Dear :

I send occasional updates about trends in media, technology, and culture — with a focus on the unusual, the newsworthy, and above all, the practical.

Today I offer tips on grammar and word choices that are commonly botched.

Between You and I?

That is ungrammatical.

Here's why. Pronouns that are the subject of a sentence are in the subjective case, as in "I listen." If pronouns are the object of a preposition, they are in the objective case, as in "Move toward me."

You wouldn't say, "Move toward I," would you? Likewise, you shouldn't say, "Between you and I."

"Between you and me" is correct.

Me and Her Had Dinner?

No, no, no, no, no! If you say something like this at a job interview, well ...

Again, the pronoun indicating the person who does something is in the subjective case. You wouldn't say "Me had dinner" or "Her had dinner" would you?" That's because me and her are in the objective case, meaning they're targets for actions, as in "She addressed me."

The headline should be "She and I had dinner" because the two people were actively eating and are the subjects of the sentence.

Don't Use an Adjective ...

... to modify (that is, to refine the meaning) of another adjective.

For instance, it's incorrect to say "He's a real smart guy," because the adjective real modifies the adjective smart.

Use the adverb "really" instead: "He's a really smart guy."

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Here are some examples:

"She thinks quickly" (quickly modifies the verb think).

"She's a super quick thinker" (super enhances the adjective quick).

"She thinks amazingly quickly" (the adverb amazingly increases the impact of the adverb quickly).

Few vs. Less

Fewer describes items you can count or measure: "Use fewer teaspoons of sugar in your coffee."

Less applies to quantity in a general sense: "It's healthier to eat less sugar."

Apropos of Apostrophes

Is it correct to say that the 1980's was the era of punk music? No. As a standalone noun, 1980s should not have an apostrophe.

Apostrophes indicate possession or contraction. Thus, "1980's music (i.e., the music of that decade) was innovative." Or, "The dessert's delicious," short for "The dessert is delicious."

One more thing: Don't use apostrophes for the plural of names. "The Roosevelt's were a famous family" is incorrect. It should be "The Roosevelts etc."

A Lesson from Oxford

The so-called Oxford comma is placed between the last two items in a series. I swear by this, but not everyone agrees.

What happens if you leave it out? If you say, "My parents, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are blond," then I might wonder what it's like to grow up in a Hollywood family.

Better to write, "My parents, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie are blond." (Note the comma after Brad Pitt.) Much clearer this way.

Again, this is a matter of preference, but I'd rather err on the side of clarity.

Why All This Matters

Bad grammar or poor word choice can create confusion, undercut your professional image, and even upset the audience. According to a recent article in Psychology Today, "When we hear bad grammar, our pupils dilate, and our heart rate increases, indicating a fight-or-flight response."

Have mercy on the language. It's all we have.

Speaking of communications, please contact me if you need help developing messages or preparing for presentations or media interviews. We can correct one another's grammar.

Happy fall to all,

Greg

Greg Stone, President
Stone Communications
www.gregstone.com

Author of Business Books:

Author of Mystery Novels:

LinkedIn: stonegreg
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617-489-5400