Six of the best!
Monday, 03 August 2009 10:30
The best pieces of advice on these English queries you are ever likely to find!
1. Farther/Further
Are you ever confused about which one of these to use? Don't be. These two words are now used interchangeably to mean exactly the same thing. But if you want to be pedantic and share your superior knowledge of the English language with others, there is a difference between the two! Farther refers to length or distance, whereas further means 'to a greater degree', 'additional,' or 'additionally'. It refers to time or amount. So...
Right: Scotland is farther north than England.
(Refers to distance.)
Right: This idea requires further thought.
(Meaning 'additional study' - refers to amount.)
Right: According to the schedule, we should be further along.
(Refers to time.)
2. To/Too
This one is a real clanger which will make you look really silly if you get it wrong. Because some people pronounce 'to' like 'too' (their accent gives it a double 'oo' sound, as in 'moo', rather than 'o') they sometimes write it as 'too' instead of 'to'. Don't fall into that trap.
3. Try and/Try to
How often do you hear people say 'I'll try and do that' or 'We'll try and make it'? Well, it's complete nonsense, but it's the way we often speak, and it's become the way some people often write. The correct expression is 'I'll try to do that' or 'We'll try to make it.' Never put your 'and' where your 'to' should be!
4. Fewer/Less
Don't beat yourself up about this one. You've been indoctrinated into getting this wrong by supermarkets who lead you astray! 'Hand baskets only' checkouts often have signs above them reading '10 items or less' when it should be '10 items or fewer'.
You can have less of something if it is a single thing, e.g. less style, less time, less courage, less money. But you should only use fewer if you are talking about plural things, e.g. fewer sweets, fewer laughs, fewer rats, fewer coins. So, your balding granddad can have less hair but not less hairs.
5. Don't shorten adverbs
These days, adverbs that end in 'ly' often get the 'ly' removed when people are speaking, and this can translate into their writing. For example:
Right: 'John ran quickly'
Wrong: 'John ran quick'
Right: 'John speaks loudly'
Wrong: 'John speaks loud'
Right: 'John lives locally'
Wrong: 'John lives local'
Right: 'John dances incredibly!'
Wrong: 'John dances incredible!'
Don't do it!
6. Forever/For ever
UK writers most often use the two-word phrase 'for ever', whereas Americans strongly prefer the one-word form 'forever'." Each nationality is liable to think the other is making a mistake! But as we're talking about British English here, if you do something repeatedly, then it's 'forever', but if you do something eternally, then it's 'for ever'. For example...
Right: 'They are forever arguing' - if you mean they argue very often.
Right: 'They will be arguing for ever' - if you mean they will argue until the end of time.
'Forever' is used in all cases in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, by the way.