Grammar Nazi

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GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
ff11757b10be76a267704cf980df8c94.jpg
 

do1you9love?

Happy to be here!
Feb 18, 2012
9,284
70,566
Virginia
OK, have a question for you Grammar people on this board. This was on the weather channel last night for my area's Local on the 8s. Hubby didn't agree. Summary said, "Showers off and on through the day." He thought it should have been "on and off" because they can't be off until they are on << his phrase. I said that it wasn't raining, so they were already off and they'd be on later. What say you editor types out there???
 

Out of Order

Sign of the Times
Feb 9, 2011
29,007
162,154
New Hampster
OK, have a question for you Grammar people on this board. This was on the weather channel last night for my area's Local on the 8s. Hubby didn't agree. Summary said, "Showers off and on through the day." He thought it should have been "on and off" because they can't be off until they are on << his phrase. I said that it wasn't raining, so they were already off and they'd be on later. What say you editor types out there???

I'd say move to a drier location to avoid future arguments.........:applause:
 

Spideyman

Uber Member
Jul 10, 2006
46,336
195,472
79
Just north of Duma Key
OK, have a question for you Grammar people on this board. This was on the weather channel last night for my area's Local on the 8s. Hubby didn't agree. Summary said, "Showers off and on through the day." He thought it should have been "on and off" because they can't be off until they are on << his phrase. I said that it wasn't raining, so they were already off and they'd be on later. What say you editor types out there???
it is a term often use in weather forecasts:
off and on
phrase of off

  1. 1.
    intermittently; now and then
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
Here's my grammar question for the day...

I just wrote this in another post:

"It was very well-written, and as was said above, it introduced a couple of new elements that is both surprising and intriguing."

Should I have written a "couple of new elements that are both" instead of "a couple of new elements that is both?" Obviously, I'm not sure if the focus should be on couple or elements. I'm uncertain how the that modifier comes into play (hope I am using modifier correctly here; at least in a general sense, it seems like it is modifying something).
 

Rrty

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2007
1,394
4,588
Thanks, Bev and Ms. Mod for the help on this. I agree with the advice here (wish I had noticed the comma issue; then again, I think I probably didn't know the rule to begin with).

However, it's interesting about the word "couple" -- that is considered usually plural in nature? I always get confused on some words like that. For instance, the term "police" is usually associated with "are," but my instinct is to always think of that as a singular institution (I always use are, though). But if I use a band name in a sentence, I tend to use is, although admittedly I'm always uncomfortable with that; plus, I probably don't always do it. I suppose, too, it depends on the context of the sentence.

The Monkees is an amazing musical business model.

But...

The Monkees is coming to town sounds awkward, but Cheap Trick are coming to town also seems awkward.
 

danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
60
Kentucky
Thanks, Bev and Ms. Mod for the help on this. I agree with the advice here (wish I had noticed the comma issue; then again, I think I probably didn't know the rule to begin with).

However, it's interesting about the word "couple" -- that is considered usually plural in nature? I always get confused on some words like that. For instance, the term "police" is usually associated with "are," but my instinct is to always think of that as a singular institution (I always use are, though). But if I use a band name in a sentence, I tend to use is, although admittedly I'm always uncomfortable with that; plus, I probably don't always do it. I suppose, too, it depends on the context of the sentence.

The Monkees is an amazing musical business model.

But...

The Monkees is coming to town sounds awkward, but Cheap Trick are coming to town also seems awkward.
If the word is thought of as a unit, it's singular. If it can be thought of individually, it's plural.
The couple are getting married. One person is marrying another.
The couple is the nicest I know. Couple is a unit here.
Good article to explain:
http://afterdeadline.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/02/singular-plural-pick-one/?_r=0