Saturday
Dec052009
December 5, 2009 "Due to the Fact That" and Other Heresies
Where have you been all my life, Grammar Girl? I think I'm in love.
Is there a nonchalant way to slip a link to one of her posts into an e-mail? I often wonder how I might politely correct someone without causing offense; I don't like seeming like a know-it-all, but I also hate to see my loved ones embarrassing themselves when they are nauseated (feeling sick) but say they are nauseous (causing others to feel sick.) I've thought of saying pertly, "Oh, you're not nauseous to me." Unless they've continued by saying, "I think I'm going to lay down for awhile," in which case I might start to look a little peaked.
Yes, I know that most people will not realize your error. But there's always the chance an English major may be listening; there are a lot (not alot) of us. And between you and me (not I,) if your e-mails begin without a proper greeting*and are peppered with unnecessary . . . ellipses . . . and apostrophe's, you might be losing business as well as respect. Call it tough love. Someday you'll thank me.
*Boo to "widespread to the point of becoming acceptable!"
Is there a nonchalant way to slip a link to one of her posts into an e-mail? I often wonder how I might politely correct someone without causing offense; I don't like seeming like a know-it-all, but I also hate to see my loved ones embarrassing themselves when they are nauseated (feeling sick) but say they are nauseous (causing others to feel sick.) I've thought of saying pertly, "Oh, you're not nauseous to me." Unless they've continued by saying, "I think I'm going to lay down for awhile," in which case I might start to look a little peaked.
Yes, I know that most people will not realize your error. But there's always the chance an English major may be listening; there are a lot (not alot) of us. And between you and me (not I,) if your e-mails begin without a proper greeting*and are peppered with unnecessary . . . ellipses . . . and apostrophe's, you might be losing business as well as respect. Call it tough love. Someday you'll thank me.
*Boo to "widespread to the point of becoming acceptable!"
Reader Comments (1)
You'll have to rip my ellipses from my cold...dead...hands! ;)