Author: Kirk

“CLINTON LOOSES SUPPORT”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Verbs

I saw this on Fox News Channel this morning.

Problem:
One cannot “loose” support.

Explanation:
The headline writer wanted to say Hillary Clinton stops having support for her presidential campaign. with just three words.

It’s true that “loose” can be used as a verb as well as an adjective.

“Loose screws” is a common expression containing “loose” as an adjective.

According to Dictionary.com, “loose” was first recorded as a verb around 1225.

When used as a verb, however, “loose” does not mean “stops having”; this definition belongs to the verb “lose” instead, which gives us the solution.

Solution:
“CLINTON LOSES SUPPORT”

“A no non-sense approach”

Hyphens

I saw this in a brochure for a professional course and book.

Problem:
The hyphen is misplaced.

Explanation:
Wow. Talk about nonsense.

The publisher of the brochure ought to be ashamed, especially given the brochure’s target audience (professionals in a field that shall remain nameless).

First, the word “nonsense” does not have a hyphen between its two syllables.

Second, given that “no” plus a noun (“nonsense”) are modifying another noun (“approach”), a hyphen is required between “no” and “nonsense”.

It boggles my mind to imagine how the author of the brochure decided to write this headline in this way. Perhaps the decision was driven by fear of hyphenating incorrectly.

Solution:
“A no-nonsense approach”

“Backward” vs. “Backwards”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Common English Blunders, Versus

I often see or hear “backwards” where “backward” is required.

Problem:
These two words are not always interchangeable.

Explanation:
The word “backward” may be used as an adjective or as an adverb.

The word “backwards” may be used only as an adverb in standard English.

These rules give us these examples of valid and invalid usage:

  • “He took a backward approach.” — valid as adjective
  • “He drove ten feet backward.” — valid as adverb
  • “He took a backwards approach.” — invalid as adjective!
  • “He drove ten feet backwards.” — valid as adverb

Solution:
Use “backward” for everything. This obviates the need to remember that “backwards” may be used only as an adverb.