…It burns hotter and quicker. It does, indeed, burn hot, and then the comparison is “hotter.” However, it burns quickly, not quick; and the comparison is “more quickly.” …He reacted more calmly — not “calmer.” …It runs more smoothly — not “smoother.” Just a little grammar — a very common grammar error, I might add — information for the day. …
Percentages
Percentages are always in figures and are never hyphenated as adjectives. …A 72 percent increase is excessive. …I disagree with the 4 percent figure. Happy punctuating! Margie
“Preventative”
Just for the record, though it is probably gaining favor since “conversate” has been declared a word — ugh! — the word should be “preventive.” …We took preventive measures to correct the situation. Happy punctuating! Margie
What Some Call a “Verb Phrase”
If you have the word take and it is followed by an adverb, the meaning changes depending on the adverb that is added: take in, take over, take off, take up, take on. The form of the combination is determined by its part of speech. …He is planning to take over his father’s practice. …The hostile takeover was successful. It …
“Farther” and “Further”
The word far is compared as farther/further and with the superlative farthest/furthest. Farther/farthest are physically measurable distances. …We walked two miles farther today. …She drove farther on Monday than today. Further/furthest are not physically measurable. …This discussion is going no further. …She carried the relationship further than she had intended. Happy punctuating! Margie
Prepositional Phrase
The terms “essential/nonessential” NEVER apply to a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases that are adjectives tend to be right after the word they modify; prepositional phrases that are adverbs can float around in the sentence. One prepositional phrase that just modifies rarely has punctuation. …The man in the red shirt is my dad. …The car near mine was also damaged. …We …
Plurals of Names
When making a title and name plural, there are some options. Obviously you need to take into account how it is said. Two people named Smith …the two Messrs. Smith …the two Mr. Smiths …the two Mmes. Smith …the two Mrs. Smiths …the two Misses Smith …the two Miss Smiths …the two Mss. Smith …the two Ms. Smiths Happy punctuating! …
It’s Not Too Late…
We had just an hour and a half of the grammar class last week. We have thirteen and a half hours to go. Join us. Here is the link with the information. http://www.ccr.edu/index.php/component/content/article/43-loocs/443-cre302-good-grammar-finally Happy punctuating! Margie
Grammar Class
The 15-hour grammar class begins this Sunday at 4:30 Pacific time. Register now! http://www.ccr.edu/index.php/component/content/article/43-loocs/443-cre302-good-grammar-finally Happy punctuating! Margie
“Sometime/Some Time”
Often the grammar of the sentence determines the one-word/two-word difference for the word sometime. If it is the object of a preposition, it has to be two words. …for some time… …at some time… In these expressions, the word time is the main noun. You cannot say “ago” or “back” by themselves. So you need two words. …some time …