Rob Colter - Grammar to Go: The Portable A--Zed Guide to Canadian Usage

Copyright 1978, 1981, 2005 Rob Colter

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,
or any information storage and retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publisher.

First published in 1978 by House of Anansi Press Ltd.
Revised edition published in 1981 by House of Anansi Press Ltd.

Third edition published in 2005 by House of Anansi Press Inc.
110 Spadina Avenue, Suite 801, Toronto, ON, M5V 2K4
Tel. 416-363-4343 Fax 416-363-1017 www.anansi.ca

LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Colter, Rob, 1945
Grammar to go : the portable A-Zed guide to Canadian usage/
Rob Colter. 3rd ed.
ISBN 0-88784-723-4

1. English language Grammar. I. Title.

PE1112.C58 2004 428.2 C2004-905558-5

Cover design: Bill Douglas at The Bang
Cover photograph: Getty Images/Brand X Pictures
Text design and typesetting: Tannice Goddard

We acknowledge for their financial support of our publishing
program the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council,
and the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing
Industry Development Program (BPIDP).

Subject-Pronoun Agreement
(Everyone Knows His/Her, Their)

Welcome to the third edition of Grammar to Go: The Portable AZed Guide to Canadian Usage, which contains 25 new entries and updated explanations and examples. Whats Canadian about it? Well, the pronunciation of Z, for one thing, but since Canadian English usage is not identical with either American or British usage, especially in spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation, these differences are pointed out in the explanations. The new entries address persistent questions that have arisen since the last edition. For example, guidelines are provided for composing e-mail, presenting lists, and eliminating high carb phrases. Another new entry offers pointers for the use of inclusive language, and the numerous uses of the slash are now included in the Punctuation section.

Of course perennial puzzlers, like its and its and who and whom, are still included, because they continue to cause writers trouble. Similarly, theres still lots of confusion about how to form the possessive of nouns (see figures and not words? In total, answers to these and 225 more questions are provided in this new edition.

A completely new feature is the inclusion of brief quizzes, anecdotes, and quotations related to language, which are interspersed throughout the book. These are meant to both enlighten and entertain, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I (do).

The goal of Grammar to Go, however, remains the same as it was with the two previous editions: to provide easy-to-understand answers to common questions of grammar and usage. No one can be expected to remember every detail of correct usage. For academic success and career advancement, however, it is important to use the language correctly, which is why conscientious writers habitually refer to dictionaries and guidebooks like this one.

Those of you already familiar with the books design will notice that it has been reorganized to make it even easier to use. The four original headings have been retained, but Spelling and Common Confusions are now combined so that the book contains three sections instead of four. Entries under each of these sections now appear alphabetically within the section. This more consolidated approach means, for example, that all entries related to Punctuation are now together in one location.

In the Contents, when entries for Grammar and Style are identified by their grammatical term they are often accompanied by a familiar example. Page references have been retained.

Grammar to Go is not a comprehensive treatment of grammar, style, punctuation or spelling, nor is it the last word on any of these subjects, but that is not what most writers are looking for. I hope you will enjoy this book and find it useful, and may it stimulate you to learn even more about our language.

Rob Colter

Toronto

September 2005

My thanks to everyone at Anansi,
both past and present,
for their support.

Grammar: that dreaded word. Who hasnt shuddered at the thought of having to learn it? Ask for a definition of boring, and this would be near the top of the list. Why? Because its usually taught like math is taught all rules and no fun. But writing (like golf or carpentry) is a skill, and you need some knowledge and a lot of practice to become good at it. If you think of it this way, then avoiding a sentence fragment will become as relevant as avoiding 3-putts in your golf game.

If grammar embodies the fundamentals of the game, then style describes the way you play it. Are your sentences smooth or awkward? Do you care whether impact is a poor choice as a verb, or that hopefully does not mean, I hope? Do you express yourself clearly and effectively, making every word and sentence count?

Leaders on Grammar

Even Kings must obey the laws of grammar.

MOLIRE (16221673)

I will not go down to posterity talking bad grammar.

BENJAMIN DISRAELI (18041881)

I stand by all the misstatements that Ive made.

GOVERNOR GEORGE W. BUSH (1946)

When used to mean confess, it is never followed by to.

He admitted his mistake.

He admits having done it.

He admits it.

Some people get awfully bugged because GO SLOW signs do not read Go Slowly, but as a combined warning to go slow and slow down, they convey the intended message, even to strict grammarians.

DRIVE CAREFUL (be careful when you drive) is less defensible, in speech do it right is barely okay, and phrases like awful bugged, real hungry, do it gentle, wash it good, and take it slow are really lousy.

Just remember that words that describe verbs (and adjectives and other adverbs) almost always end in ly. Well, very, and fast are common exceptions. (And so is well.)

Between two, among three or more is a useful rule worth remembering. However, when the interaction between individual members of a group is stressed, between, not among, is the sensible word. Thus, an agreement between (many) nations, since each agrees with the other, is more forceful than the rather vague among nations.

Certain things can be counted and they have plural forms; certain things cannot be counted and they dont have plural forms.

For countables, use number; for uncountables, use amount.

The number of cars...

The amount of time, beer, wine, etc.

When these are misused the amount of people it makes you wonder why this is any easier than saying it the right way.

Note:

The number of carpenters is increasing.

But:

A number of carpenters are eating lunch outside.

In the first example, number refers to a single unit; in the second, number refers to some members of that unit. (For other collectives see .)