Category Archives: paralegal

Grammar Giggle – Keeping Speakers in Perspective, or Is It Prospective?

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I came across this on a webpage while I was looking for potential speakers for a conference we’re working on.

Perspective2

Here’s the problem (according to the Gregg Reference Manual):

perspective – means to view in correct proportion

prospective – means anticipated

So I’m thinking what they are really looking for are anticipated speakers, not speakers they will view in the correct proportion (wrong on so many levels). I have emailed them about this error so they can fix it. But using it as a teaching moment, I include it here, leaving off the identifying information. My goal is never to embarrass a person or company who has an error in a public place, but to use it to teach you all what is really correct.

 

 

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Grammar Giggle – Boy That’s Hot!

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A friend captured this little jewel on our local news last month. With all the weird weather across the country, I thought this was timely. Check out the weather in Safford. Arizona can be hot in the summer, but not usually in December and 128 is our all-time record high. It looks like someone’s typing fingers got a little carried away.

extra warm

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And The Oxford Dictionaries 2014 Word of the Year Is . . .

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dictionaryI like to check out the new words added to dictionaries each year. So now (drumroll please) the 2014 Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year . . . vape. Vape is an abbreviation of vapour or vaporize and is defined as “to inhale and exhale the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.” So because it is not “smoking” because it is just vapor, it is “vaping.” Interesting. What were some of the entries on the shortlist you might ask?

  • bae – “used as a term of endearment for one’s romantic partner.” I have to say were it not for Pharrell Williams, I never would have known this word existed or been able to guess at its meaning. Now that it is in the dictionary, that problem is solved.
  • budtender – “a person whose job is to serve customers in a cannabis dispensary or shop.” My how times have changed. Way back when I think they called them a “dealer.” It must be the new legislation that has made it a more noble profession. Another interesting tidbit is that according to the Online Slang Dictionary, in 2012 the term “potrepreneur” was added to mean someone whose business involved marijuana. So I guess the potrepreneur is the person who OWNS the plant and the budtender is the one who SELLS it.
  • contactless – “relating to or involving technologies that allow a smart card, mobile phone, etc. to contact wirelessly to an electronic reader, typically in order to make a payment.” Sounds suspiciously like Apple Pay or the Mobil Speedpass to me. A Google search for the Mobil Speedpass has as the first entry “Speedpass – Contactless Payment at the Gas Pump.” I love it when I’m right.
  • indyref – “an abbreviation of ‘independence referendum’, in reference to the referendum on Scottish independence, held in Scotland on 18 September 2014, in which voters were asked to answer yes or no to the question ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’” By the way, the answer was “no.”
  • normcore – “a trend in which ordinary, unfashionable clothing is worn as a deliberate fashion statement.” I can’t wait for that fashion show.
  • slacktivism – “informal actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement, e.g. signing an online petition or joining a campaign group on a social media website; a blend of slacker and activism.” I kind of like this one. We could come up with all sorts of combinations with slacker. How about bingeslacking meaning to do absolutely nothing for hours on end when you could be binge-watching or working, slackerselfie meaning pictures you take of yourself in the middle of the day while still in your pajamas, twerkslacker meaning someone who tries to twerk but is just too much of a slacker to make it to the “low, squatting stance.” Thanks to the Oxford Dictionaries 2013 Word of the Year (and the shortlist) for that little grouping.

So there are your new words for 2014. Learn them, use them, and make them yours.

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Grammar Giggles – Buses and Misspelled Signs

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On a trip to San Francisco this past weekend, I had the opportunity to ride the bus. I love to read the signs on buses because I find a lot of “material” there. I was lucky this time as well. It took me a minute or two because I looked at the sign and finally figured out why it looked weird to me–“disabilities” is misspelled. On the plus side, they are consistent. I rode more than one bus that had the same sign with the same error. Shame on you #SFMTA!

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Periods–More Than a Dot

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One would think periods are simple. Their function is to end a sentence. However, there are other uses for the period that we need to be aware of in order to use it correctly.

  • Use a period after a number in an outline or a list unless the number is in parentheses, i.e., (1). In an outline, you should tab after the period to give a visual break. Using Word’s auto numbering feature makes this step easier as it will automatically tab after the period.
  • When you have separate lines in a list that are independent clauses, dependent clauses, or long phrases, you should use periods. you should also use periods after short phrases that complete the statement that introduces the list:
    • Please provide your drafts by Friday for the:
      • Motion to Dismiss.
      • Motion to Exceed Page Limits.
      • Proposed Order.
  • Where items are listed in a sentence, use commas or semicolons to separate them:
    • Please provide your drafts by Friday for the (1) Motion to Dismiss, (2) Motion to Exceed Page Limits, and (3) Proposed Order.
  • You don’t need periods for short phrases if the introductory statement is already grammatically correct or if the list is more of an inventory or shopping list:
    • The training topics for the new secretary should include the following:
      • E-filing
      • Proofreading
      • Ethics
    • When you next go to Costco, please get:
      • Gum
      • Keurig coffee
      • Paper napkins
  • Note that in these lists, a colon is used to introduce the list, the first word of each item on the list is capitalized, and you can use numbers to begin the listed items (see my post about starting sentences with numbers here).
  • In headings, use a period after a run-in heading where the paragraph continues immediately following the heading. Do not use a period if the heading is freestanding. You can use appropriate punctuation such as an exclamation point or question mark if necessary in a freestanding heading.
    • Proper jurisdiction. It is agreed that Arizona is the proper jurisdiction for this matter.
    • Proper Jurisdiction

It is agreed that Arizona is the proper jurisdiction for this matter.

  • Don’t use a period after letters used to replace the name of a person or thing unless it ends a sentence.
    • Mr. X is the mystery brand spokesperson for the car I like.
  • However, do use a period if the single letter is used as the initial for a last name.
    • Mr. B. (for Mr. Bailey) was my favorite teacher.
  • Don’t use a period after a contraction like won’t or cont’d unless it ends a sentence.
  • Don’t use a period after ordinal numbers (2d, 3d).
  • Don’t use a period after roman numerals except in an outline (Volume III, page 29).

So periods aren’t quite as easy as they seem. Send your grammar and proofreading issues to [email protected] so we can answer them in a future blog post.

 

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