Grammar Nazi

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blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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With lie/lay, I began to highlight the words and their variations when I found them in stories. I went to lie down, present tense, whereas, I lay on the couch, past tense. A bit trickier when writing about a thing...not sure: I laid the spoon on the table? Or: I lay the spoon on the table? Stay away from spoons, my answer.
 

fushingfeef

Finally Uber!
Aug 14, 2009
10,194
21,965
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
I'm guilty of saying "Which do you like best?" when comparing two objects, when I should technically be saying "Which do you like better?" or perhaps better yet, "Which do you prefer?"

I often confuse when I should be capitalizing the first letters of Dad/dad, Mother/mother, etc.

I don't know if til is a word. I know 'until' is a word, and 'till' probably is, but not so sure about til. On a related note, when people say the time is "quarter til eight" I understand that they mean 7:45, but when they say "quarter of eight" I am not sure if this means 7:45 or 8:15.

I over-use hyphens!
 

Walter Oobleck

keeps coming back...or going, and going, and going
Mar 6, 2013
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34,805
I've seen the use of "lit" and "lighted" in fiction...He lit a cigarette...He lighted a cigarette. I like "lit" but I'm not sure if either is correct. Too, I've seen many split infinitive...."to quickly run" rather than "to run quickly". Probably not the best example...but Strunk and White tells use not to split our infinitive...another handy reference, The Elements of Style, Strunk and White.
 

blunthead

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2006
80,755
195,461
Atlanta GA
I'm guilty of saying "Which do you like best?" when comparing two objects, when I should technically be saying "Which do you like better?" or perhaps better yet, "Which do you prefer?"

I often confuse when I should be capitalizing the first letters of Dad/dad, Mother/mother, etc.

I don't know if til is a word. I know 'until' is a word, and 'till' probably is, but not so sure about til. On a related note, when people say the time is "quarter til eight" I understand that they mean 7:45, but when they say "quarter of eight" I am not sure if this means 7:45 or 8:15.

I over-use hyphens!
I went thru a process per Mom vs mom. I decided to use "mom" when not referring to my own or someone else's mother. "Til" is not a word. "'Til" is. "Till is a word and apparently can be used instead of "'Til" (Till - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

I think "quarter to eight" and "quarter of eight" are both allowed and mean the same thing - 7:45 o'clock.

I'm still figuring hyphens out, but I feel more comfy these days knowing when and when not to use one.