Correctness

cor . rect. ness /noun/ quality of being free from error, accuracy, preciseness, conformity to an accepted standard

This week’s word is correctness, unaccompanied by its twin,  political. At the outset I want to mention the immense pleasure our English  language gives to both reader and hearer when it is used  in the beauty of its inherent forms.  Oftentimes individuals–usually academics or biblical scholars– complain that English doesn’t have the right word for a particular construction that they wish to express from another language. Talk like that is sometimes a bit showy, intended to preen the speaker’s scholarly feathers.   I contend that English has all the words we need to say all the things we need to say and to do so in a variety of ways with flair  and effectiveness. The  English language is admirable in its own right.  Its speakers, however, must make the effort to use it correctly.

Recently I read an article about grammar gaffes, in which the author  wonders whether the mistakes that people, especially students, make are ruining the English language.  As I read, I came across the word cacology and examined it closely to make sure it wasn’t a misspelling. It turned out that this was a bona fide English word that I didn’t know.  I hurriedly looked it up. and found that it means “bad choice of words or  poor pronunciation.”  I added cacology  to my mental lexicon.

In James Thurber’s well-known short story “You Could Look It Up,” the main character  says “You could look it up” over and over  to verify all the amazing baseball  stats and events he is talking about. He uses excessive hyperbole to embellish his tale, but it’s no hyperbole that today you can look up just about anything. Looking up information has never been easier. The correct forms in grammar, usage and spelling are available with just a mouse click.

However, even with such easy access to matters of correct language usage, many people still make what are avoidable grammar and usage errors. Let me say here that  there is a difference between “grammar” and “usage.”  Grammar refers to the structures of the language and the rules governing how words operate in sentences. Usage, on the other hand, has to do with the preferred forms  of the language that  have come to be approved as correct. English grammar doesn’t change according to a group’s preference–subject and verb agreement, singular and plural noun forms, pronoun case–all are basically  constant. Usage is influenced by societal practices and preferences. For example, nowadays we say “different than,” when in an earlier time it was “different from,” which is still the preferred usage, but  “different than” is now  considered correct even among some linguists.  You will also notice that a singular noun with a plural pronoun reference has crept into use.  Many times you may see or hear a construction such as this:  “A person should know their own strengths.” This is done in order to  avoid using “his or her, ” which some people consider cumbersome  or awkward, but I don’t like to see this ungrammatical mix. I think we should stick with the old form of noun and pronoun agreement.

Some of the errors we encounter are glaring, and even amusing, like the blurb on a package of pantyhose I bought once. It stated that the pantyhose would “compliment your skin tones.” English teacher that I am, I tried to be helpful to the company’s PR department and sent a note pointing out the error. A short time later, I received a reply that said in part, “There are two ways to spell the word.” Now wasn’t that news! Many English words sound alike and even look alike; they are called homonyms or homophones,  but they have two different  meanings. Compliment/complement is  such a pair that is often misused in writing. To compliment is to give praise or to say something nice to someone–something pantyhose can’t do.  On the other hand, “complement” means “to add to,” “complete,” or “bring to perfection.”  Just what I wanted the pantyhose to do for my skin tones.

I don’t know whether you have any  pet peeves as far as language usage is concerned. I have a few, and  the confusion of “predominately” with “predominantly” ranks high among them.  “Predominantly” means widespread, occurring frequently. Actually, “predominately” is not a word, at least, not in the adverb form. “Predominate” is the verb form for “predominantly.”  Another much-abused pair is “lie/lay.”  The confusion of “lie” and “lay”  is not exactly a pet peeve with me, but it nevertheless  is disconcerting to  hear the pair misused. To “lie” is to recline, so one goes to lie down,  not lay down. The past tense form is “lay.”  There is the other word “lay,” meaning to put  down or set down. As the old spiritual says, “gonna lay down my burden  down by the riverside.”  The past tense of “lay” is “laid.” Of course, you can lay yourself down as  the children’s bedtime prayer says, but when you go to bed, you’re going to lie down.

If you watch television long enough or listen to the radio, you will certainly hear someone confuse the pair “farther”  and “further.” One major automobile company insists in its commercial that its popular car helps you “go further.”  And in my city there is a technical college that promises to help its graduates “go further.”  I haven’t written to them yet. A while back, I heard a television host say “go no further” then quickly correct himself by saying “go no farther.” Obviously, he knew the correct form to use in the context. He was just having a  little trouble at the moment, something that happens to all of us. “Farther” designates distance. “Further” shows extent or degree.

Farther: The gas in the tank of your car will take you no farther than a mile.

Further: What you are saying gives further evidence that you are not telling the truth.

One word-pair that suffers much misuse is phenomenon/phenomena.  The words came into English with their Greek background intact, so we use them as we would in the original.  “Phenomenon” is singular while “phenomena” is plural.

Phenomenon: Computer hacking is a modern phenomenon.

Phenomena: The recent amazing weather phenomena have been  attributed to climate change.

There are some other word pairs worth checking on to ensure  correct usage.

• a.m. and in the morning,  p.m. and in the evening are not used together. We avoid writing or saying 7:00 a.m. in the morning  or  this evening  at 7:00 p.m.
• bad and badly–“bad” is an adjective; “badly” is an adverb. We avoid saying “I feel badly” because the linking verb “is”  always takes an adjective, not an adverb.
• aggravate means to make worse, as in “to aggravate a wound.” Use “irritate”  instead of “aggravate” when you are annoyed.
• centers around is as illogical as one can get linguistically. Use “centers in.”
• quote and quotation–“quote” is a verb; “quotation” is a noun. Quote from a book. Use the quotation in your writing or speech.
• fewer and less–If the items being referred to can be counted, use “fewer” (fewer apples, not less apples). If they can’t be counted singly, use “less.” (less money, less rainfall). A similar pair is amount and number; number of apples, amount of money, number of people, not amount
• unique doesn’t need a modifier; we avoid saying  “most unique,”  “more unique,” or “very unique.”

Even in these technology-driven times, we can consult a good grammar and usage book. Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style will never go out of style. In its brief pages, we can find all the help we need for language correctness.  And for those who like their grammar with a little humor, I recommend Woe Is I by Patricia T. O’Connor.

Writer Joan Didion has been credited with saying, “Grammar is a piano I play by ear,”   and she adds, “All I know about grammar is its power.” Since we are all writers nowadays–what with e-mails, tweets, and Facebook posts–it would be refreshing to see writers in these media  take hold of the power of  grammar and usage. However, from the observable widespread misuse, it appears that correctness in language is not practiced as much as it should be. But when  usage or grammar poses a problem, don’t take a chance on being incorrect.  Look it up.

Blessings,

Judith

*****

“Perfect grammar–persistent, continuous, sustained–is the fourth dimension,

so to speak; many have sought it, but none have found it.”   Mark Twain