Adjectives

“Select Items Storewide”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Verbs

I saw this in a “Blue Moon Sale, 20-60% Off” television advertisement for Ikea.

Problem:
There is a verb where an adjective should be.

Explanation:
The word “Select” is a verb, so “Select Items Storewide” implies that one may select items throughout the Ikea store for a 20-60% discount.

Imagine a shopper complaining to the Federal Trade Commission that Ikea is not honoring its “Select Items Storewide” offer. The shopper could reasonably complain that the offer tells television viewers that they may select items throughout the store for the 20-60% discount.

The writer of the television advertisement should have used the “Selected” as an adjective in front of the noun “Items” because “Selected Items Storewide” implies that NOT ALL items throughout the Ikea store qualify for the the 20-60% discount and that Ikea has selected only certain items for the discount.

I believe that the growing tendency in American English to use “select” as an adjective is consistent with my “Devolution toward Simpler” hypothesis: it’s simpler to say “select” (and it sounds “more sophisticated”) than to say “selected”, even though the latter is necessary when one is modifying a noun.

Solution:
“Selected Items Storewide”

“Healthy” vs. “Healthful”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Versus

I often hear “healthy” — as in “healthy food” — when people mean “healthful”.

Problem:
The adjective “healthy” should not be used when one specifically is referring to something that brings about good health.

Explanation:
The primary definition of the adjective “healthy” is having or enjoying good health. The primary definition of the adjective “healthful” is conducive to good health. The secondary or tertiary definition of “healthy” has become conducive to good health, which is unfortunate and should be avoided.

I believe that the use of “healthy” in place of “healthful” supports my “Devolution toward Simpler” hypothesis. It’s simpler to say “healthy” than to say “healthful”, so many will call something “healthy” when what they really mean is “healthful”.

Still, it is worthwhile to use the appropriate word. Otherwise, you risk confusing the reader or listener.

For example, a healthy steer is different than a healthful steer. The first steer has good health; the second steer — presumably because of the eating of the beef produced from it — contributes to good health. Some vegetarians can reasonably argue that steers can be “healthy” but not “healthful”.

Solution:
Use “healthy” when you’re referring to possessing good health or characteristic of good health; use “healthful” when you’re referring to contributing to good health.

“The website is growing everyday.”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Common English Blunders

I saw this in an email message.

Problem:
“Everyday” is an adjective, but an adverb is required here.

Explanation:
“Everyday” tells you what. For example, an “everyday occurrence” is something that occurs daily. In other words, “everyday” is an adjective; it modifies a noun (such as “occurrence”).

In contrast, “every day” tells you when. For example, “It happens every day.” The goal of the email message writer is to tell the reader when the website is growing.

Solution:
“The website is growing every day.”