Hello, again, all of you Grammar Lovers! Today, as we continue looking at some of the most common errors in English--both the spoken and written word among us Southerners, in particular- we will examine the misuse of some oft-heard expressions: BEING THAT, BEING AS, AND BEING AS HOW. It's probably true that these conjunctions were once considered correct expressions, but with the constant changes in language, they have gone out of formal usage in today's world. Actually, some grammarians still consider the use of these expressions to be acceptable in informal conversations, but since I know you want to express yourself correctly at all times, you will want to jump on this rule like bees on a watermelon rind.
Simply put, all you need to remember is just DON'T use these expressions! Rather, use BECAUSE or SINCE. Here are some examples of the wrong use and then the correct use:
BEING THAT it's you, the price is nothing. (Just say...SINCE it's you...or... BECAUSE it's you...)
...or...
I just happen to recollect, BEING AS you speak of raccoons, that mine ran away last week. (Just say...SINCE you speak... or... BECAUSE you speak...)
...or...
BEING AS HOW you weren't at the meeting, you don't get to vote. (Say...SINCE you weren't...or BECAUSE you weren't...)
The present participle BEING is most often used safely as part of a main verb, such as in the following sentence:
Jack is BEING as low down as a snake in a wagon track. (Of course, saying "Jack is as low down..." also works.)
Used as a conjunction, it can sometimes create awkward sentences, so just remember to use SINCE or BECAUSE instead of one of the BEING expressions!
However, as a final note, let me remind you that BEING is also used other ways...correctly...
As a noun: ...a human BEING...
As an adjective: ...for the time BEING...
So... now that we have looked at the misuse of the BEING expressions, I hope you have learned something that you'll use from now on--in both your speech and writing. Have a great week and thanks so much for the good ideas. Keep passing them on! Peace and happiness to all. GG
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
37. You GRADUATED What?
Welcome back, Everyone! Today's topic always seems to rear its head every year around the time of graduation-and Wow! Do we have all kinds of graduations nowadays--not only from high schools and colleges, but from kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, and junior highs. I've even heard of graduations from day care centers...and, of course, graduations occur at all times of the year nowadays. Guess we like to start out early struttin' our stuff.
All right. If we're probably going to hear this word used more and more, we should give a good look at the awkwardness of using it the way our ancestors used it back in the nineteenth century. Back then, the common way to use this word was as follows:
Even though Homer couldn't blow his nose if his brains were dynamite, he graduated eighth grade yesterday. (not as preferred today...graduated from...)
...or...
The Class of 2009 will graduate Whiteville High School as soon as they finish and pass their last courses next spring. (not as preferred today...graduate from...)
...or...
I graduated Southeastern Community College five years ago with a nursing degree. (not as preferred today...graduated from...)
More than a century ago, the commonly accepted use of this verb was, indeed, NOT TO USE from in front of a form of graduate. Today, however, the preferred way is TO USE from before a form of graduate.
Filling out a resume for a job that included a sentence such as...
I graduated UNC in 2002...
is considered awkward and archaic in today's world, so don't be misled when you hear the occasional use of this verb. You are correct to say...
Jack graduated FROM NC State two years before his sister did.
This lesson's so easy you should have absolutely NO trouble remembering it! Also, we see here the constantly changing nature of our language and how rules that were once cast in stone are no longer in force. Just check your Webster's and you'll see how many uses that once were forbidden are now making headway into our speech and writing. Don't forget, though, that some words seen in the dictionary are NOT generally accepted in Standard English or polite society.
I'm signing off for this time. Hope your day is great! Happiness and peace to all. GG
All right. If we're probably going to hear this word used more and more, we should give a good look at the awkwardness of using it the way our ancestors used it back in the nineteenth century. Back then, the common way to use this word was as follows:
Even though Homer couldn't blow his nose if his brains were dynamite, he graduated eighth grade yesterday. (not as preferred today...graduated from...)
...or...
The Class of 2009 will graduate Whiteville High School as soon as they finish and pass their last courses next spring. (not as preferred today...graduate from...)
...or...
I graduated Southeastern Community College five years ago with a nursing degree. (not as preferred today...graduated from...)
More than a century ago, the commonly accepted use of this verb was, indeed, NOT TO USE from in front of a form of graduate. Today, however, the preferred way is TO USE from before a form of graduate.
Filling out a resume for a job that included a sentence such as...
I graduated UNC in 2002...
is considered awkward and archaic in today's world, so don't be misled when you hear the occasional use of this verb. You are correct to say...
Jack graduated FROM NC State two years before his sister did.
This lesson's so easy you should have absolutely NO trouble remembering it! Also, we see here the constantly changing nature of our language and how rules that were once cast in stone are no longer in force. Just check your Webster's and you'll see how many uses that once were forbidden are now making headway into our speech and writing. Don't forget, though, that some words seen in the dictionary are NOT generally accepted in Standard English or polite society.
I'm signing off for this time. Hope your day is great! Happiness and peace to all. GG
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