Grammar Monkeys http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar A language podcast from The Wichita Eagle's copy desk Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:31:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5.2 en hourly 1 A guide to the slippery parts of language, Grammar Monkeys is produced weekly by the award-winning copy editors of The Wichita Eagle newspaper. They serve as your irreverent guides to proper English grammar, style and usage. A language podcast from The Wichita Eagle's copy desk The Wichita Eagle http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/wp-content/themes/eb_grammar/images/gm_logo.jpgGrammar Monkeyshttp://blogs.kansas.com/grammar grammar, usage, language, English, syntax, punctuation, style no Lisa McLendon lmclendon@wichitaeagle.com All there is to it http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/16/all-there-is-to-it/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/16/all-there-is-to-it/#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:33 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=426 When to use “there is” and when to use “there are.”
loch ness monster

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/16/all-there-is-to-it/feed/ 0 <p>When to use “there is” and when to use “there are.”<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/11/loch-ness-monster-150x150.jpg" alt="loch ness monster" title="loch ness monster" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-427" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> When to use “there is” and when to use “there are.” If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 1:16 grammar usage there is are no For your ears only http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/09/for-your-ears-only/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/09/for-your-ears-only/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:24:22 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=418 How to make sure “only” is in the right place in your sentences.mmm pie

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/09/for-your-ears-only/feed/ 0 <p>How to make sure “only” is in the right place in your sentences.<img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/10/mmm-pie.jpg" alt="mmm pie" title="mmm pie" width="300" height="179" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-419" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> How to make sure “only” is in the right place in your sentences. If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 1:45 grammar usage only no If you can read this . . . http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/02/if-you-can-read-this/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/02/if-you-can-read-this/#comments Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:15:50 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=409 The difference between “if” and “whether.”
skillet surprise (Small)

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/11/02/if-you-can-read-this/feed/ 0 <p>The difference between “if” and “whether.”<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/11/skillet-surprise-Small-150x150.jpg" alt="skillet surprise (Small)" title="skillet surprise (Small)" width="150" height="150" class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-414" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> The difference between “if” and “whether.” If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 1:15 if whether grammar usage no Is that really necessary? http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/26/is-that-really-necessary/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/26/is-that-really-necessary/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:12:02 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=405 When you need to have “that” as a conjunction and when you can leave it out.
ufo

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/26/is-that-really-necessary/feed/ 1 <p>When you need to have “that” as a conjunction and when you can leave it out.<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/10/ufo-150x150.jpg" alt="ufo" title="ufo" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-406" /><br /> </p> <p>If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. </p> When you need to have “that” as a conjunction and when you can leave it out. If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 2:05 that grammar usage no Best estimates http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/19/best-estimates/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/19/best-estimates/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:30:40 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=389 When using ranges, remember that “between” goes with “and,” and “from” goes with “to.”
noxious green algae

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/19/best-estimates/feed/ 0 <p>When using ranges, remember that “between” goes with “and,” and “from” goes with “to.”<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/09/noxious-green-algae-150x150.jpg" alt="noxious green algae" title="noxious green algae" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-390" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> When using ranges, remember that “between” goes with “and,” and “from” goes with “to.” If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. grammar usage range estimate between and from to no A singular plurality http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/12/a-singular-plurality/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/12/a-singular-plurality/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:30:58 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=384 Some words started as plurals but now are treated as singulars. And vice versa.
fortune

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/12/a-singular-plurality/feed/ 0 <p>Some words started as plurals but now are treated as singulars. And vice versa.<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/09/fortune-300x141.jpg" alt="fortune" title="fortune" width="300" height="141" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-385" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> Some words started as plurals but now are treated as singulars. And vice versa. If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. grammar usage singular plural collectives no Semi-tough http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/05/semi-tough/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/05/semi-tough/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 11:30:48 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=378 The semicolon is a much-misused, often maligned, but elegant and useful piece of punctuation.
Beautiful Akron Ohio

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/10/05/semi-tough/feed/ 0 <p>The semicolon is a much-misused, often maligned, but elegant and useful piece of punctuation.<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/09/Beautiful-Akron-Ohio-150x150.jpg" alt="Beautiful Akron Ohio" title="Beautiful Akron Ohio" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-379" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> The semicolon is a much-misused, often maligned, but elegant and useful piece of punctuation. If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 1:25 semicolon grammar usage no Shall I compare thee . . . http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/28/shall-i-compare-thee/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/28/shall-i-compare-thee/#comments Mon, 28 Sep 2009 11:30:56 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=374 Sometimes we need to use “compared to,” but most of the time we should use “compared with.”
squirrel

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/28/shall-i-compare-thee/feed/ 0 <p>Sometimes we need to use “compared to,” but most of the time we should use “compared with.”<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/09/squirrel-150x150.jpg" alt="squirrel" title="squirrel" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-375" /><br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> Sometimes we need to use “compared to,” but most of the time we should use “compared with.” If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 1:25 compare to with grammar usage comparison no Interrobang: Two-for-one punctuation http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/21/interrobang/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/21/interrobang/#comments Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:30:51 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=355 The interrobang — a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point — is a little-used punctuation mark created for questions that have a little extra oomph.
Interrobang

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/21/interrobang/feed/ 1 <p>The interrobang — a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point — is a little-used punctuation mark created for questions that have a little extra oomph.<br /> <img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/09/Interrobang2-150x150.gif" alt="Interrobang" title="Interrobang" width="150" height="150" class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-356" /></p> <p>If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> The interrobang — a combination of a question mark and an exclamation point — is a little-used punctuation mark created for questions that have a little extra oomph. If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at [...] 1:23 interrobang punctuation alternative grammar usage no Portmanteau: It’s not a wine http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/14/portmanteau-its-not-a-wine/ http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/14/portmanteau-its-not-a-wine/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:30:13 +0000 Lisa McLendon http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/?p=329 port wine
“Portmanteau” is a fancy name for a new word made from a combination of two existing words.

If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.

]]> http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/2009/09/14/portmanteau-its-not-a-wine/feed/ 0 <p><img src="http://blogs.kansas.com/grammar/files/2009/09/port-wine2-174x300.jpg" alt="port wine" title="port wine" width="174" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-334" /><br /> “Portmanteau” is a fancy name for a new word made from a combination of two existing words.<br /> <br /> If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com.</p> “Portmanteau” is a fancy name for a new word made from a combination of two existing words. If you have a grammar question you’d like us to address, write us at grammarmonkeys@wichitaeagle.com. 1:23 portmanteau grammar usage combination carroll no