Category Archives: usage

who versus that

Someone recently sent me an email asking about the proper use of “who” and “that”:
“When followed by a verb, how does one know when to say ‘who’ and when to say ‘that”? Ex: The lady that jumped on the couch *or* The lady who jumped on the couch?”

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lit and lighted

I just got a very nice note from Andrew, who asked a good usage question:
Hi! I love reading your answers to the grammar questions. Recently, I got into a debate about ‘lit’ versus ‘lighted’.
I lit a match.
I lighted a candle.
The room was lit by the flame.
The room was lighted by the flame.

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Hanged or Hung

Here is one of the many questions I’ve received recently:
I was reading a story in the paper and the writer wrote “He hanged himself.” My coworkers and I thought it should be, “He hung himself.” Are we all wrong or is the journalist?

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Toward or Towards

Someone recently wrote in with the following question:
I was recently reading a book that used the word “towards” many times. I have always said, “I went toward the lake.” But, in this book the author wrote several sentences such as, “I went towards the lake.” The author is a professor of liturature at John Hopkins. So, I’m wondering if I have always been incorrect. On the other hand, English is her second language. So, perhaps I am correct. Or, maybe there are times when it should be plural and others when it should be singular. Please advise…

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historic and historical

“The question concerns the appropriate use of the words ‘historic’ and ‘historical’. When is one prefered over the other?”

This is a great question, for which the American Heritage Book of English Usage has an excellent answer…

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To and Too

Question: When do I use “to” or “too”? Example: “too difficult” or “to stay”
Answer…

Also posted in spelling | 25 Comments

Shall and Will

I’ve received a number of questions about the proper use of “shall” and “will”…

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Rather Than and Instead Of

Kanika recently asked, “When do we use ‘rather than’ and when do we use ‘instead of’?”

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Lie and Lay

Someone recently asked about the correct use of “lie” versus “lay.”

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Farther and Further

Sandy Mendenhall wrote in to ask about the proper use of “farther” and “further”…

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