Grammar Friday

Today’s two grammar tips:

  • A dilemma isn’t just a problem. It is a situation that requires a choice between two options that are or seem equally unfavorable or mutually exclusive. (Thanks to Joe Elstner for this grammar tip.)
  • A nice tie complements a suit. If you tell the wearer you like his tie, you’re paying him a compliment. Free tickets are complimentary, not complementary.

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Grammar Friday

Today’s two grammar tips:

  • When you emigrate, you exit a country. When you immigrate, you go into a country.
  • An adage is a saying that sets forth a general truth and has gained standing through long use. Almost by definition, an adage is old, so it’s redundant to talk about “an old adage.”

Thanks for visiting. While you’re here, please look around the site. You can subscribe via e-mail or RSS feed. The tools to do so are at the top of the right-hand column. To share or retweet the entry, use the buttons below. You can follow me on Twitter: @peterfaur.

Grammar Friday

Today’s two grammar tips:

  • Use the word “who,” not “that,” when referring to a person. (“Anna is the swimmer who had the best time,” not “Anna is the swimmer that had the best time.”) “That” and “which” refer to groups or things. (“Anna is on the team that won the gold medal.”)
  • “That” introduces essential clauses, and “which” introduces nonessential clauses (those adding information that is nice but not necessary). The library refused to accept the book that my dog ruined, but it was happy to receive my other donations. My copy of the book, which my dog ruined, was part of the fourth printing.

Thanks for visiting. While you’re here, please look around the site. You can subscribe via e-mail or RSS feed. The tools to do so are at the top of the right-hand column. To share or retweet the entry, use the buttons below. You can follow me on Twitter: @peterfaur.