GRAMMAR POINTS and USEFUL ENGLISH
GRAMMAR POINTS and USEFUL ENGLISH
GRAMMAR POINTS and USEFUL ENGLISH
GRAMMAR POINTS........................................................................................................................3
1. The difference between MANDATORY and COMPULSORY........................................................3
Mandatory vs Compulsory......................................................................................................3
What does Mandatory mean?....................................................................................................3
What does Compulsory mean?.................................................................................................5
What is the difference between Mandatory and Compulsory?..............................................6
• Meaning:.................................................................................................................................6
• Nature:....................................................................................................................................6
• Reference:..............................................................................................................................6
• Context:..................................................................................................................................7
2. Must...........................................................................................................................................7
3. HELP...........................................................................................................................................7
4. Linking positives and negatives..................................................................................................7
5. Possessive 2 or atributive?.........................................................................................................7
Happy "Veterans' Day," "Veteran's Day," or "Veterans Day"?...................................................8
6. Goal or Purpose?......................................................................................................................10
7. Pattern verbs. To or –ing infinitive...........................................................................................10
8. Think of or think about?...........................................................................................................11
9. First person (voice) in academic writing...................................................................................11
10. Order of Adjectives...............................................................................................................11
11. However and Nevertheless..................................................................................................13
12. Nonetheless and Nevertheless.............................................................................................14
13. People or Persons?...............................................................................................................16
Person, persons or people?....................................................................................................16
14. False or Fake?.......................................................................................................................17
15. Addressing a problem or Tackling?.......................................................................................17
16. Gerund used after “to”.........................................................................................................18
How do I remember the rule: a gerund used after ‘to’ (i.e. when to use -ing form after to)?
.........................................................................................................................................................18
17. Relation or Relationship?.....................................................................................................20
18. HELP.....................................................................................................................................22
Help somebody (to) do..............................................................................................................22
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19. In order to (so as to) … so that (in order that)......................................................................23
In order to.....................................................................................................................................25
So that or in order that?............................................................................................................26
20. Important to or Important for?............................................................................................26
21. Prepositions TO and FOR......................................................................................................27
22. Make an assessment or Do an assessment?.........................................................................27
23. Apostrophe...........................................................................................................................27
Apostrophe.......................................................................................................................................27
Contractions.................................................................................................................................28
Plurals..........................................................................................................................................28
Possessives...................................................................................................................................28
The general rule for forming possessives.....................................................................................29
Exceptions to the general rule......................................................................................................29
Shared or individual possessives..................................................................................................30
Avoid awkward possessives.........................................................................................................30
The apostrophe with other punctuation........................................................................................30
24. Perspective of? Perspective on? Or Perspective at?...........................................................30
25. Neither (uses).......................................................................................................................31
Neither as a determiner............................................................................................................32
Neither … nor.............................................................................................................................32
Not with neither and nor............................................................................................................33
Neither do I, Nor can she..........................................................................................................33
Not … either...............................................................................................................................34
Neither: typical errors................................................................................................................35
26. Either … or…......................................................................................................................35
27. Influence on? Or Influence in?.............................................................................................36
3 Answers...............................................................................................................................36
28. Accordingly or Therefore?....................................................................................................39
Accordingly is a synonym of therefore......................................................................................39
Therefore is a synonym of accordingly.....................................................................................39
In context|conjunctive|lang=en terms the difference between therefore and
accordingly.................................................................................................................................39
As adverbs the difference between therefore and accordingly.............................................39
2
29. DUE TO or BECAUSE OF?......................................................................................................39
30. Provided that........................................................................................................................40
How to use “provided that”.......................................................................................................40
31. Although (usage)........................................................................................................................42
Crafting Better Sentences: Use “Although” Carefully.....................................................................42
31. Make or Do?.........................................................................................................................43
32. On or upon?.........................................................................................................................46
33. The use of the preposition ‘as to’.........................................................................................46
As to ‘as to’….............................................................................................................................46
APPENDIX. USEFUL ENGLISH WORDING...........................................................................................48
-on account of: Because of.......................................................................................................51
- under colour of: Under the pretext of..............................................................................64
GRAMMAR POINTS
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-mandatory-and-vs-compulsory/
Mandatory vs Compulsory
Mandatory and compulsory are two words that are often confused when it comes to their
meanings and connotations, when strictly speaking, there is some difference between the
two words. The word mandatory is generally used in the sense of ‘binding.’ On the other
hand, the word compulsory is generally used in the sense of ‘essential.’ This is the main
difference between the two words. However, you will see that almost all the dictionaries
put mandatory and compulsory as synonyms though we say they have this difference. In
that case, we have to regard when each term is used. Let us find out more about each
term.
3
It is mandatory to fill up all the details in the application form.
In both the sentences given above, the word mandatory is used in the sense of ‘binding’
and something that is conditional. Hence, the meaning of the first sentence would be ‘the
application form can be submitted under the condition that all the details are filled up by
the applicant.’ The meaning of the second sentence would be ‘the applicant is bound by
the details regarding the annual income of his parent.’
There is another important fact that we can understand by looking at these examples. If
you take another look at both of the examples given above, you will see that they are both
sentences that speak about some kind of legal matter. In the first sentence, we are
speaking about an application form. In the second sentence also the speaker must be
speaking about some kind of application. We do not ask for someone’s parent’s annual
income in general conversation. That is something we come across if we are filling an
application for bursary or a scholarship, etc. So, both situations in the examples refer to
incidents where we come to face legal situations. That shows that mandatory is a word
used in the legal context.
4
I
‘It is mandatory to fill up all the details’
What does Compulsory mean?
On the other hand, compulsory means essential. Anything that is compulsory has to be
essentially done without postponement. The word compulsory often refers to things or
requirements. Observe the two sentences given below.
In both the sentences, the word compulsory is used in the sense of ‘essential.’ The
meaning of the first sentence would be ‘80% of attendance is essential for the students to
take the examination.’ The meaning of the second sentence would be ‘wearing uniform is
essential.’
5
Let us see why we have used the word compulsory in these examples. If you look at these
examples, you will see that the first example refers to the field of education. We are talking
about the attendance of students in that particular example. In the second example too, we
may be talking about a school education or may be a work uniform as the firemen or the
policemen wear. Thus, it becomes clear to use that the word compulsory is used in the
context of fields such as education, employment, or business.
• On the other hand, the word compulsory is generally used in the sense of ‘essential.’
• Nature:
• Anything that is mandatory has the quality of binding the doer to the work.
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• Reference:
• The word mandatory often refers to conditions.
• Context:
• The word compulsory is often used in the fields of education, business, and employment.
These are the differences between the two words mandatory and compulsory. So, next
time you come across these two words consider the context and use each word
appropriately.
Images Courtesy:
2. Must
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/have-must-and-
should-obligation-and-advice
3. HELP
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/verb-patterns/help-somebody-
to-do.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/also-as-well-or-too?q=Also
%2C+as+well+and+too%3A+typical+error
7
5. Possessive 2 or atributive?
http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/111108possattrib.htm
Let's begin by examining how these phrases differ from one another:
The first choice in each group is a plural noun in the possessive case
(Fathers', Veterans', Majors', Bankers' and Executives').
The second choice in each group is a singular noun in the possessive case
(Father's, Veteran's, Major's, Banker's, and Executive's).
The third choice in each group uses a plural noun that is not in the
possessive case. We refer to it as an attributive; that is, it functions as a
modifier and does not need to be possessive.
To make the best choices in the five groups above, we must consider whether the
possessive or the attributive is more appropriate and, if the possessive case is
appropriate, whether the possessives ought to be singular or plural.
Unfortunately, one rule does not govern in all instances when it comes to
deciding when to treat a noun as merely attributive and when to make it
possessive. The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed., University of Chicago Press)
admits that "the line between a possessive or genitive form and a noun used
attributively-as an adjective-is sometimes fuzzy, especially in the plural." This
style manual suggests that writers omit the apostrophe "in proper names (often
corporate names) or where there is clearly no possessive meaning" (p. 284):
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Publishers Weekly
Diners Club
Department of Veterans Affairs
This issue becomes even more complicated when we must render the titles or
names of institutions, associations, societies, and the like (as in groups 3, 4, and 5
above) that are not likely found in any style manual or dictionary. Again, we
cannot rely on logic alone to determine whether the possessive case is
appropriate. In our third example above, for instance, we could argue that the
society belongs to a group of English majors (English Majors' Society), or we
could say, simply, that it is an organization for them (English Majors Society).
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Likewise, even though the names "Randolph-Macon Woman's College" and "The
Navy Enlisted Man's Club" may at first seem counterintuitive (since neither of
these institutions belongs to or serves only one woman or one man), we must
nevertheless render the names exactly as the institutions do. We can find this
information on an organization's Web site or in its official documents.
When creating a new organization, the founders must decide how to handle the
title. Most organizations omit the apostrophe and treat the noun as attributive
rather than possessive, suggesting that the organization or conference does not
belong to the group but instead exists to serve its members.
However, plural nouns that do not end in s-such as children, women, and men-are
almost always treated as possessives, no matter what the logic would dictate. We
could argue, for example, that the Bakersville Children's Home does not belong
to the children but rather is for them. But no one would consider writing
"Bakersville Children Home." Likewise, the London Men's Convention may
more logically be for the men of London than belong to them, but "London Men
Convention" would sound odd to most ears.
Thus, when we are confused about whether a noun in a title or proper name is
attributive or possessive, we can follow these steps:
6. Goal or Purpose?
http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-purpose-and-goal/
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7. Pattern verbs. To or –ing infinitive.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/verb-patterns/verb-patterns-
verb-infinitive-or-verb-ing
Think of: to consider doing something (We are thinking of moving to Amsterdam)
Think about: to remember someone or something (I was just thinking about you when you called!)
https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/apr/19/academic-writing-
first-person-singular
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/order-adjectives
He was a nice intelligent young man.
She had a small round black wooden box.
Opinion adjectives:
Some adjectives give a general opinion. We can use these adjectives to describe
almost any noun:
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l
Some adjectives give a specific opinion. We only use these adjectives to describe
particular kinds of noun:
Nice tasty soup.
A nasty uncomfortable armchair
A lovely intelligent animal
a nice red dress; a silly old man; those horrible yellow curtains
a handsome young man; a big black car; that horrible big dog
a nice handsome young man;
a big black American car;
that horrible big fierce dog
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Genera
Specific Shap Nationalit
l Size Age Colour Material
opinion e y
opinion
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We use some adjectives only after a link verb:
We say:
We had an ill teacher.
When he heard the news he was a very glad uncle
north
northern
sout countless eventful
southern
h occasional indoor
eastern
east lone outdoor
western
west
We say:
He lives in the eastern district.
There were countless problems with the new machinery.
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Try these tasks to improve your adjective ordering.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv206.shtml
I can understand everything you say about wanting to share a flat with
Martha. However, I am totally against it.
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more as a noun than as an adverb. However, while trying to
compare two different things and estimating the result, a lot of
people feel uncomfortable using a noun-based word to signify an
adverb. This can be proven by the fact that 28,100,000 pages can
be found where ‘nonetheless’ is given as the input query, whereas
as many as 89,300,000 pages are found where the term
‘nevertheless’ is given as the input query.
Delving deep into the history or the origins of both the terms, the
usage of the term ‘nevertheless’ was noticed from as early as the
14th century, whereas the term ‘nonetheless’ came into existence
later in the 16th century. Moreover, when looking into the quality
of the two terms, ‘nonetheless’ sounds tangible, whereas
‘nevertheless’ sounds temporal.
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Yet another difference between the terms is that ‘nevertheless’ is
often used in an active voice, and ‘nonetheless’ is used in the
passive voice.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/person-persons-or-people
Person, persons or people?
de English Grammar Today
We use person in the singular to refer to any human being:
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Joel is such a nice person.
[notice in a lift]
Three people were interviewed for the job, but only one person had the right
qualifications and experience.
Those two sentences above CANNOT be used interchangeably. The correct way to say it would be,
"You have given false information." That means the information is not true, wrong, incorrect, not
factual.
Fake means it's artificial, not genuine, a copy or imitation. Like the guy said above me:
"That Gucci bag is fake." That means it's a copy or imitation or counterfeit. It's not a real Gucci but
an imitation of one.
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15. Addressing a problem or Tackling?
Address:
Think about and begin to deal with (an issue or problem)
‘a fundamental problem has still to be addressed’
Tackle:
Make determined efforts to deal with (a problem or difficult task)
‘police have launched an initiative to tackle rising crime’
https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-remember-the-rule-a-gerund-used-after-%E2%80%98to
%E2%80%99-i-e-when-to-use-ing-form-after-to
Promoted by Grammarly
Grammarly's free writing app makes sure everything you type is easy to read, effective, and
mistake-free.
8 Answers
18
Mike Mendis
Answered Sep 2, 2014 · Upvoted by Joe Devney, Professional writer and editor, Master's in
Linguistics.
I take it that you are confused about when to use "to help" (or some other verb) and when to
use "to helping" (or some other VERB+ing).
The way to differentiate between the two is to see if you can put a noun after the word "to" in
the sentence you are writing. If you can put a noun after "to" and the sentence makes sense,
then you should use a gerund (VERB+ing). This is because a gerund is VERB+ing used as
a noun. If not, then you should not use the "-ing" ending. In this way, we get
an infinitive (to + VERB). The difference between the two forms is that in the first case, the
word "to" is a preposition, whereas in the second case, "to" is part of
the infinitive (INFINITIVE = to + VERB), not a separate grammatical element in the
sentence.
If we apply this test to the example sentence, we could say something like:
Clearly, we can put a noun after "to" in this sentence. We can feel confident that the place after
"to" in this sentence is a place for a noun, (and remember that a gerund does the work of a
noun). Since the sentence meets the test, we can feel safe in using a gerund in the place of the
noun after "to." In this case, "to" is clearly a preposition (since it is followed by a noun). So
we say:
In this sentence, it would be impossible to put a noun in the blank after "to" and have the
sentence still make sense. We cannot say: "Mother Teresa decided to service." Since this
sentence does meet the test, we need to use "help" without the "-ing." This creates
an infinitive (to + VERB). So we get:
Consider another common construction that causes confusion: "look forward to." Should
there be a gerund after this or just the simple form of the verb without -ing? If we apply the
test, we get sentences like this:
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Clearly the place after the word "to" in this case is a place for a noun, and "to" is therefore
a preposition. So we use a gerund.
But we cannot say:
In the following sentences, "to help" is used as a noun, but "to" is part of the infinitive, not a
separate grammatical element.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv235.shtml
Roger Woodham replies:
Relationships
They had been together for two years and Mike wanted to
carry on, but Jenny felt that their relationship wasn't really
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going anywhere.
It can also describe close ties between people or groups of people and
the way they feel and behave towards each other:
Relations
Most of the differences are context specific in this sense. For example,
we talk about diplomatic relations and race relations, not diplomatic
relationships or race relationships:
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He's my own flesh and blood. I can't leave him to fend for
himself when he needs my help.
18. HELP
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/verb-patterns/help-somebody-
to-do
Can I help?
Jack is helping me to tidy my CDs. or Jack is helping me tidy my CDs.
I am writing to thank you for helping us find the right hotel for our holiday. or I
am writing to thank you for helping us to find the right hotel for our holiday.
Warning:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv146.shtml
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Learning English
Roger Woodham replies:
23
the same degree of explicitness or formality:
Before stative
verbs like know, seem, appear, understand, have, etc, it is
more usual to use in order to or so as to:
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from the so that construction.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/linking-words-and-
expressions/in-order-to
In order to
de English Grammar Today
In order to is a subordinating conjunction.
[main clause] MrsWeaver had to work full-time [subordinate clause]in order to earn a
living for herself and her family of five children.
We all need stress in order to achieve and do our best work.
They never parked the big van in front of the house in order not to upset the
neighbours.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/so-that-or-in-order-that
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We use so that and in order that to talk about purpose. We often use them with
modal verbs (can, would, will, etc.). So that is far more common than in order
that, and in order that is more formal:
We left a message with his neighbour so that he would know we’d called.
[on a website]
In order that you can sign the form, please print it out and mail it to this address.
I’ve made some sandwiches so (that) we can have a snack on the way.
When referring to the future, we can use the present simple or will/’ll after so that.
We usually use the present simple after in order that to talk about the future:
I’ll post the CD today so that you get it by the weekend. (or … so that you will
getit …)
We will send you a reminder in order that you arrive on time for your
appointment. (or … so that you arrive on time … or … so that you’ll arrive on
time …)
So that (but not in order that) can also mean ‘with the result that’:
The birds return every year around March, so that April is a good time to see
them.
https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/14484/important-to-me-or-important-for-me
The simple explanation is that "important to" is something you value, while "important
for" is something you need, or that will help you in some way.
A nice example is:
"It is important for you to get well" ~ your life will be improved by returning to health
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"It is important to your family that you get well" ~ they put a high value on you being
healthy.
There is a large grey area, particularly if you are talking about personal experiences.
Passing an exam, for example, is something you put a high value on (or you would
never have started the course) and will also benefit you in terms of career. In this case,
it is 'important to' and 'important for' you.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/224278/whats-the-difference-between-
important-to-and-important-for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9afxcMXGA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3gvjrh5_TY
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/threads/85432-quot-make-assesment-quot-or-quot-do-
assessment-quot
I'd use 'make an assessment' with the results/conclusion and 'do an assessment' with the
process/inspection, etc.
23. Apostrophe
http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/apostrophe.html
Apostrophe
The apostrophe ( ’ ) has three uses: contractions, plurals, and possessives.
Contractions
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Contractions (e.g., let’s, don’t, couldn’t, it’s, she’s) have a bad reputation. Many argue that
they have no place at all in formal writing. You should, of course, observe your
publisher’s or instructor’s requirements. An absolute avoidance of contractions,
however, is likely to make your writing appear stilted and unwelcoming.
If you are unsure where to insert the apostrophe when forming a contraction, consult a
good dictionary. Avoid the most common contraction–apostrophe error: the
contraction of it is is it’s;without the apostrophe, its is the possessive form of it.
Example: It’s often said that every dog has its day.
In informal writing, it is acceptable to indicate a year with only the last two digits
preceded by an apostrophe (e.g., the class of ’85, pop music from the ’80s).
Plurals
The apostrophe is seldom used to form a plural noun.
Incorrect: Since the 1980’s, the Thomas’s, both of whom have multiple PhD’s, sell
old book’s and magazine’s at the fair on Saturday’s and Sunday’s.
Correct: Since the 1980s, the Thomases, both of whom have multiple PhDs, sell old
books and magazines at the fair on Saturdays and Sundays.
The rare exception to the rule is when certain abbreviations, letters, or words are used
as nouns, as in the following examples. Unless the apostrophe is needed to avoid
misreading or confusion, omit it.
He received four A’s and two B’s.
We hired three M.D.’s and two D.O.’s.
Be sure to cross your t’s and dot your i’s.
Do we have more yes’s than no’s?
For this last example, the trend is to instead write yeses and noes.
Possessives
The formation of possessives is treated in different ways by different authorities. The
rules below are based on The Chicago Manual of Style, 16th edition, and are appropriate
28
for most writing. Associated Press style, used by most newspapers, is slightly
different. See the essay on style for more information.
The general rule for forming possessives
The general rule is that the possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding an
apostrophe and s, whether the singular noun ends in s or not.
the lawyer’s fee
the child’s toy
Xerox’s sales manager
Tom Jones’s first album
Jesus’s disciples
Aeschylus’s finest drama
anyone’s guess
a week's vacation
The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe when the
noun ends in s, and by adding both an apostrophe and s when it ends in a letter other
than s.
excessive lawyers’ fees
children’s toys
the twins’ parents
the student teachers’ supervisor
the Smiths’ vacation house
the boys’ baseball team
the alumni’s fundraising
someone with twelve years’ experience
Exceptions to the general rule
Use only an apostrophe for places or names that are singular but have a final word in
plural form and ending with an s.
Beverly Hills’ current mayor
the United States’ lingering debt problem
Cisco Systems’ CEO
Nouns that end in an s sound take only an apostrophe when they are followed by sake.
for goodness’ sake
for conscience’ sake
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A proper noun that is already in possessive form is left as is.
T.G.I. Friday’s menu was recently changed.
Shared or individual possessives
Joint possession is indicated by a single apostrophe.
Robert Smith and Rebecca Green’s psychology textbook. (they coauthored the book)
Stanley and Scarlett’s house. (they share the house)
Individual possession is indicated by apostrophes for each possessor.
France’s and Italy’s domestic policies are diverging.
Chris’s and John’s houses were designed by the same architect.
Avoid awkward possessives
Correct but awkward: St. Patrick’s Cathedral’s Fifth Avenue entrance.
Better: The Fifth Avenue entrance for St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The apostrophe with other punctuation
The apostrophe should never be separated from the word to which it attaches by
adjacent punctuation.
Correct: The house on the left is the Smiths’, but the house at the end of the street
is the Whites’.
Incorrect: The house on the left is the Smiths,’ but the house at the end of the
street is the Whites.’
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/81041/which-is-the-suitable-preposition-for-a-
perspective
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You can have a different perspective of a phenomenon if you are using the
"perception" meaning of perspective.
Members of the audience had different perspectives of the stage, depending on their
seat.
If instead you want to use the "opinion" meaning of perspective, then you would have a
perspective on a phenomenon (with the implication that you want to share and argue
in support of your perspective).
Members of the audience had different perspectives on the performance as they left the
theatre, depending on their tastes.
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-
grammar/questions-and-negative-sentences/neither-neither-nor-
and-not-either
from English Grammar Today
Neither as a determiner
Neither allows us to make a negative statement about two people or things at the same
time. Neither goes before singular countable nouns. We use it to say ‘not either’ in relation
to two things. Neither can be pronounced /ˈnaɪðə(r)/ or /ˈni:ðə(r)/.
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Neither parent came to meet the teacher. (The mother didn’t come and
the father didn’t come.)
Neither dress fitted her. (There were two dresses and not one of them
fitted her.)
We use neither of before pronouns and plural countable nouns which have a determiner
(my, his, the) before them:
Spoken English:
In formal styles, we use neither of with a singular verb when it is the subject. However, in
informal speaking, people often use plural verbs:
In speaking, we can use neither on its own in replies when we are referring to two things
that have already been mentioned:
A:
B:
Neither … nor
We can use neither as a conjunction with nor. It connects two or more negative
alternatives. This can sound formal in speaking:
Neither Brian nor his wife mentioned anything about moving house.
(Brian didn’t mention that they were moving house and his wife didn’t
mention that they were moving house.)
Neither Italy nor France got to the quarter finals last year.
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The less formal alternative is to use and … not … either:
Italy didn’t get to the quarter finals last year and France didn’t either.
See also:
Not … either
When a clause with neither or nor is used after a negative clause, we invert the subject
and the verb after neither and nor:
He hadn’t done any homework, neither had he brought any of his books
to class.
We didn’t get to see the castle, nor did we see the cathedral.
See also:
Conjunctions
We use neither and nor + auxiliary/modal verb + subject to mean ‘also not’:
A:
B:
Neither can I.
A:
B:
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Nor does Gina.
See also:
So am I, so do I, Neither do I
Not … either
We can use not … either to mean ‘also not’, but we do not change the word order of the
auxiliary or modal verb and subject:
A:
B:
A:
B:
A:
B:
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Neither: typical errors
We use neither, not none, when we are talking about two people or things:
Books and television are different. Neither of them should replace the
other.
We don’t normally use both (of) + not to make a negative statement about two
people or things:
I’ve saved some money to buy either [choice 1]a DVD player or [choice 2]an
MP3 player.
We use either… or… to connect items which are the same grammatical type, e.g. words,
phrases, clauses:
35
Either I drive to the airport or I get a taxi. (connecting clauses)
The opposite of either… or… is neither… nor…. We use it to make negative statements
connecting items:
Neither our families nor our friends know that we are getting married!
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/17422/influence-of-media-in-our-lives-or-influence-
of-media-on-our-lives
3 Answers
36
Henry
16.1k33656
add a comment |
Yup, the distinction's still there: to me, "in" implies one of many
influences, while "on" implies a more all-encompassing influence.
JPmiaou
5991819
add a comment |
17460 When I read the two sentences I distinguish the meanings of the
up
two as such:
vote1down vote
(Influence of) (media in our lives)
37
[something].
38
28. Accordingly or Therefore?
https://wikidiff.com/therefore/accordingly
Accordingly: means to act in a way appropriate to the situation. "I missed my last bus,
therefore I took a taxi. I was late to work, and the boss disciplined me accordingly. "
Surprisingly, many people misuse because of and due to without even realizing it. The difference is subtle, so
some people do not make the distinction. In spite of this, the rule should be followed, especially in
formal writing.
THE RULE
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Due to is a predicate adjective + preposition that means “the result of” or “resulting from.” It is always used
after a form of the verb to be.
E.g. Her headache was due to the enormous elephant peculiarly perched on her head.
Because of is a preposition used to introduce an adverbial phrase and means “as a result of.” It is not used
after a form of the verb to be.
E.g. She had a headache because of the enormous elephant peculiarly perched on her head.
THE TRICK
Due to has to follow some form of the verb to be.
https://blog.harwardcommunications.com/2015/01/20/how-to-use-provided-that/
The phrase “provided that” has numerous possible meanings, which can result in
ambiguity if it is not used properly.
First of all, “provided that” can simply be a verb + conjunction combination. This is
a common structure in legal writing. E.g.:
40
1) The most common idiomatic meaning is “on the condition that”. This is how
“provided that” is usually understood in everyday English. Here are some
examples:
You may go to the party provided that you’re home by 12.00.
You can drive a car provided that you have a valid licence.
You may produce your own version of the form, provided that the content is the
same as in the attached template.
If you omit “that” the meaning stays the same:
2) A less common meaning is “with the exception that”. This meaning is rarely
used outside of legal writing. E.g.:
If the Deposit is not paid, the Seller has the right to rescind this Agreement by
delivering written notice to the Purchaser within 30 days of the date of this
Agreement, provided that such rescission right is not effective if the Seller has
rescinded the Preliminary Agreement for the Property.
(i.e. If the Deposit is not paid the Seller has the right to rescind this Agreement
except if the Seller has already rescinded the Preliminary Agreement.)
All the above comments apply to the Properties, provided that the comments
concerning the Expropriation Decision do not apply as there was no equivalent
for the Properties.
(i.e. All the above comments apply to the Properties except the comments
concerning the Expropriation Decision.)
41
* Example taken from Bryan Garner “Legal Writing in Plain English”, p. 111.
Needless to say, Garner presents this sentence as an example of how NOT to write
legal English. Garner generally does not advocate the use of provisos. He suggests
rewriting and simplifying such sentences – a point of view that you might agree
with if you’ve had difficulty understanding the last three examples in this post.
http://www.writewithjean.com/usage-and-grammar/although/
Roger replies:
do
43
'You expect me to do everything around the house.
Well, I'm fed up!'
'I did all my homework last night so tonight I'm going
to do the housework.'
'I did a lot of research and I think I did a good job on
that essay. I did my best anyway.'
'I intend to do lots of walking on holiday this year, and
perhaps some bird-watching too.
make
make or do?
44
a lot of damage (to
5 make do check answer
something)
32. On or upon?
Upon for more abstract issues.
https://stancarey.wordpress.com/2008/08/30/as-to-as-to/
45
As to ‘as to’…
Some English usage and style commentators are
unperturbed by the widespread use of as to as a catch-all
preposition; others are aghast. The best approach would
seem to lie somewhere between their respective reactions:
to neither avoid it outright nor open the floodgates. The
careful writer will learn to use it discerningly.
46
Unfortunately, the term lends itself to overuse, especially as
a default preposition for writers who don’t know or have
forgotten a more suitable preposition:
47
https://www.englishgrammar.org/must-and-ought-to/
Must doesn’t change its form, whatever be its tense or the number and person of its subject. It
can refer to the present or future.
Must can refer to the past only when it is used with the present perfect of the main verb.
She must have gone home. (Here must refers to the past time because it is used with the present
perfect of the verb go.)
Uses of must
Must is used to express ideas such as compulsion, obligation or duty. It is much stronger than
should.
Must we go now?
48
She must have already left.
Ought
Uses of ought
Ought expresses ideas such as duty, necessity and moral obligation. It is not as forceful as must,
but it is stronger than should.
Ought generally points to present and future time. It can point to past time when it is followed by
the perfect infinitive (have + past participle).
You ought to have helped him. (It was your duty to help him but you didn’t.)
https://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2014/03/03/must-should-ought/
A woman’s place is in the bosom of her family; her thoughts ought seldom to emerge from it.
Those nineteenth-century moralists! Can you imagine what today’s world would have been like if
women such as Florence Nightingale, Emmeline Pankhurst, or Harriet Beecher Stowe had confined
49
their thoughts to family life? While the viewpoint behind it may be outdated, this famous
quotation is a neat way of illustrating one of the main uses of ought, namely expressing the
speaker’s view as to a correct or dutiful course of action, often imbued with a tinge of social
rectitude.
As you may know, ought is a special type of verb known as a modal verb: I’ve covered some of
these already in earlier blogs. I’d now like to turn my attention to a trio of modals which share a
similar range of meanings: must, ought, and should. All these verbs can be used to talk about duty
and obligation, to give advice or instructions, or to express degrees of probability. Should can also
be used in other ways, but as I’m endeavouring to keep this fairly brief, I’ll save my discussion of
conditional meanings of should and the difference between should and would for another day. If
you’re avid for all the information right this minute, you can find a full rundown of should here.
Let’s explore the central meanings of must, should, and ought first, then we’ll turn to their
similarities and differences, so as to help you use each verb in the most effective and idiomatic
way.
Must
• to talk about something that has to be done because it’s compulsory or obligatory (that is, it’s
absolutely necessary to obey a rule, law, order, or instruction):
She was told that she must not discuss the case with third parties, including her MP.
To calm public opinion, police must quickly arrest the culprits and solve this case.
• to express the view that something is highly likely because it’s a logical conclusion based on
something else that the speaker knows, or it’s the normal thing to expect:
Our measurements show that exactly the opposite must be the case.
Her mega hairdo must have taken several cans of hairspray to achieve.
• to say to someone that you strongly recommend or advise something because it’s a good idea:
We get on well and keep saying we must meet up for lunch sometime.
Ought
• to express the view that something is the right thing to do, because it’s morally correct, polite, or
someone’s duty:
50
You ought to admit that you made a mistake.
• to predict that something is fairly likely or expected, based on normal circumstances or logic:
Our long-delayed mail is on the way from France and ought to arrive today.
If you haven’t read the book then you ought to see the movie.
Should
• to talk about what we think is the right or correct thing to do, especially from the point of view
of duty or appropriateness:
• to predict that something will probably happen or is expected to be the case, based on logic or a
typical situation:
We can compare and contrast must, ought, and should according to two categories: meaning and
grammar.
1. Meaning
As we’ve seen, we can use all three verbs to express broadly similar meanings: the main
distinctions between them are related to degrees of emphasis. Must is the most emphatic: you use
it when you’re confident about a conclusion, or when you want to stress that it’s very important
for someone to follow your recommendations. You also use must to refer to something that’s
required by a rule or law. Unlike should and ought, must isn’t used to make predictions:
51
✓ According to the forecast, it ought to be warm tomorrow.
Ought is less strong than must, and isn’t used to talk about things that are compulsory. It often
carries with it slightly more forcefulness and more of a sense of moral obligation or
appropriateness than should.
The meanings of should that we’re addressing in this blog overlap with those of ought, but should
is much more common statistically. There are over 2 million instances of should on the Oxford
English Corpus, compared with around 71,000 occurrences of ought. In particular, should is much
more frequent in questions or negative constructions than ought. Should is the least forceful of
the trio: it’s mostly used to make suggestions and more tentative predictions.
If you have a mole that starts to bleed, you must see a doctor. [it’s vital, as it could be cancer]
The fat content of the cheese must not exceed 44%. [this is to obey a food regulation]
The object of the exercise was to prevent the public from seeing what they ought to see. [it’s
morally desirable that people knew]
I ought to eat more fruit and vegetables. [it’s a good idea and will make me healthier]
You should see the size of the crowds he plays in front of! [this is my opinion, but you don’t
actually need to see the crowds for yourself]
Having said this, however, there’s frequently little distinction in meaning between ought and
should, and indeed it is possible to have the same interpretation using one or both alternatives.
Should is more common in questions, especially in daily conversation: ought sounds rather formal
when used interrogatively. Additionally, speakers of North American English tend to use should
rather than ought when expressing a negative idea (we shouldn’t turn away from such
opportunities rather than we oughtn’t to turn away from such opportunities).
2. Grammar
2.1 Tenses
You can form the past tense of should and ought by using have and the past participle of the main
verb. We can use this construction to talk about things which were supposed to have been done or
have happened (but didn’t) or to speculate about things which we’re not sure about in the past:
52
You also form the past of must with have plus the past participle of a main verb. You can use must
have to express certainty about something in the past, based on logic or normal expectations:
From the evidence of his pupils, he must have been a good teacher.
However, you can’t use must have to talk about something important that should have occurred in
the past or something compulsory. If you say:
it doesn’t mean ‘they were supposed to have done more research but didn’t’; it means that the
speaker is sure that they had carried out more research in order to get to the situation they’re
now in.
2.2 Infinitives
Ought is unlike most other modals, because we always use the infinitive to when we use it with a
main verb. You shouldn’t say:
The only case where you don’t have to accompany ought with to is if there is no other main verb
in the sentence or clause:
The above should have helped to clarify these three verbs; you ought now to know how to use
them; I must stop writing immediately!
53
The opinions and other information contained in OxfordWords blog posts and comments do not
necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Oxford University Press.
Author
Catherine Soanes
There are so many words to learn on other pages of this website, but in the meanwhile, let's talk
about a pair of words you probably know very well. Or should I say "in the meantime, let's talk…"?
Or maybe I should say "meanwhile, let's talk…"?
Huh. Meanwhile and meantime: are they the same? Does it matter which one you use?
54
Both 'meantime' and 'meanwhile' have been used as adverbs, as in "meanwhile/meantime, down
at the farm…," since the late 1500s.
Meantime and meanwhile have both been used as nouns in the prepositional phrase "in the
meanwhile/meantime" since the 1300s—which is from the time of their lexical infancy. (They also
both appear in other phrases, like "for the meanwhile/meantime.") Both have been used as
adverbs, like in "meanwhile/meantime, down at the farm…," since the late 1500s. They've been
interchangeable for pretty much all of their long histories. But that doesn't mean they don't each
have their favorite territory.
Meantime is the one that's usually used as a noun (that is, as the object of the preposition in
phrases like "in the meantime" and "for the meantime."):
The company will be put up for auction…. In the meantime, the company will use two loans … to
help keep the lights on.
— Maya Kosoff, Vanity Fair, 10 June 2016
The great majority of times meantime is seen in published, edited text, it's in exactly that context:
as a noun, in the phrase "in the meantime." It's not difficult to find examples, though, where
meantimeis used as an adverb:
Meantime, the Port Authority is asking the FAA for permission to collect an extra $110 million in
passenger fees to pay for preliminary construction.
— Seth Barron, City Journal, Winter 2016
Shakespeare liked to use meantime this way, as when King Lear in the eponymous 1608 play said,
"Meantime we shall express our darker purpose."
He performs his signature stunt several times with formidable skill, all in full view of the camera
with no cuts. Meanwhile, mere feet away, a young woman paces the parking lot, talking on her
cell phone.
— Joe Blevins, A.V. Club, 14 July 2016
But since the satellite trackers still have another year of battery life, the team is hoping to learn
much more in the months to come. In the meanwhile, enjoy some lovely photos of whale sharks
from the study….
— Maddie Stone, Gizmodo, 27 June 2016
"In the meanwhile" has been accused of being "unidiomatic" (i.e. of sounding weird), but it isn't so
unidiomatic that native speakers instinctively avoid it. If you use it, there's no reason you should
stop.
But if you want to use this pair of words in the ways they're most often used and need help
remembering which goes where, you can think of this sentence:
55
In the time it takes to say "in the meantime," you could just as well say "meanwhile."
But really, the most efficient way to deal with the pair is to use whichever you prefer wherever
you prefer it.
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/causatives-have-get.html
We use a causative verb when we want to talk about something that someone else
did for us or for another person. It means that the subject caused the action to
happen, but didn't do it themselves. Maybe they paid, or asked, or persuaded the
other person to do it. For example, we can say:
I cleaned my house. (This means I cleaned it myself).
If I paid someone to clean it, of course I can say:
A cleaner cleaned my house.
But, another way is to use a causative construction. So I can also say:
I had my house cleaned.
In a sense, using a causative verb is similar to using a passive. The important thing
is that the house is now clean. We don't focus on who did the cleaning.
We usually use 'have something done' when we are talking about paying someone
to do something for us. It's often used for services. The form is 'subject + have +
object + past participle'.
I had my car washed.
John will have his house painted.
Get + object + past participle (get something done)
We can also use 'subject + get + object + past participle'. This has the
same meaning as 'have', but is less formal.
The students get their essays checked.
56
I'll get my hair cut next week.
He got his washing machine fixed.
Try an exercise about 'have something done' and 'get something done'
here.
So what’s the rule for whether we use the -ing form or the infinitive?
Sorry, there isn’t a rule. You have to learn which verbs go with which pattern.
The verbs followed by -ing include enjoy, mind, stop and recommend.
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It didn't stop raining all day yesterday.
Daisy recommends trying Alfie’s tiramisu.
stop finish imagine suggest recommend avoid mind miss risk enjoy
I thought you could say: 'I recommend that you see that film'?
Yes, you’re right, you can. But we’re not looking at the more complex patterns with that or an object
today.
Here are more verbs that are usually followed by the infinitive:
hope offer fail agree forget manage learn afford arrange ask expect would
like decide plan promise want invite
The verbs like, love and hate can be followed by -ing or the infinitive when talking about repeated
actions.
But when we are talking about situations, we use the -ing form.
So, 'I love learning grammar rules' or 'I love to learn grammar rules' are both OK?
Exactly. But there are some more verbs which can be followed by -ing or the infinitive, but the two
options have different meanings, for example remember and stop.
58
I never remember to lock the door, and my mum gets really angry!
(remember + infinitive = remember something and then do it)
I never remember locking the door, but when I go back and check I always have.
(remember + -ing = remember something you did before)
Albeit or Although?
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/359402/what-are-the-differences-between-albeit-
and-although
The conjunction albeit has been labeled archaic, but it appears to be making a
comeback. It means though or although, but it is not interchangeable with these
words in all circumstances. Think of it as a shorter way of saying although
it is or although it be.
From: (grammarist.com)
Albeit and Although:
are two words in the English language that are almost similar in their sense but
with some sort of difference though. Albeit is more often used in informal
speech or writing whereas although can be used in all cases of writing.
This is one of the main differences between the two words ‘albeit’ and ‘although’
Look at the two sentences given below:
59
sentence and in an informal way too. It is also important to know that
the word ‘albeit’ is used more as a conjunction and hence very
often it is used in the middle of a sentence than at the very
beginning of a sentence . In other words it can be said that the
word ‘albeit’ is very rarely used in the beginning of a sentence.
This is also a very important difference between the words
‘albeit’ and ‘although’.
o There is an interesting rule in the case of the usage of the word
‘although’. As you can see from the example given above,
‘although’ can be used in the beginning of a sentence but it
cannot be used at the end of a sentence. It is grammatically incorrect
to say ‘I had a good time in the party although.’ In such cases the word
‘although’ can be replaced by the word ‘though’ and hence the sentence
becomes correct as ‘I had a good time in the party though’.
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/148009/thereby-vs-therefore
Thereby and Therefore have different meanings.
Explanation
Thereby : It means as a result of an action.
For instance, let's say there is a sentence like, Regular exercises make us more fit, thereby
keeping us more active.
We are kept active because of doing "Regular exercises". keeping us active is a RESULT of the
ACTION we are doing, which is the exercises.
Therefore : It means for that reason.
For instance, let's say there is a sentence like, Regular exercises make us more fit and therefore
made us more healthy. So we are made healthy because of doing the regular exercises. It's not a
RESULT, but a REASON. You may or may not get healthy by doing regular exercises(the Result
may vary), but regular exercises is a REASON why you are healthy.
Summary
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/therefore http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictiona
ry/english/thereby
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Between . . . and, from . . . to
https://englishforjournalists.journalism.cuny.edu/2014/12/08/betweenandfromto/
by Diane Nottle on December 8, 2014 in Uncategorized Comments Off on Between . . . and, from . .
. to
Between now and the end of the semester — and that’s not far away — I’d like everyone to
master the difference between two constructions commonly used to indicate ranges, especially in
business stories that report changes in revenue and earnings over time.
The latest data on the world cocoa economy from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO)
show that between 2002 and 2012 cocoa production rose at an annual average rate of over 3
percent.
As written, this sentence says production rose at that rate from 2003 to 2011 — the years
between 2002 and 2012. Picture these years as a shelf of books:
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Between 2002 and 2012 indicates those nine years literally between 2002 and 2012; it does not
include the bookends in boldface. To do so, as the writer intended, use from . . . to:
The latest data . . . show that from 2002 to 2012 cocoa production rose at an annual average rate
of over 3 percent.
In addition, sales of candies, chewing gum and chocolate in China rose 46 percent between 2007
and 2012.
61
It should have read:
In addition, sales of candies, chewing gum and chocolate in China rose 46 percent from 2007 to
2012.
And it’s not just a matter of time. Just this week, a student wrote:
Today, the center cooks between 1,400 and 2,000 lunches a day for seniors 60 to 98.
Better:
Today, the center cooks 1,400 to 2,000 lunches a day for seniors 60 to 98.
Here she didn’t need from. Why not save a word when you can? And notice how the age range is
expressed: 60 to 98.
In some parts of the South Bronx, Simone said, the price of a buildable square foot has doubled in
the past year – $40 to 50 per square foot, from $25 to $26 last year.
Here from is not part of a from . . . to construction, but part of doubled . . . from.
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In the Ivory Coast, ICCO’s data show, production of cocoa beans dropped 6 percent between
2010-11 and 2011-12.
There was no year between 2010-11 and 2011-12, or between 2013 and 2014; they were
consecutive. The sentences should have read:
In the Ivory Coast, ICCO’s data show, production of cocoa beans dropped 6 percent from 2010-11
to 2011-12.
Finally:
Bloom goes five times a week and stays between three and four hours.
Why did I choose between . . . and in my lede for this post? While this grammar point may
gradually dawn on you from now to Dec. 19, there will (I hope) be one point in time between now
and then when you will have mastered it. May it come before capstones are due.
Buscargramática
63
inglésinglés-alemánalemán-inglés
Next
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/es/gramatica/gramatica-britanica/adverbs-of-time-and-
frequency/next
Next as an adjective
Next or the next?
When we talk about days of the week, weeks, months, years, seasons or public
holidays in the future in relation to now, we use next without the and without a
preposition:
I have an appointment with the dentist next Wednesday morning.
Not: … the next Wednesday morning.
Are you working next week?
Not: Are you working on next week?
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Next year will be our fortieth wedding anniversary.
We’re going to plant some new flowers next spring.
To refer to the future, we can use the next few hours, the next two days, the next
six months, etc.:
I’ll finish the work in the next few days. You can pay me then.
We’ll be home for the next three weeks, then we’re going away to France for two
weeks.
When we talk about times in the past or future not related to now, we normally use
the. However, in informal situations, we can omit the when we talk about the past:
The next day we travelled to the ancient city of Qom.
We’re going to spend the first night in Oslo, then the next day we’ll fly to Narvik.
Two policemen grabbed me. Next minute, I was arrested and thrown into a van.
The next time
We can use the next time to refer to the past or to the future. In informal situations,
we can omit the:
We’ve been to Australia a few times. The first time we went it was work, then the
next time we went it was a mix of work and holiday.
The next time you’re in Ireland, you must come and visit us.
I saw him about five years ago and he was unemployed. Next time I saw him he
was driving a bus.(informal)
Next as an adverb
[a group of children are waiting to ride a pony]
Adult:
Who wants to go next?
Child:
Me! Me!
He said he was upset about the drama club, but I can’t remember what he said
next.
65
Next as a linking adjunct
We can use next as a linking adjunct to refer to something which follows
immediately after something before. We often use this when giving instructions:
To convert your old cassette tapes to CDs, first you will need a cable to connect
your cassette player to your computer. Next, you will need some sort of software
to convert your music to a digital format such as MP3.
Next as a pronoun
We can use next as a pronoun with or without the:
Ollie’s coming to stay the week after next. (the week after next week)
I don’t know how I’m going to manage from one day to the next.
Next to
We can use next to for people or things that are very near or beside each other:
Can I sit next to you at the restaurant? There’s something I want to tell you.
We can also use next to when we are comparing things:
Next to English, my best language is Spanish. (English is my best language, then
Spanish.)
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/361803/in-doing-so-vs-in-so-doing
What's the difference between "in doing so" and "in so doing"? I believe they're
interchangable -- but "in so doing" feels almost archaic to me.
Which one is most acceptable? Is there a difference?
66
They're both fixed phrases. The one with so before during is more complex syntactically, and therefore
more formal. Nobody talks like this; this is very old-fashioned written legal language. There are no
meaning differences between them; which one to write (if either) depends on how formal the author
wishes to appear. In doing so is Solicitor grade, but in so doing is Barrister. – John Lawler Dec 4 '16 at
15:40
'In doing so', makes the verb (doing) the focus of the phrase. 'In so doing', is slightly
reflexive, returning the emphasis back to what is being done. It is a finely nuanced
distinction and the degree of formality in the latter phrase lends it to a negative
connotation. "And in so doing the defendant caused....". Whereas the former phrase 'In
doing so' is easier to link with a more positive action.
Subjunctive Mood
https://www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/subjunctive_mood.htm
The subjunctive mood is the verb form used to explore a hypothetical situation (e.g., If I were you) or to
express a wish, a demand or a suggestion (e.g., I demand he be present).
67
truthful.
It's essential that she
be here.
has She has a chance. have I demand she have
(third person singular chance.
of to have in the
present tense)
was I was free. were If I were free, I'd go.
(first person and third He was happy. I wish he were happy.
person singular of to
be in the past tense)
prepares, works, She makes sushi. prepare, work, sing, I propose she make
sings, etc. etc. sushi.
(third-person-singular (remove the s)
verbs in the present
tense, i.e., ones
ending s)
Real-Life Examples of the Subjunctive Mood
Verbs That Attract the Subjunctive Mood
The following verbs often attract the subjunctive mood: to ask, to command, to demand, to insist, to
order, to recommend, to suggest and to wish.
All we ask of a president is that he be likeable. We seem to have given up on the Pentagon's
corrupt use of our tax dollars. (Author Donella Meadows)
Saddam Hussein systematically violated every UN resolution that demanded he disarm and
destroy his chemical and biological weapons. (US politician Henry Waxman)
Don't make election popularity a matter of which candidate hires the most creative
propagandists. Insist that it be a running conversation with the public. (Actor Ron Howard)
If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater suggest that he wear a tail.
(Author Fran Lebowitz)
It is necessary to the happiness of man that he be mentally faithful to himself. (Political activist
Thomas Paine)
When unseen forces come together to provide a man with the strength and capacity to achieve
something great, it is essential that he use the time responsibly and timely. (Author Eyler Robert
Coates)
68
(I wish that "God save the Queen".)
What Is Mood?
Mood is the form a verb takes to show how it is to be regarded (e.g., as a fact, a command, a wish, an
uncertainty).
The Indicative Mood. This states facts or asks questions. For example:
o They are playing the guitar.
o Are they playing the guitar?
The Imperative Mood. This expresses a command or a request. For example:
o Play the guitar!
o Please play the guitar.
The Subjunctive Mood. This shows a wish or doubt. Some more examples:
o I suggest that Lee play the guitar.
o I propose that Lee be asked to play the guitar.
o If I were Lee, I would play the guitar.
The subjunctive mood definitely has its place in English grammar, but we shouldn't pretend it isn't
starting to fade. And, it's starting to fade for two understandable reasons: firstly, it isn't particularly useful
to convey meaning (i.e., the meaning often remains clear if it isn't used), and, secondly, the rules for
using it are tricky. In fact, the subjunctive mood is pretty inefficient as a language tool, and as a language
develops efficiency always trumps dogma.
That said though, verbs in the subjunctive mood still sound aesthetically pleasing to the native ear, and
nobody has started in earnest to condone subjunctive-mood avoidance, so you should use it.
Here's some guidance: If you naturally opt for the verb in the subjunctive mood, use it. If you're unsure
whether the normal verb or the subjunctive verb sounds best, use the subjunctive one. If you can't bear
how the subjunctive one sounds, have the confidence to use the normal verb.
We will all have different thresholds for what sounds awkward and right, but here are some examples to
clarify the guidance.
69
(If you can't decide between the normal verb (is) and the subjunctive (be), go for the subjunctive
one.)
(If you can't bear how the subjunctive verb (lower) sounds, have the confidence to use the
normal one.)
An uncomfortable truth? Even if your subjunctive verb doesn't sound better, using it is bit of an
opportunity to show off…and to smugly say "it's in the subjunctive mood" if questioned on it. Winner.
Key Points
If you think your verb in the subjunctive mood sounds a little awkward, use it (and enjoy the
showing off).
If you think your verb in the subjunctive mood sounds awful, bin it (and enjoy today's leniency).
The Subject
https://www.chompchomp.com/terms/subject.htm
In a sentence, every verb must have a subject. If the verb expresses action—like sneeze, jump, bark, or
study—the subject is who or what does the verb. Take a look at this example:
Danced is an action verb. Tommy is who did the dancing. Look at the next example:
Crashed is the action verb. The hotrod is what did the crashing.
Not all verbs are action verbs. Some verbs are linking: am, is, are, was, were, seem, and become,
among others. Linking verbs connect the subject to something that is said about the subject. Take a look
at this example:
Bathroom is the subject. Is connects the subject to something that is said about it, that the bathroom is a
disaster. Here is another example:
70
The bathroom tiles are fuzzy with mold.
The word tiles is the subject. Are connects tiles to something said about them, that they are fuzzy with
mold.
Generally, but not always, the subject of a linking verb will come before the linking verb.
The complete subject is who or what is doing the verb plus all of the modifiers [descriptive words] that go
with it. Read the sentence below:
The big, hungry, green Martian grabbed a student from the back row.
Who did the grabbing? The Martian, of course. But this Martian wasn't petite, satisfied, and blue. No, this
one was big, hungry, and green. The complete subject, then, is the huge, hairy, hungry, green Martian.
The simple subject, on the other hand, is the who or what that is doing the verb without any description.
Take a look at this example:
What did the sparkling? Obviously, the bright copper coin. The, bright and copper, however, are just
description that distinguishes this coin from one that is, let's say, tarnished and silver. The simple subject
is only the word coin.
The subject of a verb will never be part of a prepositional phrase. A prepositional phrase begins with a
preposition [in, on, at, between, among, etc.] and ends with a noun, pronoun, or gerund. Look at these
examples of prepositional phrases:
at home
71
between us
without crying
Sometimes a prepositional phrase appears to be either the subject itself or part of the subject. Read the
example that follows:
In this sentence, the boys seem to be the ones who do not want the pizza, but because they are part of a
prepositional phrase, of these boys, they are not the subject. Neither is the actual subject. Take a look at
another example:
My dog, along with her seven puppies, has chewed all of the stuffing out of the sofa cushions.
Here, both my dog and her seven puppies are chewing on the sofa, but because the puppies are part of
the prepositional phrase along with her seven puppies, the only word that counts as the subject is dog.
Generally, but not always, the subject comes before the verb, as in all of the examples above. There are,
however, exceptions, like this one:
In a small house adjacent to our backyard lives a family with ten noisy children.
Lives is the action verb in this sentence, but it is not the house or the backyard that is doing the living.
Instead, it is the family with ten noisy children. Family, then, is the subject of this sentence, even though
it comes after the verb. Take a look at another example:
Are is the linking verb in this sentence. The word trees, however, is not the subject because trees is
within the prepositional phrase around the peach trees. The subject in this sentence, bumblebees,
follows the verb rather than coming before it
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The Clause
Clauses come in four types: main [or independent], subordinate [or dependent], relative [or adjective],
and noun. Every clause has at least a subject and a verb. Other characteristics will help you distinguish
one type of clause from another.
Main Clauses
Cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter.
The important point to remember is that every sentence must have at least one main clause. Otherwise,
you have a fragment, a major error.
Subordinate Clauses
73
Subordinate Conjunction + Subject + Verb = Incomplete Thought.
As cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter
The important point to remember about subordinate clauses is that they can never stand alone as
complete sentences. To complete the thought, you must attach each subordinate clause to a main
clause.
Whenever lazy students whine, Mrs. Russell throws chalk erasers at their heads.
Anthony ran for the paper towels as cola spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter.
74
Relative Clauses
A relative clause will begin with a relative pronoun [such as who, whom, whose, which, or that] or a
relative adverb [when, where, or why].
That had spilled over the glass and splashed onto the counter
Like subordinate clauses, relative clauses cannot stand alone as complete sentences. You must connect
them to main clauses to finish the thought.
75
The lazy students whom Mrs. Russell hit in the head with a chalk eraser soon learned to keep their
complaints to themselves.
My dog Floyd, who loves pizza crusts, eats them under the kitchen table, where he chews and drools
with great enthusiasm.
Anthony ran to get paper towels for the cola that had spilled over the glass and splashed onto the
counter.
Punctuating relative clauses can be tricky. You must decide if the relative clause is essential or
nonessential and then use commas accordingly.
Essential relative clauses do not require commas. A relative clause is essential when you need the
information it provides.
A dog that eats too much pizza will soon develop pepperoni breath.
Dog is nonspecific. To know which dog we are talking about, we must have the information in the relative
clause. Thus, the relative clause is essential and requires no commas.
If, however, we revise dog and choose more specific words instead, the relative clause becomes
nonessential and does require commas to separate it from the rest of the sentence.
My dog Floyd, who eats too much pizza, has developed pepperoni breath.
Noun Clauses
Any clause that functions as a noun becomes a noun clause. Look at this example:
You really do not want to know the ingredients in Aunt Nancy's stew.
Ingredients = noun.
76
If we replace the noun ingredients with a clause, we have a noun clause:
You really do not want to know what Aunt Nancy adds to her stew.
I was told that the use of "much like" in the second sentence is grammatically wrong. Any explanation is
greatly appreciated.
word-choice
Matt
I was wondering if I could have a more pedantic answer to the OP's question? The previous answer
seems good, but I am having trouble with understanding some of the subtleties. – user194901 Sep 5 '16
at 20:08
77
add a comment
1 Answer
Active
Oldest
Votes
"Much AS they had done with her". Traditionally, "as" and "much as" compare verbals (and qualities)
whereas "like" and "much like" compare nouns. That is, "as" acts as an adverb, and "like" is much like a
preposition. However, this distinction continues to erode over time. I remember when there was debate
over the cigarette ad: "Lucky Strike tastes good—like a cigarette should!" ("like" modifying "tastes" makes
it adverbial, so some insisted it should have been "as".) But decades of such usage have made it
commonplace. And to some people, that means the usage is "acceptable". Whether it is correct (a
concept that is now out of favor; let's say "equally acceptable", ) depends on your audience.
Still, some writers distinguish between comparisons of things and comparisons of actions or qualities: -
(1) Crackers are much like bread. - (2) Crackers are baked, much as bread is. You might be tempted to
put "like" in (2), but I don't think it would work to put "as" in (1).
And there are some other distinctions. Consider - He is acting as a manager. - He is acting like a fool.
In these and many other cases, "as" and "like" are not interchangeable, they are used differently with
different meanings. The below simply would not work with "like": - Much as he wanted to, he couldn't go.
- As ye sow, so shall ye reap".
But sometimes it's hard to tell whether "like" is being used adverbally or not. The following line from a
song (by Barenaked Ladies) illustrates:
Or suppose you wrote "Much like yesterday, it will rain today." (is "like" modifying "yesterday", a noun, or
modifying "will rain", a verb?) So sometimes it's obvious whether "like" or "as" is more appropriate, and
sometimes it's not.
Lastly, a real conundrum: "Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies prefer bananas." (That's a double-
entendre that illustrates the problems that might occur if you always substitute "like" for "as".)
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APPENDIX A. USEFUL ENGLISH WORDING
79
- But as we get started, a word of caution (The Craft of
Research).
- In this vein
80
- In this respect, generally sufficient conceptions of the
basis of a natural lawfulness were set out.”…
(Transitional Justice).
- As regards
81
- The book is informed by another conviction
82
the Digital Age).
- It is profitable to consider
83
Justice).
84
- We are already as distant from that past as readers
then were from the pre-Gutenberg world… beyond the
wildest dreams of scholars just half a century ago.
85
- …after 9600 BC, global temperatures rose again, by
seven degrees Celsius in less than a decade, and have
since stayed high (Why Nations Fail).
86
- Our automatic defence of this ideal rests on two
foundations.
87
- Such warrants are backed not by evidence but by
the certainty of those who espouse them. It is
pointless to challenge them, because they are
statements of faith, impervious to argument or
evidence. (Impervious: not influenced or affected
by something). (The Craft…)
88
Justice).
89
- The author locates her discussion of… within the
framework of…
- I will put to one side the topic of… the problem of…
- No doubt….
- By way of exception
- Draw a distinction
- To my best knowledge
- To my occurrence “
- If one looks at
- What one can read into...
90
- This puzzle cuts (pare) to the bone
of (Reduce something to the bare
minimum.)
These different ways of showing the
same data can be confusing. To cut
through that confusion, test different
ways of representing the same data. (Cut
through: If you cut through something difficult that
usually causes problems, you quickly understand it or
deal with it so that it does not cause problems for
you (The Craft of Research).
-
91
liable for acts of the latter, save
that reparation is owed for
violations by either.(except for)
92
- Many potential ideas get
abandoned along the way
- Well-nigh: almost.
it will be seen that in Newspeak the expression of
unorthodox opinions, above a very low level, was
well-nigh impossible
93
boundaries of these categories are soft and, in many
cases, blurred.
94
bank, you’ll find the Lele people; on the eastern
bank are the Bushong (…) On the face of it there
ought to be few differences between these two
groups with regard to their prosperity.(On the face
of it: apparently. Without having all the relevant
facts). (Why Nations Fail)
- We wish to suggest a …
- In our opinion...
- We believe that...
- Some of the van der Waals
distances appear to be too small
98
- Youn can attribute an objection or alternative to an
unnamed source, which gives it a little weight/give
more weight
- It should be admitted/conceded/acknowledged/noted
that no good evidence proves that...
99
(The Craft of Research).
100
Research).
101
advocated as necessary in the transition to democracy;
yet, exploration of the legal phenomenology in periods
of political shift suggests that though these are
generally thought to be discrete categories of the law,
there are affinities. (Discrete: having an independent
existence)(Transitional Justice).
- As a windfall: as a result
102
something
103
-Having said that
104
- Stretch out the horizon
105
- The digital revolution had gone public.
106
until you see where it takes you. (The Craft of
Research).
108
- It has been argued that
- It is submitted that
109
- Conventional wisdoms maintains that...
- In truth,
110
fact remains that women are paid less)
- Common sense-grasp
111
- Researchers read secondary sources to keep up with
developments in their fields and, in this way, to
stimulate their own thinking. (keep up with: learn
about or be aware of current developments)
112
in something) (Transitional Justice).
- Not all the stakes are equal. In some places, the deck
is already grotesquely stacked. (the deck is
stacked/stack the deck: to arrange something in a
dishonest way in order t achieve the result you want).
(How to Thrive in the Digital Age)
- You can note that there are unsettled issues (The Craft
of Research)
113
- Whether obligations discussed in this research
are defeated by humanitarian law as lex specialis
in particular situations is left up to the doctrinal
discussion on that topic: (van der Haven, 2017).
114
always obey the substitution axiom, and considerable
disagreement exists about the normative merit of this
axiom... (Thinking, Fast and Slow)
- To be loyal to my attempt.
115
- For our purposes
116
privilege?
117
- Let me set that issue aside.
To make a -
distinction
- In place of: Instead of
- In its place.
- It resides solely
118
surroundings).
- To get a “ballpark” sense of what we are likely to find
through a search of specialized databases. (ballpark:
general, non-specific).
- A cloud of obscurity
- It might be said that
- One might think that
- It would be tantamount to (-ing)
- There appear to be…
- To put the same point another way
- Plainly (simply)
- More concretely
119
- Inject clarity
120
- Debates as to X... run along the same fault lines that
characterize debates about Y...
- And behind their seemingly ineffable existences are
historical and human contexts, ripe for debate. (ripe
for: developed to a suitable condition for something to
happen) (How to Thrive in the Digital Age)
- … I watched the debate ripple and resound,
passing on the best insights I found to those who
follow me in turn. (How to Thrive in the Digital
Age)
121
exploring societal experiences that arise in the context
of political transformation (Transitional Justice).
122
phrase ‘continuous partial attention’ to describe
the idea of... (How to Thrive...).
123
- Because the consequences of such actions depend
on uncertain events such as the weather or the
opponent’s resolve, the choice of an act may be
construed as acceptance of a gamble that can yield
carious outcomes with different probabilities. (to be
construed: to understand the meaning of
something in a particular way) (Thinking, Fast and
Slow...)
124
- …if there is hope, it lies in examining technology
not in isolation, but rather as part of the particular
social and cultural arenas in which it operates.
(How to Thrive in the Digital Age).
125
- the boot is on the other foot
(North American the shoe is on the other foot)
PHRASE
126
To add - But, if it is right to say that…, it is not less so to say
emphasized that…
information -
- More tellingly still is…
- Indeed
- This has sparked considerable interest in…
- In view of the importance of…
- It appears reasonable to state that
- This too is of importance.
- She has more to say about…
- These type of question is even worth asking
- … warnings eminently worth heeding (to pay attention
to something, especially advice or a warning) (How to
Thrive in the Digital Age).
127
a first draft more than pays off when they start writing
it. (The Craft of Research).
128
money profit.(Animal Farm).
- ...Like the Bushong under Shyaam, societies
reorganized to take advantage of the greater
opportunities created by the glut of wild plants and
animals...(Glut: a supply of something that is much
greater than can sold or is needed or wanted) (Why
Nations Fail).
129
- It places special emphasis on...
130
all-time high, low, best, etc. is the
highest, lowest, best, etc. level that
has ever been). (IISS 2019 Survey)
131
- As in the Soviet Union in its heydays, China is
growing rapidly... (The period of greatest
success). (Why Nations Fail?)
132
too: machines of ever-increasing complexity
that we have made, and that are helping to
remake us in turn. (How to Thrive in the Digital
Age)
133
- A subjective probability distribution for the
value of the Dow Jones average can be
constructed from several such judgments
corresponding to different percentiles.
(Think, Fast and Slow)
134
concerns over democratization writ large (in
a stark or exaggerated form. Similar to
something but larger or more obvious) (How
to Thrive in the Digital Age).
135
Craft of Research)
136
greatest. (Transitional Justice).
137
He made calculations and drawn up arguments
If you still draw a blank, try these steps. (Elicit no
successful response)
Less than a century later, it is safe to say that even the
wildest of these speculations have been exceeded.
- Interwoven stories
138
- We are already as distant from that past as readers
then were from the pre-Gutenberg world.
139
- What is needed… is something credible and
engaging that can get across a general lesson for
online Behaviour: along the lines of ‘be smart, and
take a moment to think about the consequences of
what you’re doing’ (get across: to communicate a
message successfully; along the lines: similar in
type) (How to Thrive…)
140
- Your task is to help the birds recover these by
demolishing several hundred screens’ worth of the
pigs’ rickety fortifications… (worth of: equivalent
to) (How to Thrive…).
141
- The approach is open to the objection that.
- I am not as sure.
142
- Perhaps…the fruits of this process may be reaped not
chiefly by the wealthy or the current elite, but by those
people and nations who have not historically been at
the forefront of development (reap: cut and collect a
crop).
143
people to have the same faults.
144
that we are rational
145
divergence...
146
and behaviours.
147
dislike, fear, or do not feel confident about) .
148
especially difficult to write, and so they fall into
clichés (The Craft of Research).
149
(The Craft of Research).
150
explanation puts the cart before the horse
(To do things in the wrong order) (Why
Nations Fail).
- The State should step up its efforts to ensure that all allegations
regarding acts of intimidation, threats or attacks are investigated
promptly, thoroughly and impartially, and that the perpetrators
stand trial and are held accountable for their acts. (step something
151
up: Increase
the amount, speed, or intensity of
something.)
152
- Influence the discourse on reparations at the national
level.
- Vindicate rights
-
- Dire Strait of victims (Extremely serious situation).
153
small pockets (having less money than you should
have or than you intended) and during limited periods
of time, Africa has lagged behind (to move or advance
so slowly that you are behind other people or things)
the rest of the world in terms of technology… (Why
Nations Fail)
154
straight into the hands of censors and
monopolies. (How to Thrive in the Digital Age).
- Right bearer
- Empty-handed.
- Paper solution.
155
- The Colombian society underwent mass violations
156
- Conquistadors adapted the institutional framework of
Guarani’s, with themselves at the helm (at the
leadership position)
- Conflict-related violence
- The country was riven by guerrilla war (split or torn
apart violently)
- Fierce dispute.
- Violent methods
- Land seizures
- The order was to kill every civilian in sight (close to
being realised, visible)
157
- A terrible sight had met their eyes. The windmill was in
ruins. (Animal Farm)
158
- Napoleon appeared to be somewhat better, and
the following morning Squealer was able to tell
them that he was well on the way to recovery
(Animal Farm).
159
organized labor to build the great monuments (…)
Looking across all the Maya cities, archaeologists can
this count how many buildings were finished in
particular years. (Why Nations Fail).
-
Responsibility
-The black Americans would be duly alleviated if the
government owns up to slavery (own up: Admit to having
done something wrong or embarrassing.
-Hold responsibility
- Pass the buck: Shift the responsibility for something to
someone else.
- The state had failed its positive duty to protect the life
of victims.
- Relieve the state from responsibility for
- State scapes the reach of international rules
160
to provide assistance in (is required to)
Bestow obligations.
161
- As highlighted throughout the report, ANSAs legal personality and
possession of human rights obligations do not mean that there is an
equality of obligations between States and ANSAs, or amongst
ANSAs.
Obligatory status
- Right holder
-Obligated parties
162
- 7Rather than protecting people’s rights, the
Amparo provides a loophole in equality before the
law (1An ambiguity or inadequacy in the law or
a set of rules.)
- Applicability of law.
- Issue a decision
- Legal landscape
- These are actions taken under the auspices of the
Protocol
- Abridge the right (curtail or restrict rights)
- This renders the rights meaningless.
163
mere passage of new rights charters would not
produce a sense of transformation in the rule of law.
(Transitional Justice).
164
different dilemmas. the existing law is
riddled with loopholes.
165
Constitutional Court upheld it on the basis
that it would serve the goal of undoing past
politicized punishment policy and
administration of justice. The law would
suspend the time limitations for forty-one
years (the time between February 25, 1948,
and December 29, 1989) for acts previously
not prosecuted or punished for “political
reasons”. (Transitional Justice).
Read more:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/arrest-
warrant.html
166
and guarded against... (How to Thrive in the
Digital Age)
-
- In defending ourselves and our societies against
these, the best digital models echo the effective
policing of urban space, combining the ethos of a
community in which members look out for one
another with external standards enforced from
within (How to Thrive in the Digital Age).
168
right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt)
(Transitional Justice).
169
within narrow bounds) (Transitional Justice).
170
- But a little thought reveals that this is a difficult
option to implement. (Nudge).
- On foot
- Gradual shift
171
- In this instance, fate takes an unusual turn.
- Linkages between
- World community
- Silicon Valley at sunset: even world-spanning digital
services are born from a particular place and time
(world-spanning: world-length) (How to Thrive in the
Digital Age)
- In all honesty
- But when the animals saw the green flag flying, and
heard the gun firing again — seven times it was fired in
all — and heard the speech that Napoleon made,
congratulating them on their conduct, it did seem to
them after all that they had won a great victory.
(Animal Farm).
- Better-than-average opportunity
- Thrive on hierarchy
172
- Map something out: Plan a route or course of
action in detail.
173
- throw the baby out with the bathwater: Discard
something valuable along with other things that are
undesirable.
174
to law, public health and happiness alike. (How to
Thrive in the Digital Age).
- Thought experiment.
175
new Constitution soon hit a stumbling block with an
unexpected political crisis that required an oiling of its
gears and shoring up of its foundations.
- The job was not at the end my cup of tea (Not what
one likes or is interested in.)
- There was not an animal on the farm that did not take
vengeance on them after his own fashion (To a certain
extent but not perfectly)
177
executed by Squaler in white paint (In profile: (in
reference to someone's face) as seen from one
side.) (Animal Farm)
-Now and then we may cross paths with individuals who are
not appalled by our longing for urgent sexual congress
- But suppose you were bullied into the date and would
rather be anywhere else.
- Beth might also have responded that owning a gun
would make her home less safe (rather than more)
(The Craft of Research).
178
- It’s easy to recognize a good problem when we bump
into it, or it bumps into us.
179
truthfulness forbiddingly high.
180
- Starvation seemed to stare them in
the face (Animal Farm)
- A tragic truth we should calmly face head on
(involve direct confrontation. Face to face), before
life drives it home to (Make something clearly
understood by the use of direct arguments) us in
its own brutal way.
181
- When, for example, I am sitting in a train checkin
my email, texting, tweeting and listening to music,
I am at once present and yet not all there. (Hoe to
Thrive).
182
- This is a place of extraordinary cultural fertility...
where users’ needs and whims are pre-empted
with a commitment to elegance that borders on
the pathological... (How to Thrive in the Digital
Age)
183
Digital Age).
184
someone) (Animal Farm)
185
students… have a problem that the student
researcher can resolve. (Next best:best except for
another thing that has been mentioned) (The Craft of
Research).
187
their in-game avatar a virtual designer outfit. (How
to Thrive in the Digital Age).
188
or adopt any innovation that might have
economized on labour. (Why Nations Fail).
189
-Look before you leap: You shouldn't act without first
considering the possible consequences or dangers.
•••
BY JOANNE FRITZ
190
Updated February 15, 2019
Although the main parts of your grant proposal will take up most of your time and energy,
don't shortchange your cover letter. Attention to the subtler points of putting the proposal
package together can make or break a funding request. Don't turn off your funder with a
sloppy cover letter.
Mim Carlson and Tori O'Neal-McElrath, authors of Winning Grants, Step by Step, point out
that the cover letter should:
Be brief
Get to the point quickly
Does not repeat the information that is in the proposal
Tell the reader how well you understand the funder and how your grant fulfills the
funder's requirements
Beverly A. Browning, the author of Grant Writing for Dummies, suggests that you write
the cover letter after you've completed the entire proposal, and when you are in a
reflective mood. Browning says:
"As you consider your great achievement (the finished funding request), let the creative,
right side of your brain kick in and connect your feelings of accomplishment to the person
who will help make your plans come true."
191
Formatting Your Cover Letter
Use your organization's letterhead. Put the same date on the cover letter that is on
the completed grant application. That is the date you will send the grant proposal
to the grantor. Using the same date makes all the documents in your proposal
package consistent.
For the inside address (goes at the top of the letter) use the foundation or
corporate contact person's name and title, followed by the funding source's name,
address, city, state, and zip code. Double check this information with a telephone
call or an email. Such information changes frequently, so make sure you have the
current name and address. Additionally, when you submit an electronic grant
application, you may not know a particular name.
In your salutation, use "Dear" plus the personal title (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., Messrs.,
etc.), followed by the last name. It is critical that you address the letter to a
particular person. Call the foundation or corporate office to make sure you have
the right person and the correct personal title. These details may seem
unimportant, but they do matter.
Your first paragraph should be short and focused. Introduce your organization (its
legal name) and tell the funder how much money you are requesting and why.
Include a sentence or two about what your organization does, and then include
one research-based point that shows there is a need for what your organization
does.
Write one or two more brief paragraphs. State your project's purpose and how it
fits with the funder's mission or funding priorities. Include the fact that your board
of directors fully supports the project.
End your letter with a summarizing paragraph. Add what this funding partnership
can mean for your project's target audience. You might want to include an
invitation for a site visit as well.
Use a closing such as "Sincerely."
The letter should be signed by the executive director or the board president, or
both. Below the signature, type the signer's first name, middle initial, last name,
and job title. Although the ED or board president should sign the letter, include the
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contact information for the best person to answer questions at the end of the last
paragraph.
At the bottom of the letter, include the word, "ENCLOSURE" (in all caps).
How Long Should the Cover Letter Be?
Most experts suggest that you limit your cover letter to one page with three or four
paragraphs.
The tone and specifics of your cover letter may vary depending on whether you've been
invited to submit a full proposal after sending a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), or if this project is
your organization's first approach to this particular foundation.
Cover Letter:
Sample Cover Letter
Mary Smith, PhD
Program Officer
Community Foundation
The Some City Senior Center respectfully requests a grant of $50,000 for our Senior Latino
Community Outreach Pilot Project.
As the largest senior center in Any County, serving over 450 seniors every day, we are
aware of the changing demographics in our service area. And we are committed to
growing and adapting our center to meet emerging needs. The Senior Latino Community
Outreach Pilot Project will allow us to pilot a one-year effort to determine if our center
can effectively:
Provide comprehensive access to health and social services to seniors in the Latino
communities served by our center, and
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Raise and fully integrate the cultural competency of the board, staff, and
volunteers of the Some City Senior Center.
Our board of directors is enthusiastic about this program and eager to launch it so we can
become the most inclusive and culturally competent center for seniors in all of our
communities that need these services. Should we find at the end of our pilot year that this
program is, in fact, successful, our board has committed to including a portion of the
project's yearly expenses into our annual operating budget so that the program becomes
an integral part of our core services.
Through this project, the Center will become the primary referral given by Health Access
Latinos, Families of Any County, and three community clinics within a fifteen-mile radius
of our center. We will also accept referrals of Spanish-speaking seniors from any other
community agency in our immediate service area.
Thank you for your consideration of our request. I will follow up with you in the next week
to answer any questions you might have, as well as to learn whether we might meet with
you to discuss the merits of our proposal. Meanwhile, should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact Connie Jones, our Director of Development, at (555) 555-5555,
x555, or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Jane Lovely
Executive Director
ENCLOSURE
*Letter reprinted (with modifications) with permission from Winning Grants, Step by Step,
Second Edition, Tori O'Neal-McElrath, Jossey-Bass, 2009.
3 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Cover Letter
Writing too much. A cover letter is not a dissertation, nor is it a full proposal. Keep
it short and to the point Tip: Have someone else read it. Do they understand it?
Using big words. If you've been to graduate school, you learned to write in a
complicated way. Don't do that here. You're not trying to impress someone with
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your erudition. You only want to state your case as naturally as possible. If you
don't know when you're overcomplicating your writing, use an app such as
Hemingway. It will tell you when your sentences are hard to read and when you
are too wordy.
Making Grammatical Mistakes. If you're not sure of your grammar, don't take
chances. Use the grammar check in WORD, and, also run your draft through an app
such as Grammarly. There is a free version, but the paid version goes well beyond
the necessary grammar check.
Make Your Cover Letter Stand Out
Sad to say, but your grant proposal may be among hundreds or thousands that a typical
foundation will see during an average year. Your cover letter can make the difference in
getting to the next step towards funding. But how can you make it stand out?
The cover letter would not be appropriate for a story about a client, although you should
have a story for other parts of your proposal, such as the description of the problem. You
should, however, include a paragraph about why your organization is the one that can
best accomplish this mission. Survey your competitive organizations and assess just how
and where you excel. That may be in the strength of your staff and volunteers, your
experience with this particular problem, or the community support you enjoy.
You don't need to mention the names of competitors or criticize them. Just highlight your
strengths. This would be a good time to consult with others around the office. Pull a few
people together and brainstorm how your nonprofit excels.
Fundamentally, the cover letter should be forward moving, easy-to-read and compel the
reader into the larger proposal. Don't put any obstacles in the way of the reader that
might deter them from reading further
https://www.sampletemplates.com/letter-templates/cover-letter-for-scholarship.html
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Tips in Writing an Effective Cover Letter for
Scholarship
In writing your scholarship application letters, you must be able to give a justifiable reason why
you should be chosen to be granted a scholarship to aid you financially with your studies. Here are
a few tips you can follow when writing your letters.
Your scholarship application letters will pave the way to quality education that could bring your
future career to new heights. You can look into Cover Letters for Job Application if you are looking
into applying for a job.
To,
The Grants Commission
Editorial Office
MedCrave Group
2327 Boardwalk Cir
Bartlesville
Oklahoma- 74006
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Subject: Request for scholarship for (reason)
Dear Sir,
I request you to provide scholarship (specify the reason) to aid my publication entitled “Title of
manuscript”. I am associated with MedCrave Group as mention your relationship with MedCrave
(Editor/Reviewer/Author etc.) for (Specify the journal name).
Best Regards,
Signature of the applicant
Name
Affiliation
E-mail:
Tel:
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