Paul Yeager's weather book
Paul Yeager's language book
Category Archives: grammar
Factoid Verus Fact
I’ve received some criticism related to my book (Literally, the Best Language Book Ever) for my tendency toward prescriptivism, and we’ve also had some negative comments on the blog for the same reason, but the “word” factoid probably explains the … Continue reading
The Opinionator on Language
One of the easiest ways to get a discussion going online is to ask people what words or phrases annoy them more than others, similar to what we’ve done on our Your Pet Peeves page. The Opinionator (Stanley Fish) at … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged grammar, ineffective language, language, stanley fish, writing
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Grammar and Language Geek Heaven
If you love language and grammar, then the page 100 Fun & Informative Blog Posts Every Grammar Geek Should Bookmark will be like opening 100 little birthday presents. I’m certainly not saying that because we’re numbers 41, 42, and 59–although … Continue reading
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
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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
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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
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
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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