- I would like to introduce you to my cousin, Sarah.
- We proudly introduce to you the Dutch team.
- Let me introduce you to him.
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’
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girls
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girls’
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ladies
|
ladies’
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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
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Plural Possessive
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men
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men’s
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children
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children’s
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mice
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mice’s
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teeth
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teeth’s
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women
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women’s
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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
Labels:
hopefully,
Usage Note: Hopefully
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.
Monday, June 01, 2020
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Rates for vs. Rates of
When rates means prices charged, it should be followed by for instead of of
State officials report that soaring rates for liability insurance are forcing cutbacks in the operations of everything from local governments and school districts to day-care centers and recreational facilities. - correct
State officials report that soaring rates of liability insurance are forcing cutbacks in the operations of everything from local governments and school districts to day-care centers and recreational facilities. - incorrect
When rate is used as a standard of measure, it should be followed by of instead of for
High rates of sick leave are a concern for all types of organizations. - correct
High rates for sick leave are a concern for all types of organizations. - incorrect
Monday, May 25, 2020
Because vs. In that
You use in that to introduce an explanation of a statement you have just made.
e.g. I'm lucky in that I've got four sisters
When we use because, we are focusing on the reason. Because is used to express a simple cause effect relationship
e.g. The boy was absent because he was ill.
Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer in that they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears. - correct
Teratomas are unusual forms of cancer because they are composed of tissues such as tooth and bone, tissues not normally found in the organ in which the tumor appears. - incorrect
Sunday, May 24, 2020
Where vs. In which
Where is used to refer to places only; to refer to events use in which
Stars like the sun can continue to shine steadily for billions of years because their light and heat are produced by nuclear fusion, in which titanic releases of energy result in the loss of only tiny amounts of mass. - correct
Stars like the sun can continue to shine steadily for billions of years because nuclear fusion produces their light and heat, where titanic releases of energy result in the loss of only tiny amounts of mass. - incorrect
Idioglossia is a phenomenon, incompletely understood at best, where two persons develop a unique and private language with highly original vocabulary and syntax. - incorrect
Idioglossia is a phenomenon, incompletely understood at best, in which two persons develop a unique and private language with highly original vocabulary and syntax. - correct
Saturday, April 04, 2020
For vs. Because
Punctuate for and because differently.
The coordinating conjunction for means because.
Put a comma in front of for but not in front of because.
My room is cold for the heater is broken. - incorrect
My room is cold, for the heater is broken. - correct
My room is cold because the heater is broken
Labels:
For vs. Because,
Punctuation
Monday, March 23, 2020
Few Quick Tips
1. Do not use since with an amount of time. Use for.
- I have been here since six weeks - incorrect
- I have been here for six weeks - correct
2. Do not use the simple present in a sentence containing since. Use the present perfect.
- I am here since January 5. - incorrect
- I have been here since January 5. - correct
Labels:
Few quick tips,
Since vs For,
Tenses
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Look at vs. Look to
Look at implies to turn the eyes in a certain direction so as to see; to use one's sight.
- He turned and looked at her.
- I’d like a skin specialist to look at that rash of yours.
- Children look to their parents for help.
- This looks to be a very difficult assignment.
Monday, March 16, 2020
Maybe vs. Probably
Maybe
adverb
written as one word, defined as possibly or perhaps.
used to indicate uncertainty or possibility.
- Maybe it won't rain.
- Maybe no one will come to the party.
- Maybe you were right after all.
Probably
adverb
used to mean that something is very likely
- Sam was probably right.
- I'll probably be home by midnight.
- The infection was probably caused by swimming in contaminated water.
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Economic vs. Economical
Economic is not same as economical.
Economical means frugal, careful in management, not exaggerated or excessive; it has to do with saving.
- the most economical method
- economic problems
- a period of economic expansion.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Known to vs. Known as
Known to: when we want to talk about some fact that people have learned.
- Lions have been known to occasionally kill large beasts like elephants, giraffes, and rhinos.
- Elephants are known to communicate with seismics, vibrations produced by impacts on the earth's surface or acoustical waves that travel through it.
Known as: when we want to talk about the name of somebody or something or its definition.
- Some male Asian elephants are tuskless and are known as Muknas
- Lions are big cats known as the "King of the Jungle".
Sunday, March 08, 2020
Especially vs. Specially
Especially means 'particularly, to a degree beyond others'. To stress on exceptional quality, use especial or especially.
- He did especially well in national games. (A noteworthy performance)
Specially means 'for this purpose, or to this end, and no other'. To stress on the distinctive purpose of something, use special or specially.
- This laboratory is built specially for research. (A distinctive purpose)
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Subject Verb Agreement: Compound Subjects - Exceptions
Exceptions:
1. When the subjects joined by and refer to the same entity, the subject is singular.
- Burger and fries was her preferred snack.
- Drinking and driving is a crime.
- Calculating and plotting the points on a graph is the most time consuming part of the analysis.
- My best friend and wisest counselor is a dog.
(The two subjects refer to the same animal)
2. When the elements are joined by and are preceded by the pronoun each and every, they are considered one unit and take a singular verb.
- Each invoice and purchase order has to be approved.
- Each passenger and the crew member was questioned.
- Every man and woman in the country knows who Lata Mangeshkar is.
NOTE: If each follows a compound subject rather than precedes it, the verb is plural.
- The invoices and purchase orders each have to be approved.
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