Top 10 Obsolete Grammar Rules - by Guest Blogger Steven Sawyer

Top 10 Obsolete Grammar Rules - by Guest Blogger Steven Sawyer Article by Steven Sawyer. Edited by Brenda Bernstein, The Essay Expert Following The Essay Expert’s post about using the â€Å"singular they,† some writers in one of my LinkedIn groups were talking about breaking English grammar rules. Several of us spent a few hours discussing the merits, or de-merits, of using â€Å"they† as a singular pronoun. We were essentially divided into two camps:   purists, who would never break a time-honored English grammar rule, and progressives, who know all the rules – and delight in breaking them.   By the end of the heated discussion, purists were still purists and progressives remained progressive. Purists love the predictability of our language and the grammar rules that govern it. They still remember how to diagram a sentence.   They can spot a dangling modifier at 50 yards and pick out a subject-verb agreement error faster than you can say â€Å"comma splice.† If you went to their houses you might find that they iron their underwear and alphabetize the canned foods in their pantry. (I know a couple of purists who do that.) Progressives, on the other hand, believe that breaking rules connects writers with the masses, who stopped thinking about grammar rules decades ago. (If you dont believe me just ask any passerby to locate the verb in a sentence.) Just last year, a group of Ivy League English language purists lobbied to have â€Å"Thou shalt not break English grammar rules† added as the 11th commandment. But language mavens, dictionary writers and even influential linguists are relaxing many writing standards. Some experts are equating this usage shift to the Great Vowel Shift that took place in England in the 15th century. So, my Purist grammar friends, what will you do? Will you suck it up and go with the changes in the language as they evolve?   Or are you determined to maintain pristine prose? Its really okay if purists remain purists. I believe theyll dwindle over time until they become an extinct species, but they do have their place in our culture today. Purists, heres what youre going to have to swallow if you want to keep pace with our ever changing language. Top 10 Obsolete Or Seldom Enforced Grammar Rules Don’t split infinitives. Who would want to shamelessly do that anyway? Active voice verbs are preferable to passive voice verbs. I will never part with this one. I have  encrypted  this rule in my memory’s hard drive. Passive voice will forever be stricken from my writing. That makes me a purist for this rule only. Never start a sentence with â€Å"And† or â€Å"But.† And why not? It gets easier every time you do it. See 5th paragraph, second sentence. Never start a sentence with â€Å"There is† or â€Å"There are.† There are many occasions when starting a sentence with â€Å"There is† or â€Å"There are† is perfectly acceptable. Boring, perhaps, but acceptable. E.g., There is more Canadian bacon in the United States than in Canada. It would be difficult to change the wording in that sentence without starting with â€Å"There is†. Never end a sentence with a preposition. Now that’s a rule we can all live without. Always use â€Å"more than† instead of â€Å"over† with numbers. Okay. Whatever. Math’s not my gig. But truly, either one is acceptable use today. So, purists, get over it. Data is plural, so the verb must always be plural. So data is what data does? Or data are what data do? If they say so. Anyone with a good ear for English knows the answer to this one. Don’t start a sentence with â€Å"This.† The grammar gurus now say that you can start a sentence with â€Å"This.†Ã‚   But (Ooops, there I go, breaking rule 3. See how easy that was?)   I believe that [practice] is okay and this [guideline] is perfectly acceptable. Don’t use â€Å"free† as an adjective.   E.g., â€Å"Can I get that laptop free?†Ã‚   Nay, nay, writing comrades. That’s purist speak. Feel free to use â€Å"for free.† E.g., â€Å"Can I get that laptop for free?† Don’t use â€Å"fun† as an adjective.   You purists make me giddy.   You’ve always used â€Å"fun† as a noun.   E.g., â€Å"We had fun at the game today.† But we progressives like to use it as an adjective. â€Å"It was a fun weekend reunion with my family.† English is an evolving language. A new word gets added to the language every 98 minutes, according to the Global Language Monitor. That’s 14.7 words per day.   As words get added, usage rules undergo changes as well. Will you adopt the new â€Å"rules† of grammar? Your answer determines which camp you’re in. Steven Sawyer is a blogger, author, editor and online English teacher and writing consultant.   Read his blog at https://stevensawyer.wordpress.com/. Category:Grammar Writing TipsBy Brenda BernsteinMay 15, 2011 14 Comments Penelope J. says: May 18, 2011 at 4:28 pm The above post on progressives vs. purists was both fun and enlightening. I agree that in some cases, we have to be open to change rather than stick to the more correct language usage. I agree with the above comment. Using Where you at? and got instead of have (or in many cases, buy) have become widely acceptable, but I cringe every time I hear them uttered. Things like/such as What you got? really get (to) me. Anyway, what does get to me actually mean? Also, using a word to express the opposite feeling, You kill me or Thats a killer has become the norm rather than the exception and is taken to excruciating heights on programs that my grandchildren watch such as American Idol. But the English language is evolving and devolving to such an extent that, at 14.7 new words a day, purists must be having a hard time making or expecting others to stick to the rules. However, is it too much to ask that some rules not be broken such as misuse of verb tense and pronouns? Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: May 31, 2011 at 11:45 am Penelope, Im so glad you mentioned Where you at! When living in Brooklyn, if I were asking for directions on the street I would always say Do you know where such-and-such street is at? Im also guilty of using got instead of have. Its funny the things that still bug me, vs. the things Ive adopted. Im sure these things differ for each of us. Fun as an adjective still grates on my nerves. And I dont think its too much to ask to keep some rules in place but whos to decide which ones? I certainly have my opinions! Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: May 31, 2011 at 12:00 pm Thanks Lynn. We all have our own pet peeves dont we? Mine are different from yours! (And lets not even start on different from/different than.) I have articles on its/its and lose/loose which I invite you to read and share! https://theessayexpert.com/blog/2011/05/31/the-day-my-dad-didnt-make-it-home-from-work-by-marianne-worley-business-writing-consultant-at-the-essay-expert/ and https://theessayexpert.com/blog/2009/09/13/common-spelling-mistakes-lose-vs-loose/ respectively. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: June 13, 2011 at 3:57 pm Thanks for your comment Rick. I agree! Log in to Reply Marion Suarez says: June 3, 2012 at 1:29 pm I feel as though proper usage of fewer/ less is almost entirely obsolete. I cant find anyone who still understands the distinction or honors it. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: June 3, 2012 at 3:34 pm Thanks for your comment Marion. Its funny, I see 10 Items or Fewer now in many grocery stores, and I almost want them to change it back to the wrong way! Log in to Reply Mary Kent says: August 30, 2016 at 12:25 am Should we follow the rules regarding using the possessive form of nouns and pronouns with gerunds or is it a truly lost cause? Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: September 2, 2016 at 10:20 pm Great question Mary! Ive been fighting for this one since I learned the rule at the age of eight. Im terrified by the number of times people correct me on this point when I am using correct grammar! Log in to Reply John T Mon says: August 7, 2017 at 11:02 pm Im mid-60s and I always wonder what happened to the use of A and An? Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: August 8, 2017 at 6:55 am Do mean in spoken speech, John? It does seem like a lot of people say a when an would be grammatically correct. Log in to Reply Rebecca says: June 4, 2018 at 11:43 am I’m not a pure purist! Quirky, and especially regional, â€Å"impurities† make such entertaining conversation and writing. Still, why has the subjective compound pronoun become so accepted when used in the objective case? In speaking, I realize we all get tripped up, but I’ve seen it in writing and heard it from journalists. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: June 4, 2018 at 1:15 pm I’m right there with you, Becky. Drives me up a wall and the correct grammar seems so logical. Thanks for your comment! Log in to Reply Susan says: June 29, 2019 at 6:50 am The increased misuse of I and me when referring to another person and oneself is my beef. I am now hearing even professional speakers such as news announcers, pastors, etc. making statements such as, The taxi picked up my friend and I. In fact, I came across this article when again doing a search to see if this rule has changed. Log in to Reply Brenda Bernstein says: June 29, 2019 at 10:05 am Im with you, Susan. What did you find? Anyone saying the rule has changed? I think its more that very few people understand correct usage. Log in to Reply

Hyperkalemia or High Potassium

Hyperkalemia or High Potassium Hyperkalemia breaks down to mean  hyper-  high;  kalium, potassium;  -emia, in the blood or high potassium in the blood. Potassium in the bloodstream is the K ion, not potassium metal, so this illness is one type of electrolyte imbalance. The normal concentration of the potassium ion in blood is 3.5 to 5.3 mmol or milliequivalents  per  liter  (mEq/L). Concentrations of 5.5 mmol and higher describe hyperkalemia. The opposite condition, low blood potassium levels, is termed hypokalemia. Mild hyperkalemia typically isnt identified except through a blood test, but extreme hyperkalemia is a medical emergency that can result in death, usually from heart arrhythmia. Hyperkalemia Symptoms The symptoms of elevated potassium are not specific to the condition. Mainly the effects are on the circulatory and nervous system. They include: weaknessmalaiseheart palpitationshyperventilation Causes of Hyperkalemia Hyperkalemia results when too much potassium is taken into the body, when cells massively release potassium into the bloodstream, or when the kidneys cant properly excrete potassium. There are numerous causes of hyperkalemia, including: kidney diseasediabetes (leading to nephropathy)medications that affect urination (NSAIDS, diuretics, antibiotics, etc.)diseases associated with a mineralocorticoid deficiencymassive blood transfusionany major tissue damage, whether it be from injury (burns, serious wounds) or medical treatment (notably chemotherapy)excessive dietary intake of potassium-rich foods (e.g., salt substitute, bananas)intentional hyperkalemia as the last step of lethal injection, to disrupt and stop the heart Not that its highly unusual for a person with ordinary kidney function to overdose on potassium from foods. Excess potassium resolves itself if the kidneys are able to process an overload. If the kidneys are damaged, hyperkalemia becomes an ongoing concern. Preventing Hyperkalemia In some cases, its possible to prevent potassium buildup by limiting dietary intake of potassium-rich foods, taking diuretics, or ending a medication that causes a problem. Hyperkalemia Treatment Treatment depends on the cause and severity of hyperkalemia. In a medical emergency, the goal is to shift the potassium ion from the bloodstream into cells. Injecting insulin or salbutamol temporarily lowers serum potassium levels.

The Success of Business Enterprise Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Success of Business Enterprise - Term Paper Example This business is deemed that there are sites of work namely; in Birmingham and in Worthing as its factory sites and factory manufacturing contact lenses in Surrey. In this kind of set-up, we are aware that there are three branches in this business and with this we will now have the idea that the operation is subdivided into three sites and with this, it is a fact though these factories do perform almost the same kind of operation and produce the same kind of products the geographical separation of these factories and outlets can make a difference. Â   Â   Â   Â   Â  In this scenario, the three establishments should perform the same and should have uniformities with regards to the operation. This could be possible in recording the files, statistics and medical record of the patients in order to ensure the uniformity of operations in these places. We will now assume that these three are branches and should render the same services in their proximity. Â   Â   Â   Â   In order to ensure the uniformity of the operations of the said establishments under the business name Custom Eyes rendering the same services in different areas, the entries and the documentation of the patients and costumes should have the same entries and therefore should contain general information about patients and clients. In this case, the information that these branches should obtain must include names, addresses, medical records and similar information needed to assess the patient/client. Â   Â   Â   Â   Â  In doing this, we might be able to ensure that the record keeping of these branches are the same and the optometrists that are attending to the costumes would have the same performance as the information that they deal with would be the same. Of course, functional requirements should also be present in this kind of business. For example, the competencies of the optometrists should be looked into in order to ensure the capability and the quality of services rendered. Also, the functional requirement of the equipment should also be present in this kind of business.

Politics International Security Why did North Korea aquire Nuclear Essay

Politics International Security Why did North Korea aquire Nuclear Weapns - Essay Example From the start, a state that would become a nuclear-armed state would begin with a nuclear-energy program. Then on and on, after acquiring the capability and material to produce energy, that state would proceed, secretly or clandestinely, to produce other materials to produce nuclear weapons. A question maybe asked here: is there a precise reason why states want to acquire nuclear weapons Or is it the ambition of non-nuclear power states to acquire nuclear weapons or become nuclear-powered states Erich Marquardt (2003) in his Asia Times on-line article - Why states want nuclear weapons - has this intriguing thesis: When a state acquires nuclear weapons, the cost of invading that state increases, making it more difficult and expensive for the invader to gain a military edge. There are a number of examples to connect with this statement. ... Since Iraq did not yet have nuclear weapons in 1981, Israel was able to launch a successful military strike on the Iraqi nuclear reactor without the fear of a powerful retaliation. (Marquardt, 2003) Iraq then hastened to develop nuclear weapons to increase its leverage with their rivals Iran and Israel. Acquiring nuclear weapons would make it much more difficult for rival states to threaten or attack Iraq. This could be the reason why, according to Marquardt, the Ba'ath Party leadership was unwilling to allow United Nations weapons inspectors complete access to every part of Iraq. The ambiguity surrounding its weapons program could have theoretically increased Baghdad's foreign-policy negotiating power. (Marquardt, 2007) In the same manner, Marquardt relates, North Korea is sending confusing signals regarding its nuclear program to the U.S. or the outside world regarding its nuclear program, the purpose of which is "likely to create the perception that North Korea is possibly a nuclear-armed state" because US President George Bush is opt for a "regime change" in Pyongyang. As long as powerful rival states, such as the United States and Japan, are unclear about North Korea's nuclear program, they will have to be careful before deciding to take military action against that country (Marquardt, 2007). In this case Bush and his military would have second thoughts of attacking North Korea. Siegfried S. Hecker, researcher at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University says that the October 9, 2006 nuclear test and the subsequent DPRK's Feb. 10, 2005 announcement of having manufactured nuclear weapons, make it much more difficult to convince the DPRK to give up its nuclear weapons. Nuclear-armed states work to

Of mice and men Comparison Essay Example for Free

Of mice and men Comparison Essay Of mice and men by John Steinbeck- Consider the character of crooks. How does he contribute to our understanding of the society in which he lives? This essay will answer the question above. I will be looking at the character Crooks and the society and the racial issues at that time. I will also look into the American dream of the majority. John Steinbeck was born in 1902 in Salinas, California, and many of his novels are set in this part of America. Before his career as a writer began, Steinbeck worked as a construction labourer and a caretaker. His first novel Cup of Gold was published in 1929. Of Mice and Men was published in 1939. He died at the age of 66 in 1968. In this paragraph, I will describe the character of Crooks and some of the difficulties faced by the racial minority. Crooks is a Black-American who stands out to the other ranch-men. He has a crooked back, where he has been kicked by a horse. He is known by many names, like the stable-buck negro or nigger. In the time where Crooks was living, Americans treated the Black-Americans very differently because they were niggers. The black people where not allowed in white areas, even though it wasnt a law, it was made this way, but there where laws of the segregation of the black and white people. In the ranch, it was exactly the same, Crooks wasnt allowed in the other ranch peoples bunk house to play blackjack or rummy I aint wanted in the bunk-house and you aint wanted in my room (page 72). He just had to sleep in the barn by himself; he had no rights, except the choice of invitation of his room. He is only allowed to play horse shoes with the other ranch workers because he is so good at it. Although C1rooks is part of the lowest chain of respect, he knows himself as a proud aloof man; he doesnt care what the others say about him. As Crooks is the only black man in the ranch, he has no rights at all, he didnt even have an identity, he was known as Crooks because his real name was not important to the ranch workers. Ku Klux Klan is the name of a number of past and present organisations in America that believed in white supremacy, anti-Semitism, racism and anti-Catholicism. These organisations promoted violence and terrorism, sometimes intimidation like burning a cross. The Klan was founded 1866, it mainly focused on intimidating people, but rapidly adapted to violent methods. This is what happens to crooks as he becomes intimidated and abused by other ranch workers. . A quick reaction set in as the Klans leader left, by the early 1870s. Crooks had a book in his room called the California Civil Code, this tells him what rights he has and what rights he doesnt have, he does this so he can avoid being lynched. Every American worker has an American dream, the base of this is respect the people working in the ranch want to have their own ranch, people working for them and some nice crops. Crooks dream is to be treated equally, and to be respected. Candy wants to relax for his last few years and seeks the opportunity in George and Lennies dream which is to have a big vegetable patch and a rabbit-hutch and some chickens (page 15), Curleys wife wants to star in the movies, wear nice clothes and be rich. All their dreams are quite similar as they all want something for their own and also respect. What Crooks really wants is equality; he wants to be treated as another human being and not differently and to have friends. I tell ya a guy gets too lonely an he gets sick. (Page 77) There are many characters that have disabilities in the story, these people are: Crooks, Candy, Lennie and Curleys wife, these people are affected in their own way. Crooks disability is none other than being black and his crooked back, he has to have his own room in the smelly, cramped barn, and he cannot go to the bunk house and play rummy with the white characters. Lennie has a mental disability which makes him different from the other characters because he still has a mind of a child; this affects him as the others underestimate him. Curleys wife is the only female at the barn, she cannot do the things the boys can do, she is also controlled by Curley as she is a woman because men had more power than women in the past, this mean that she couldnt do what she wanted to do. Candy has the disadvantage of being old, the other guys think that he is useless, he stays behind and cleans up the bunk house, he has also lost a hand which makes that others think of him more useless. This shows us that he is not the only one which is different to the ranch workers. Crooks contributes to our understanding of the society of which he lives by showing us how he lives in separation and inequality, he cannot do any of the things that the white people do, he doesnt even sleep in the same place as them as they think he stinks. The also refer to him as the nigger because he is not respected enough to be called by he real name.

Who Stole My Cheese? Self-Analysis Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Change, like time, is always happening. There is no way to stop it, not even for a second. Whither or not you realize it, you are always changing in every possible way. However, we commonly simplify change to only the large differences in our normal routines each day or week, whither they are expected or unexpected. These large problems can sometimes become problems for people, which is not surprising. They should be problems, whither they are good problems to have, or bad. It is our job to adapt to these changes, and to adapt quickly. All of the time it takes you to adapt, is time lost, time you will never regain. This principle is easily explained by Spencer Johnson, M.D. in his book Who Moved My Cheese?.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hem, Haw, and two speedy mice running through a maze looking for cheese first sounded like a very odd way to analyze how people deal with change, however, after reading a section, the comparison between two different people and mice is a very creative and correct comparison. The mice, are concerned with one thing, their cheese. They do not worry about having a permanent home or structure to fall back on. They are like Indians following the buffalo wherever they roam. They are constantly on the move following their source of life. The little people, Hem and Haw, however, are more concerned with have a home, and a schedule. A life that stays the same with themselves always perfectly content. They do not want to hav...

Amazon Books and Writers Essay

Miss Furr and Miss Keene has a reputation of being one of Gertrude Stein’s more controversial works. Originally published in 1922, the story tells of the lives of two women who live together. The story is written with a limited lexicon and contains the word â€Å"gay† which appears over a hundred times. It is purported to be one of the first coming out stories published, and through its reprinting in Vanity Fair in 1923, the underground meaning of â€Å"gay† became more widely known (Amazon Books and Writers, 2008). Stein’s style of writing uses repetition as a literary device. Those who grew up reading Dr. Seuss will have no trouble reading Miss Furr and Miss Skeene while those who are unfamiliar with Dr. Seuss will find the text quite confusing. This is because Stein, as a linguist and naturalist, utilizes repetition as a means of achieving the natural primary processes of perception and thought (Kimball, 1998). This is the primary reason why Stein’s writing is oftentimes regarded as gibberish. However, those who study her body of work will find that it is through this method that Stein conveys â€Å"the gradually changing present of human consciousness, the instability of emotion and thought† (Perloff, 1999, p. 98). This method allows Stein to let the reader experience the thoughts being conveyed as they are being written (natural) instead of conveying the thought after it has been written (synthesized). Her use of this playful style in Miss Furr and Miss Skeene is intended to rouse confusion both literally and metaphorically to reflect the thoughts of the writer (as Stein is also a lesbian) and the characters in the story. This also enables Stein to dissect one event into many while still pertaining to that one event—like an episode of 24 where the focus is that one hour but seen in different contexts. Repeating is used here as â€Å"a deliberate regression of sorts—an attempt to get at (sometimes to get back to and recover) the â€Å"real† things lying below the surface (the unconscious, the â€Å"primitive,† the primary â€Å"raw† passions of desire, love, jealousy, power, prestige, etc. ) in order to illuminate the nuanced ways that characters negotiate subconscious desires through the coded conventions of everyday polite conversation† (Nelson 2000). Stein’s depiction of these women, like the way she usually depicts her subjects, are meant to be taken as they are. Stein’s modernist style of writing â€Å"remains impervious to such an easy reading for it never allows us to make secure judgments about characters and action† (Behling, 2001, p. 127). Thus, it is literally impossible to say if the characters were caricatures or not. Stein’s unique technique solely focuses on the action and its multiple contexts instead of one singular notion. This is evident in her use of repetition without literally repeating. Instead, each perceived repetition is in fact designed to convey a new meaning. An example of this is the repetition of the word â€Å"gay. † In its first use in the seventh sentence of the story, â€Å"she did not find it gay living in the same place she has been living,† the word â€Å"gay† is used in the context of being bored. However, with each new variation, the word â€Å"gay† is transformed to mean other things, including that of today’s contemporary definition. This method of wordplay allows for the double entendre of the story. To the (then) sophisticated, the story is about Helen Furr coming out as a lesbian, while to the less informed, it is a simple story of two women living together. This style is meant to be experienced as it was intended by the author. In fact, Stein’s works, be it prose or poetry, are often discussed out loud primarily to evoke and channel that which is â€Å"natural† while also appreciating the style’s lyricism. Hence, Miss Furr and Miss Skeene would benefit from being read aloud by allowing the reader to experience â€Å"living where many were living and cultivating in themselves something† (Stein, 1993, p. 257) References Amazon Books and Writers (2008). Gertrude Stein (1874-1946). Amazon. com. Retrieved November 21, 2008 from http://www. kirjasto. sci. fi/gstein. htm. Behling, L. (2001). The Masculine Woman in America, 1890-1935. Illinois: University of Illinois Press. Kimball, J. (1998). Gertrude Stein and the natural world. Time Sense An Electronic Quarterly on the Art of Gertrude Stein. Retrieved November 21, 2008 from http://www. tenderbuttons. com/gsonline/timesense/1_1kimball. html. Nelson, C. (2000). On Gertrude Stein and Dr. Seuss. University of Illinois. Retrieved Novenber 21, 2008 from http://www2. english. uiuc. edu/finnegan/English%20251/stein_and_seuss. htm. Perloffe, M. (1999). The Poetics of Indeterminacy: Rimbaud to Cage. Illinois: Northwestern University Press. Stein, G. (1993). â€Å"Miss Furr and Miss Keene. † In G. Stein & U. E. Dydo (Ed. ) A Stein Reader (pp. 254– 259). Illinois: Northwestern University Press.