Jane Watson

Word Choice – My wife and I/My wife and me

in /by

I have been out of the country for the past month and am still working my way through my emails. However, I am surprised at the number of readers who commented on the BizWritingTip regarding “texted” becoming a verb.

They felt that the sentence “My daughter told my wife and me …” was grammatically incorrect. It should have been “My daughter told my wife and I.”

Sorry, dear readers, but in this case “my wife and me” is correct.
“I” and “me” are personal pronouns. “I” is used when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence. “Me” is used when the pronoun is the object.

Examples
My daughter told my wife and me. (The pronoun is the object in the sentence.)
My wife and I were told by my daughter. (Now the pronoun is the subject.)
The report was written by Sam and me. (The pronoun is the object.)
Sam and I wrote the report. (Now the pronoun is the subject.)

Are you still confused? If so, here’s an easy way to sort it out. Part of the confusion comes from the compound (two) subjects and objects. Therefore, drop the first part of the compound, and you’ll automatically get the correct answer. Then you can put the sentence back together.

Examples
My daughter told I. (This is incorrect.)
My daughter told me. (This sounds better.)
The report was written by I. (This is not grammatically correct and sounds pretentious.)
The report was written by me. (This is correct.)
Me wrote the report. (I hope someone else proofed it.)
I wrote the report. (Correct)

The rules for personal pronouns are not new. I think some people may just have misunderstood them.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Next and Last

in , , /by

Lesley’s question: “Please volunteer your opinion on next or last. For example, if in 2014, I said I saw her last Christmas, I take this to mean I saw her at Christmas 2012, not Christmas 2013.”

BizWritingTip response: When next or last are used to describe a time, things get complicated. They mean different things to different people – even dictionaries cannot agree. I was taught to mentally add an additional word, such as year or week, to determine the meaning.

Examples (North American)
I saw her last (year’s) Christmas. (This would make it 2013.)
Today is Monday. I want to meet next Wednesday. (Next week’s Wednesday would be nine days from now.)
Today is Monday. I want to meet this Wednesday. (This week’s Wednesday is two days from now.)

However, this seems to be a North American custom.

The Oxford Dictionary states that next relates to the nearest following day.

Example (British)
Today is Monday. I want to meet next Wednesday. (This would mean in two days.)

My advice: Don’t use this and next when referring to a certain day without clarifying the date.

Example
I want to meet next Tuesday (the 12th).

Or, only talk to people who think like you.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Although Versus Though

in , , /by

Irfan’s question: “Please help me understand the use of ‘though’ and ‘although’ and when to add a comma with these words. Here are two examples: 2) Although(,) I have finished your assignment, it was not difficult. 2) I have finished your assignment. It was not difficult though.”

BizWritingTip response:  “Although” and “though” when used as conjunctions are interchangeable. (Conjunctions are words that join two separate thoughts.) Although is generally considered more formal than though. (If you wanted to be emphatic, you could also say “even though.”)

The words indicate a condition with an unexpected outcome. One way to ensure you are using the words correctly is to try to replace them with the phrase “despite the fact that.”

Therefore, neither of these words works with your first example. It would be odd to say “Despite the fact that I finished your assignment, it was not difficult.” You would expect to be able to finish an assignment that was not difficult.

Examples (correct)
Despite the fact that I finished your assignment, it was difficult. (wordy but correct)
Although I finished your assignment, it was difficult. (formal)
Though I finished your assignment, it was not easy. (informal)

Note: The comma is inserted only after the “although” or “though” phrase. It is never placed directly after the word.

Though can also be used an adverb meaning however. (In this usage, though is not interchangeable with although.) Do not insert any commas with the word.

Examples
I finished your assignment. It was not difficult however.
I finished your assignment. It was not difficult though.

There is nothing wrong in using “though” as an adverb. Personally, I would have omitted the word as I believe it is not necessary: I finished your assignment. It was not difficult.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Spacecraft Versus Spacecrafts

in , , /by

Deane’s question: “I wonder if it’s acceptable to write spacecrafts (or aircrafts) instead of using the singular. I thought ‘craft’ was similar to the use of sheep – one word functions for both singular and plural.”

BizWritingTip response: Again, another example of our words changing. Most dictionaries, e.g., Oxford, Merriam-Webster, and Cambridge Dictionaries Online, agree with you. “Craft” refers to both singular or plural nouns – the same as the word “sheep.”

Example (most dictionaries)
The pilot turned the spacecraft toward earth.
The pilot has spent time on several spacecraft.

However, in researching this question, I found that Webster’s College Dictionary and Wiktionary accept both “spacecraft” and “spacecrafts” as the plural noun.

Example
Seven spacecrafts were successful in landing on Mars.

Therefore, in some situations you might get away with adding an “s” to spacecraft. However, if you stick with “spacecraft” regardless of whether it is singular or plural, you will always be correct.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Further Versus Farther

in , , /by

Sharon’s question: “I am always confused over the use of ‘farther’ vs. ‘further.’ Which would be correct in the following sentence? If these dates do not work, we can look further (or farther?) into the year.”

BizWritingTip response: This question is quite interesting. My initial response was to recommend the use of “further.” Further is used for an abstract distance and indicates “to a greater degree” or “to a greater extent.”

Examples
If these dates do not work, we can look further into the year.
I wish I was further along in writing the proposal.
What further proof do you need?

Farther refers to actual distance.

Examples
The new office location is farther from my home than I would like.
How much farther do we have to travel?

But, in doing an additional check with my dictionary and grammar books, I found that some reference books now consider these words interchangeable.

The Oxford Canadian Dictionary states that “farther” is a variant of “further.”

Frankly, I intend to stick with the traditional way of writing farther and further. However, if you can’t keep them straight, I don’t imagine many readers will call you on it.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Season’s Greetings or Seasons Greetings?

in /by

According to Wikipedia, “Season’s Greetings” is a term that wishes people well over the holiday season regardless of their religious beliefs.

We tend to use the phrase more in writing than in speaking. It first appeared on winter season greeting cards along with “Merry Christmas,” “Compliments of the Season,” and “Christmas Greetings” in the late 19th century. “With the Season’s Greetings” or simply “The Season’s Greetings” was shortened to “Season’s Greetings” in the 1920s.

I love seeing the phrase. However, please remember “Seasons Greetings” – without the apostrophe – means greetings for many seasons. It is generic. And although you may like the person so well that you want to wish them good tidings for numerous seasons to come, let’s get a little more personal and take it one step at a time. Let’s wish them the best life can bring them throughout the upcoming holiday time.

Therefore, from J. Watson Associates Inc. — ? Season’s Greetings

We’ll be back with more grammar tips next year.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – On Line, Online, or On-Line

in , , /by

Matt’s question: “I have a question on the use of ‘on line’ vs. ‘online.’ In a recent blog post you spelled it ‘on line.’ Was this correct?”

BizWritingTip response: You got me. Thank you. I learn a lot from my readers. Although you often see the two spellings interchanged, I should have written it as one word in the example. British English inserts a hyphen; American English does not.

Examples
Politicians should post their expenses on line. (incorrect)
Politicians should post their expenses on-line. (British)
Politicians should post their expenses online. (American)
Do you enjoy on-line shopping? (British)
Do you enjoy online shopping? (American)

The Oxford Canadian Dictionary defines “on-line” as an adjective or adverb meaning “controlled by or connected to a central processing unit.”

“On line” is defined in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary as “in or into operation.”

Example
The new production system will come on line next week.

I will now remember to use “online” or “on-line” if there is a connection to computers. Anything else will be “on line.”

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Whoever Versus Whomever

in , , /by

Evelyn’s question: “Can you please describe when to use ‘whomever’ and when to use ‘whoever’?”

BizWritingTip response: If I said whoever is a pronoun in the nominative form and whomever is a pronoun in the objective form would it help?  I thought not. But let me show you a trick to help you easily determine the right word.

Mentally rearrange the part of the sentence containing the problem and try substituting the words he/she or him/her.

If he or she sounds right, then use “whoever.”
If him or her sounds better, then use “whomever.”

In the following examples, I have put the parts of the sentence you are working with in italics.

Example (whoever = he or she)

Whoever or whomever can play well in these conditions will win the golf tournament. (He can play well in these conditions; therefore, use whoever.)
Correct: Whoever can play well in these conditions will win the golf tournament.

We will give the job to whoever or whomever you think is the most qualified. (You think she is the most qualified; therefore, use whoever.)
Correct:  We will give the job to whoever you think is the most qualified.

Example (whomever = him or her)

Please call whoever or whomever you think can fix the problem.  (Please call her; therefore, use whomever.)
Correct: Please call whomever you think can fix the problem.

We will give the job to whoever or whomever submits the lowest bid.  (We will give the job to him; therefore, use whomever.)
Correct: We will give the job to whomever submits the lowest bid.

I trust this simple trick will help you get it right every time.

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Come Versus Go

in , , /by

Roger’s question: “I hear and see people misusing ‘come’ and ‘go.’ Can you please explain the differences?”

BizWritingTip response: When choosing between these words, you must consider your location and your receiver’s location. Come means move toward. Go means away from.

Examples (when communicating with someone at your location)
I hope the server comes soon. (The destination is toward you.)
I will go to the airport to pick her up. (The destination is away from your location.)
I would have gone to their open house if I had known about it. (The destination was away from your location.)

Exception: If you are communicating with someone who is at your destination — not your location — use their location to choose the word. Therefore, the word would be come.

Examples (when someone is at your destination)
I will come to your office tomorrow. (The receiver is at your destination.)
I should have come to your open house. (The destination would have been at the receiver’s location.)

Jane Watson

Word Choice – Staff or Staffs

in , , /by

Donna’s question: “Here’s something I struggle with – the plural use of ‘Staffs were…’ versus ‘Staff were…’ Staffs just sounds odd to me and doesn’t easily roll of my tongue. Am I wrong to say ‘Staff were very appreciative of…’?”
BizWritingTip response: The plural of staff is staffs. However, it is not a common word. It refers to bodies of people working for different organizations. Example: Staffs of all health-related agencies in the area were invited to a meeting.

Staff can be used as a singular or as a collective noun. “Staff were very appreciative” implies that some members were grateful. “Staff was very appreciative” implies everyone was grateful.