- I would like to introduce you to my cousin, Sarah.
- We proudly introduce to you the Dutch team.
- Let me introduce you to him.
"Arguments over grammar and style are often as fierce as those over IBM versus Mac, and as fruitless as Coke versus Pepsi and boxers versus briefs" - Jack Lynch
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
introduce to vs. introduce into
Thursday, June 11, 2020
each other vs. one another
The reciprocal pronouns "each other" and "one another" are used to show that people do the same thing, feel the same way, or have the same relationship.
Use each other when there are only two people or things, and one another when there are more than two.
- The two companies are in competition with each other.
- Sarah and Sam have had a big argument and now they're not speaking to each other.
- Emily and Neal looked at each other.
- I and my best friend talk to each other every day.
- Rose and Gina never liked each other.
- We sent New Year cards to one another.
- The triplets dislike one another.
- The dog, cat and bird looked at one another.
- Apes spend a great deal of time grooming one another's fur.
Tuesday, June 09, 2020
Apostrophe: Quick Tips 2
The apostrophe (') is used in nouns to show possession.
If the plural form of the noun ends in s, add the apostrophe (')
Plural
|
Plural Possessive
|
boys
|
boys’
|
girls
|
girls’
|
ladies
|
ladies’
|
Note: The sign of the possessive case is always added to a word. It is not something that is inserted within a word.
Monday, June 08, 2020
Apostrophe: Quick Tips 1
The apostrophe (') is used in nouns to show possession.
If the plural form of the noun doesn't end in s, add the apostrophe and s.
Plural
|
Plural Possessive
|
men
|
men’s
|
children
|
children’s
|
mice
|
mice’s
|
teeth
|
teeth’s
|
women
|
women’s
|
Sunday, June 07, 2020
Usage: advise...to vs. advise that
Use advise...to when the sentence is giving advice directly to someone or something. If you advise someone to do something, you tell them what you think they should do.
- I advise you to go home. (I am giving this advice directly to you.)
- Sam advised Sarah to sell her car. (Sam advised Sarah directly)
- The minister advised him to leave as soon as possible
Use advise that when the sentence is giving advice not directed at any particular person or thing.
- Experts advise that sunscreen should be reapplied on an hourly basis. (The experts are not giving this advice directly to people; the advice is being given to all of us.)
- Experts advise that investors sell their stock in the company. (The experts are not giving this advice directly to the investors; the advice is being given to all of us.)
Saturday, June 06, 2020
Usage: on the basis of vs. based on
When acting as a past participle based should modify a noun. If there is no noun to which it can attach, one must use on the basis of.
- Incorrect: Based on these findings, we adopted a new marketing approach.
- Correct: On the basis of these findings, we developed a new marketing approach.
- Correct: We developed a new marketing approach based on these findings.
- Incorrect: Based on the growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.
- Correct: On the basis of growth rates of large modern reptiles such as the Galapagos tortoise and examinations of fossils of juvenile dinosaurs, scientists estimate that the largest dinosaurs probably lived to be between 100 and 200 years old.
Thursday, June 04, 2020
Usage Note: Hopefully
As a sentence adverb (modifying an entire sentence or clause, rather than the actual verb), hopefully has been widely criticized.
In formal writing, replace hopefully with an expression such as "I hope that" or "it is to be hoped that."
I hope that we will be able to reach home by evening. - correct
Hopefully, we will be able to reach home by evening. - incorrect
It is to be hoped (or we can only hope) that the ceasefire will last. - correct
Hopefully, the ceasefire will last. - incorrect
Hopefully: an ordinary adverb (modifying the verb)
They waited hopefully for the rain to stop. - correct
He prayed hopefully for the rain. - correct
Tuesday, June 02, 2020
Differ with vs. Differ from
One differs with a person in the matter of opinion.
I beg to differ with your interpretation. (matter of opinion)
The President also differed with members of Congress over this issue. (matter of opinion)
A person or thing differs from another in certain respects; it is unlike another in certain respects.
Delhi differs from Chennai in many ways. (in certain respects)
Laws on pollution differ widely from one country to another.