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“As” vs “Since” vs “Because.” How do you choose?

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by Barbara McNichol

Do you know when to use the words as, since, and because?

As with most grammar rules, people writing for business purposes might see the differences as an exercise in hair-splitting. However, each word conveys a slightly different meaning.

If you agree that clarity in communication is essential, and that poor grammar can affect your reputation among peers and superiors, you understand how strong writing makes a good impression.

Master the proper use of these three conjunctions, and you’ll make yourself understood—and trusted.

What are conjunctions, and what is their role in a sentence?

As, because, and since are all conjunctions that introduce a subordinate clause. They provide the reason for the action in the main clause.

For example:

Sandy has to approve all vacation time because Roger left the human resources department.

Monday will be a paid holiday since Remembrance Day falls on a Tuesday this year.

All vacation inquiries will have to be done in person, as Sandy hasn’t updated the online calendar yet.

In all these examples, the subordinate clause provides the reason for the action in question. In addition, it is dependent on the main clause, meaning it has no meaning without it! The main clause, on the other hand, can stand on its own without the subordinate clause.

Using as vs since vs because: not splitting hairs.

If you want the information to resonate with your readers, choosing the correct conjunction is key.

Ask yourself…

  • Where do I want the emphasis?
  • Do I want the reader to focus on the reason or the result?

If you want to emphasize the result, use since or as.

For example:

  • I hope Sandy attends the meeting [result], as I’m eager to hear her organizational plans for the human resources department [reason].
  • Good human resources managers are hard to keep [result] since the job comes with so much pressure [reason].

In both of these examples, the result is at the forefront.

However, when you want your readers to pay close attention to the reason, use because.

For example:

  • Because the human resources department is lacking consistent leadership employee turnover has been a challenge.
  • Did you leave the engineering department because you were frustrated by the lack of resources?
  • It’s important to seal all the hatches when you leave the maintenance room because the filters in the air purifiers have to be kept under pressure.

The causes – or reasons – are clear in these sentences, and draw the reader’s attention.

Using because eliminates the ambiguity in a sentence, as well. Consider using since vs because in this scenario:

  • I understand the new vacation policy much better because I read the employee manual.
  • I understand the new vacation policy much better since I read the employee manual.

In the first sentence, the reader understands that you gained a better understanding of the policy as a result of reading the manual.

What about in the second sentence? When did you gain a better understanding? Some time after reading the manual? Or due to information you found in the manual? Your reader may be able to infer the meaning, but it’s best not to make them guess.

There’s never a bad time for good writing.

Persuasive writing should be crisp and direct. When you’re in a business setting your readers are busy and their time is precious. Don’t waste any of it using ambiguous words or clunky grammar.

Your readers might not be grammar experts, but poor spelling and syntax are a distraction from your message. That comes down to paying attention when faced with word choices like as vs since vs because.

You can access a variety of resources. You can even sign up for my Word Trippers Tips and get grammar tips delivered to your inbox every week.

It’s time to make friends with good writing, and I can help. Contact me to find out how, and share your most common “word trippers” with me, too.

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you communicate effectively:

Common Grammar Miscues that Undermine Good Writing

Why Make a BIG DEAL Out of Correct Spelling and Grammar?

Make Your Writing Stronger – 14 Tips

Common Grammar Miscues that Undermine Good Writing

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Avoid these common grammar mistakes in your writing.
by Barbara McNichol

Did you know that bad grammar can ruin a good message?

You could be missing opportunities to get your point across because your readers have to wade through awkward sentences that set their teeth on edge.

Common grammar mistakes can be avoided if you take the time to learn the rules and then apply them. Pay special attention to the eight that follow.

The 8 most common grammar miscues

Here’s a list of the eight most common grammar mistakes and ways to spot and fix them.

1. Me versus I: subject pronoun (plural subjects)

Incorrect:
“Me and Janet completed the quarterly sales report.”

Correct:
“Janet and I completed the quarterly sales report.”

Rule: When the subject is more than one, you need a subject pronoun (I, she, he, we, they, who).

Clue: Say the sentence without ‘Janet’. “I finished the quarterly sales report.” Now it’s easy to tell which pronoun is correct, right?

2. Me versus I: object pronoun (verb)

Incorrect:
“Katherine hired Dave and I to draft the sales proposal.”

Correct:
“Katherine hired Dave and me to draft the sales proposal.” is correct.

Rule: “Dave and me” is the object of the verb “draft” and therefore requires an object pronoun (me, her, him, us, them, whom).

Clue: Say the sentence without Dave. “Katherine hired me to draft the sales proposal.” It’s obvious now, isn’t it?

3. Me versus I: object pronoun (preposition)

Incorrect:
“Between you and I, we got the job done.”

Correct:
“Between you and me, we got the job done.”

Rule: In this sentence, “me” is the object of the preposition “between” and therefore requires an object pronoun (me, her, him, us, them, whom).

Clue: “I” is the subject of a sentence and will be followed by a verb “ran, went, jumped, cried.” “Me” is the object of a sentence and is preceded by a preposition “with, to, between, before.”

4. Self

Incorrect:
“Irene, Lloyd and myself finished the blueprints.”

Correct:
“Irene, Lloyd, and I finished the blueprints.”

Rule: You can’t use a “-self” pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, themselves, ourselves) unless it refers to another noun or pronoun earlier in the sentence.

Clue: Look for the referral word that precedes the pronoun and say the sentence without “Irene, Lloyd.” “I finished the blueprints.”

How many times have you read this incorrect sentence?

“Please feel free to contact myself if you need further information.”

“Please feel free to contact me if you need further information.” is correct.

5. To versus too

Incorrect:
“Roger was to swamped and couldn’t complete the report on time.”

Correct:
“Roger was too swamped and couldn’t complete the report on time.”

This might seem like an obvious mistake. It happens most often when you’re in a hurry – but that’s no excuse. Your reader will notice the gaff.

6. Lay versus lie

“Nigel was feeling light-headed, so his manager suggested he lay down in the infirmary.” is incorrect.

“Nigel was feeling light-headed, so his manager suggested he lie down in the infirmary.” is correct.

Rule: You lie down on a bed and lay down an object.

Clue: To lay is to place something down in a resting position. A chicken lays eggs, it doesn’t lie eggs.

7. There versus their versus they’re

Incorrect:
“It was there turn to present sales projections.”

Correct:
“It was their turn to present sales projections.”

“Their looking forward to presenting this quarter’s sales projections.” is incorrect.

“They’re looking forward to presenting this quarter’s sales projections.” is correct.

Rule: There is a place, their is a possessive pronoun, they’re is a contraction of “they are.” This grammar gaff is rarely due to not knowing the difference; rather, it slips through spellcheck.

Clue: This common grammar mistake can easily be avoided by proofreading your communications carefully before pressing “send”.

8. They/their versus he/his or she/her

As you probably know, the convention for the use of “they” has changed. It is now acceptable to use “they” to identify an individual and allows for gender neutrality.

“They asked that their report be presented last” can refer to a single person.

Rule: In the appropriate context, “they/their” is a plural pronoun while he/his and she/her are singular. So, if you’re writing about someone who is previously identified as one male or female, “they” is no longer grammatically correct.

Clue: Are you referring to one person who identifies as either male or female? Or are you talking about a group of people or someone who wishes to remain gender-neutral? Attention to context is important with this grammar rule.

Why good grammar matters.

In the age of Twitter shorthand and texting shortcuts, good grammar and spelling are taking a beating. But according to experts in business communications, they’re still relevant.

If you take time to edit your writing – whether it’s an email to a peer or superior, a sales pitch to a potential client, or a summary of work you’ve completed – your message holds more weight when your grammar and spelling are accurate.

I always encourage my fellow writers to “make friends with good writing.”

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you communicate effectively:

Whack Wordiness: How to Stop Rambling
Do You Use These Common Phrases Correctly?
Why Make a Big Deal Out of Correct Spelling and Grammar?

What grammar miscues trip you up? Please share them here.

Why Make a BIG DEAL Out of Correct Spelling and Grammar?

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Why Make a BIG DEAL Out of Correct Spelling and Grammar?

By Barbara McNichol

Now more than ever, clarity in communication is important.

We’re all adapting to more virtual meetings and a great deal more email communication. Documents that were discussed around a meeting table and then edited by a single person now make their way to multiple colleagues via email.

Correct spelling and grammar are under a spotlight.

We’ve become accustomed to common abbreviations in text messages, such as, “C U @ 8pm @ Rogers, bring appie.” It gets the point across that your friend will show up at Roger’s house at 8:00 pm and you’ll bring an appetizer.

But what about in business interactions? Are correct spelling and grammar still relevant? I’d argue that they most certainly are…and I offer advice for professionals seeking clarity and credibility in their communication.

Here are four common grammar and spelling mistakes that undermine your credibility.

Let me be clear: we’re not going for Shakespeare. But don’t discount the possibility that your peer, manager, or potential employer has a solid grounding in the rules of English grammar and spelling. When you break those rules, you lose (not loose) credibility.

Let’s take a look at four of the most common mistakes. I call them Word Trippers…

1. Who and That.

Who refers to a person. That refers to an object.

Incorrect:
“The person that sent you the proposal is an authority on the subject.”

Correct:
“The person who sent you the proposal is an authority on the subject.”

Correct:
“That proposal is worth considering. The person who wrote it is an authority on the subject.”

2. Me, myself and I.

I’ll grant you, this one is counter-intuitive. People often use “self” in a sentence, I suspect because they think it sounds more academic and authoritative. It’s “padding” in a sentence, which rarely adds meaning. So you’ll read phrases like this…

Incorrect:
“Please contact myself if you have any questions.”

Correct:
“Please contact me if you have any questions.”

Incorrect:
“Myself and Jim will be there at 4:00 pm to discuss the proposal with yourself in person.”

Correct:
“Jim and I will be there at 4:00 pm to discuss your proposal.”

Yourself is your self…no one can contact yourself. It’s a reflexive pronoun. You can talk to yourself. But nobody else can talk to yourself; he or she can only talk to you.

Consider these examples:

Incorrect:
“Jim and me attended the meeting yesterday and it was very informative.”

“Myself and Jim attended the meeting yesterday and it was very informative.”

Correct:
“Jim and I attended the meeting yesterday.”

Here’s a great way to avoid tripping on this: Test your grammar by removing the second person from the sentence. For example, say this awkward – and grammatically incorrect – sentence:

“Me went to the meeting yesterday.”

And so is this:

“Myself went to the meeting yesterday.”

3. Further or farther?

Have you ever wondered about the difference between further and farther? There’s constant debate around this – and since English is a living language, it’s ever-evolving. However, most experts agreed that further is figurative and farther is literal, referring to a measurable distance.

Incorrect:
“Jan has traveled further than anyone else in the company to meet with clients.”

Correct:
“Jan has traveled farther than anyone else in the company to meet with clients.”

Incorrect:
“Farther to the point Jan was making about excess travel for sales meetings, I’d like to send you this report regarding our fleet mileage costs.”

Correct:
“Further to the point Jan was making about excess travel for sales meetings, I’d like to send you this report regarding our fleet mileage costs.”

4. Apostrophes: the ultimate tripper.

Of all the grammar glitches I see, this is the most common. Misusing this punctuation mark rarely creates confusion in meaning, but it’s a glaring error for people who know the proper usage.

Incorrect:
“Its likely we’ll miss our fourth-quarter revenue projections.”

Correct:
“It’s likely we’ll miss our fourth-quarter revenue projections.”

Incorrect:
“Since our sales teams travel expenses have been so high, we’ll take a loss on our fourth-quarter revenue.”

Correct:
“Since our sales team’s travel expenses have been so high, we’ll take a loss on our fourth-quarter revenue.”

An apostrophe plays two roles in the English language. It signals an abbreviation – “it’s” instead of “it is” – and possession – “the sales team’s travel expenses.”

Why Make a BIG DEAL Out of Correct Spelling and Grammar?

Pay attention to these common missteps in written communication. There are many others.

Don’t get let poor grammar and spelling prevent you from showing clients and colleagues you’re knowledgeable about your product or service. Contact me for more information.

Did these tips help you? Are you interested in improving your writing? I am offering a $29 discount on my Word Trippers program until the end of May.

Enjoyed this article? Here are three more to help you communicate effectively:

Poor Writing Means Your Credibility Is At Stake!
No More Boring Writing, Especially Your Adjectives.
Why Use Active Verbs Instead Of Passive?

Mixing Singular with Plural: Keep the Old Rules with Some New Tricks

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by Barbara McNichol

English grammar matters – and it’s easy to follow the rules.When it comes to English grammar, disagreements show up in writing and editing all the time – and mainstream media has blurred the lines along the way. 

I can hear you saying, “Fine, but why does it matter?” 

Well, precision in language is important because an exception on one platform – a printed newspaper article or spoken news broadcast, for example – will have different repercussions than an exception in an academic paper, a technical manual, or a formal business document.

If you’re creating content on one platform that doesn’t adhere to basic English grammar rules and suddenly find yourself in a situation, at work or in university, where you’re expected to follow them to the letter you’ll be at a disadvantage. 

By following the basic rules of English grammar at all times you will establish yourself as an authoritative, clear, and precise communicator. And there are some simple ways to stay on the right side of grammar rules, but first…

What does the media have to do with it?

As I mentioned, mainstream media has influenced English grammar. 

The Associated Press (AP) Stylebook gave writers the green light to use one disagreement: the plural pronoun “they” as a singular noun. This change came about because of issues surrounding gender identity, and it’s a worthy endeavour to represent people more accurately. 

AP’s solution to this shift is to substitute:

  • He or she with “they”
  • His or hers with “theirs”
  • Him or her with “them”

The Stylebook suggests that writers use the person’s name wherever possible if they’ve asked to not be identified by gender. Further, when using the plural pronoun in place of the singular pronoun, to be sure the reader understands you’re talking about one person, not several. 

In theory, this leaves less room for ambiguity on the reader’s part when he or she is taking meaning away from a news item.

Grammar experts are asking themselves…

Why is this necessary?

It’s a fair question. 

Isn’t it more important to follow English grammar norms – especially when there are easy fixes?

Here are some common examples of noun/pronoun disagreement, and the simple solution: 

  • “We want the school board to do their job.”

Problem? It’s one school board, not several. Here are two potential fixes for this grammatical error:

“We want the school board to do its job.” 

“We want the school board members to do their job.”

  • “Your reader can peruse your book at their leisure.”

Problem? There’s only one reader, not several. Here are grammatically correct alternatives:

“Your readers can peruse your book at their leisure.”

“Your reader can peruse the book at his or her leisure.”

In order to keep agreements in place – to not switch between singular and plural – when dealing with gender identity, you can use these writing tips:

  • Use the person’s name instead of a pronoun.
  • If you don’t know the gender (or preference) of the person you’re citing, use “his or her”, “he or she” or even “s/he” – they’re all grammatically correct.
  • Alternate between masculine and feminine pronouns – I edited a book for an author writing about raising a baby who did this seamlessly.

Just because it’s old…

You could argue that it’s not relevant to hang on to the “old” English grammar rules and it’s true that they have flexed and changed slightly over time. But it’s wise to hang onto those basic rules, and there are ways to adapt your message to current communication standards without abandoning the basics.

I’ve got a handy Pronoun Chart you can use if you’re in doubt – request one here.

Finally, I’d like to know what you think. Given our ever-changing language, would you side with the exceptions the AP Stylebook offers, or do you prefer to put accuracy above all in your writing?

Did you enjoy this article? Here are three more you might find useful:

Better Word Choices For Better Writing

Does Word Order Matter? Think Short to Long

The Pros and Cons of Using the Oxford Comma

 

Which is Correct? Me, Myself, or I

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by Kathleen Watson (guest blogger)

Did you as a child ever say, “Me and Billy wanna go for a bike ride!” and have your mom admonish: “Billy and I.”

What about, “Can me and Suzie have a popsicle?” and your mom corrected you, “Suzie and I.”

Mom no doubt was trying to teach you the courtesy of mentioning the other child’s name first, but your brain might have been imprinted to avoid me.

No wonder so many of us steer clear of me in places where it truly is the correct choice. The problem: We’re supposed to know better by the time we grow up and communicate with adults in the business world. These tips will help you get it right.

Subjects and Objects

Let’s start with a brief definition of two terms: subject and object

A subject is the doer of the action in a sentence:
I | she | he | they

An object is the receiver of the action in a sentence:
me | her | him | them

I hear him. She sees them. He called me.

Me and I have another grammatical role: They are pronouns. They refer to and stand in for the name of someone or something mentioned previously. Other pronouns are you, he, she, we, him, her, us, they, them and it.

Me vs. I

The following examples show how difficult it can be to choose the right pronoun when the choice is me or I:

My boss (subject) is taking Sarah (object) and I (oops: subject) to lunch.
My boss (subject) is taking Sarah (object) and me (object) to lunch.

She (subject) demonstrated the new software to Rob (object) and I (oops: subject).
She (subject) demonstrated the new software to Rob (object) and me (object).

The easiest way to choose the right pronoun is to eliminate Sarah or Rob. Your ear will help you decide what sounds right:

no: My boss is taking I to lunch.
yes: My boss is taking  me to lunch.

no: She demonstrated the new software to I.
yes: She demonstrated the new software to me.

In the above sets of examples, my boss and she are the subjects, the doers of the action; me is the object, the receiver of action.

There are other cases where choosing between me and I can be difficult. Which is correct in these examples?

Jeff likes ice cream more than I.
Jeff likes ice cream more than me.

Does the writer mean:
Jeff likes ice cream more than I [like ice cream], or Jeff likes ice cream more than [he likes] me?

Simply adding the implied “do” makes it clear:

Jeff likes ice cream more than I [do].

Some grammarians consider either me or I acceptable in this kind of sentence construction. I’m not one of them, because I believe using me can leave room for misinterpretation.

She knows Steve better than me.
(She knows Steve better than she knows me?)
(She knows Steve better than I know Steve?)
She knows Steve better than I [do].

He loves baseball more than me.
(He loves baseball more than he loves me?)
(He loves baseball more than I love baseball?)
He loves baseball more than I [do].

Me vs. Myself

Have you ever received messages like these:

Call Ryan or myself if you have questions.
Thank you for notifying Claire and myself about the incident.
Myself and my team are meeting his afternoon.

Myself is a reflexive pronoun belonging to a category of words that end in self or selves. Reflexive pronouns often are used when the subject and object of a sentence are the same. They also help create emphasis.

I myself would never take an unnecessary sick day.
She allowed herself the luxury of a pedicure.
We ourselves performed the entire symphony.
You yourself will have to decide.
I bought myself a latte.

Here are the correct versions of the first set of reflexive pronoun examples:

Call Ryan or myself me if you have questions.
Thank you for notifying Claire and myself me about the incident.
My team and myself I are meeting this afternoon.

Using I when it should be me and improperly using myself show that frequent misuse can make erroneous grammar almost sound right.

Don’t fall into the “But everyone says it that way” trap. Know your grammar and adhere to standards that reflect positively on your communication competence.

Want to polish your grammar skills? Kathleen’s book Grammar for People Who Hate Rules is excellent. More info at https://ruthlesseditor.com/grammarbook/

 

When to Use an Apostrophe with Numbers and Dates

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Nothing highlights the importance of when to use an apostrophe like a weather report.

by Barbara McNichol

When to use an apostrophe…

Sometimes, “apostrophe confusion” is more apparent than reading weather reports during an extreme cold snap. 

If we can trust Punxsutawney Phil, the end of these sub-zero temperatures should be near…but in case a groundhog isn’t your first choice for meteorological – or grammatical – advice, let’s cover the basics with examples inspired by fellow grammar-guru Kathleen Watson.

Adding an “s” to numbers…

If you’re pluralizing a number, don’t add an apostrophe.

  • Temperatures will drop into the 30s tonight.
  • There were four 747s waiting on the tarmac.Nothing highlights the importance of when to use an apostrophe like a weather report.
  • She said both size 8s were too loose.

Adding an “s” to decades…

If you’re writing about years as decades, don’t add an apostrophe.

  • He teaches a class on rock bands of the 1960s and ’70s.*
  • They worked together to refurbish a vintage car from the 1940s.
  • This is the most snowfall the region has seen since the 1980s.

When writing about a trend in a year or decade…

When a year or decade defines something that could be replaced by another proper noun, use an apostrophe to indicate possession.

  • During Germany’s Olympic Games in Berlin, Jesse Owens won four gold medals.
    During 1936’s Olympic Games in Berlin, Jesse Owens won four gold medals.
  • Funds raise by Mary Holmes in 2018 surpassed Jane Smith’s efforts in 2017.
    Funds raised in 2018 surpassed 2017’s efforts.
  • The Chicago White Sox were World Series Champions in 2005.
    The Chicago White Sox were 2005’s World Series Champions.

When starting a sentence with a number…

Whenever possible, avoid using a number at the beginning of a sentence unless it’s a year. And be sure to add an apostrophe according to the rules above.

  • 1929’s stock market crash marked the beginning of the Great Depression.
  • 2019 was the most robust year for new car sales in our region.
  • Seventy percent of my day is consumed by responding to emails.

In summary…

Don’t use an apostrophe to pluralize numbers:

Incorrect: “The airline owns a fleet of 747’s.”

Correct: “The airline owns a fleet of 747s.”

Don’t use an apostrophe with a number that indicates a decade:

Incorrect: “The 1960’s were marked by advances in civil rights and space travel.”

Correct: “The 1960s were marked by advances in civil rights and space travel.”

Do use an apostrophe to designate possession.

Incorrect: “Funds raised this year surpassed 2019s target.”

Correct: “Funds raised this year surpassed 2019’s target.”

*Bonus: Use an apostrophe to indicate missing digits.

Incorrect: “Most people look back at the 60s with fondness.”

Correct: “Most people look back at the ’60s with fondness.”

Following the guidelines of good grammar is always important. Why? When you communicate in a clear, correct  manner, your message carries more resonance and credibility.

What are some of the grammar rules that trip you up in your everyday communication? I’d love to know.

Did you find this article helpful? Here are a few more gems.

Poor Writing Means Your Credibility is at Stake!
Active Verbs Motivate Your Reader to Take Action When the Time is Right

Thanks to Kathy Watson for her input to this post. I highly recommend her reference guide Grammar for People Who Hate Rules to help you get over the grammar hump with ease.

Who or Whom? Here’s How To Choose Between Them

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by Kathleen Watson

Do you have difficulty when it comes to choosing who or whom in your writing?

Some think whom sounds stuffy and pretentious.

When did proper grammar become stuffy? I think that’s an excuse made by people who don’t know the difference.

who or whom

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Does anyone criticize Ernest Hemingway for using whom in the title of his famous novel For Whom The Bell Tolls?

 

Three Guidelines

Here are three guidelines to help you recognize whether to use who or whom:

  1. Who is the doer of the action.

Who was driving the car?
He was critical of people who didn’t support his decision.
The winner, no matter who she is, will wear the crown for a year.

2. Whom is the object, the person acted on, and it often is preceded by a preposition (at, in, for, from, of, to, with).

Did you speak to her? To whom did you speak?

Who gave you the check? From whom did you get the check?

Did you take a walk with her? With whom did you take a walk?

3. Consider these substitutions as shortcuts to helping you make the right choice:
he, she, they (subjects) = who
him, her, them (objects) = whom

Who was driving the car? He was driving the car.

You invited whom to dinner? You invited her to dinner.

For whom were members of the audience applauding? Members of the audience were applauding for them.

Do you have sentences that you question if who or whom is correct? Submit them here for a reply.

Headline Grammar Errors NOT to Copy

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By Kathleen Watson

grammar headlinesHeadlines provide never-ending examples of incorrect grammar, whether in word choice, word order or punctuation.

Reminder: I define grammar as the words we choose, how we string them together, and how we use punctuation to give them meaning.

News stories and their headlines should be examples of excellent writing. They also should conform to Standard English, defined as the way educated people write and speak. Writing in haste is no excuse for careless headline grammar errors.

1) How To Act When Someone Around You Loses Their Job

In 2017, the Associated Press proclaimed that nouns and pronouns no longer have to match in cases of gender sensitivity. I strongly oppose the change. In this headline, the indefinite pronoun someone is singular, but their is a plural possessive.

Rather than using the awkward someone loses his/her job, the headline could easily have conformed to standard usage if it had been phrased this way:

How To Act When Someone Around You Loses A Job

2) Look At Aaron Rogers Amazing House

Green Bay Packer quarterback Aaron Rogers no doubt earns enough money to have an amazing house, but this headline lacks the apostrophe that shows the house belongs to him. When a name ends in s, show possession by adding an apostrophe:

Look At Aaron Rogers’ Amazing House

3) Students Walkout Across Country to Support Florida School-Shooting Survivors

To walk out is a phrasal verb; a walkout is a noun.

An earlier post, One Word or Two: Use Care With Your Shortcuts, has a list of other word combinations called phrasal verbs — a verb and a preposition that, when joined, often form a noun: set up/setup | break down/breakdown | start up/startup | cut back/cutback … and more. The headline should read:

Students Walk Out Across Country to Support Florida School-Shooting Survivors

4) Parkland Survivor Criticizes Laura Ingraham For Only Apologizing After Advertisers Fled

As so often is the case, the modifier only is misplaced. When only precedes apologizing, it implies that apologizing was not enough. Should she have done more than apologize?

The criticism underlying the report was aimed at the timing of her apology. Some thought Ms. Ingraham should have apologized immediately, rather than waiting until some advertisers withdrew their support of her program. A clearer headline would have been:

Parkland Survivor Criticizes Laura Ingraham For Apologizing Only After Advertisers Fled

5) What Does It Feel Like to Be Wrong? Our strong need to be right and it’s impact on our lives

The first line works, but the subhead is punctuated to read:

Our strong need to be right and it is impact on our lives

People continue to confuse it’s, the contraction for it is, and its, the possessive form of the pronoun it. Here’s how the line should read:

Our strong need to be right and its impact on our lives

I hear from plenty of people who lament the apparent lack of grammar knowledge in some media representatives who are considered professional communicators: print, electronic, and television journalists and commentators.

We’re all judged by the way we write and speak. Don’t let careless grammar or lack of grammar mastery detract from your credibility.

Kathleen Watson has a love/hate relationship with grammar; she loves words and the punctuation that helps them make sense, yet she hates those pesky rules. Knowing others do, too, she wrote an easy-to-use grammar book called Grammar for People Who Hate Rules to help  people write with authority and confidence.

Share examples of headline grammar errors you find.

National Grammar Day March 4th

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Editor’s Note: Every day is National Grammar Day in my book. Still, I’m glad to have a day that draws attention to word misuses and what’s correct. Plus I never forget March 4th; it’s our wedding anniversary. I’m blessed to be married to a wonderful guy for 27 years!

by Barbara McNichol

I love watching the TV show “Dancing with the Stars” but even this escape doesn’t give me a break from grammar glitches. In one episode alone, I counted four times when participants and/or hosts misused the pronouns as they spoke.

As a society, if we repeatedly hear words used incorrectly on national TV (and all around us), how will we ever know what’s right?

Without attempting to overcome years of grammar neglect, watch out for certain common pronoun misuses so you get a feel for what’s correct—and what’s not.

“Me and Jack” finished the report. It should be “Jack and I” finished the report.

Rule: When the subject is more than one, you need a subjective pronoun (I, she, he, we, they, who). (“Subjective” refers to the pronoun’s place in the sentence—as a subject.)

Clue: Say the sentence without “Jack.” I finished the report. Now it’s easy to tell which pronoun is correct.

“Bob hired Peggy and I to draft the proposal.” It should be “Peggy and me.”

Rule: “Peggy and me” is the object of the verb “draft” and therefore requires an objective pronoun (me, her, him, us, them, whom). (“Objective” refers to the pronoun’s place in the sentence—as an object.)

Clue: Say the sentence without “Peggy and.” Does it sound right to say “Bob hired I to draft the proposal”? You know it doesn’t!

“Between you and I, we got the job done.” It should be “you and me.”

Rule: In this sentence, “me” is the object of the preposition “between” and therefore requires an objective pronoun (me, her, him, us, them, whom).

“Roger, Lloyd, and myself finished the drawings.” It should be “Roger, Lloyd, and I finished the drawings.”

Rule: You can’t use a “-self” pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, herself, themselves, ourselves) unless it refers to another noun or pronoun used earlier in the sentence.

Clue: Look for the referring word that precedes the pronoun.

To receive a one-page chart that shows at a glance which pronouns to use where in a sentence, email me with “Proper Pronouns” in the subject line.

 

 

 

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