Grammar Pulis

I know, I know. I've been absent for some time now. I took a break from the computer and went to the farthest place I could go to. Here: http://tinyurl.com/cm8z7c

I have to admit that I would die a mini-death if PowerPoint were to be taken away from me. As a trainer, I have come to rely on PowerPoint as a convenient, portable, teaching aid. It also enables the sharing of other media like videos and even interactive games.

Maybe I exaggerate when I say that I consider PowerPoint an art form. I enjoy designing attractive and effective slides. Sadly, not every presenter puts the same effort.

This clip is one of my favorite YouTube videos. It is funny. And it resonates with me, reminding me of some really horrid PowerPoint viewing experiences. Enjoy it and learn from it.



If the video link does not work, copy and paste this URL: http://tinyurl.com/2fvlzr.

You ask: Which is the correct answer for: Who wants to go? I OR ME?.

Grammar Pulis Answers: The correct answer is: I.

I won't go through the rules of subject and object nouns this time. Some people hear the word rule, and they run away.

The simple and quick way to know the right answer is to answer in a complete sentence.

I want to go.
versus
Me want to go.

If there's anyone who thinks it's the latter, then you're on the right blog site. Welcome! I'm here to help you figure out this confusing world of grammar. Read on, learn, and enjoy. :)

So the correct pronoun is I. But you're going to sound strange saying, "I!" I is just not a loner word. It needs company.

If you want to be a stickler, then you may say the whole sentence:
I want to go.

Or more briefly:
I do.

But, here's my little secret. If speed is an issue, and you need to shout out your answer forcefully, for example somebody says, "Who wants to go to with George Clooney to an all-expense-paid trip to Maldives?" By all means, shout, "Me! Me! Me!" Flail your arms around and jump up and down so that you are noticed. Now is not the time to bother with grammar.

You ask: I know both forms are correct, but when is it proper to write the date this way: April 2, 2009 and this way: 2 April 2009?

Grammar Pulis Answers: Yes, both forms are correct. And the way you punctuate those dates is also correct. If you use the month-day-year format, you should insert a comma in between the day and the year. If you choose the day-month-year format, then omit the comma.

Both examples here are correct then:
April 2, 2009
2 April 2009

It's also good that you spelled out the month.

Can you imagine the confusion if the dates are written these ways?
2/4/2009
or 4/2/2009

As to when you should use them, my default answer based on my stock knowledge would have been to:

• use the month-day-year format, the traditionally considered US format, when you're corresponding with somebody from the USA, or a country that predominantly follows Standard American English, and
  
• use the day-month-year format if you're corresponding with Europeans and countries that lean toward British English .
  

Wikipedia also makes this distinction.

However, I decided not to rely on stock knowledge and checked other sources. Several sources were silent on the matter, but the Chicago Manual of Style and Strunk and White's The Elements of Style agree that both formats are acceptable in the US. So, you can use either. Just try to be consistent if you're going to mention many dates in a document. Choose one style and stick to it.

It then becomes a matter of personal preference. Unless the organization, industry, or community you write for prescribes a specific style, you can chose the format that you're most comfortable with. Some organizations, for example, require dates to be formatted according to ISO standards.

Strunk and White prefers the day-month-year format, 22 April 2009. The word separating the figures contributes to clarity. Eliminating the comma also very subtly reduces clutter. I think those are 2 great reasons to choose 2 April 2009.

You Ask: Is it correct to say "Advanced Happy Birthday" or "Advance Happy Birthday"? Or should I just say Happy Birthday in Advance?"

Grammar Pulis Answers: Hmm, I am so used to saying Advance Happy Birthday, so I never really wondered about its grammatical soundness. Until now.

Let's analyze.

First, let's consider the meaning of both words, advance and advanced. Both can be used as adjectives. There are, however, slight differences in the usage.

Dictionary.com says that advance is an adjective that describes something that is given, made, or issued in advance. A couple of examples are: advance payment and advance copy.

Advanced, on the other hand, is an adjective for describing something that is further along in progress or something enlightened. For example, Advanced English Program, advanced theories.

Based on the definitions, it would seem then that the former is more appropriate than the latter.

BUT, this requires more analysis. The second thing we need to look at is what the word advance is modifying. If we say that it is modifying the word birthday, then that does not make sense because the birthday is not advanced. The one that is being given in advance is the greeting. That means then that both Advance Happy Birthday and Advanced Happy Birthday are grammatically wrong. So, you really are better off saying, Happy Birthday in advance. Or just say, Happy Birthday.

Personally, however, I wouldn't mind it so much if anybody says Advance/Advanced Happy Birthday to me. I mean what kind of rude, grammar-obsessed person would I be if I slapped a grammar violation fine on a person who is being nice to me?

As the Grammar Pulis, I would let something like this nonstandard usage slide, then I'll smile, and just take the gift that goes with the greeting.

Advance Happy Easter! Oops, that should be Happy Easter in advance.

You ask: “I hope you find solace in the love and support of your wonderful family and friends such as Rick and _____??” Is it I or me that goes in the blank?


Grammar Pulis Answers:

The quick answer to your question is this. The correct way to say it is:

I hope you find solace in the love and support of your wonderful family and friends such as Rick and me.

To explain:
The pronoun you use depends on the case.

Subject Case = I, You, She, He, They
Object Case = Me, You, Her, Him, Them
Possessive Case = My, Mine, Your, Her, Hers, His, Their

Let me explain further:

Subject Case = I, You, She, He, They
Use when the pronoun is the subject of the sentence or when the pronoun renames the subject.

Examples:
* I am here.
* Here I am.
* Knock, knock. Who is it? It is I.
* It is she who killed the butler.
* My cousin and I gasped when we saw the corpse.
* You and I are against the world.

Say these only when you want Grammar Pulis to handcuff you and slap you with a grammar violation fine:
* Here na me; where na you? (Filipino texters' atrocious use of the language)
* Me and my cousins are in shock.
* You and me against the world. (There's also a missing verb there somewhere.)

Object Case = Me, You, Her, Him, Them
Use when the pronoun is used as an object of verbs or prepositions, or in cases when the pronouns are neither subject nor possessive.

Examples:
* My instinct told me to dodge and run.
* There is tension between my boss and me.
* Everybody loves me.
* Everybody is against me.
* People like her always get away with murder.

Please don’t say:
* The bullet was meant for you and I.
* It is me who killed the butler.

Possessive = My, Mine, Your, Her, Hers, His, Their
Use to indicate possession.

Examples:
* All the blame is mine.
* The petty thief ran away with my empty wallet.
* Everything in the house is either his or hers.


Sometimes we get confused about the cases. What you can do is play the “Will it sound funny if...” game.

Will it sound funny if I remove the other noun or pronoun?

I hope you find solace in the love and support of your wonderful family and friends such as I.

You have to agree that sounds funny. (As I typed above, MS Word put a green, zigzag line under I and suggested me instead.)


Will it sound funny if I replace the first person pronoun with a third person?

I hope you find solace in the love and support of your wonderful family and friends such Rick and she.

Her (third person object case), instead of she, sounds infinitely better, which means, you use the first person object case me.

Now, if all above is confusing to you, just rephrase the sentence to convert it into something you can be comfortable with.

I hope you find solace in the love and support of your wonderful family and friends. Rick and I are here to comfort and help you.

Sources:
The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
Better English by Betty Kirkpatrick
http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/pronoun.asp

When it comes to grammar, I find myself sweating the small stuff too much too often. For instance, in a yahoo group I am part of, I always cringe when I read, "We are in need of accountants." I admit this is grammatically acceptable, but if one wants to arrest verbosity and write clearly and concisely, one should just say, "We need accountants." You save two words. To me, that is a big deal. I don't understand why people can't just go straight to the point in the least number of words as possible.

"In need" sounds to me more applicable in desperate or in impoverished situations. "The typhoon left the community in need of relief goods." "He is so obnoxious; he is in desperate need of a self-help book."

And this tirade is brought about by reading new twists to this pet peeve. Take these subject lines I just read: "Still need of accountants," and "Need of help." Arrrrghhhh! Be still, my raging heart. What's with this superfluous use of the preposition of? Do they get reward points for frequent use? And in these intances, I can no longer say that these are grammatically acceptable. They are reprehensible. Criminal. And this angry vigilante has kept still long enough. I just want to call them out.

Okay, okay. I am usually not this vicious. I just needed to get that out of my system. Whew.





I feel better now. Thanks.