Grammar Guidelines

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Showing posts with the label Theirself

Is "themself" correct?

I hear many people these days on TV and radio using "themself." So why are they using it and what are they trying to communicate? Let's think about it logically. "Self" refers to one person. When you're using "them," you're talking about multiple people, not just one person. Some people are using the term "themself" as a way to get around unknown gender without having to say a mouthful like "himself or herself." However, "themself" is not correct. For example, someone might say, "A person can find themself in a precarious situation very quickly." The grammatically correct way to say this is, "A person can find himself or herself in a precarious situation very quickly." Also, "hisself" is not correct. I have heard this one many times too. I think this is really just a result of lazy speech. Swallowing that "m" is somewhat easier. However, it is not a word. Correct: the...

Answers to Questions

1/4/10--Quiz Of the Day (imply vs. infer)

Use the forms of imply or infer to complete the following sentences.

1. Because of the many legal books on her desk, we can infer that she is studying to become a lawyer. (present tense)
2. The job interview went well and the woman implied that there would be a second interview. (past tense)
3. Based on her standoffish nature toward men, we inferred that she had been hurt in the past. (past tense)

12/16/09--Quiz Of the Day (Lie vs. Lay)

Use the forms of lie or lay to complete the following sentences.

1. She laid the platter carefully on the table. (past)
2. She lies about everything; you can't trust a word that comes out of her mouth. (present)
3. You can't possibly need to lie down after sleeping for 10 hours last night. (present)

11/24/09--Quiz Of the Day (it's vs. its)

Use It's or Its to complete the following sentences.

1. The scratches on the surface of the table didn't distract from its charm.
2. It's almost Thanksgiving.
3. This book is in its 10th edition.

11/23/09--Quiz of the Day (I or Me?)

Use I or me to complete the following sentences.

1. Jack and Jill are throwing a party for Bill and me.
2. She and I bought a few pairs of earrings.
3. The dog ran around the block as Joey and I chased after him.
4. I saw a beautiful hat in the window of the department store at Christmas time, but I didn't expect my husband to buy it for me.

11/20/09--Quiz of the Day (Sentences or Phrases?)

Determine which of the following are complete sentences and which are phrases.

1. The baskets in the Target parking lot. (phrase)
2. The movie is starting. (sentence)
3. The dog ran around the block. (sentence)
4. In the window of the department store at Christmas time. (phrase)

11/18/09--Quiz of the Day (Their, There, They're)

Use There, Their, or They're to complete the following sentences.
1. The best bargain in the store is over there.
2. Whether or not they go on vacation this year is their prerogative.
3. Their house sits within a potential flood zone; however, they're not concerned about it.

11/17/09--Inferences
1. Hiking
2. The sun is not setting before 4:30pm, it is not foggy, wind gusts are 15 mph or below, it is sunny, and it is 45 degrees or above.