randi2204: (avengers - A is for)
[personal profile] randi2204
Today we’re looking at a pair of words that are easily confused – after all, there’s only one letter different between them.  [personal profile] tigerlilly asked us “When do you use ‘wonder’ vs ‘wander,’ like in ‘let the mind wander?’ What is a good way to remember, esp. for non-native English speakers?” Let’s jump right in, with some help from the characters of Doctor Strange.

I wonder as I wander… or is it the other way around? )
randi2204: (guitar gods)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome back, grammar fans! [community profile] fandom_grammar has a lighter schedule during these summer months, but fear not, we still have interesting grammar issues to discuss!  Today we’ll be talking about a couple of words that are very commonly used in place of each other.  Ground and floor aren’t exactly the same thing, and we’ll get into their differences with some help from the characters of Sherlock.

Are you sure you don’t mean the ground floor? )
randi2204: (ga - living hard)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome to another Monday, and another Say What?.  As much as we try to complete things in an expedient fashion, sometimes the evil of procrastination takes hold and we’re left scrambling at the last minute.  Therefore, without delay, we’ll be looking at never put off until tomorrow what you can do today and procrastination is the thief of time, with some timely help from the characters of Jodi Taylor’s Chronicles of St. Mary’s.

I’ll get around to it… eventually. )

Answer: Moot

Monday, 22 May 2017 16:31
randi2204: McCoy with all the things he says he's not in TOS (star trek - mccoy is not your)
[personal profile] randi2204
We were asked, What is the origin and correct usage of “moot?” Moot has a variety of meanings, so correct usage can be a bit tricky.  Let’s dig right in with some help from the characters of Star Trek.

Who gives a hoot about moot? )
randi2204: Seven together riding off into the sunrise (GotC) (mag7 - silhouette seven purple and gold)
[personal profile] randi2204
It’s that time again – Say What? is back!  Today we’ll be taking a look at a couple of sayings that give some insight into both hope and reality.  Let’s get right into better to light a candle than to curse the darkness and man’s reach exceeds his grasp, and we’ll be enlisting the characters from the Magnificent Seven movie to help.

Reach for the candle but don’t grasp the flame. )
randi2204: (sven)
[personal profile] randi2204
For today’s edition of [community profile] fandom_grammar, we have a pair of words that are quite commonly confused, particularly in scenes where you definitely wouldn’t want them to be confused.  Let’s tackle shutter and shudder, with some help from the characters of Voltron.

I shudder to think of closing the shutters. )
randi2204: (avengers - A is for)
[personal profile] randi2204
Hello, and welcome back to [community profile] fandom_grammar!  We’re in our new digs on Dreamwidth—mind the fresh paint!—and ready to answer your grammar questions.  Today we’ll ease back in to a regular posting schedule, starting off with a couple of commonly confused words that have similar spellings but very different meanings.  Let’s take a look at alter and altar, with some help from the Avengers.

How can we alter that altar? )
randi2204: EVIL! (dawn - the slayer)
[personal profile] randi2204
In today’s edition of Say What?, we’ll be taking a look at a couple of sayings that remind you that what you say, or maybe what you don’t say, can have great impact on what people think of you.  Let’s jump right into better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt and tell the truth and shame the devil, with some help from the characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Telling the truth doesn’t make you a fool, does it? )
randi2204: (spuffy - en rose)
[personal profile] randi2204
In today’s Say What?, we’re going to take a look at sayings that lie on either end of the spectrum of “things we want to do.”  Let’s jump right into if you can’t be good, be careful and needs must when the devil drives, with some help from our friends from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Who can be careful if the devil’s driving? )
randi2204: EVIL! (dawn - the slayer)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome to your Monday, fellow grammarians!  Today we’ll be looking at a thorny little question about some words (or possible words) that are all spelled very similarly and sound alike when spoken.  [livejournal.com profile] lanalucy asked us “What is the difference between ‘a lot’ and ‘allot’? Is ‘alot’ a word?”  Let’s dig right into this with some help from our friends in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

There are a lot of lots to allot.  )
randi2204: (mag7 - buck twinkly)
[personal profile] randi2204
Today we’ll be discussing a couple of words that are pronounced the same way but have very different meanings. Let’s take a look at taught and taut, and a side order of taunt, with some help from the folks in the Magnificent Seven.

Teaching stretches me so thin. )
randi2204: (mag7 - josiah not-crazy-smile)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome to your Friday, grammar fans, and to another edition of Say What?!  The sayings we’re going to be looking at today are all about the work we do and the quality of that work.  Our friends from the Magnificent Seven will help us take a look at if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well and if you want a thing done well, do it yourself.

Doing, doing, done! )
randi2204: (avengers - A is for)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome to your Friday and another edition of Say What?.  Today’s proverbs are both about power and ability—who might have them and what might happen.  Let’s take a look at in the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king and he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword, assisted our friends the Avengers. )
randi2204: Seven together riding off into the sunrise (GotC) (mag7 - silhouette seven purple and gold)
[personal profile] randi2204
Today’s question deals with double negatives.  We’ll take a look at them and when, if ever, they’re okay to use with a little help from our friends in the Magnificent Seven.

I don’t want to not learn grammar! )
randi2204: (sg1 - not amused)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome to your Friday and another edition of Say What?.  There’s a definite prophetic vibe running through today’s proverbs.  We’ll be taking a look at if the mountain won’t come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain and a prophet is not recognized in his own land, assisted by Sherlock and John from BBC Sherlock.

Not profit and loss, just prophets )
randi2204: (mag7 - JD startled)
[personal profile] randi2204
We’ve been asked “what is the correct way to use the word ‘hopefully’?”  Let’s take a look at this historically controversial issue with some help from the Magnificent Seven.

Hoping and hoping and hoping )
randi2204: (buffy - dream on!)
[personal profile] randi2204
We’ve been asked, “What are the proper uses for semiannual, biannual, and biennial?”  These three words can cause confusion due to having the same or similar roots.  Let’s take a look at them, with some help from the characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

What’s the measure of a year? )
randi2204: EVIL! (dawn - the slayer)
[personal profile] randi2204
It’s a day for the kids on today’s Say What? Both of the sayings we’ll be taking a look at deal with children in some way.  Let’s discuss “little pitchers have big ears” and “spare the rod and spoil the child.”

We’ll be assisted by some of our friends from Fullmetal Alchemist. )
randi2204: (buffy - dream on!)
[personal profile] randi2204
Friends, Romans, Grammarians, lend me your ears—or at least your eyes for the duration of today’s Say What?.  Why kick it off with Mark Antony’s famous line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar? Today’s edition is steeped in all things Rome, that’s why!  We’ll be taking a look at beware the Ides of March and all roads lead to Rome, with a little help from our friends in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

We come not to conjugate Caesar, but to punctuate him. )
randi2204: (mag7 - josiah not-crazy-smile)
[personal profile] randi2204
Welcome to another edition of Say What?  Beware of the Devil—today we’ll be taking a look at two sayings that have Old Nick in common, namely “Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost,” and “He who sups with the Devil should have a long spoon.”  We’ll be assisted by our friends from the Magnificent Seven.

The Devil went down to Georgia… )

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