Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Grammar Hang Ups And The Like...

I returned from a family vacation a couple of weeks ago, but since the office was eager to have me back, I am still catching up on my "writing" emails, including the weekly emails from Writer's Digest.  Always looking to improve my grammar and avoid uncommon pitfalls, the article "The 13 Trickiest Grammar Hang-Ups" caught my eye.  Most of the so-called hang-ups were fairly basic and I am sure most of us are comfortable using the terms correctly or using suitable replacements.  Some of the hang-ups were interesting, albeit for different reasons.

Take "until," which the author said was ambiguous.  I absoutely agree and have thought about this not just when writing fiction but when doing work (legal writing).  If you have until April 15 to file your tax returns, does it mean you have to file it no later than the end of the day on April 14 or do you have until the end of the day on April 15? As you all know I am sure, we are all happy that the tax authorities are more specific and specify that the due date is April 15. Certainly an easy hang-up or pitfall to avoid in your writing.

"Next" also made the author's list of ambiguous words. It is Monday morning and you are making plans with your friends for lunch next Thursday.  Does next Thursday mean this upcoming Thursday or Thursday of next week?  Again, this is an easy pitfall to avoid.

And then the article got interesting... discussing the use of the word "American" to refer to persons who are US citizens or other persons who are considered "US persons."  The author opined that using the term American to refer to US persons is fine (although technically incorrect) because there is no other single word we can use to refer to a US citizen and because most people in the US and Europe will assume that an American is a US person, as opposed to a Brazilian or Mexican person. Maybe this usage is commonplace and, as such, is becoming acceptable, but you should see the responses given to the article by Americans who are not US citizens...

Writing, like everything else, cannot escape politics.

6 comments:

  1. Hi, E.D.
    I just finished reading the September issue's story on 50 Grammatical Mistakes to Avoid. How did they get from 13 to 50? LOL
    Your post reminds me of the tour guide in Costa Rica who asked everyone where they were from. He wanted to know our nationalities and when I said, "I'm American," he looked puzzled and taken aback, because he said, everyone in Costa Rica was American too.

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    1. I have to take a look at that list - grammar (and mistakes) are so fascinating!
      So you have seen the "American" in action :-)

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  2. Oh this is all so overwhelming! In terms of "next," I assume i today is Sunday and someone is talking about next Tuesdy, I assume it's the Tuesday coming up. But if today is Wednesday and someone talks about next Tuesday, I assume it's for the next week.

    I can't think about this too much, though, because I never get through my second draft. :)

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  3. I know - it is so fascinating and excruciating at the same time... good luck with the second draft - I am on the fifth. Now I think I am nearing completion...

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  4. I guess we claim "American" as ours because it's in our name. Funny, never really thought about it. But Americans has a much better ring to it than US citizen.

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    1. It sure does, doesn't it, despite all the potential "controversy."

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