As we spend more and more time online and less time actually interacting physically with each other, I’ve noticed an interesting linguistic trend. Basic biological Anglo-Saxon verbs are becoming virtualized. What used to be tangible and concrete is now in danger of becoming jargon. Think of “hooking up” and “getting in touch” or even “looking […]Read Post ›
“Only” the Lonely Misplaced modifiers can be a lot of fun–for everyone but the writer. When I teach “boring grammar” to large classes, I like to start by sharing lists of unintended humor compiled from newspapers and writing centers across the country. Everyone has a good laugh and is a little more motivated to be […]Read Post ›
Aloha Fellow Grammarphiles! I hope you have been having as many rib-cracking hysterics as I have been enjoying during our endlessly entertaining political personality parades. (It’s either that or give up and cry.) I tried to resist for several weeks, but I can’t contain myself. I confess to one tiny polite little tweet suggesting that […]Read Post ›
On Getting Laid Chickens lay eggs. People lie down. If I have to read any more sentences with people “laying down,” I will be forced to lay an egg. Or lie down with a migraine. “Lie” is an intransitive verb that indicates situation or position. “Lay” is a transitive verb–i.e. where subject causes something to […]Read Post ›
tropical toes 