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 →
It is common now to regard the old rule against splitting infinitives as outdated and stuffy. That might be so but there are still some reasons for observing the rule. Here is one example: Newly declassified documents, obtained by George Washington University’s National . . . Continue reading →
Noun —a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, typically against larger regular forces: this small town fell to the guerrillas | [ as modifier ] : guerrilla warfare. ORIGIN early 19th cent. (introduced during the Peninsular War . . . Continue reading →
As the newspaper business enters its final stage of life and newsrooms with clattering typewriters, copy boys, and ink-stained editors with green eye shades become a distant memory so copy editing and grammar seem to be disappearing with them. The sports pages . . . Continue reading →
Archaic and dated expressions have their uses. One of them is economy, saying what needs to be said in as few words as possible. Archaic words and expressions may, when used correctly, add a certain color to a sentence or paragraph. If, . . . Continue reading →
An eighth grader Union Grove elementary (Milwaukee, WI) brought home a politically-charged homework assignment recently. It was a crossword puzzle with obviously prejudiced characterization of a particular political position. When the assignment was publicized via social media the teacher, school, and school . . . Continue reading →
At Ref21. (HT: Durell Flood)
Unless you are a cannibal—in which case, good for you for learning to read. Now, stop eating people!—human beings do not come in “amounts.” Once more this morning I heard a figure in the popular media say, “The amount of people.” People . . . Continue reading →
Confused by when to use “which” and when to use “that”? Here’s the transcript from the latest Grammar Girl podcast. Here’s a freebie for Greek and Latin students. If you understand the difference between the nominative case and the accusative and dative . . . Continue reading →
Grammar Girl addresses a growing problem, which I myself have noticed. A listener complains to GG about the substitution of “myself” for “me.” It’s “please contact me” not “please contact myself.” It is a reflexive pronoun. It may be used to intensify . . . Continue reading →
Yikes! Students, what’s wrong with this headline? “Who Would Jesus Smack Down?” Okay. Pencils down. What’s the correct answer?
Zrim explains.
Here, Check out the second comment. Hilarious.
I’m reviewing the page proofs for Recovering the Reformed Confession (cover art to appear here soon). My copy editor, who has done a fantastic job, has Muhammad. I’m pretty sure I had “Mohammed” originally. I have no personal preference but with transliterated words (e.g. . . . Continue reading →
Not according to Mignon Fogarty, of the “Grammar Girl” podcast. Apparently most people don’t know how to use the verb “to graduate” correctly.
