Grammarly Blog

5 of the Most Common Grammar Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
by Kimberly Joki

*If your friends jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you do it, too? Parents often pose this question to demonstrate the futility of following the crowd. Here are four everyday phrases that many people say incorrectly. Will you stand out as different or give in to peer pressure?

“Intensive purposes”
This commonly confused phrase most likely arose from the fact that it’s easy to mis-hear “intents and purposes.” It may also be that for someone not familiar with the legal term, “intensive purposes” makes more sense. For the record, however, it should be ” for all intents and purposes” and it means: “For every functional purpose; in every practical sense; in every important respect; practically speaking.”

“Ying-yang”
Perhaps an affinity for slant rhymes leads to the mispronunciation of a certain Chinese symbol. However, the black and white symbol that represents opposing forces is called a yin yang. Save the half rhyming for your next poem!

“I could care less”
So, you do care! Be careful! By omitting the negative contraction, you could break hearts! To illustrate, compare these substitutions: “I could eat less. I couldn’t eat less.” One indicates that you could eat a smaller amount of food; the other indicates that you could not eat less than you already do. Apply the principle to the phrase in question, and voila! Make your lack of interest clear, unless you couldn’t care less about good communication!

“Towards”
Whether you say toward or towards depends on your nation of origin. If you are British, the correct word is towards. Americans omit the s. In writing, consider the audience. In terms of jumping off of grammar bridges, this is a small one.

“Passerbys”
Speaking of bridges, what do you call the people who stroll past them? In the English language, nouns are made plural by adding an s. Is by a noun? No! Therefore, the s is added to the noun passer. This rule applies to other compound words like runners-up, sisters-in-law, and chiefs of staff.
What should you do if your friends misuse these phrases? Tell us what you think in the comments or join the conversation on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Now that you know the correct way to say them, do not be afraid to pronounce them correctly. Set a good example. Perhaps your friends will follow.

*http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/five-of-the-most-common-grammar-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them/?lf&utm_campaign=Blog_Augment_1&utm_source=Facebook_org&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_post

Speak Like Yoda You Can

By  ALLISON VANNEST · Language Events · 7 months ago

Whether you’re a diehard Star Wars fan or you’re still a newbie, chances are you know Yoda speak when you hear it. The Jedi master’s method of speaking includes quirky sentence structures, unusual words, and wise phrases. Read on for some theories of Yoda-speak and a guide to talking like Yoda on your own.

Yoda’s East African Roots

If you’ve ever thought that Yoda’s way of speaking sounds almost primeval, you’re not far off. A language study spearheaded by Stanford University focused on the unique subject-object-verb (SOV) agreement in Yoda’s language. Since this structure preceded subject-verb-object (SVO) agreement, it almost certainly has roots in ancient languages. Stanford researchers determined that the structure of Yoda-speak is based on very early East African languages that influenced the development of the languages we know today.

Yoda’s Old English Roots
SOV agreement also appears in Old English. A side-by-side comparison of Yoda’s statements and some of Shakespeare’s famous lines reveals similarities. Both tend to feature the subject at the beginning of the sentence and the conjugated verb at the end of the sentence. Thus, Yoda’s quirky but profound English statements also borrow from its ancestor, Old English.

It’s also worth noting that even though Yoda’s sentence structure may appear odd when compared with modern phrasing, his statements are still recognizable as English. Altering word order to the extent that Yoda does wouldn’t be possible in many other languages, let alone understandable.

Yoda’s Yiddish Roots
Linguists have compared Yoda speak to Yiddish-influenced English as well, prompting interesting results. Yiddish-influenced English often plays with word order, placing verbs at the end of sentences. This frequently results in witty, whimsical phrasings, which moviegoers can observe in Yoda’s speech.

Why Yoda Speaks the Way He Does
Some Star Wars experts point out that Yoda’s sentence structure can be inconsistent. While his speech may lean toward SOV agreement, he often inserts object-subject-verb (OSV) statements into his lexicon as well. Other more rare statements reflect the SVO agreement we’re used to in modern English.

Experts theorize that Yoda deploys his various phrasings purposefully. Since his SOV statements tend to make him sound wise, profound, and clever, it’s likely that he uses them strategically. On the rare occasion that he doesn’t have an important message to deliver, he may slip back into standard modern English.

As Grammar Girl explains, though Yoda’s speech is memorable, it’s not completely unusual in the world of Star Wars. Many of the movie’s characters are immigrants from lands far away, and their speech also includes numerous oddities. Like any immigrant, Yoda incorporates his own phrasing into the language of the land.

How You Can Talk Like Yoda
Yoda speak may be quirky, but it’s certainly possible to imitate. To talk like Yoda, start by thinking of something wise to say. This can be as simple as a short, poignant statement. Next, change around the word order of your statement. Place the subject and the most important phrase first. Any negatives in your statement should go to the end.

Be sure to reaffirm your statements or questions. If you’re making an affirmative statement, add “yes” at the end. If you’re asking a question, add an inquisitive “hmm?” at the end. Including these will help emphasize the context of your statement and provide Yoda speak newbies with the clues they need to communicate with the wise one.

Try incorporating some Yoda speak into your daily life and see how well you’re able to communicate with those around you. Does your language sound profound, witty, or both?

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/speak-like-yoda-you-can/?utm_campaign=Blog_Augment_1&utm_source=Facebook_org&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_post

Five Fun Family Word Games

By Laura Wallis for The Stir by CafeMom

Kids can’t escape those vocab quizzes, but learning new words and perfecting spelling doesn’t have to be all work and no fun. If your family likes to play games together—whether on a car trip or just whiling away a morning on the sofa—add some word games to the mix. Here are a few that are fun for kids of all ages.

1 The Letter Game
This game can be played anywhere, with two or more people, and you don’t even need a pencil and paper. Start by picking a category, like animals or food. One person starts by saying a word (e.g., orange). The next person has to say a word in the same category that starts with the last letter of the first word (eggplant). For added interest with more than two players, the order reverses if someone says a word that starts and ends with the same letter.

2 Scrabble Scramble
My husband and I are serious Scrabble lovers, but a full-on game was too much for the family when our kids were younger. To include them in the fun, we came up with this quick adapted version, which doesn’t use the board (and is similar to Boggle). Choose eight letters out of the bag without looking, and put them face down on the table. When everyone is ready, turn the letters over and start a timer. Each person writes down as many words as they can make from the letters in one minute (or two). The person with the greatest number of unique words (ones no one else got) wins.

3 Memory Match
This is a great way to reinforce school spelling words, which are usually categorized by attributes such as vowel sounds. Write words in two categories—say, short A sounds and long A sounds—on slips of paper. Place them all face down on a table and have one player choose two. If they belong to the same family, it’s a match and the player keeps them. Otherwise, the player turns them back over and the next person tries.

4 Spelling Bee
This is exactly what it sounds like and can be played anywhere. Have one person call out words for others to spell. If you miss a word, you’re out of the round. Keep words age-appropriate for young players and try for the trickiest words with the grownups.

5 The Un-Spelling Game
Here’s one that’s fun for families with older kids. It’s similar to the letter game in that it goes around a group, only this time each person says a letter. The goal is to arrange letters that could be a word, but without actually making a word (for example, after E-X-A-… adding an M would make a word; a C wouldn’t). If a person adds a letter that completes a word or makes an impossible combination, they get a point. Five points and you’re out.

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/five-fun-family-word-games/?utm_campaign=Blog_Augment_1&utm_source=Facebook_org&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_post

Grammar

Apostrophe

You do not need an apostrophe when writing:
- 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, etc.
- CDs, PhDs, MAs, etc.
- As, Bs, Cs, Ds . . .Xs, Ys, Zs
- plurals (unless it may be confused with another word, i.e. As = A’s)

How to Use the Passive Voice Correctly

*The passive voice is a misunderstood entity in the world of writing. It is unfairly judged by many authors. Some writers, without taking the time to get to know this grammatical structure, avoid it at all costs. Others use it ineffectively because they do not understand how it works. How can you get to know this mysterious literary device?

First, let’s start with an explanation of what passive voice is. Passive voice sentences mention the thing or person receiving an action before mentioning the action itself, and may omit the actor altogether. For example, consider this sentence:

The leaves were blown by the wind.
The leaves receive the action of being blown. In the example, the agent is specified with the preposition by. However, the agent could have been left out of the sentence: The leaves were blown.

When is it proper to use passive voice? Consider these instances. Why do you suppose passive voice is appropriate? Check your answers below.

1. My camera was stolen from my locker at school.
2. A candle will be lit at the memorial service for the fallen soldier.
3. Diets are made to be broken.
4. The sodium hydroxide solution was heated to 200 degrees.

Answers:
1. Who stole the camera? The agent is unknown. If you do not know who committed an action, it is appropriate to use passive voice.

2. Who do you want to receive the attention? If you prefer the attention to be on the action itself (the candle being lit) and not the person doing the lighting, you may omit the agent.

3. You are expressing a general truth that is applicable to many. Using active voice to express this idea would be awkward: People who make diets make them to be broken.

4. Researchers often use passive voice in scientific reports. It is assumed that the reader knows that the experimenters are performing the actions without stating this fact explicitly. But, according to the University of Toronto, this trend is on the decline. Recent papers tend to contain more examples of active voice.

*http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/how-to-use-the-passive-voice-correctly-2/?sf&utm_campaign=Blog_Augment_1&utm_source=Facebook_org&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_post

14 Expressions with Crazy Origins

14 Expressions with Crazy Origins that You Would Never Have Guessed

You probably use tons of expressions, idioms, and slang phrases every day that don’t make literal sense. If you ever thought long and hard about why you say something a certain way, you could probably make a guess. However, some English expressions are so crazy and unusual that it is impossible to guess where on earth it originated from — unless you know the history.
In case you didn’t know, historical events, legends, important figures, religion, and even advertisements form the basis of many expressions used today. Here are the origins of some of the most interesting idioms!

Bite the bullet
Meaning: To accept something difficult or unpleasant
Origin: In the olden days, when doctors were short on anesthesia or time during a battle, they would ask the patient to bite down on a bullet to distract from the pain. The first recorded use of the phrase was in 1891 in The Light that Failed.

Break the ice
Meaning: To break off a conflict or commence a friendship.
Origin: Back when road transportation was not developed, ships would be the only transportation and means of trade. At times, the ships would get stuck during the winter because of ice formation. The receiving country would send small ships to “break the ice” to clear a way for the trade ships. This gesture showed affiliation and understanding between two territories.

Butter someone up
Meaning: To impress someone with flattery
Origin: This was a customary religious act in ancient India. The devout would throw butter balls at the statues of their gods to seek favor and forgiveness.

Mad as a hatter
Meaning: To be completely crazy
Origin:  No, you didn’t already know this one, because it didn’t originate from Lewis Caroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  Its origins date from the 17th and 18th centuries — well before Lewis Caroll’s book was published. In 17th century France, poisoning occurred among hat makers who used mercury for the hat felt. The “Mad Hatter Disease” was marked by shyness, irritability, and tremors that would make the person appear “mad.”

Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Asked to a person who is at loss of words
Origin:  The English Navy used to use a whip called “Cat-o’-nine-tails” for flogging. The pain was so severe that it caused the victim to stay quiet for a long time. Another possible source could be from ancient Egypt, where liars’ and blasphemers’ tongues were cut out and fed to the cats. (What a treat for the cats!)

Barking up the wrong tree
Meaning: To have misguided thoughts about an event or situation, a false lead
Origin: This refers to hunting dogs that may have chased their prey up a tree. The dogs bark, assuming that the prey is still in the tree, when the prey is no longer there.

Turn a blind eye
Meaning: To ignore situations,  facts, or reality
Origin: The British Naval hero, Admiral Horatio Nelson, had one blind eye. Once when the British forces signaled for him to stop attacking a fleet of Danish ships, he held up a telescope to his blind eye and said, “I do not see the signal.” He attacked, nevertheless, and was victorious.

Bury the hatchet
Meaning: To stop a conflict and make peace
Origins: This one dates back to the early times North America when the Puritans were in conflict with the Native Americans. When negotiating peace, the Native Americans would bury all their hatchets, knives, clubs, and tomahawks. Weapons literally were buried and made inaccessible.

Caught red-handed
Meaning: To be caught in the act of doing something wrong
Origin: This originates from an old English law that ordered any person to be punished for butchering an animal that wasn’t his own. The only way the person could be convicted is if he was caught with the animal’s blood still on his hands.

Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater
Meaning: Don’t get rid of valuable things along with the unnecessary ones.
Origin: You won’t believe this one! In the early 1500s, people only bathed once a year. Not only that, but they also bathed in the same water without changing it! The adult males would bath first, then the females, leaving the children and babies to go last. By the time the babies got in, the water was clouded with filth. The poor mothers had to take extra care that their babies were not thrown out with the bathwater.

Give a cold shoulder
Meaning: Being unwelcoming or antisocial toward someone
Origin: In medieval England, it was customary to give a guest a cold piece of meat from the shoulder of mutton, pork, or beef chop when the host felt it was time for the guest to leave. This was a polite way to communicate, “You may leave, now.”

Go the whole nine yards
Meaning: To try your best at something
Origin: During World War II, the fighter pilots were equipped with nine yards of ammunition. When they ran out, it meant that they had tried their best at fighting off the target with the entirety of their ammunition.

Let one’s hair down
Meaning: To relax or be at ease
Origin: In public, the aristocratic women of medieval times were obliged to appear in elegant hair-dos that were usually pulled up. The only time they would “let their hair down” was when they came home and relaxed.

Rub the wrong way
Meaning: To bother or annoy someone
Origin: Early Americans, during the colonial times, would ask their servants to rub their oak floorboards “the right way”.  The wrong way (not wiping them with dry fabric after wet fabric) would cause streaks to form and ruin it, leaving the homeowner annoyed. Alternatively, it could have derived from rubbing a cat’s fur the “wrong way,” which annoys them.

What other idioms are confusing for you? Which origin most surprised you?

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/14-expressions-with-crazy-origins-that-you-would-never-have-guessed/?lf&utm_campaign=Blog_Augment_1&utm_source=Facebook_org&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_post

2 Pairs of Words People Confuse All Too Often

by Ann Edwards

Antidote vs. Anecdote

Antidote: A remedy to counteract the effects of poison; something that counteracts or prevents something harmful. For example:
We must find the antidote to the poison before its effects spread throughout the body.
Her sense of humor is the perfect antidote to this stressful situation.

Anecdote: A short account of a real incident or person, often humorous or interesting; an account which supports an argument, but which is not supported by scientific or statistical analysis.

For example:
After explaining the philosophical concept, our professor shared an anecdote that explained its practical purpose.
There are many anecdotes that support the use of tablets in schools.

Adverse vs. Averse
Adverse: Unfavorable; antagonistic in purpose or effect; contrary to one’s welfare; acting against; opposed; contrary.
It was difficult to accomplish anything in such adverse circumstances.
Although the weekly meetings improved communication between team members, they had an adverse effect on productivity.

Averse: Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; having a strong dislike.
She was completely averse to the idea of taking a family road trip.
I typically don’t eat meat, but I’m not always averse to eating fish.

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/2-pairs-of-words-people-confuse-all-too-often/

Pronoun Chart

Less or Fewer ?

*Is it ‘less’ or ‘fewer’? Here’s an easy way to tell the difference.

The differences between ‘less’ and ‘fewer’ and ‘much’ and ‘many’ have to do with countable vs. uncountable nouns.

A countable noun is a noun with an identifiable quantity. For example:
A raindrop is a countable noun, since you can theoretically count a number of raindrops.
The rain is an uncountable noun because you can’t identify its quantity.
For countable nouns, use the term ‘fewer.’
The farther south I drive, the fewer raindrops I see on my windshield.

For uncountable nouns, use the term ‘less.’
It has been a dry winter; there is less rain than usual.
The same principle applies for many and much.
For countable nouns, use the term ‘many.’
There are many action figures on sale this weekend.
For uncountable nouns, use the term ‘much.’
The store manager says they have too much inventory in the back room.

*http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2015/is-it-less-or-fewer-heres-an-easy-way-to-tell-the-difference/

Grammarly Blog

There is one glaring error here.* Make sure you can identify it.

Did you find it?

It’s the missing subjunctive mood.

“I wish I were traveling in Europe.”

Subjunctive mood is a technical term referring to the form of verb that we use to convey doubt, uncertainty or unrealness. In English, we mostly use subjunctive when we talk about desires, wishes or conditions that are not real. It usually turns up in dependent clauses. This a tough one to spot in English because the subjunctive form for many verbs looks the same as past simple tense.
“I had cake.” (past simple, had)

“If we had cake, we would be eating it.” (subjunctive mood, had)

Subjunctive, specifically, should look just like the second-person singular past simple (past tense verb for you), which is why we should use “were” (second-person singular past simple) and not “was” (first-person, third-person singular past simple.)

“You loved swimming when you were a kid.” (past simple)

“If you loved studying like you love swimming, you would get better marks!” (subjunctive)

“She was a brilliant scientist.” (past simple)

“I wish I were as dedicated to my research as she was.” (subjunctive)

The good news?

The verb “to be” is practically the only verb that isn’t the same for all conjugations. So that means, even if you are still struggling to understand the subjunctive, if you memorize that you should use “were” for unreal conditions (“I wish” and “If” phrases), you will be fine!

http://www.grammarly.com/blog/2014/there-is-one-glaring-error-here-make-sure-you-can-identify-it/