Grammar Guy

by Greg Lawless

I have often commented to friends, family, clients, and anyone else who will listen, that having perfect grammar is danged important. It is having grammatical skill that rises to the level of "really cool" that has caused me to create my alter ego "The Grammar Guy". Here are some questions and answers exchanged between my clients and I that may assist you in improving your mastery of the English language.

QUESTION: Grammar Guy, I can never remember if the "i" comes first or the "e" comes first in receive.

GG: There is an absolute rule you can always follow, which is "i before e except after c when sounded as e". I was telling my neighbor the other day that it’s nice to have at least one rule in life that is always true, and how weird it would be to have nothing you could count on.

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QUESTION: Should I say "my dog ate my chili, and he are really sick and smells awful" or should I say "my dog ate my chili and he be really sick and smells awful"

GG: With or without beans?

ANSWER: With.

GG: The proper form would be to say he smells "really, really awful"

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QUESTION: Grammar Guy, this may seem simple to you, but could you explain the difference between "to" and "too"

GG: One has an extra "o".

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QUESTION: Grammar Guy, the other day my wife made the comment "I can’t not believe you spent two thousand dollars for a 40 year old baseball card of Mickey Mantle, are you out of your stupid mind?!?!?" Do you think I should correct her grammar?

GG: Wow, are you kidding me, a Mickey Mantle baseball card! Don’t tell me it was his rookie season!!!

ANSWER: Indeed!

GG: You lucky dog, I can’t not believe you were able to get it!

Note: If any of you have grammatical questions, send them to the Grammar Guy, care of the Lawless Partnership.