Power-Writing-Hits Archives

PH3: How Are You — Good or Well? Could You Be Advertising Your Soft Skin?

August 25, 2006 by Liz

Life-Changing Information

I am about to tell you something.

If you don’t already know this, the information will probably change your life.

The change will be a small one — it may not change a thing you do. It will change you nonetheless, because . . .

I’m about to do the grammatical equivalent of sticking a song inside your head.

Every day people ask and answer the question, “How are you?”

The answer I most often hear uses the word, good, in something like “I’m good, and you?”

Good is a tricky word. It’s always an adjective, except when speaking about health. Then it becomes an adverb, which means when speaking of health, good is not the right word to choose. You might instead try well.

Here’s the picture. The conversation is

ME: How are you?
IT Man: I am good.

He could be saying he is good at gaming, good at talking, good at what most husbands are good at, or even saying good for nothing, but he’s not talking about his health.

And oh my, should the conversation be

ME: How are you?
IT Man: I feel good.

Now he’s commenting on the softness of his skin.

That’s a picture, isn’t it?

Know that it is good to say that you feel well and all will be fine in the end.

Of course, if you have soft, smooth skin, I have no problem with you advertising . . .

–ME “Liz” Strauss

PH2: Less and Fewer — Don’t Learn to Write by TV

August 15, 2006 by Liz

TV Has It Wrong

Language is a changing thing. The changes first happen in conversation and eventually they become accepted in written language as well. That’s what happened with that old rule Don’t finish a sentence with a preposition.

Power Hits prove that not everything you see in print, hear in a song, or watch on TV are correct.

In this case, two words the mass media can’t seem to get right are less and fewer. So let’s settle that matter once and for all. [Read more…]

PWH 1: I Versus Me

August 5, 2006 by Liz

In this Corner

The two contenders — I and me — are ready to come out fighting. I’d better referee.

It’s a problem.

When do I put me into a sentence?

There is a solution.

It works like this.

1. I and me are pronouns.

2. They’re called first person pronouns because they name the person who is speaking or writing — I am speaking about me.

3. When the pronoun is the subject or the doer of the action, use I.
I like you.
Ann and I need links.
I want you to send money.
Test the sentence that uses “Ann and I” by taking out the other person.
I need links.

4. When the pronoun is the object or receiver of the action, use me.
You like me.
The project team applauded Cat and me.
You gave me the money I needed.

5. When the pronoun comes after a preposition, use the object form.
to me
for Cat and me
with Ann and me
Test the sentence that uses “Cat and me” by taking out the other person.
for me
with me

6. When the verb is a form of “to be,” such is, are, or was use the subject form on both sides.
It is I.
I am woe.
The winners are Cat and I.
The leads are Ann and I.
Where was I?
This is the one that makes everyone get all of the other ones wrong. If you know this is the exception, you’re fine.

7. The rules work the same for he and him; she and her; they and them.

I will now be leaving the ring. Match settled without a punch between I and me.

Any questions?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you think Liz can help you with your writing, check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.