Paul Yeager's weather book
Paul Yeager's language book
Tag Archives: writing
The Number Of versus A Number Of
A number of should be used with a plural verb. Think of it this way: A number of equates to the word they. A number of fans buy tickets at the game. (They buy tickets.) A number of dogs in our … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged a number of, English, grammar error, the number of, writing
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Metrosexual
I often comment on the use of trendy words since a trend in language is about as good as a trend in fashion–if you’re not aware of when the trend fades, you’re left looking outdated. The word metrosexual, though, has … Continue reading
Brain ISSUE? Sounds Like a PROBLEM to Me!
In the Buffalo/Jets game on Sunday, quarterback Trent Edwards took a hard tackle and was knocked to the ground, where he hit every part of his body, including his head. He didn’t leave the game, but the announcers were concerned … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, sports, writing
Tagged Buffalo Bills, concussion, English, football, grammar error, language, New York Jets, NFL, Trent Edwards, writing
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Complete Lack of Tolerance for Tolerance
Tolerate means to allow or to permit, and a person has no more right to allow or to permit another person (or group of people) to be different from himself or herself than I have to permit or to allow you … Continue reading
Transitive and Intransitive Verbs
Verbs are either transitive or intransitive. That essentially means that they either need a direct object or they don’t. With a transitive verb, the action (verb) is being done to something else or someone else—a direct object. With an intransitive … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, writing
Tagged English, grammar, intransitive verbs, language, passive voice, transitive verbs, writing
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Storm Chasers–I Don’t Think So
Storm chasing is one of the rare instances where science and cool seem to meet, which is evidenced by the preponderance of television shows that highlight storm chasers. In fact, there is at least one reality show based on storm … Continue reading
Posted in humor, language, weather, writing
Tagged humor, language, meteorology, storm chasing, TLC's Storm Chasers, tornadoes, writing
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Let Us Proceed from the Preceding
I’d never really considered that proceed could ever be used incorrectly to mean precede—until I saw it on a job application—for a university—a major university that prides itself on admitting only those students with the highest scholastic records. The application … Continue reading
A Buck Ten Left in the Game
Oy. I don’t know if any trendy announcer-speak is more annoying than the tendency for announcers to start referring to the time left in a game in terms of money, such as There’s a buck ten left in the game. … Continue reading
Posted in grammar, language, sports, writing
Tagged a buck ten left, announcers, grammar, Joe Buck, language, NFL, sports, writing
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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
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Everything Language and Grammar 