EnoughAlready #5 (redundant expressions)

Each time I think I've written my last post on the subject of redundant expressions, more come to mind.

personal friend             fellow classmates              first time ever

revert back                   usual custom                     9 P.M. in the evening

new innovation             mix together                      rarely ever

original founder            bald-headed                      plan ahead

HIV virus                      surrounded on all sides     personal opinion                      

The Trouble with X(confusion about the "ks" sound)

Sometimes people are confused about the sound "ks": either they change it TO the sound of "s," or they use it INSTEAD OF the sound of "s." The sound "ks" is usually spelled with an "x," but it can also be spelled by "cc" before "i," "e," or "y."

Here are some words that are often mispronounced because the speaker used a "ks" sound instead of an "s" sound":
                     eScape               not eXcape
                     eSpecially           not eXpecially
                     asteriSk               not asteriX
                     eSpresso             not eXpresso
                     et cetera              not eX etera

The following words can be mispronounced when the speaker substitutes the sound of "s" for the sound of "ks":
                     succinct               suKSinct, not suSSinct  
                     ecstatic                eKStatic, not eStatic
                     accessory            aKSessory, not aSSessory
                     flaccid                  flaKSid, but flaSSid has been used so often
                                                    that it's now accepted
                     


  

The Hen Lies Down to Lay an Egg (lie and lay)

The verbs "lie" and "lay" are frequently misused and widely misunderstood. Perhaps today we can remove some of the fog surrounding them.

I'll start with "lay" because its forms more closely resemble those of a regular verb: LAY in the present, LAID in the past, LAID as the past participle, and LAYING as the present participle, like PAY, PAID, PAID, and PAYING. The verb "to lay" means "to put" or "to place." It might help you to remember that both "place" and "lay" have the long sound of "a." When you use a form of "lay" in a sentence, you should be able to substitute a form of "place."

The word "lay" is a transitive verb, and as such it expresses an action that goes from a doer to a receiver. The receiver answers the question "what?" after the verb, and the sentence doesn't make sense without the answer. Here are some examples of sentences in which forms of "lay" are used correctly:
          I don't know where I LAID my KEYS. (placed my keys)
         The workers have already LAID the TILES in the kitchen. (placed the tiles) 
          She's carefully LAYING the DRESS in the box. (placing the dress)
          He always LAYS the BLAME on others. (places the blame)
Notice that each of the above sentences has a receiver of the action, and that the receiver answers the question "what?" after the verb. IT IS NEVER CORRECT TO USE ANY OF THE ABOVE FORMS UNLESS THERE IS A RECEIVER OF THE ACTION!

 Did you notice that I left out one form of the verb "lay" in the above sentences? I left out "lay" itself, because this one form is the source of most of the confusion about the verbs "lie" and "lay"! You know that "lay" is a transitive verb that means "place," as in "lay an egg"; however, "lay" is also the PAST form of the verb "lie," which means "recline" or "be situated." The verbs "lie" and "lay" are frequently confused because the past form of one is the same as the present form of the other!

There are two more reasons for the confusion between "lie" and "lay":
           1.Many people aren't aware of the existence of the word "lain," and they use "laid" instead.
           2. Many people have misheard a statement like "Last night I lay down" as "Last night I laid down," mistakenly transferring the "d" sound at the beginning of "down" to the end of "lay."


The long sound of "i" in "lie" and "recline" may help you remember that these two verbs are synonyms. The verb "lie" is NOT transitive and has NO RECEIVER! Its forms are irregular: LIE in the present, LAY in the past, LAIN as the past participle, and LYING as the present participle. Here are some sentences in which the verb "lie" means "recline":
              The letter is LYING unanswered on my desk. (present)
               It has LAIN there for three days. (past participle)
               My ancestors LIE in this cemetery. (present)
               Yesterday the dog LAY under the tree. (past)
               Let sleeping dogs LIE. (present)
              The lake LIES beyond the mountain. (present)
Notice that the words "laid," "lays," and "laying" are not used in the above sentences because they are forms of the verb "lay," meaning "place" or "put," and can never mean "recline" or "be situated." Also notice that the above sentences have NO RECEIVER!



This sentence will help you remember the present forms of both verbs:

At the beach I like to LAY my towel down on the sand and LIE on it.




The following sentences summarize the verbs "lie" and "lay":
                                        
Present -                   People LIE down and hens LAY eggs.
Past-                         People LAY down and hens LAID eggs.
Past Participle-         People have LAIN down and hens have LAID eggs,
Present Participle-    People are LYING down and hens are LAYING eggs.




For more reinforcement:
                                                     LAY
           The table was LAID for four.
           I LAID down the book I was reading and answered the phone.
           The teacher will LAY down the law to her students.
           She LAID the baby in the crib.
           Before the earthquake the hens stopped LAYING.
           The teacher LAYS great importance on correct grammar.
           The lawyer LAID the case before the court.
                                               
                                                        LIE
            She LIES down when she has a headache.
            After dinner I LAY in the hammock .
            Use a sunscreen if you plan to LIE in the sun.
            The dust in the attic has LAIN there undisturbed for years.
            He's LYING down for a nap.
            Debris was LYING in the streets after the storm.
            The campground LIES along the banks of the river.


This paragraph has all the forms of both verbs:

I laid the package on the hall table before breakfast, and it lay there all morning. It is still lying there. Maybe I should not have laid it on that table, but I have been laying packages there all week with no problem. Should I pick it up and lay it on the desk in the office? I don't want it to lie in the hall all day. I'll be upset if I wake up tomorrow morning and find that it has lain there all night.




P.S. When the verb "lie" means to tell an untruth, it's a regular verb (ending in "ed") and presents no problems.

P.P.S. In a previous post, "Me, Myself, and I," I should have included this correction of a favorite childhood prayer: "Now I lay MYSELF (not "me") down to sleep..." This prayer uses "lay" correctly to mean "place myself down."
 

Enough Already #4 (redundant expressions)

More redundant expressions--


added bonus                              safe haven                       hot water heater

totally demolished                      every single                      other alternative

regular routine                           sudden impulse                adequate enough

rise up                                        fall down                          PIN number

yellow in color                           circular in shape               bitter-tasting medicine

Don't Literally Have a Heart Attack! (literally)

The word "literally" comes from the Latin word for "letter" and means "according to the letter," or "word for word." Misuse of this word is becoming more common as people mistakenly use it as a synonym for "really." The following sentences use "literally" correctly:
          The novel was translated literally from the French.
          Some people interpret the Bible literally.


The language we use to express our thoughts can be either figurative (using symbolism, exaggeration, etc.) or literal. Sometimes we use language that appears to be figurative but is meant to be literal. In such a case, the word "literally" can be used to show that the words mean exactly what they say. The following sentences are examples:
        Without help from charities, the people of Somalia would literally starve to
             death. (Sometimes we say we are "starving" when we are merely hungry,
             but these people actually are starving.)
        The martyrs were literally thrown to the wolves. (Being thrust into
             a difficult situation can be described as being "thrown to the wolves," but
             in this case there were actual wolves.)
        The sailor knows his ropes, literally and figuratively.
        He's out to lunch, literally and figuratively.


In the above sentences, the word "literally" is used to distinguish between a figurative and a literal meaning of a word or phrase. You can see why adding "literally" to the following sentences would be a mistake:
         Dad hit the ceiling when he got the bill.
         The salsa was so hot that my mouth was on fire.
         It was raining cats and dogs.


Remember that "literally" is used before a word or phrase that is normally figurative, in order to show that in a particular sentence that word or phrase is NOT being used in a figurative sense. Only use "literally" when the words after it mean exactly what they say!  It should not be used to mean "really."



Here's a sentence that seems to contradict everything I've written, but I'd love to be able to say it someday in another life.....

                                      I LITERALLY DIED LAUGHING!




Postscript to today's blog--
      Today's events in Washington were literally earth-shaking!
              
  

            
           

Me, Myself, and I (overuse of "myself")

I'll never run out of ideas for this blog. A news reader on a cable channel just uttered this little gem: "Michael and myself will be right back after this message." She should have said "Michael and I," but her mistake gave me the subject for today's post. Don't say "myself' when you mean "I" or "me"! THE IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE PRONOUN "MYSELF" IS THAT IT IS USED ONLY WHEN YOU'VE ALREADY SAID "I" OR "ME."


There are two instances when "myself" is used:

                    1. as a reflexive pronoun- I burned MYSELF while cooking dinner.
                                                              I bought MYSELF a new coat.
                                                              I bought a gift for MYSELF.
                                                              Mom told me to buy something
                                                                 for MYSELF. 
                    2.as an intensive pronoun- I did all the cooking MYSELF.

In the first four sentences "myself" is necessary to the meaning, and it reflects back to the subject "I" or the object "me."  Notice that all the sentences have either "I" or "me" before the word "myself" is used. Think of a mirror: it reflects your image back to you, but there will be no reflection without your presence. This will help you remember that you should not say "myself" if you haven't already said "I" or "me."

The "myself" in the fifth sentence is used only for emphasis and can be left out.


Confusion about the word "myself" often stems from a misunderstanding of what word to use when there is a compound element involved, as in "John and me." In such sentences, you should remove the "John and" before you decide. In the following sentences, without the "John and," you'd have no trouble knowing that "me" or "I" is the right word to use, and not "myself":
                           
                       The boss called John and ME to the office. 
                       A package was sent to John and ME.
                       John and I went to the office.



Before I sign off---- When someone asks how you are, be sure you don't answer, "Fine, and yourself?" The same rule applies to "you" and to the other personal pronouns.             

Who's Misspelling Whose Words? (who's and whose)

Today we'll add another pair of often-confused words with the same pattern we saw in the last two posts.

The pronoun "who" isn't a personal pronoun but can be either relative or interrogative. Its possessive form, "whose," has no apostrophe.
He is the person WHOSE name was called. (relative pronoun)
WHOSE responsibility is it to clean the kitchen? (interrogative pronoun)

The pronoun "who" combines with "is" or "has" to make the contraction "who's" by dropping the "i" or "ha" and inserting an apostrophe.
WHO'S responsible for cleaning the kitchen? (WHO IS..)
WHO'S been responsible for cleaning the kitchen?  (WHO HAS been...)

Again it's important to remember-
              The possessive form has no apostrophe.
              The apostrophe is used in place of the missing letter or letters to make
                    the contraction.


           sentences using "whose"                      sentences using "who's"

Whose house is this?                                 Who's the owner of this house?
                                                                   Who's been living in this house?
Whose invitations have been mailed?       Who's coming to the party?
                                                                   Who's been invited to the party?
Whose experience is the most extensive? Who's the most experienced person?
                                                                   Who's had the most experience?
He is an author whose books I enjoy.        Who's your favorite author?
                                                                   Who's written your favorite books?

It's Wagging Its Tail (it's and its)

 
It has been said that "its" is the most frequently misspelled word in the English language. That is because it is often confused with "it's," the contraction for "it is" or "it has." These two words are similar to "your" and "you're," which were the subject of yesterday's post, and the same principles apply.

The first word is possessive, showing ownership of something. Since "it" is a personal pronoun, no apostrophe is used in the possessive form.
That old car has served ITS purpose.

The second word is the contraction for "it is" or "it has," and the apostrophe is taking the place of the missing "i" or "ha." Remember that the apostrophe is a sign that something is being left out.
IT'S time to get a new car. (IT IS time....)
IT'S been ten years since we've bought a new car. (IT HAS been ten years....)

Usually mistakes with these words involve overusing the contraction "it's"; in fact, some people seem unaware of the existence of "its." Remember that the one WITHOUT the apostrophe shows ownership, and the one WITH the apostrophe means "it is" or "it has."

        sentences using "its"                               sentences using "it's"
The city is proud of its schools.             It's been years since I've visited Boston.
My puppy licked its paws.                      It's been a wonderful experience.

To be sure, whenever you write "it's" in a sentence, read the sentence aloud substituting "it is" or "it has," and see if it makes sense.

                                   
    

You're in Your Prime (you're and your)

Two words that are frequently confused are "your" and "you're."

The first one is possessive and refers to something that belongs to you. You'll remember it better if you notice that "our," another possessive, is inside it.     
YOUR  attendance is required.


The second one is called a contraction, or a "pulling together" of the two words "you are."  
YOU'RE required to attend.

Imagine the two words joined as "youare;" then remove the "a" and replace it with an apostrophe. Keep in mind that the apostrophe is taking the place of the missing "a."  Remember that, with personal pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), an apostrophe does not show ownership as it does with nouns.

I just heard that YOU'RE going to Hawaii for YOUR vacation. (You are going, and you own the vacation.)
  

How Do You Feel? (bad vs. badly)

                   
                           Right                                                      Wrong

 I feel BAD about your accident. (sorry)       I feel BADLY about your accident.

 She has the flu and is feeling BAD. (ill)      She has the flu and is feeling BADLY.

 I play tennis BADLY. (in a bad manner)      I played BAD today.

 He was hurt BADLY.  (in a bad manner)     He was hurt BAD.


If you tell others that you feel bad, they will think you are sorry, ill, or sad, but if you say you feel badly, they could think that the nerve endings in your skin are inoperative, causing numbness. The word "badly" describes the manner in which something is done, and it doesn't usually follow the verb "feel."
                                                 

Words That Don't Exist (words used in error)

"momento"   -       This is used mistakenly for "memento," which refers to a
                                souvenir.

"irregardless"   -    I've heard this used for "regardless."

"kudo"   -               From the Greek we have adopted "kudos," a singular word
                                meaning "praise." It ends with the "s" sound as in "gross,"
                                not with a "z" sound.  Kudos from your clients IS a real sign
                                of success.
                               
                               
                                 

As We Speak #3 (words often mispronounced)

because >   be-COZ, not be-CUZ            nuclear>   nu-KLEE-ar, not nu-KEW-lar


bouquet>   BOO-kay, not BO-kay           recognize>  rec-OG-nize, not rec-uh-nize


dissect>     DIS-sect, not DI-sect             cyclical>     SI-clic-al, not sic-lic-al

Enough Already #3 (redundant expressions)

ATM machine                          basic necessity                      fellow colleague

            
completely unanimous             past history                           self-confessed


unexpected surprise                sum total                               present incumbent

When in Rome...(plural of words from Latin)

There are some words adopted from Latin that are a source of confusion. They are grouped according to endings, and today we'll focus on the ones ending in "um" in the singular. These words change the "um" to "a" in the plural.

                           one bacteriUM is          >         many bacteriA are
                           one mediUM is             >         many mediA are
                           one datUM is                >         many datA are
                           one curriculUM is         >         many curriculA are
                           one memorandUM is    >         many memorandA are

As We Speak #2 (words often mispronounced)

Today we'll consider a few more words that you'll often hear mispronounced. (The previous sentence contains one of those words, as the "t' in "often" should not be heard.)  Because of their widespread use, incorrect pronunciations are frequently included in dictionary entries as second choices.

etc.- the abbreviation for "et cetera," a Latin phrase which means "and other
          things." It sounds like "ET SET-ER-A," and has no "x" sound.
asterisk- ends in "RISK" and also has no "x" sound.                                               
chaise longue- Don't confuse the second word with the English "lounge."
                         These words mean "long chair" in French, and they're    
                         pronounced "SHAYS LONG."
realtor- Be sure you call yourself a REE-UL-TER, not a REE-LUH-TER.

 

As We Speak (words often mispronounced)

When you are speaking with clients in person or on the phone, you make a more positive impression if your language is not only in good taste but also correct. Today we'll focus on the pronunciation of words, and I'll give you a few examples of words that are frequently mispronounced.

 divisive          The second "i" should be long, sounding like "eye."
 long-lived      The "i" should be long, sounding like "eye."  Remember that the
                         word is made from "long life."
 mischievous   The last syllable is pronounced "vus." There is no "i" after the "v."

What Are the Criteria?(plural of words from Greek)

Foreign words adopted into English often retain their plural forms. Singular Greek words ending in "on" change the ending to "a" in the plural, sometimes causing confusion among English speakers.

one automatON  (An automaton is...)     two automatA  (The automata are...)
one criteriON  (A criterion is...)              two criteriA (The criteria are...)
one phenomenON (A phenomenon is...)two phenomenA (The phenomena are...)

A reminder ------ Don't forget that "criteria" is plural!

Enough Already #2 (redundant expressions)

Yesterday's post got me thinking about other redundant expressions, so today I'll just make a list and add no comments. You decide which part is unnecessary in each phrase.

advance planning          all-time record            basic fundamentals     
close proximity               end result                   exact same                  
free gift                          join together               large in size                
most favorite                  passing fad                past experience   
refer back                      few in number            smile on your face
5 A.M. in the morning    true fact                     12 noon               

Enough Already! (redundant expressions)

I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of hearing the word "absolutely." Enough said.

Also creeping into our speech is the repetition of the word "is." Sometimes it's correct, as in "What the problem is is too much eating without sufficient exercise." A sentence like that may be awkward but it's not incorrect, and it's definitely not common. Usually a sentence with "is" as a verb uses "is" only once.  My concern IS that we are consuming too many calories and not getting enough exercise.

One Word or Two?(everyday and all right)

The word "everyday" means "common" or "ordinary," and the two words "every day" mean "each day."  Frequently the single word is being used in sentences where the two words belong.  EVERY DAY we changed into our EVERYDAY clothes when we returned from school.

This one is easy, because there's only one choice. The word "alright" does not exist, and "all right" is always two words.  The answer is either ALL RIGHT or ALL WRONG.

Word Pairs Often Confused (altogether, then,a)

Today's first language tip involves "altogether" versus "all together." The former means "entirely" or "on the whole," and the latter means that there's a uniting of individuals. There's ALTOGETHER too much noise when you shout ALL TOGETHER. (I should add that the former also is used in the expression "in the altogether," meaning "without clothing.")

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
A second tip for today is the distinction between "then" and "than," words which can sound alike and are often confused. The former refers to time, and the latter is used in comparisons. She heard the starting signal and THEN ran faster THAN her opponents to win the race.

                  

This one seems basic, but it's becoming more confused all the time. The little words "a" and "an" have the same meaning, but their use depends on the sound that begins the word that follows them. If the next word begins with a consonant sound, use "a," and if it begins with a vowel sound, use "an." Remember: it's not the beginning LETTER but the beginning SOUND!   A cucumber, A yo-yo, A unicorn (yoo), A onetime opportunity (wun), AN apple, A hat, A history book, AN honest man (on), AN 8-hour day (ate), AN FBI agent (eff)