Grammar Guidelines

Many people get confused about whether to use "a" or "an" before words such as "historic" or "hospital." The key to proper use is this... use "a" before words that begin with a consonant sound (e.g., a computer); use "an" before words that begin with a vowel sound (e.g., an anomaly). When the "h" is pronounced, such as with "historic," you use "a" (e.g., a historic day for the U.S.).

The purpose of the comma is to aide readers in understanding what they are reading, and to help them understand it quickly. Today, I want to talk about the importance of commas in a series and the distinct role that they play in the meaning of a sentence. Many people now believe it to be correct grammar to leave out the comma just before the “and” in a series (ex: The trees, flowers and grass are lovely this time of year). While this may not seem to be a huge deal, a missing comma can certainly alter the meaning of a sentence (it also isn't as aesthetically-pleasing to read, but maybe that's just my OCD!). Take the two sentences below, which have two totally different meanings due completely to the inclusion or exclusion of the comma before “and.” In the first sentence, “Jen and I” are addressing Jake directly and wishing him a happy birthday. In the second sentence “Jake, Jen, and I” are addressing an unnamed fourth person and wishing him/her a happy birthday. “Jake, Jen a...

Wander: go about from place to place aimlessly; talk or think incoherently (The Oxford Pocket American Dictionary of Current English. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2000: p. 919). Example: She wandered the streets of New York with no particular destination in mind. Wonder: desire or be curious to know; to be filled with wonder or great surprise (The Oxford Pocket American Dictionary of Current English. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2000: p. 937). Example: I wonder who is responsible for the recent crimes committed downtown.

"Imply" and "Infer" are often thought to mean the same thing. Nevertheless, they cannot be used interchangeably. "Imply" means to suggest something. "Infer" means to deduce something. Examples: Agreeing to a second date implies that you were actually interested in the guy. Because you agreed to a second date, the guy will infer that you felt a connection.

It drives me a little nuts when people use the phrase "would of" [but probably not nearly as much as when I hear "could care less" (see my first post... http://grammarguidelines.blogspot.com/search/label/Could%20Care%20Less )]. What they really mean when they say "would of" is "would have." I realize habits are hard to break. That's why people should think carefully before they speak. If they do, they will reduce the likelihood of misspeaking. It is embarrassing to make mistakes when speaking to someone, particularly if they are intelligent. And yes, I do make mistakes when speaking. When writing, not so much--that is editable. Sometimes, though, you don't even realize what you are saying because it is something that you've heard your entire life. For me, I tend to say "sump'n" instead of "something." Maybe it's a Southern thing like "ain't." Of course, I don't write it that way and ne...

The proper use of "lie" and "lay"   is tough for English speakers to grasp. We get it wrong all of the time. We use forms of "lie" when we mean "lay" and forms of "lay" when we mean "lie." Lie: "to assume a horizontal position on a supporting surface" or to tell a lie. Lay: "to place on a surface." What does it mean to "conjugate?" "To give the different forms of a verb." Let's conjugate "lie" and "lay" so we can understand what form to use when speaking or writing. Conjugation of "lie:" Present                 Past (to take a horizontal position/to tell a lie) (I) lie                                lay/lied (You) lie                          lay/lied (He/She) lies                   lay/lied (We) lie           ...

Direct Object: a word or group of words that receives the action of the verb. Indirect Object: a noun or pronoun that specifies to whom or for whom the action is done; indirect objects come before direct objects in sentences. Examples: She threw the ball. ( "ball"  is the direct object because it is what is being thrown) She threw him the ball. ( "him"  is the indirect object because it indicates to whom the ball is being thrown)