yawns during a major league … Continue reading
Posted in humor, off topic
Tagged humor, off topic, stainless steel appliances
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Is It Gonna or Going To?
I remember that in fourth grade, a friend of mine showed me an essay she’d written. I couldn’t tell you anything about it—not the subject or the class or the length of the essay–except that within this masterpiece of childhood … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged English language, going to, gonna, mispronunciation, writing
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Efforting
Two of the most popular trends in language are: 1) turning nouns into verbs and 2) making the argument that common usage is all that is needed in order for a word to become accepted. The non-word efforting is a … Continue reading
This Is Definitely an Error
Definitely has quickly become one of the most commonly misspelled words on the Internet. In fact, hardly a web page scrolls by where I don’t see it spelled definately. Again, the correct spelling is definitely. Think of the other words … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged definately, definitely, English language, spelling errors, writing
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Guilty As Charged
On a call-in radio show on Wisconsin Public Radio on Memorial Day, where I was the guest, a caller had the audacity to say that I had used the phrase the simple fact is that on three or four occasions during … Continue reading
Posted in language, writing
Tagged grammar, Joy Cardin, language, the simple fact is, WPR, writing
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Everything Language and Grammar 