Quotes: Semicolons and Colons.

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: Okay, I will remember that commas and periods ALWAYS are placed INSIDE closing quotation marks. What about semicolons and colons?

Answer: Glad you asked. The answer is another ALWAYS. Semicolons and colons ALWAYS are placed OUTSIDE closing quotation marks.

I just finished reading the short story "Most Dangerous Game"; it was one of the best stories I ever read.

The president entitled his speech, "The Future of Barvard College": "It will surprise you," he said.

Rating of Distraction: (***). Who says punctuation is complicated? In America, you ALWAYS place COMMAS and PERIODS INSIDE closing quotation marks. You ALWAYS place SEMICOLONS and COLONS OUTSIDE closing quotation marks.

But there is one slight complication. Question marks and Exclamation points. I'll go over those marks of punctuation next.

Quotes: The One Mistake You Should Never Make

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: I have heard you say that there is one mistake in punctuation people should never make. What is it?

Answer: Quotes. Remember that in America, periods and commas are ALWAYS placed INSIDE closing quotation marks. That includes single quotes. "According to her, everything was 'peachy clean.' "

"I read the story 'Most Dangerous Game.' "

In Britain and Canada, this approach to the closing quote is not followed. Instead, the comma and period are treated like the American question mark or exclamation point.

But the surest way to tip off how little a person knows about punctuation in America is not to put commas and periods inside closing quotation marks. I know. I was blasted by one of my teachers who disgustedly said to my class, English majors, that we did not even know enough to put commas and periods inside closing quotation marks. I never forgot his stinging criticism.

Level of Distraction: = (***). Make this mistake in America, and it's a dead give away that you know nothing about American punctuation in English. The one mistake you should never make!

Tomorrow: What to do about question marks and exclamation points in America.

"Protagonist" and "Antagonist."

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: In literature class my teacher is always referring to the "protagonist." I can't ever seem to remember what it means.

Answer: The "protagonist" is the central figure in a drama or novel. Usually the "protagonist" is "for" something," wants something he or she can't have. Remember the "pro" which is a prefix that means "for."

An "antagonist" is against something, an adversary, usually working against the "protagonist," keeping the "protagonist" from getting what he or she wants. Remember "anti-" which means "against."

Rating of Distraction: Not much chance of mixing up these two words. The prefixes say all you need to know.

"Prophecy" and "Prophesy"

Levels of Distraction: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: "Prophecy" and "Prophesy." What's the difference? Which is the noun and which is the verb?

Answer: "Prophecy" is the noun. "The ascetic in the desert made a prophecy about the future." The verb is "prophesy." "He prophesied that the world was about to come to an end." The difference is between the "c" and the "s." "Prophecy" is a noun and is the statement that the prophet issues. The prophet will "prophesy" (verb).

Rating of Distraction: (***). You can't use a noun when a verb is called for and you can't use a verb when a noun is called for.

"Principal" and "Principle"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: How do you differentiate "principal" and "principle"?

Answer: The best solution I ever found was in Harry Shefter's Six Minutes A Day to Perfect Spelling. "Principal": "The princiPAL is my PAL." The head of a school, that is. "PrincipAl" = mAin. "Spend the interest, but don't touch the principAl," that is, the original investment. OR, "That was the principAl (or mAin) reason we lost the game."

"PrincipLE," according to Shefter, can be remembered by relating it to "ruLE." "The Ten Commandments are the principLEs (or ruLEs) by which I live."

Rating of Distraction: ***. You don't ever want to make that mistake.

"Preventive" and "Preventative"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: What's wrong with using the word "preventative"?

Answer: Sounds pompous. By adding an extra syllable to "preventive" you are trying to make yourself sound important. "Be sure to use preventive (not "preventative") measures against skin cancer."

Rating of Distraction: **. I know that "preventative" is in the dictionary. When you can use "preventive," why use the extra syllable? Those who appreciate clear, concise language will be nauseated by the use of the word "preventative." RayS., the language curmudgeon.

"Prescribe" and "Proscribe"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: I know that doctors prescribe prescriptions. But what the heck does "proscribe" mean?

Answer: The difference is between two little vowels. "PREscribe" orders that something be done. "PROscribe" forbids you to do something. "From here on, swimming in that place is proscribed." OR "prohibited" OR "forbidden."

Rating of Distraction: ***. "Proscribe" is not a particularly common word. But don't mix it up with "prescribe." The mistake would be a "howler."

"...concerned about the plane's leaving"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: "He was so happy at your coming...." Benny Goodman's mother to Benny on his learning of his father's death (from the movie, The Benny Goodman Story). Why not "...you coming"?

Answer: Not many people get this problem right. The concern is with Benny's (your) coming, not Benny. If he had been concerned with Benny, the sentence would have to be rewritten: "He was concerned about you."

Another example will be the best explanation: "He was concerned about the plane's leaving." He was concerned about the "leaving," not the plane. "Plane" becomes possessive. If he were concerned about the plane, on the other hand, you would need to rewrite the sentence: "He was concerned about faulty maintenance on the plane, which was leaving." Got that?

Rating of Distraction: This is one of those judgments that rewards rather than criticizes. If you are able to determine the emphasis on "leaving" or "plane" you deserve a blue ribbon of merit.

"Notorious" and "Noted"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: Both these words mean well known or famous. Can't they be used interchangeably?

Answer: "Notorious" has the negative connotation of illegal or evil. "He is notorious for his gambling."

"Noted" has a positive connotation: "He is a noted poet."

Rating of Distractibility: (***). Sorry, but using these words in the wrong situation jars on my sensibility.

"None"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: What follows "None"? "Is" or "Are"?

Answer: I'm from the old school. "None" means to me "Not one." "One" is singular, so the verb is "is." "None of the students is going." The phrase "of the students" confuses the issue because it is plural. Still, the subject is "None" and "None" means "Not one...." and, therefore, the verb is "is."

People who are from the "new" school believe that either a singular or plural verb can follow "None."

Rating of Distractibility: (*). Unless you're dealing with a complete purist like me, no one will worry whether the verb is singular or plural. I have grown used to hearing "None" followed by the singular verb, but I would not correct someone else's use of "None" with the plural.

"Neither...."

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: What verb follows "Neither"?

Answer: "Neither is...." "Neither of them is going." "Neither" is singular; verb is singular.

"Neither...nor...." "Neither train nor plane is leaving." Both subjects singular. Singular verb.
"Neither...nor...." "Neither trains nor planes are leaving." Both subjects plural. Verb is plural.

Mixed Subjects--AVOID!
"Neither...nor...." "Neither train nor planes are leaving." Second subject is plural; requires plural verb.
"Neither...nor...." Neither planes nor the train is leaving." Second subject is singular; requires singular verb. Awkward. Avoid.

Better: "Neither planes nor trains are leaving." Subjects plural; verb is plural.
Better: "Neither plane nor train is leaving." Subjects singular; verb is singular.

Rating of Distractibility = (***). "Neither is...." "Neither plane nor train is leaving." "Neither planes nor trains are leaving."

"Militate" and "Mitigate"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: I'm always confused by these two words. How can I remember which is which?

Answer: "Militate against...." "His bad habits militate against [work against] his success."

"Mitigate" means to soften or ease.... "The support of her family mitigated the loss of her son."

Rating of Distractibility: (**). Remember "militate against." There is no "against" with "mitigate."

"Media" and "Medium"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: Hasn't "media" pretty much been accepted as singular as well as plural?

Answer: I think so. Technically, the "media" is a combination of newspapers and electronic films, pictures and text. Plural. One of these, the newspaper, for example is a "medium." Most people I listen to consider the "media" to be a public presentation of information regardless of format and whether there is a single format or several formats.

Rating of Distractibility: (**)--for those who insist on words meaning precisely what they say. They're the ones who say "Gotcha" when they hear a single medium being labeled "media."

"Mantel" and "Mantle." "Meddle" and "Mettle"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Problem: A couple of words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings.

"Mantel" = shelf as in the mantel piece over the fire place. "Mantle" = cloak, a long cloak like that worn by Christ or as pictured on Mary, His mother, in most statues of her.

"Meddle" = interfere. "Stop meddling in my affairs." Mettle" = courage. "David showed great mettle in his battle with Goliath."

Rating of Distractibility: = (?) The second word in each pair of words will probably be little known and rarely used.

"Him and me went to the game."

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: How can I break my son of the habit of putting "me" in the subject of the sentence?

Answer: Don't lecture him. Simply repeat his statement, substituting the "He" and "I." "He and I went to the game." It'll take a while, but he will gradually gain the habit of using "he," "she" and "I" in the subjects of his sentences.

By the way, students will probably only use this expression in compound (two) subjects. You won't hear any student say "Me am going to the game."

Rating of Distractibility: ***. Your son will either break himself of the habit or he will be mightily embarrassed when he finds himself in a situation in which he wants to speak correctly. Students might have the "right to their own language," but listeners also have the right to label people who use "him" and "me" in the subject of their sentences as "illiterate."

"Like" and "As"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: What is the difference between "like" and "as"?

Answer: "Like" is a preposition followed by an object: "It was just like him to do that."

"As" is a conjunction followed by a subject and verb: "As I Said...." "Tell it as it is...." "Tell it like it is" has become so much a part of the language that the correct usage does not sound right. However, the misuse of the two words does jar in other contexts, i.e., "Like I was saying....."

Rating of Distractibility: (***). And then there is the teen who prefaces every other word with "like": "Like, she's like not a like very good like person." UGH! As " 'Enry 'Iggins" said in My Fair Lady, the teen should be strung up for the cold blooded murder of the English tongue--or something like that.

"Liable" and "Likely"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: "Don't 'liable' and 'likely' mean the same thing?

Answer: Not exactly. They both mean "probable." However, "liable" is for an unpleasant probability and implies responsibility: "If he writes that, he is liable to be sued."

"Likely" means that something is simply probably going to happen: "I think we are likely to see the sun sometime today."

"Liable," therefore, has a negative connotation and implies both probability and responsibility. "Likely" is neutral.

Rating of distractibility: (**) People misuse these term often and often other people don't notice, especially in conversation. Of course, in writing, you want to be more precise. And "liable" has a very distinctive and special meaning. RayS.

"Lie" and "Lay"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Comment: People who should know better--the news media, print and TV--completely blow the distinction between "lie" and "lay." I'd like a nickel for every time I have heard the reporters on Philadelphia's Channel 6 Action News say, "...laying in the streets." I rarely have heard these terms used in recent years on those newscasts. I think the station's management has proscribed their use, knowing that almost 100% of the time they will be used incorrectly. I've even seen its misuse in that most well-edited-newspaper-in-the-world the Wall Street Journal.

Advice: I have some advice: If you are concerned about using these terms correctly, don't use them. Write or speak around them. Find some other words to express the same idea. If you try to use "lie" and "lay," you will almost certainly be wrong.

"Lie," "lay," "lain," "lying" and don't forget, "...had lain" mean to rest or recline. "He lay on the sidewalk." "He was lying on the sidewalk."

"Lay," "laid," "laid," "laying" and don't forget, "...had laid" mean to put or place. "He lay the hammer on the table." "He laid the hammer on the table." "Lay, laid, laid" take a direct object; you put something somewhere. With "lie," "lay" and "lain," there is no direct object.

I predict that in the distant future, "lay," "laid" and "laid" will obliterate "lie," "lay" and "lain." The latter will become extinct.

Rating of Distractibility: ***. The mistake is as obvious and egregious in speaking as in writing. In speaking, it is more difficult to sort through the choices in an instant. In writing, you really should not make the mistake. You have time to get it right. However, if you do make the mistake, you can be comforted that you have almost 100% of other Americans who will make the same mistake. RayS.

"It's" and "Its"

Levels of Distractibility: Who cares? = *. Some people will be distracted from your meaning: = **. Many people will be distracted from your meaning: = ***.

Question: I'm totally confused. What's the difference between "it's" and "its"?

Answer: Congratulations! You have just identified the most frequent mistake in writing. The possessive pronouns are "his," "hers," "yours," and "its." Not an apostrophe among them. "The dog scratched the fleas buried under its coat."

"It's" is the contraction of "It is." "It's a great idea."

Easy to test: "He moved into the shadow to gain its protection." Substitute "it's." Fit? If not, then use "its."

Rating of Distractibility: ***. Lots of people make this mistake, but that doesn't make it correct. If it will help you to feel any better, there's a logical reason that people make the mistake. The singular possessive of regular nouns is signaled by the 's as in the dog's coat, the boy's baseball cap, etc. But the possessive PRONOUNS do not use an apostrophe. Hope this helps. RayS.