Grammar Guerilla: Comfort v. Comfortability

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In recent years a number of ersatz words have entered the popular vocabulary (particularly in sports broadcasting). One of the chief offenders is “comfortability.” Comfortability, as in, “He shows great comfortability moving the pocket” is a classic example of the practice of . . . Continue reading →

Grammar Guerrilla: Resources For Aspiring Writers

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Table Of Contents Podcasts Articles Bibliography Podcasts Heidelminicast: Grammar Guerrilla (1): Discomfort with Comfortability Heidelminicast: Grammar Guerrilla (2): Still not Comfortable with Comfortability Heidelminicast: Grammar Guerrilla (3): “Imply” is not “Infer” Heidelminicast: Grammar Guerrilla (4): Him, Her, Whom, He, She…It Really Matters . . . Continue reading →

Grammar Guerilla: Affect and Effect, Sex and Gender

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These two sets of words present two different problems. The first, affect and effect, is that two words sound alike and are formally distinguished by vowels that can be easily confused for one another. Nevertheless, affect and effect do mean different things. . . . Continue reading →

Grammar Guerilla: Impactful And Efforting

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English is a wonderfully flexible and acquisitive language. Estimates vary but as the British and European colonial powers that harvested antiques and riches from the Mediterranean, so English has harvested a significant number of words from a variety of sources. English is . . . Continue reading →

Grammar Guerilla: That That And Had Had (Updated)

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Have you ever used, heard, or read these cumbersome constructions: “I had had that same experience but then something else happened” or “She said that that car nearly hit her”? My experience suggests that they are being used more frequently but they . . . Continue reading →

Grammar Guerilla: Him, Her, Whom, He She, and Who

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Since the wizards of education theory gave up on Latin as a “dead language” English grammar has declined. It doesn’t have to be that way. Learning Latin (or Greek) does improve English grammar but you can improve your English usage without learning . . . Continue reading →