March 2009
40 posts
complement vs. compliment
complement = something that fills up, completes, or makes perfect; the angle or arc that when added to a given angle or arc equals a right angle in measure; the thermolabile group of proteins in normal blood serum and plasma that in combination with antibodies causes the destruction especially of particulate antigens (as bacteria and foreign blood corpuscles). compliment = formal and respectful...
Lay vs. Lie Quiz →
Snow Patrol should have taken this quiz.
(More info)
amiable vs. amicable
Amiable refers to people. Amicable refers to things. Easy, no?
allude vs. elude vs. illude
allude = to refer indirectly; He alluded to his past as a spy.
elude = avoid capture; The fugitive eluded the police for a month.
illude = mislead; He illuded her about his age.
(source)
Rules for Writing Numbers →
Yes - there are even rules for writing numbers!
Perfection
After quite awhile a while, I finally decided to just not care.
homonym, homophone & homograph
homonym = spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning (as cleave meaning “to cut” and cleave meaning “to adhere” [coincidentally, also antonyms!]) homophone = pronounced alike but different in meaning or spelling (as the words to, too, and two) homograph = words spelled alike but different in meaning or pronunciation (as the bow of a ship, a bow and arrow)
On a...
Grammar nazi?
lickystickypicky:
I just heard a Life Alert commercial where a lady says : “I falled and I can’t get up. I need help”.
Isn’t it “I fell”? I thought I heard it 30 minutes ago but waited for the commercial to come on again to be sure.
I am not an English expert but even my basic knowledge tells me this is w-r-o-n-g.
“I’ve fallen and cannot get up.” :)
"an alumni of"
It should be: an alumnus/alumna of.
alumnus = male singular
alumni = male plural
alumna = female singular
alumnae = female plural
Just say “alum” if you can’t remember all of that.
(source)
Quick & Dirty Tips: Grammar →
“My new, dirty girl crush.”
-Liz
conscience vs. conscious
conscience = that little voice that tells you to not have “one last shot” of tequila
conscious = awake/alert; what you strive to be while dancing at a club
unconscious = what you were on the dance floor last night after that last shot
"Ten items or less."
It should be: Ten items or fewer.
Fewer is used for a countable quantity. Less is used for an undefined or countless quantity.
“Bring three pints of ice cream or fewer.”
“I should probably eat less ice cream.”
humus vs. hummus
humus = dirt
hummus = delicious chickpea goodness
Semantics
Eh. It’s a separate branch of study than grammar, but I don’t feel like making a whole new blog just for that.
exasperate vs. exacerbate
I am exasperated by the current economic situation in the United States, but things can still become exacerbated.
exasperated = irritated
exacerbated = worsened
Let's make this clear:
For all intensive purposes For all intents and purposes.
GAH.
“You’ve got mail” is perfectly legit.
The contracted have is an auxiliary verb, so it is not an expression of possession and not redundant.
Disclaimer:
We aren’t really Nazis. Actually, we’re really nice people and love everyone. We aren’t perfect either, so if you have any constructive criticism please contact Liz and she will shut you down. Just kidding!
But seriously…
Vampire Weekend - “Oxford Comma”
...
amoral vs. immoral
Amoral means “unrelated to morality” while immoral denounces someone’s behavior.
Into vs In to
Pretty easy to remember:
If you’re answering the question “where?” you use “into.”
We went into the store.
If the use is followed by a verb, then “to” belongs with the verb and is the infinite marker.
The building was on fire, so he went in to save her.
there vs. their vs. they're
Three words that sound the same but have completely different functions.
Back to Basics:
There is a noun, adverb, pronoun, adjective, and interjection.
Noun: state or condition; I’ll introduce you to her, but you’re on your own from there on. Adverb: in or at a place; She is there. Pronoun: used to introduce a sentence or clause in which the verb comes before its subject or has...
Let's get started, shall we?
Currently Hiring:
If you feel that you fit this description, please contact me here.
