Pam’s question: “I am curious about the appropriate use of ‘premise’ and ‘premises.’ I never see ‘premise,’ but I understand it is the singular form of ‘premises.’However, I continue to see ‘premises,’ e.g., people refer to premises lease rather than premise lease.”
BizWritingTip response: When I teach a grammar course, I tell people that for every English grammar rule […]
Grammar Tip – Suspended Hyphen
in GrammarWhen you are writing a sentence that contains hyphenated adjectives with the same last word, delete all the repeated words except for the last one; however, keep the hyphens to indicate a connection to the last word. This is the rule of the suspended hyphen. Examples (incorrect) Long-term or short-term loan Open-door and closed-door policies Two-door […]
Word Choice – Must or Should: Policies and Procedures
in -Latest, Feature Article, Word ChoicePhil’s question: “I have been asked to write a policy for our department. I am not sure when to use ‘should’ or ‘must.’ Can you please explain the difference?” BizWritingTip response: A number of organizations seem to be writing or rewriting their policies and procedures nowadays, and this is a common question. The two words imply […]
Word Choice – As at Versus As of
in Word ChoiceBizWritingTip reader: “We are having a debate in our office about the use of ‘as of’ or ‘as at’ to describe a statistic that pertains to one point in time. I think ‘As at December 2010, the number of X in Y program was Z’ is correct.” BizWritingTip response: This is quite an interesting point. […]
Writing Style – Third Person Pronouns in Reports
in StyleBizWritingTip reader: “When writing a report is it correct to always use the third person?” BizWritingTip response: Third person pronouns are the words he or she, it, they and their variations. Yes, you can use these pronouns in a report, but I would never say “always.” Before you begin a report, you need to determine both the purpose of the […]
Grammar Tip – Noun and Pronoun Agreement
in GrammarBizWritingTip reader: “Is the following sentence right? ‘If the writer does not explain him or herself clearly, readers will often get incorrect information.’ ” BizWritingTip response: This question involves several grammar issues. First, a pronoun must agree with its antecedent (the word it is replacing) in terms of number and gender. Examples Marie said she can make the meeting. We worked hard […]
Grammar Tip – There: Singular or Plural Verb
in -Latest, Feature Article, GrammarSusan’s question: “I saw this recently on a television network’s van: Now there’s a million ways to connect. Is this correct?” Bizwritingtip response: Good catch. This is not correct. The author elected a catchy slogan over a grammatically correct one. Whenever you start a sentence with “there” or “here” the verb agrees with the closest […]
Word Choice – Diagnosis or Diagnoses
in Word ChoiceBizWritingTip reader: “Would you please help me with the difference between ‘diagnoses’ and ‘diagnosis’? Are these words singular and plural?” BizWritingTip response: “Diagnosis” is a singular word meaning the identification of an illness or disease by means of a patient’s symptoms. Example Dr. House’s diagnosis was accurate – as usual. The word “diagnoses” is the […]
Writing Style – Ms.
in StyleThree times in the past two months, I have had a young person in one of my business writing workshops tell me that the word Ms. means the woman is divorced. Mind boggling! Gloria Steinem would be spinning in her grave – if she were dead. Ms (UK) or Ms. (North American) is an English honorific denoting a female. It […]
Word Choice – Data: Singular or Plural
in GrammarBizWritingTip reader: “What is the rule for ‘data’? Some of our consultants use singular, and some use plural verbs with it. I use the singular verb myself!” BizWritingTip response: “Data” is the plural of the Latin word “datum,” meaning “given.” You would think then that “data” would fall into the standard rule for subject and […]
Word Choice – Premise Versus Premises
in -Latest, Feature Article, Word ChoicePam’s question: “I am curious about the appropriate use of ‘premise’ and ‘premises.’ I never see ‘premise,’ but I understand it is the singular form of ‘premises.’However, I continue to see ‘premises,’ e.g., people refer to premises lease rather than premise lease.” BizWritingTip response: When I teach a grammar course, I tell people that for every English grammar rule […]