Comments on: Regardless vs. Irregardless; Sneaked vs. Snuck; Assure vs. Ensure vs. Insure

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:56:39 +0000

In this case, the word refer means “to direct attention usually by clear and specific mention.” Since it is not explicit that attention is directed forward or back, I felt it made the point more clearly to say “refers back” since the pronoun myself must come after the related word in the sentence.

By: Allison

Allison — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:22:04 +0000

Thank you on the clarification of sneaked and snuck. I recall being taught snuck but have recently seen “sneaked” in novels and it had me confused for sure. As for other grammar mishaps, I also notice when people THINK they are catching themselves and sounding sophisticated when they say “It was a really fun time for Billy and me….I mean Billy and I.” Or just “The present was for Amy and I.” People think that “I” is always right when it’s not the case. I hear this mistake EVERYWHERE. Drives me nuts. And like another responder said… the irony is the person is all proud and confident that they are speaking correctly.

By: jk macdonald

jk macdonald — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:42:56 +0000

It’s not “refers back;” “re” means back so the word “back” is redundant, just like the word “tooth” in tooth dentist or “woman” in widow woman is redundant. LEAVE OFF THE WORD “BACK”. JUST SAY “IT REFERS TO ANOTHER WORD.”

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:06:20 +0000

You're right, it is not grammatically correct to use the reflexive pronoun myself unless it refers back to another word in the sentence. An example of correct usage would be: I worked myself to the bone.

By: RB

RB — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:57:29 +0000

Many people, especially in formal or corporate situations, think that it’s okay (and in fact, super formal and fancy) to replace the word “I” or “me” with the word “myself” whenever they want to. For example, they think it’s okay to say “Please submit the financial report to either Sally or myself.” The irony is that they are using the word “myself” to sound sophisticated, when in fact it only makes them sound uneducated.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:19:53 +0000

I do not believe you are being picky. You are just more conscious of proper grammar than some people. There is no formal rule regarding putting I or me last when referring to yourself and others. It is a matter of courtesy. "Mary and I went to the movies" is correct rather than "Myself and Mary" or "Me and Mary" because Mary and I are the subjects of the sentence. The subject form of the pronoun is I. Myself is used only when it refers back to another word in the sentence.

By: Jude Smith

Jude Smith — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 13:05:24 +0000

Why are people putting themselves first in their sentences?

For example, “Myself and Mary went to the movies”. Even people I expect to know rules of grammar do it. I was taught to place my link last in a sentence, ‘Mary and I went…’.

It’s as though they know that ‘Me and Mary…’ is unacceptable, but ‘Myself and Mary…’ is OK. Am I just being picky?

By: Jane

Jane — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:54:55 +0000

Former President George W. Bush may have sensitized your ears to that pronunciation but he isn't the first to use it. My old 1973 Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary shows the nyu-kye-ler pronunciation but indicates that it is "nonstandard." Some of us may not like it, but modern dictionaries, such as Merriam-Webster's Dictionary lists two acceptable pronunciations of the word: 'nu-kle-er OR 'nyu-kye-ler and The American Heritage Dictionary lists noo-klee-er, nyoo- or, by metathesis, -kyuh-ler [metathesis meaning "transposition within a word of letters, sounds, or syllables"]. (By the way, when referring to a president in the generic sense, as in your second sentence, it does not need to be capitalized.)

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:10:06 +0000

The dictionaries that I have seen identify irregardless as nonstandard English for regardless.

By: Heather

Heather — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 23:23:10 +0000

Ever since former U.S. President George W. Bush mispronounced ‘nuclear’ as ‘new-cue-luhr’, I have heard it increasingly mispronounced as such in the news media. Precedent set by a President does not make it proper English!