grammar – Page 3 – booksandopinions.com

Do You Accept, or Except?

August 31, 2015August 30, 2015Angela4 Comments

This is another set of words that I see misused often. In news media, magazines, and yes, even in print. Your editor really is your best friend!

Instead of explaining the ridiculous English rules, I try to find ways to help you, and me, remember how to use these words correctly. They are not interchangeable.

Accept means you allow something; you agree; you take it as it is.

Except means “only if”; it is a type of condition you set upon someone or something.

I accept your proposal. I cannot accept this gift.

(If you said “I cannot except this gift”, it would make no sense).

You can either accept, or not accept, something.

I agree, except for the part where I do not get paid.

Everything looks good, except for your references.

Most of this looks good, but there is an exception. There is a part I do not agree with.

Accept means to agree (mostly), and except means you agree, but for one part.

Unfortunately, they both seem to be interchangeable. The best way I remember is accept means yes, and except means no. It will not work in every situation, but it will work in most.

Some Humor For Your Sunday

August 30, 2015Angela10 Comments

This hurt just reading it….

I Am Too Tired to Bring the Two Dishes to the Cookout…

August 21, 2015August 21, 2015Angela5 Comments

Now that is a mouthful! This is also one of those spelling errors that makes me want to scratch my eyes out every time I see it.

Two. It is a number. That is it. Nothing more, and nothing less. It is Two. Not one, or three.

Too means in addition to, or also. “We will go too.” “I want to see it too.” If more than one person is involved, you can likely use “too”, and not make me scratch my eyes out. Think many people. Or think just overwhelmed. Too tired, too stressed, too busy. It is too much.

To is nothing more than a preposition that sets up a sentence. It can be before a noun, or a verb. “I want to go to Chicago.” I want to dance.” “I want to not ever see the words to, too, and two misused in public.”

The Words I Struggle To Spell

August 17, 2015Angela17 Comments

There are about 4 words that I cannot ever spell right. (Maybe less, maybe more. We will see after I remember them all, and yes, I am not changing the start of this paragraph).

Immediately. Seriously. Every time I have to spell this word, I have to question myself.

Cemetery. Here is how I spell it; every, single, time. Cemetary.

Bethlehem. Yep. I have read the Bible so much it is ridiculous that I can’t spell this word. But here is how I do spell it: Bethleham.

(I have to say, all of these red-squiggly lines under my misspelled words is traumatizing).

Eligible. Yep, I will be eligable all day long for spelling this wrong.

Okay, there are 3. And it is too painful for me to go on. But as I come across the others as I am at work, writing emails and trying to act like an adult; I will take note and let you know!