GC's Grammar Class 101

[delph998]

Fellow GCers:

I consider myself to be a great writer, but there are times when I get stuck with words and need help. Everyone has a problem area when it relates to grammar. So let's discuss it and learn from each other.

Here are my issues. When do you use:

Effect/affect

whose/whom/who

I also have problems with prepositions, but I can't think of an example right now.

Soror MzDiscreet, I know you can help me out with some of this stuff.

[CrimsonTide4]

How to use effect versus affect even has a little test


From Spelling and Grammar Rules You Should Know


WHO'S/WHOSEThis is one of those cases where it is important to remember that possessive pronouns never take apostrophes, even though possessive nouns do (see it's/its). "Who's" always and forever means only "who is," as in "Who's that guy with the droopy mustache?" or " who has," as in "Who's been eating my porridge?" "Whose" is the possessive form of "who" and is used as follows: "Whose dirty socks are these on the breakfast table?"

Who/Whom Usage

I found the who/whom very helpful just now as I read over the rule.

[delph998]

Originally Posted by CrimsonTide4

How to use effect versus affect even has a little test


From Spelling and Grammar Rules You Should Know


WHO'S/WHOSEThis is one of those cases where it is important to remember that possessive pronouns never take apostrophes, even though possessive nouns do (see it's/its). "Who's" always and forever means only "who is," as in "Who's that guy with the droopy mustache?" or " who has," as in "Who's been eating my porridge?" "Whose" is the possessive form of "who" and is used as follows: "Whose dirty socks are these on the breakfast table?"

Who/Whom Usage

I found the who/whom very helpful just now as I read over the rule.

That was timely and helpful Soror CT4. The who/whom really makes sense to me now Thanks.

I'll continue to post because I have a lot of areas of weakness.

[christiangirl]

Awww, man, I had a great message typed out with examples and everything, but I got beat to it.

[MeezDiscreet]

Originally Posted by delph998

Soror MzDiscreet, I know you can help me out with some of this stuff.

I'll be happy to help in any way I can

[Dionysus]

Seen vs. saw?

[christiangirl]

Saw is past tense and seen is past participle I think. I may be messing up the terminology, but seen is used with helping verbs like 'have': I saw vs. I have seen.

[RedefinedDiva]

I wish some folks would stop throwing an apostrophe in front of every 's' that falls at the end of a word.



And some folks need a constant refresher pertaining to the difference between its and it's. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!!!

[BlueReign]

I hate it when people confuse "your" and "you're". I even corrected my daughter's hand-made Mother's Day Card for this!!!

She wrote: YOUR the best mother

I said: NO, it should read YOU'RE the best mother. You're is the contraction of

YOU ARE

[christiangirl]

Double negatives are SO unattractive. And stop saying 'the' before stuff that shouldn't have a 'the.' Your dog does NOT have "the mange" he just has mange. And your son doesn't like to go outside and play "the basketball."

[Lyoness]

thanks for who/whom rule. that's the first time it's been explained in a simple manner. i find i have an issue with spelling using the "i" "e" before "c" rule. example: their, friend, etc. how do you know?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I wish some folks would stop throwing an apostrophe in front of every 's' that falls at the end of a word.

Thank you. For example, GLO's is not the plural of GLO.

My pet grammatical peeve is the misuse of "myself" in place of "I" or "me," as in "Redefined Diva, Drolefille and myself will be conducting grammar reviews." And lately, my wife and I have observed a distressing increase the use of "I" in place of "me": "BlueReign appropriately corrected christiangirl and I."

[TonyB06]

Originally Posted by delph998

Fellow GCers:

I consider myself to be a great writer, but there are times when I get stuck with words and need help. Everyone has a problem area when it relates to grammar. So let's discuss it and learn from each other.

Here are my issues. When do you use:

Effect/affect

whose/whom/who

I also have problems with prepositions, but I can't think of an example right now.

Two sources that I use and suggest:

The Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White


...now, where is my DVD?!?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by TonyB06

The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White

Great tool. But make sure you have the latest edition of any style book, because some of the rules we grew up with no longer apply.

For example it is now okay to start a sentence with But, And, and Because.

Ensure, insure, and assure can now be used interchangeably.

Use commas sparingly and mainly for clarity--more is not better.

The double dash, which is turned into a long dash by Word, seems to be replacing semi-colons.

The rule for using which v. that is overshadowed by the fact that if you use which, put a comma in front of it.

Business writing has become less formal, but the rules are still very much different than creative writing. Being a good writer is subjective to the type of writing you are doing. A good creative writer is not necessarily a good business writer and vice versa.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

The rule for using which v. that is overshadowed by the fact that if you use which, put a comma in front of it.

You know, as often this rule is explained to me, I still don't understand when to use which v. that. My only consolation is that I don't think most people will notice when I'm wrong ...