There are few things in life more embarrassing than being called out for a grammatical error. Scratch that. There are few things in life more embarrassing than being called out for a grammatical error. By your friend’s parents. When you are 13 and want nothing more than to impress everyone Read More…
As the effects of the government shutdown surround us and remind us how truly frustrating American politics can be, I thought it would be a good time to bring up an error often seen in discussions of politics: the difference between “capital” and “capitol.” The oft-mistaken “capital” and “capitol” are Read More…
I’ve always thought of “forthcoming” and “forthright” as two commonly mistaken words with two very different meanings: “Forthcoming” meaning “on the way” or “about to happen” and “forthright” meaning “frank” or “candid.” With these definitions in mind, imagine my surprise when, on a recent episode of “Mad Men,” Betty Draper Read More…
In early December 2012, I awoke to a phone call informing me I would be working on the Washington Post’s copy desk in the summer. I was elated. I had wanted to intern for a major newspaper for years, and, with the Post’s offer, my dream appeared to finally be Read More…
Ah, election season. The atmosphere and energy surrounding the ASUC elections pale in comparison to those of any school election I have yet lived through, and for good reason. Qualified candidates scatter themselves across campus, asking for votes and explaining their platforms to the lucky few of us plucked from Read More…
In the fifth season of NBC’s “30 Rock,” Liz Lemon recounts the one time she went to Los Angeles. She asked a passer-by, “How do I get to 10?,” at which he, a rioter for Rodney King, interrupted his hell-raising to deliver this disdainful line: “It’s the 10.” Every city Read More…
Upon returning to Berkeley after spring break, I came to an unfortunate realization: that it was that time of the semester again. Perhaps I’d survived the first two months of this term, but somehow, April still managed to loom ahead of me. That couldn’t be a good sign — in Read More…
If the distinction between two words is clear, why is there confusion about such words’ use? While editing, I often ask myself this question, as writers often seem uncertain about whether to use “if” or “whether” in sentences. Admittedly, this mistake is somewhat understandable: The words’ usages are somewhat similar Read More…
As I write this, my friend Evelyn and I are supposed to be studying political science. But grammar nerds never rest, so Congress will just have to put its problems on hold while I address a more local issue. (From what I have heard about Congress, though, I don’t think Read More…
I fell in love this weekend. It wasn’t an adorable English accent or a set of mesmerizing blue eyes that got me; it was his perfect command of the use of who vs. whom. Each time he said “for whom” or “to whom,” I could not contain my smile. Read More…