Tag Archives: English

Every One and Any One

This grammar error only makes itself obvious in the written word, but it does seem to be fairly common. Use anyone if you can substitute it with anybody. Did anyone else hear the news anchor use the slang (read inappropriate) … Continue reading

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Definite Possibility

An oxymoron is the pairing of two or more words to create a meaning that is contradictory or seems to be contradictory. A couple of examples of oxymorons that seem contradictory include objective opinion, speed bump, and jumbo shrimp. (For what … Continue reading

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To, Too, Two Grammar

O, that this too too grammar error would melt… I’m sure that Shakespeare wouldn’t mind my re-writing one of his most famous and quoted lines—as long as it’s done in the name of good grammar. Most people don’t have problems … Continue reading

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There, Their, They’re

There, there now; they’re really not as confusing as their reputations might have you believe.   They’re is the contraction for they are. They’re related to a prominent New England family. They’re not sure which candidate they’re going to hire.   … Continue reading

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I Want to Be a Statistic–Sometimes

A statistic is a numerical value or fact or an inanimate numerical representation of a piece of information. Examples include 53% of the the vote, $3.59 cents per gallon, a .309 batting average, and 63% of all bananas that my co-worker brings to … Continue reading

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Whether or Not

When I was in high school, I wrote a short, humorous poem about my potential future career; it was titled Weather or Not. Unless you’re reading that poem, which is highly unlikely since it’s never left the back of my closet, you … Continue reading

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Fed Up with Up

Up, Up, and Away could be the title of a sequel to Literally, the Best Language Book Ever. Rather than a book with 350-plus words, phrases, and expressions that you should never use again, it would be a book with … Continue reading

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Sit, Set: Setting the Record Straight

You’re not really supposed to sit something on a table, and you’re not supposed to set awhile when you need to rest.  It’s not the actions to which I object; it’s the verbs used to do them. To set means … Continue reading

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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

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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

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