| SEPT 98 | OCT 98 | NOV 98 | DEC 98 | JAN 99 | FEB 99 | MAR 99 | APR 99 | MAY 99 | JUNE 99 |
| JULY 99 | AUG 99 | SEPT 99 | OCT 99 | NOV 99 | DEC 99 | JAN 00 | FEB 00 | MAR 00 | APR 00 |
| MAY 00 | JUNE 00 | JULY 00 | AUG 00 | | SEPT 00 | OCT 00 | NOV 00 | DEC 00 | JAN 01 | FEB 01 |
| MAR 01 | APR 01 | MAY 01 | JUNE 01 | JULY 01 | AUG 01 | SEPT 01 | OCT 01 | NOV 01 | DEC 01 |
| JAN 02 | FEB 02 | MAR 02 | APR 02 | AUG 02 | SEPT 02 | OCT 02 | NOV 02 | JAN 03 | FEB 03 |
| MAR 03 | APR 03 | MAY 03 | JUNE 03 | JULY 03 | AUG 03 | SEPT 03 | OCT 03 | NOV 03 | DEC 03 |
| JAN 04 | FEB 04 | MAR 04 | APR 04 | MAY 04 | JUNE 04 | JULY 04 | SEPT 04 | OCT 04 | NOV 04 |
| JAN 05 | MAR 05 | APR 05 | MAY 05 | JUNE 05 | JULY 05 | AUG 05 | SEPT 05 | OCT 05 | NOV 05 |
| DEC 05 | JAN 06 | MAR 06 | APR 06 | MAY 06 | JUNE 06 | JULY 06 | AUG 06 | SEPT 06 | DEC 06 |
| JAN 07 | MAR 07 | APR 07 | MAY 07 | JUNE 07 | JULY 07 | AUG 07 | SEPT 07 | OCT 07 | NOV 07 |
| DEC 07 | FEB 08 | MAR 08 | APR 08 | MAY 08 |

Last month I discussed some common patterns that make the spelling of hundreds of common words predictable. This time I’ll review a very predictable rule that also covers hundreds of common words. The rule has two parts: one for one-syllable words and another for two-syllable words.

Rule for one-syllable words: For words that end in one consonant preceded by one vowel, double the final consonant before adding a suffix beginning with a vowel. I’ve never found an exception!

Examples:

bog + ed = bogged

swim + er = swimmer

skin + y = skinny

bar + ing = barring

rot + en = rotten

win + able = winnable

big + er = bigger

fur + y = furry

ban + ed = banned

stun + ing = stunning

Rule for two-syllable words: For words ending in one consonant preceded by one vowel, double the final consonant only when the accent falls on the second syllable. Hint: Words of more than two syllables never double the final consonant because the accent is never on the last syllable.

Examples:

repel + ant = repellant (accent on second syllable)

travel + er = traveler (accent on first syllable)

upset + ing + upsetting (accent on second syllable)

danger + ous = dangerous (accent on first syllable

omit + ed = omitted (accent on second syllable)

refer + ing = referring (accent on second syllable)

worship + ed = worshiped (accent on first syllable)

acquit + ed = acquitted (“u” is not considered a vowel; accent on second syllable)

prefer + ing = preferring (accent on second syllable)

expel + ed = expelled (accent on second syllable)

level + ed = leveled (accent on first syllable)

vomit + ing = vomiting (accent on first syllable)

ravel + ed = raveled (accent on first syllable)

submit + ed = submitted (accent on second syllable)

appal + ing = appalling (accent on second syllable)

Exceptions: kidnapped (it has two stressed syllables, and even through the first one has the stronger accent, the “p” is doubled); cancelled (canceled is an alternative)

A twist: A few words shift the accent of the root word when some suffixes are added:

prefer + ence = preference

refer + ence = reference

defer + ence = deference

excel + ence = excellence (this is an exception)

TIPS FOR MAY 2005

The rules for using single and double quotation marks are really very simple, with one exception, and this exception doesn’t come up very often for most people.

The overall rule is that double quotation marks are always the first choice when you’re writing direct quotations; referring to poems, songs, or short stories; or using words or phrases in special circumstances that require quotation marks.

Direct quotation: The coach said, “Let’s take baby steps before trying to be a giant.”

Poem/song/short story: “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” Puff the Magic Dragon,” “The Murder in the Rue Morgue”

Special circumstances (such as tongue-in-cheek remarks): She was always considered “unbelievable” in more ways than one.

Note: Do not be overzealous in this usage. Many people wrongly use quotation marks just for emphasis.

The rule for pairs of single quotation marks is simple: use them only within double quotation marks.

Example: “I’ve always enjoyed Poe’s short stories, especially ‘The Purloined Letter’ and ‘The Murder in the Rue Morgue.’”

Exception: Pairs of single quotation marks are the norm in headlines in newspapers, newsletters, and magazines.

TIPS FOR JUNE 2005

I don't know what it is about capital letters, but most people just can't seem to get the rules straight-and in some cases they know the rules but choose to ignore them.

One area that causes confusion is what to do about people's titles. The short answer is that in sentences, titles are capitalized only when they precede names.

Example: Bill Miller, president and CEO of the company, greeted guests at the gathering.
And: At the gathering, President and CEO Bill Miller greeted guests personally.
Also: At the gathering, our president and CEO, Bill Miller, greeted guests personally.

The third sentence is different because, as you see, the name is set off by commas, so it's not part of the main sentence, so the rule about placement and caps doesn't apply.

Someone asked me recently about whether to capitalize the word president when referring to the chief executive of the United States. Technically, the same general rule applies as with other titles, but not every organization follows it. Time magazine, capitalizes it in all cases: e.g., "The President held a press conference in the Rose Garden."

Another issue is whether to capitalize the name of an organization in references after the full name has been written. Here's what I mean:

The Smithsonian Institution is bringing a traveling exhibit to town next month. The institution plans a one-month stay.

However, lots of organizations write press releases, proposals, annual reports, etc., in which they capitalize words like company without the full name. But you'll notice that newspapers do not follow this practice, as it's against the law (the grammar laws)!

Another common rule that everyone has heard about since elementary school, but that evidently many people don't remember, is that the names of the seasons are not capitalized (except in situations where words are always capped, such as at the beginnings of sentences or in titles).

Example: We plan a trip to see the leaves in New England next fall.

To cap off this lesson, let me wish you a capital day!

TIPS FOR JULY 2005

As a baseball aficionado, I'm often given books about my favorite sports passion. A recent gift, the title of which will remain unnamed, was the worst-edited book I have ever read. Even the name of my hero, Lou Gehrig, was misspelled once ("Gerhig")!

I will focus on errors that are not related to content and style, and I will choose examples by opening the book at random, sort of a Russian roulette game. This time there's a bullet in almost every chamber.

Example One: "… Kenny Singleton, the designated-hitter, warmed up the Baltimore pitcher." Error: There's no reason to hyphenate "designated hitter"-just as you would not hyphenate "tired joke."

Example Two: "Larry Lajoie, the great fielding, hard-hitting first baseman. …" Error: Here's a case in which the hyphen was omitted, changing the meaning. Note that "hard-hitting" is correctly hyphenated, but without the hyphen, Larry is described as a great man and a fielding man.

Example Three: "… reports floated around that Cobb actually pilled up 4192 base hits." Error: Oops! It should be "piled" rather than "pilled."

Example Four: "The Royals have the bases loaded with no out when the batter, which an oh-two count on him. …" Error: Groan. This is the worst error in the book! "Oh" has no logical connection to "O" (zero). The only way to write this is "0-2."

Example Five: "He [Walter Johnson] threw only one no-hitter on July 1, 1920, against the Boston Red Sox." Error: This is an example of a sentence where a missing punctuation mark renders the meaning ridiculous. As punctuated, this sentence means that Johnson pitched only one-hitter on that specific day. Of course he couldn't throw more than one on a given day. Here's a revision: "He threw only one no-hitter-on July 1, 1920, against the Boston Red Sox."

Example Six: "Rickey Henderson takes a lot of time setting up in the batter's box before he is ready to hit. The California Angel's, this one day, is a quick worker. …" Error: Oh, my! This is a gross error on the part of the writer AND the editor/proofreader. It was impossible to show what the second sentence means without including the first. It should, of course, be "California Angel." There are other issues in this sentence, but that's enough for now.

TIPS FOR AUGUST 2005

Asked by a client to help him conquer his tendency to be wordy, I thought others might like to have a review as well.

To begin with, I distinguish between wordiness and redundancy. Wordiness means using more words than necessary to express an idea; redundancy involves needless repetition of the same idea.

Example of wordiness: Miles Standish, who was an early leader of the Pilgrims, preferred turnips to onions.

Shortened version: Miles Standish, an early leader of the Pilgrims, preferred turnips to onions. Who was is not wrong, but it is not always needed.

Another: We are very concerned about conditions that exist in the neighborhood.

Shortened version: Delete that exist.

Examples of redundancy: return back, personal belief, true fact, final outcome

Explanation: Note that return, belief, fact, and outcome convey the idea without the second word in the phrase.

Other common expressions that contain redundancies include clearly legible, each and every, various and sundry, basic and fundamental, finish up, exact same, free gift, past experience, final outcome, complete monopoly, and join together.

"Filler phrases" are also loaded with fat:

An honor and a privilege: Choose one or the other.
Consensus of opinion: Consensus is sufficient.
In the majority of cases: Usually is a one-word substitute.
Within the realm of possibility: Use possible.
As to whether: Whether is generally sufficient.
At this point in time: Use now.
With your permission we would like to: Don't grovel! Condense to May we.

TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER 2005

Continuing the discussion from last month, I'll share a "short road to clarity," which is the subject of a column written by Paula LaRocque, former writing coach for The Dallas Morning News. Here's the wordy AND unclear example she used for fodder:

"The retired four-star Army general who was sent to Iraq two weeks ago to assess operations there has concluded that American troops must speed up and strengthen the training of Iraqi security forces, by assigning thousands of additional military advisers to work directly with Iraqi units, said senior defense and military officers here and in Iraq.

"The officer, Gen. Gary E. Luck, largely endorses a plan by American commanders in Iraq to shift the military's main mission from fighting the insurgency to training Iraq's military and police forces to take over those security and combat duties and become more self-reliant, eventually allowing American forces to withdraw, the officials said."

Have a hard time following this? Why, you wonder? The two sentences are long, stuffy, and wordy. LaRocque's rewrite demonstrates that you can "add meaning by losing words." Here is her rewrite:

"A military analyst has concluded that the United States must provide thousands of advisers to work directly with Iraqi troops. "

Gary E. Luck, a retired four-star Army general who conducted his two-week assessment for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, approves shifting the U.S. mission from fighting to training. The additional advisers would train Iraqi forces to assume security and combat duties, gradually allowing U.S. withdrawal."

Now the passage is 65 words, down from 109, even with a new detail added: the name of Donald Rumsfeld. Some highlights:

The first sentence states the general's conclusion — a reminder to put the most important information first
There are now three sentences-of 20, 28, and 17 words. Much more readable.
Deadwood like the, by, in, was, there, and from has been eliminated (key content words remain).
Who was sent to Iraq two weeks ago to assess operations there morphs to two-week assessment: 12 words shrink to two!
The words largely endorses in the second paragraph suggest uncertainty; they become approves in the revision, and one word is saved.
Become more self-reliant repeats the idea stated in the preceding words: take over those security and combat duties

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