64 posts tagged with grammar and resolved. (View popular tags)
Displaying 1 through 50 of 64. Subscribe:

Comma Chameleon: Help with comma usage needed!

How do I correctly use commas in this sentence? [more inside]
posted by MegoSteve on Apr 24, 2013 - 12 answers

 

Grammar Filter: [He is a "black" man] or [He is a black man]

Hello, I'm having some difficulty getting a conclusive answer to the question of which is more "proper" grammatically and in academia. When referring to "blacks" and "whites" in society, I used to write them without quotes until a professor corrected me. However, when I use quotes now, some people disagree. Could you all help me find the correct usage? Professors explanation inside... [more inside]
posted by Knigel on Mar 10, 2013 - 54 answers

How do you abbreviate the word 'because' when typing or text messaging?

Whenever it comes up while I'm texting I come to an impasse. I know that I don't want to type the whole word because I have a dumbphone and I want to minimize thumb-wear. If I were writing a novel I would write it as 'cause, but I'm not so it's still too long. The phonetic cuz is clear and concise but somehow doesn't fit my personality or the tone of most of my communications. I started using cos but for some reason I associate that with UK English and I'm from the states and it doesn't quite feel right. What do you use and why, if there is a why.
posted by TheRedArmy on Feb 27, 2013 - 41 answers

Inaugural vs First Annual?

My wife has organized a 5k as a fundraiser for her school. The event website lists it as the "First Annual" race. She got a nitpicky email chastising her her about it, complaining that it should be the "Inaugural" race. What do you think, and how should she respond? [more inside]
posted by RevRob330 on Feb 15, 2013 - 58 answers

"Isthmus" or "isthmus"?

In Chicago style, or barring that, in Generally Accepted Historical Practice, how should one capitalize the following sentence, which discusses the "Isthmus of Panama" (which is undoubtedly capitalized when it appears in full): "The canal crossed the isthmus." or "The canal crossed the Isthmus."? (My CMS subscription has lapsed and I can't afford a re-up, alas.)
posted by flibbertigibbet on Dec 5, 2012 - 8 answers

Grammatical gender consistency across languages

Are grammatical genders, as a rule, consistent across the Indo-European languages which use them? [more inside]
posted by obloquy on Dec 4, 2012 - 30 answers

What tense does usage of 'Don't' normally infer?

Please help settle a grammar disagreement. My Boyf and I are having a grammar disagreement and I was hoping that the wonderful Askme members could help settle it. If someone states "We don't do X" which of the following would you assume was correct? A: That the reference to 'X' applies to the past, present and the future. B: That the reference to 'X' applies to the past and present. C: That the reference to 'X' applies to the past only. Context is the sentence "We don't go on on Holiday".
posted by Faintdreams on Jul 24, 2012 - 20 answers

Is there a linguistic term for this?

Is there a term for, or linguistic function fulfilled by, the phrases "no yeah" and/or "yeah no" when used for the purpose of agreeing?
posted by CitrusFreak12 on Jul 18, 2012 - 12 answers

Prefixes in a series--help!

Grammar question: How to treat hyphenated prefixes when used in a series. [more inside]
posted by Cash4Lead on Jun 27, 2012 - 4 answers

Apostrophe Help

Apostrophe help: System's' Anlaysis. Wiki does not have one, and neither does this page. Talk page says it should, but it shouldn't. Brethower (big name in the field) doesn't use one. I'm writing a resume for employers who maybe-do, maybe-don't have familiarity with the field. Should I say "System's Analysis," "Systems' Analysis," or "Systems Analysis?"
posted by rebent on Jun 7, 2012 - 11 answers

It's my problem, not there's...

How do I proofread my own work more thoroughly? [more inside]
posted by pantarei70 on Apr 23, 2012 - 29 answers

Grammar: Is this phrasing a waste of words, or does it make sense?

Grammar: Is it better to say that a committee "will be implementing a new policy" or "will implement a new policy"? I favour the latter because it seems more succinct; however, all my colleagues use the former convention. What am I missing? Does their way make more sense, grammatically or stylistically? Or is this just a collective habit that they've all adopted and I should avoid picking it up? [more inside]
posted by cranberrymonger on Mar 15, 2012 - 26 answers

It's purely textual...

Text? Or, texted? [more inside]
posted by AlliKat75 on Feb 8, 2012 - 34 answers

When does helping become cheating

How much help is too much help when it comes to a friend's application to an accountancy training programme? [more inside]
posted by muhonnin on Feb 3, 2012 - 9 answers

What is this person's relationship to me?

Somewhat silly usage question: If I'm someone's research assistant, how can I succinctly describe their relationship to me? [more inside]
posted by dismas on Dec 3, 2011 - 13 answers

"The" Ukrainian Needs Help with "a" grammar issue.

Can you help me explain how and when to use articles (a/an/the) to a non-native English speaker? [more inside]
posted by shortyJBot on Nov 7, 2011 - 9 answers

Correct use of a gerund?

Grammar question about gerund use in a sentence. Should be an easy one. [more inside]
posted by Cortes on Nov 4, 2011 - 9 answers

Is our children learning?

How would one address atrocious grammar errors, poor sentence construction and spelling mistakes in the monthly email updates from administrators of your child's school? [more inside]
posted by webhund on Oct 26, 2011 - 25 answers

"1 in 10 kids" is or are?

Poking the grammatical hornets' nest. As seen on CNN.com as a headline: "1 in 10 kids isn't (something not relevant)." I think it's ungrammatical, my co-workers think it's correct. [more inside]
posted by sbutler on Oct 3, 2011 - 53 answers

"to be" or not "to be"

"To be" or not "to be"? That is the question! [more inside]
posted by Jayed on Sep 21, 2011 - 77 answers

Why do people use (tm) and (c) and (r)?

What are the rules, or guidelines around the use of the (tm), (r) and (c) signs? They seem to be ubiquitous in corporate English, but as far as I can tell they're both unnecessary and ugly. Is putting a (tm) on a trademark something that's considered a required prerequisite to protecting it?
posted by Sebmojo on Sep 7, 2011 - 8 answers

Looking for a good book on English grammar.

Looking for a good book on English grammar. [more inside]
posted by dbirchum on Aug 31, 2011 - 18 answers

Asked by a fellow teacher, hasn't got a clue.

In need of help with grammar, again. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah on Feb 7, 2011 - 21 answers

This Needs Clarification

Grammarfilter: In the Pittsburghese construct needs + past participle (e.g., the car needs washed), what is the name of the "to be" that is dropped? [more inside]
posted by bfranklin on Jan 26, 2011 - 21 answers

Do any graduate programs emphasize writing while teaching English grammar, literature, and Latin?

Is there any graduate program that emphasizes writing skills (in English) while providing a rigorous education in grammar, literature, and related languages (i.e. Latin), without focusing on literary criticism, but rather on writing itself? More after the jump. [more inside]
posted by Nebula on Jan 8, 2011 - 17 answers

God? Or god?

Are there official grammatical rules about the capitalization of the words "god", "lord" etc. when referring specifically to Christianity (or any specific faith)? [more inside]
posted by Carlotta Bananas on Dec 5, 2010 - 11 answers

Ordering dates when writing about geologic time?

What's the proper way to order dates in geologic time when writing and why? In this example, The Iapetus Ocean existed between 600 and 400 million years ago, would it be equally correct to write 400 to 600 million years ago? Can you also direct me to a source for the rules?
posted by Kronur on Dec 2, 2010 - 26 answers

Let us break bread(s?) together

Is the plural of a variety of bread, "breads" or does it remain bread? "I scale, mix and bake various breads from scratch for a busy café and catering orders."
posted by wocka wocka wocka on Jul 19, 2010 - 12 answers

Don't be such a Gloomy Gus

Is there a word for "Debbie Downer", "Nervous Nelson", and similar labels? [more inside]
posted by fleeba on Jul 17, 2010 - 11 answers

Oh, English.

Punctuation filter: Comma, colon, semicolon, dash? Is what I'm saying even grammatically correct? [more inside]
posted by a.steele on Jun 10, 2010 - 24 answers

Help with hyphenated adjectives, plz

Please help resolve an office grammar debate regarding hyphenated adjectives! (Sounds fun, right?) [more inside]
posted by Flamingo on Jun 4, 2010 - 43 answers

Fathers and Suns and Gerunds

In his book "Fathers and Sons", Alexander Waugh quotes an essay written by his grandfather Evelyn Waugh that includes this sentence:"He would have liked to do the same with me, but my school was less conveniently placed for visiting (sic) and the hard times of the First World War made hospitality difficult." Why the (sic)? What was Evelyn Waugh's error here?
posted by davidjmcgee on May 2, 2010 - 11 answers

Quranic Grammar Headache!

What's going on grammatically in the opening verse of the Quran, which uses a sound masculine plural for the word "worlds"? [more inside]
posted by Biru on Apr 9, 2010 - 10 answers

needs replaced v. needs to be replaced

Is the phrase "needs replaced" an English language regionalism? Is it an American English regional phrase? Is it of relatively recent vintage? Why does it seem to be gaining prevalence? [more inside]
posted by OmieWise on Mar 15, 2010 - 47 answers

Semi-Colon; moderate pause.

This is an awesome way to learn about grammar and punctuation . Do you have any other recommendations to make this sort of stuff fun?
posted by moocheen on Mar 1, 2010 - 11 answers

English usage: "what would seem to be."

What's the proper use of the phrase "what would seem to be"? [more inside]
posted by exphysicist345 on Feb 18, 2010 - 11 answers

How to spell 101

"One hundred and one" vs. "one hundred one." Which is correct?
posted by nestor_makhno on Feb 11, 2010 - 61 answers

I'll make you a trade, but am I saying this backward?

GrammarFilter: Is the phrase "I will trade you.." often misused, or is it a perfectly valid usage that drives me crazy? [more inside]
posted by mikeh on Jan 11, 2010 - 24 answers

Linguistic study of math/physics equation "language"

I was thinking the other day about "all Greek to me!" as I was reading a physics book w/equations (using the Greek symbols) And equations are a sort of language, of course. So I wondered if there's some sort of linguist who's ever looked at the grammar or syntax of math/physics equations and tried to derive, whatever the hell it is linguists derive! Does this sound like something anyone has heard of? If so, have any links?
posted by symbioid on Jan 8, 2010 - 6 answers

I do like the word "pluperfect."

What tense is the following sentence: "If you were still around, we would have had a Merry Christmas by now." [more inside]
posted by Karlos the Jackal on Dec 29, 2009 - 13 answers

This doesn't look correct.

Affect/Effect [more inside]
posted by tizzie on Dec 22, 2009 - 9 answers

Help me stop sounding like a valley girl!

What are some tips in having better speech? [more inside]
posted by InterestedInKnowing on Dec 14, 2009 - 9 answers

Plural of "behalf'?

Quick grammar/usage question. Which is the preferred usage: "I'm buying this property on their behalf," or "I'm buying this property on their behalves." [more inside]
posted by crLLC on Dec 8, 2009 - 17 answers

Difficulty of writing and speaking English?

Is English much more difficult than most languages to speak and to write? [more inside]
posted by ragtimepiano on Nov 23, 2009 - 37 answers

Are adverbs mere adjective spinoffs?

Are adverbs mere adjective spinoffs? [more inside]
posted by aswego on Nov 13, 2009 - 17 answers

Baby, your words hurt me. Severely.

GrammarFilter: "I want to punch you severely." [more inside]
posted by opossumnus on Nov 4, 2009 - 30 answers

To answer, you would have had to have been able to have answered this question...

GrammarFilter: A friend and I have been discussing this construction: "would have had to go" vs. "would have had to have gone." It seems they are both correct and are almost always interchangeable, so it would seem the former, simpler version is preferable. Thoughts, explanations, examples otherwise? Are they both correct? [more inside]
posted by Badasscommy on Oct 26, 2009 - 10 answers

Help me get these quotes right.

Editors, I need your help with quotation marks! Which is correct? a) I sent him an article about "The X Factor". b) I sent him an article about "The X Factor." [more inside]
posted by HeyAllie on Oct 26, 2009 - 40 answers

Phone call grammar

If I am on the phone with an unknown person, I usually say "whom an I speaking with?" to get the callers name. It doesn't seem to roll of the tongue very nicely though. What is the best way to get a callers name in today's world?
posted by kapu on Aug 23, 2009 - 41 answers

Grammatical Case Headspace....

LanguageFilter: How can a native English speaker develop a better sense of grammatical cases? [more inside]
posted by mary8nne on Jul 22, 2009 - 16 answers

Page: 1 2