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Author Archives: languageandgrammar
Ordinal Numbers: First, not Firstly
When enumerating, don’t stick an –ly on the end of the ordinal number. It has become fashionable to do so, but it’s wrong. Use first, second, third, not firstly, secondly, thirdly; there’s no need to add an extra syllable. That goes … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged cardinal numbers, English, first, firstly, grammar error, last, lastly, ordinal numbers
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Politically Incorrect
Its been awhile since I’ve done one of my very unique entires that highlights all of the errors that we’ve talked about in the past month (28 Language Errors in one Post), so I thought I’d write another one today. … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, humor, language, monthly reviews, politics, writing
Tagged Add new tag, democratic nomination, election, English, grammar, language, politcally incorrect, politics, writing
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The “Ex” Factor: Misspellings and Pronunciations
Ex– words seem to be particularly prone to mispronunciations, and to a lesser extent misspellings, and if they’re not caught early, then they can be a challenge to correct—but who doesn’t like a good challenge? Expecially is an especially … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged English, escape, especially, espresso, excape, expecially, expresso, grammar error, writing
2 Comments
Red States, Blue States, and Purple States
When (if) we finally get to the general election phase of our three-year presidential election cycle, there are going to be myriad overused words, phrases, and expressions that we’re going to hear. They will be as grating on my nerves … Continue reading
Posted in language
Tagged blue state, election phrases, English, purple states, red state, word repetition
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Everything is All Right—and Singular!
Many readers have expressed interest in learning how to use the indefinite pronouns everyone, everybody, and everything correctly, and I’m glad they did. We all (yes, all) fall prey to this English language error from time to time. There are … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged anyone, English, everybody, everyone, everyone their or everyone his, everything, grammar error, indefinite pronouns, somebody, writing
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The General Consensus Is…
The general consensus at languageandgrammar.com is that the expression general consensus is redundant. Consensus means that the majority holds the same opinion; in other words, it’s the general opinion of the group. Logically, then, not only is there no reason … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged English, general consensus, grammar, language, writing
7 Comments
Awhile/A while
The awhile/a while grammar error is, obviously, more of a written error than a spoken one. Awhile (one word) means for a period of time, as in Grandpa waited awhile before turning himself into a bat. It already includes the … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged awhile vs a while, English, grammar error, writing
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A Very Unique Error
I recently heard a runway announcer (no, not the airport kind—the fashion kind) say that each model had her own very unique style. Well, unique already means one of a kind, and putting very in front of it doesn’t make … Continue reading
Exclusive Breaking News!
As regular blog readers certainly know by now, my first book, Literally, the Best Language Book Ever, will be published soon–on May 6, 2008. In fact, I have exclusive coverage of the press release related to the book’s release. I … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, off topic, writing
Tagged books, grammar, language, literally the best language book ever, paul yeager, writing
3 Comments
Could Of, Should Of, Would Of—I Mean, Have
Although this used to be more of a spoken error than a written one, it’s quickly gaining as a written error, so I thought that I’d do a short column on it before there’s no turning back. When saying Snoopy … Continue reading
Posted in grammar
Tagged could have, could of, English, grammar errors, should have, should of, would have, would of
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