Terminalcoffee discussion
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Language/ Grammar Help
Is this letter for you or someone else? I think I'd start it, "I'm writing regarding...", or "I'm writing on behalf of..."
Gabby wrote: "Thanks Phil and Michael.It is a letter to be written by myself.
"I am writing regarding" , is this common in modern formal communication, particularly in North America?"
That is quite common, yes.
Is it a letter in which you're initiating the contact, Gabby, or is it a follow-up response? What's the tone of the letter? Is it a query? A complaint? A thank you? A proposal? That could change the opening sentence, as well.
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in regards to the aforementioned ...
Hope it's OK if I ask a question here, too. This is one that's stumped me for a while.A sentence similar to this one was given as an example in an SAT practice book as correct punctuation for a compound sentence:
Professor Jones is strict, but has been known to bend the rules.
This doesn't follow the rule for a compound sentence (s-v-conj-s-v). Can anyone cite a grammar rule that applies?
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The book you're using may say the punctuation is correct, Scout, but the AP style book, Chicago Manual of Style, Strunk & White, and many others would disagree.No comma here:
Professor Jones is strict but has been known to bend the rules.
Comma here:
Professor Jones is strict, but she has been known to bend the rules.
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You forgot to place an unnecessary umlaut somewhere at random in that sentence, LG.
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Thanks, Jonathan. I agree. The SAT people were wrong. Not the first time.
I am well aware that I have no idea how to properly use commas. I've learned, but it doesn't seem to stick.Did I use it right there? My guess is no.
You did use it right there. You also used it correctly.
Phil wrote: "You did use it right there. You also used it correctly."Whoo-hoo! Look at me, being all grammatical- except for using "right" instead of "correctly". Dammit.
One day at a time...
Right there. No not there. Right there.
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But the WSJ calls everyone Mr. or Ms., which makes it okay. (Not really.) Actually there are lots of situations where it would be correct to have a comma appear between a subject and verb, for instance if a parenthetic phrase occurred after the subject was introduced. Mr. Jones, who is serving a ten-year sentence for manslaughter, contends that prison food has caused him grievous bodily harm.
Jonathan wrote: "Actually there are lots of situations where it would be correct to have a comma appear between a subject and verb, for instance if a parenthetic phrase occurred after the subject was introduced. Mr. Jones, who is serving a ten-year sentence for manslaughter, contends that prison food has caused him grievous bodily harm."I would eliminate the extraneous "who is" in that example. It makes a cleaner sentence.
Mr. Jones, serving a ten-year sentence for manslaughter, contends that prison food has caused him grievous bodily harm.
Grammarians, a ruling please?
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Phil wrote: Grammarians, a ruling please? Using "who" introduces a dependent clause. Omitting it creates a phrase in apposition. Both structures are perfectly correct from the standpoint of grammar. The choice would really depend on the surrounding text, style book, personal preference, editorial demands, and possibly word count if you're writing for publication.
Lobstergirl wrote: "Typical sentence from WSJ real estate section: "The owners 11.4-acre property in Wayland, Mass., replaced their existing renovated with a 25,400-square-foot home with five bedrooms in 2002.""Their existing renovated what?
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? Mystery.
Poor Virgil. That one isn't as bad as the first, but it's still a bit strange.By the way, why are you reading about Philadelphia real estate?
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What is it, about noon there in Hong Kong?
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The marriage was a difficult one and he eventually left her for model and singer, Carla Bruni who is now married to French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Please help! I'm putting together a presentation for someone else and received text to drop in from another coworker. They used this sentence:
Mr. First Guy, the General Manager of _________, worked with and under Other Guy for many years. This is where he received his formidable training in the automotive industry.
I think "formidable training" sounds weird. When you read it, do you think of the "awe and wonder" definition or the "fear and dread" definition?
Thanks Jim and Barb! I'm going to give both extensive and formative as options during the edit!!
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At the Chicago Tribune, I don't even think they are English speakers. Damn. It is bad.
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And if you respond by linking me to the wikipedia entry on sardonic I'll hit you with this cast iron frying pan.
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1. Derisive, mocking, cynical.
2. Containing bloated, undigested Craisins.
I am older than he.I am older than him.
I like the first. In published work I see both. With the spoken word, the first is almost never used, at least in my circles (which is a reasonably educated bunch).
He and she went to dinner.I went to dinner with him and her.
Yay or nay?
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We would need to have a bit more of the "---" filled in to know the proper phrasing, but you could go with, "In referenct to your ---" or maybe, "I'm writing regarding your ---."