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Prettiest but Most Beautiful. Greatest but Most Fantastic…What’s the Deal?

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Words Blob

Some blogs are worth reposting…I still see these errors often so it must be time for a refresher.

Why can’t I say beautifullest or most great? Who makes these rules anyway?

When to Use -est

I try to stay away from complicated explanations that use terms like “superlative” and “adverb” so I’m going to tell it to you straight.

The suffix -est is typically used instead of most in single-syllable words and words that end in -y.

Est

When to Use Most

Putting most before a word instead of adding the suffix -est is typically appropriate when the word contains more than one syllable.

Most

The Dreaded Exceptions

Remember…all decent grammar rules have exceptions.

Irregular adjectives (some random words) tend to use most instead of -est, even if they are only one syllable. And some random words will end in -est instead of using the word most, even if they are more than one syllable.

Random

My personal favorites are the words that change completely.

Change

And don’t forget the words that use neither -est nor more.

None

It’s a crazy world out there.

For help with word-choices, proofreading or anything else related to the mud-maze that is the English language, contact Unscripted.

 

Am I Affected or Effected?

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Caffeine Effect

If you type “affect vs. effect” into Google, you will likely get a bunch of responses that say something like, “Affect is a verb while Effect is a noun.” So that clears everything up and I don’t need to write anymore, right?

If you have a fifth grader at home, he or she will probably be able to tell you the difference between and noun and a verb. But for those of us who have been out of grade school for more than ten years…those “grammar words” just might start to run together.

Affect vs. Effect

It is true that affect is a verb (action word) and effect is a noun (person, place, thing or idea). However, the easier way to remember the difference is in context.

1

Affect

Affect is used when you are describing a situation and/or a possible outcome.

2

Effect

Effect is used to describe the outcome of a given situation. (Think: Cause and Effect.)

3

The Trick

Affect = Action

Effect = End Result

Affect is used as an Action word so the sentence should be describing something that is or may be happening.

Effect is describing the End Result or consequence of an action. The sentence should be talking about an outcome.

 

Of course, these tricks are too easy to be without exception. However, remembering the difference between Affect and Effect is enough headache for one day. Let’s save the exceptions for another blog post.

 

Question: Why do all the grammar Nazis write “affect vs. effect” and not “effect vs. affect?” (Google it…it’s true.)

Answer: We can’t stand for anything to be out of alphabetical order.

 

If you find yourself confused about a “grammar word” or in need of another set of eyes to proofread, reach out to Unscripted through the Contact page or leave a Comment on this post.

The Worst is Yet to Come

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Image

BAD > WORSE > WORST

Most people know the difference between bad and worse and the difference between bad and worst. However, the difference between worse and worst can be a little more difficult. I attribute this to how similar the words sound when you speak them aloud. You can get away with saying “worse” when you mean “worst” and vice versa because they sound alike. However, they are definitely different words with different meanings so you want to be sure you know how to use them correctly. You may get away with it in spoken language, but your error is easily spotted in writing.

Note that this is one of those cases where spell-check probably won’t correct you, so you need to know which word to use.

Worse

Worse should be used when comparing two things that are bad. One thing is worse than the other.

Worse: (comparative) A comparative of bad; less good; lower quality

 

Worse

Worst

Worst should be used to describe the thing that is the most bad out of multiple choices or situations.

Worst: (superlative) Most severe; most unpleasant

Worst

Why so complicated?

Most comparatives/superlatives follow the same pattern as the below:

Easy > Easier > Easiest

However, worse and worst are irregular so they don’t follow the “er” then “est” rule.

Bad > Worse > Worst

(Remember the only rule in grammar without an exception is the one that states that there is an exception to every rule in grammar.)

Common phrases

The worst is yet to come.

This phrase means that the most unfortunate of all things is coming soon. Not just something worse than the thing before, but the absolute worst of all things. Thus, the correct word here is worst.

Consider the worst-case scenario. What’s the worst that could happen?

These phrases are both referring to the most terrible outcome imaginable. Therefore, the correct word is worst. You can’t get worse than the worst.

Quick Tip

Only use “worst” if there is nothing that could be any more horrific. Therefore, the worst is the least desirable. It is also the most horrible. Worst, least and most all end in “st.”

So next time you’re comparing your old hairstyles on Throwback Thursday, make sure you know when a style was worse than the one you have now and which was the worst of all time.

If you need a little help catching errors like worse vs. worst, reach out to Unscripted for a helping hand.

Contact Unscripted

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Don’t be a stranger!

There are several ways to contact Unscripted. Here are a few:

Comment on a blog post. The Comment option is in the top right corner of every post.

Example:  Comment Example

Leave a message through the Contact page of the Unscripted website. This will appear just like an email so you’re sure to receive a response.

Private message Unscripted through Facebook. You can also comment on the Unscripted Facebook page.

Send a message through LinkedIn. You can comment on the Unscripted LinkedIn page as well.

Send a direct email to cporter@unscriptedllc.com. There is just something satisfying about that electronic paper trail.

Send in blog suggestions, feedback or criticism. Ask for an opinion about grammar, writing or marketing. Complain to me about the complications of the English language. Ask for a quote or estimate for a project. Tell me what you had for dinner last night. You send it and I’ll respond. (Unless you send actual spam mail…then my spam blocker will just delete it.)

Keyboard Notebook

Prettiest but Most Beautiful. Greatest but Most Fantastic…What’s the Deal?

Unscripted, LLC Leave a comment

Words Blob

Why can’t I say beautifullest or most great? Who makes these rules anyway?

When to Use -est

I try to stay away from complicated explanations that use terms like “superlative” and “adverb” so I’m going to tell it to you straight.

The suffix -est is typically used instead of most in single-syllable words and words that end in -y.

Est

When to Use Most

Putting most before a word instead of adding the suffix -est is typically appropriate when the word contains more than one syllable.

Most

The Dreaded Exceptions

Remember…all decent grammar rules have exceptions.

Irregular adjectives (some random words) tend to use most instead of -est, even if they are only one syllable. And some random words will end in -est instead of using the word most, even if they are more than one syllable.

Random

My personal favorites are the words that change completely.

Change

And don’t forget the words that use neither -est nor more.

None

It’s a crazy world out there.

 

For help with word-choices, proofreading or anything else related to the mud-maze that is the English language, contact Unscripted.

I Don’t Know…Can You?

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Meme

Maybe it’s due to the elementary school I attended, but whenever I hear someone ask “Can I…[fill in the blank],” my mind immediately responds with, “I don’t know…can you?”

Let me explain.

“Can” is formally used when asking about ability while “may” is used when requesting something.

Can May

Thus, if your friend asks, “Can I have another cookie?” you might feel justified to respond with, “I don’t know, can you?” Your friend is clearly requesting seconds while the response is questioning her ability to physically handle another cookie.

So which term is correct?

Examples

Sticklers for proper grammar (like myself) will always say “may” when making a request and “can” when asking about ability.

 The Dreaded Exception

Much to my dismay, the English language has evolved to allow the use of “can” when making a request in informal situations. Therefore, the friend asking if she can have another cookie is not technically incorrect. However, if you are writing or speaking in a business or educational situation (such as an email at work, your thesis paper or in a speech), stick with “may” when asking permission and “can” when asking about ability.

Exceptions

If you are not sure if you chose the correct word or you’re worried that you missed something during your initial review, contact Unscripted for a light edit.

Is Spell-Check Good Enough?

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ABC Check

So you ran your manuscript through spell-check and meticulously corrected every error. Thus, it has officially been edited…right? Sorry.

There is nothing more important than a human-eye review.

I repeat: Nothing is more important than having a human review your work.

What’s wrong with spell-check?

Using the spell-checking feature on your computer is absolutely the first step you should take before finalizing a manuscript (or email or newsletter or anything else). However, there are plenty of major errors that a computer just won’t catch.

Homonyms

Humans have a hard enough time noticing homonyms. (Homonyms=words that are pronounced the same but spelled differently or contain different meanings.) We can’t expect a computer to catch these for us.

Homonyms

Numbers

If you misspell a number, spell-check will correct it because it is a word. However, if you mistype a number then spell-check won’t know that it is incorrect.

Numbers

Missing Words

It is easy to get carried away when you’re typing out your thoughts. Most spell-checkers won’t catch the little word you missed in your eagerness.

Missing Words

Wrong Words

If a word is spelled correctly, most non-human grammar and spell-checkers will skim right past it. You need a real person to tell you that the wrong word was used.

Wrong Words

Verb Tense

I know this is getting a little technical, but it is important that you keep the same tense throughout any document.

Verb Tense

So I can skip spell-check?

Computer-generated spell-checkers should not be discounted. They will catch a wide variety of errors from typos to passive voice. However, they absolutely cannot replace the human eye.

Recommended Process of Review:

  • Spell Check
  • Author Review
  • Peer Review
  • Author Review (regarding the peer review comments)
  • Professional Review (Proofread/Edit)
  • Author Review (regarding the professional’s recommendations)
  • Professional Review (Proofread/Edit)
  • Author Review

You can repeat the last two as many times as you deem necessary until you are happy with the final product. You can also involve a professional at any stage in the writing and reviewing process.

Contact Unscripted at any time for a professional set of eyes to review your work.

Conundrums Welcome

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Grammar2

Is there a particular grammatical rule that you just can’t wrap your head around? Do you find yourself struggling with a certain word or phrase over and over again?

Reach out with your conundrums and you just might see them answered in the next blog.

Unscripted wants to provide Tips and Tricks for everyday use. That means providing information that YOU need.

Leave a comment above or contact Unscripted here. 

Here are a few examples of previous posts based on common human errors:

Five Common Grammar Mistakes 

When to Say I and When to Say Me

I Before E…Right?

Assure, Insure or Ensure?

Quick Guide to Understanding Prepositions

Don’t forget to follow Unscripted’s blog to see if your conundrum appears in the future!

Assure, Insure or Ensure?

Unscripted, LLC 3 Comments

Assure_Ensure_Insure (1)

These might be the most commonly confused words in the English language. Believe it or not, these three words are not interchangeable. (Not even two of them.)

Assure

ASK: Are you talking about a person?

Assure means to make someone feel confident about something. The thing to remember about “assure” is that it only applies to a person.

Assure Synonyms: comfort, convince, guarantee

Insure

ASK: Are you talking about paying to protect something?

Insure is correctly used specifically regarding insurance. People often confuse insure and ensure. You cannot insure that the customer will be satisfied just like you cannot ensure your car through a Geico policy.

Insure Synonyms: cover, protect

Insure Ensure

Ensure

ASK: Are you talking about a person or financially protecting something?

If the answer to the above question is “yes” then “ensure” is not the correct word choice. Ensure simply means “to make certain.” Ensure does not refer to insurance and it is not meant to be used in reference to a person. Ensure is often used in business contracts when referring to an informal guarantee.

Ensure Synonyms: certify, guarantee, warrant

If you are not sure which of these three words to use, you have two options:

  1. Ask the questions above to decide which category applies to your sentence.
  2. Choose a different way to state your sentence. There is always another way to say the same thing.

Unfortunately, the spell-check feature on most computers will not catch the misuse of these words.

Unscripted is happy to provide some professional assistance with selecting the correct word choice. Just visit the contact page here.

I Before E…Right?

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You have probably heard the phrase “I before E.” You may even know the longer version, “I before E except after C.” If you’re really lucky, you learned the compound version, “I before E except after C and when sounding like A.”

So what does all that mean?

I before E

Most English words that have an “ie” combination are spelled with the “i” first.

I Before E

Except after C

Many words where the “ei” comes after the letter C are spelled with the “e” first.

Except After C

Or when sounding like A

When the “ei” in the word is pronounced as an “A,” the “e” before “i” exception applies.

Or When Sounding like A

Additional Exceptions

The rule should really be “I before E except after C and when sounding like A, E or I and when ending in ING and when the ‘c’ makes a ‘sh’ sound and when used in a comparative/superlative and in some compound words and in other random instances when the English language deems the exception necessary.” In this case, a run-on sentence was necessary.

Random Exceptions

Here is some solid advice from one of Brian Regan’s comedy acts about his time in school:

Brian Regan

Good luck, folks.

If you struggle with this or the many other grammar rules and exceptions, seek help through the Contact page at www.unscriptedllc.com.

 

When to Say I and When to Say Me

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This one is easy, I promise!

A common error in both spoken and written English is mixing up when to say “I” and when to say “me” when referring to yourself and another subject.

Before we get into the details of “I” vs “me,” let’s start with the most important concept: the order of the subjects.

Simple Rule: ALWAYS them and then me, NEVER me and then them. (Always.)

In other words, always say “Tom and I” or “Tom and me,” never “me and Tom.” Think of it as common courtesy to state the other person before yourself.

Now on to the meat and potatoes. When is it Tom and I and when is it Tom and me anyway?

I or Me

Why do you say “I” in the first sentence but “me” in the second?

TIP: Take yourself out of the sentence and see how it sounds.

Would you say, “I am going to the store” or “Me am going to the store?” Put Carrie back in the sentence and you have “Carrie and I are going to the store.”

Would you say, “Would you like to go to the store with me” or “would you like to go to the store with I?” Again, put Carrie back in the sentence and you have “Would you like to go to the store with Carrie and me?”

The complicated answer refers to whether the pronoun (I or me) is doing the action or receiving the action. “I am going” vs. “come with me.”

Luckily, with the trick above, you don’t need to remember things like the relationship between the pronoun and the verb in a given sentence.

People who cannot distinguish between good and bad language, or who regard the distinction as unimportant, are unlikely to think carefully about anything else.   ~B. R. Myers

If you need another set of eyes to ensure that your usage is correct, contact Unscripted today.