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Jul 31

Can anyone find someone to answer this?

Posted on Friday, July 31, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

Q. How are somebody, anybody, someone and anyone used?
A. Basically the same way some and any are used.

somebody/someone is used in positive sentences:
  It appears that somebody camped here last night.
  It appears that someone camped here last night.

anybody/anyone can be used in positive sentences when used as it doesn’t matter which:
   You can get just about anybody to smile by smiling.
   You can get just about anyone to smile by smiling.

anybody/anyone is used in positive sentences following never, hardly or without:
   It seems there is never anybody home during the day.
   It seems there is never anyone home during the day.
   With this cooler weather, there is hardly anybody on the beach.
   With this cooler weather, there is hardly anyone on the beach.
   A tree in a wilderness area could fall without anybody hearing it.
  A tree in a wilderness area could fall without anyone hearing it.

anybody/anyone is used in negative sentences:
   There isn’t anybody here.
   There isn’t anyone here.

anybody/anyone can be used in a positive sentence when the sense of it is negative:
   I decided not to loan them anybody from our team.
   I decided not to loan them anyone from our team.

anybody/anyone is used in questions:
   Does anybody really know what time it is?
   Does anyone really know what time it is?

somebody/someone is used in questions where we hope the answer is “yes”:
   Can somebody help me lift this heavy box?
   Can someone help me lift this heavy box?

somebody/someone is used in questions when offering or requesting:
   Could I please have somebody return my call?
   Could I please have someone return my call?

Q. How do the -body and -one forms differ?
A. You can find an explation of the minor differences here.

Jul 30

Do you have any candy? May I have some?

Posted on Thursday, July 30, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

some and any are words used when the exact amount is not important. I never think about when to use one or the other. I just use what sounds correct. After some research, I find that there are rules.

some is used in positive sentences
   I have some gold coins.

any can be used in positive sentences when used as it doesn’t matter which:
   Here are the gold coins. You can have any one you want.

any is used in positive sentences following never, hardly or without:
   We never have any gold coins.
   We hardly have any gold coins left.
   We now find ourselves without any gold coins.

any is used in negative sentences:
   I do not have any gold coins.

any can be used in a positive sentence when the sense of it is negative
   I refused to give them any gold coins. (I did not give them any gold coins.)

any is used in questions:
   Do you have any gold coins?

some is used in questions where we hope the answer is “yes”:
   Did grandpa give you some of his gold coins?

some is used in questions when offering or requesting
   Could I have some of those gold coins, please?

By the way, the title of this post fits these rules:
   Do you have any candy? (Used in a question.)
   May I have some? (Used in a question that is requesting.)

Jul 29

Captain may I? Yes you may.

Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

Strictly speaking, can means to be able to and may means to be permitted to.

I can lift heavy weights.
Can he run the entire marathon?

May I use your weights?
May I sign up for the marathon?
May I be excused from the table?

These days, in informal company, may is often replaced with can.

Jul 28

Mispronounced then misspelled

Posted on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 in Misspelled words

realtor not realator

recur not reoccur

sherbet not sherbert

supposedly not supposably

triathlon not triathalon

Jul 27

Mispronounced then misspelled

Posted on Monday, July 27, 2009 in Misspelled words

nuptial not nuptual

often not ofen

perspire not prespire

prescription not perscription

probably not probly

Jul 26

Mispronounced then misspelled

Posted on Sunday, July 26, 2009 in Misspelled words

library not libary

masonry not masonary

mayonnaise not mannaise

miniature not miniture

nuclear not nucular

Jul 25

Mispronounced then misspelled

Posted on Saturday, July 25, 2009 in Misspelled words

candidate not cannidate

federal not fedral

foliage not foilage

height not heighth

jewelry not jewlery

Jul 24

Me, myself and I

Posted on Friday, July 24, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

Let’s attempt to clear up the confusion with the use of me, myself and I.

If you are doing something, use I:
  My wife and I went to the baseball game.

If something is being done to you, use me:
  The package was sent to my wife and me.

To test your choice, just remove the other person:
  I went to the baseball game.
  The package was sent to me.

Only use myself if there is an I previously in the sentence:
  I, myself, haven’t had that problem.
  I gave myself a black eye when I ran into the closed door.

Jul 23

Another installment of mispronounced then misspelled

Posted on Thursday, July 23, 2009 in Misspelled words

surprise not suprise

used to not use to

utmost not upmost

verbiage not verbage

Jul 22

They almost sound the same

Posted on Wednesday, July 22, 2009 in Incorrect word usage

advice is guidance. I will receive advice from the expert.
advise is to give guidance. The expert will advise me.

allusion is an indirect reference. As beautiful as Cinderella on her way to the ball.
illusion is a false image. A mirage is just an optical illusion.

compliment is a nice thing said about someone. He paid a compliment to the lady.
complement is something that completes. The red wine complements the roast.