"Everyday" or "Every day": That Is the Question

Argggh!

Can't help myself but add a one-item tip. That's because I keep seeing this error even in important documents being sent to gatekeepers who can make or break a career--the major theme behind my book The Frugal Editor, by the way. That is, use zero-tolerance editing for the stuff that goes to gatekeepers. So here it is:

EVERYDAY OR EVERY DAY

Most dictionaries say this is a one-word adjective. When used as an adjective spell it "everyday." Example: "The store offers everyday values."

But when it is an adverb, it's two words. Here's an example. "He offers a new deal in his store every day."

Its use as two words is even clearer when it's used as a noun. It's also less likely to cause a disagreement (-: or confusion when it's a noun. Here's an example: "Every day is a beautiful day."

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com, where writers will find lists and other helps on the Resources for Writers page. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at her Sharing with Writers blog.

"A Way" vs. "Away": Enough to Make an Editor Dizzy

Recently a friend of mine (who was once my teacher!) corrected my grammar/typo/boo-boo on one of my blogs.

When someone in authority does that, one (meaning me!) may lose confidence in one's own expertise/talent/brilliance. (-: So I double-checked with my grammar guru, June Casagrande, author of Mortal Syntax and Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies (www.junecasagrande.com). You know. Because I was sure I was right but when a teacher tells you something...well...

And situations like this were the inspirations for June's books--that so much opinion that goes around is downright wrong, or at least not a full-out, never-to-be broken rule!

The "error" in question was "a way." I had used it as a noun with its article. My former teacher wanted me to push the words together into "away" which would have made it into an adverb. Just in case a similar thing happens to you, here's the straight dope:


a way: noun
away: adverb

Both are correct, but only if you slot them into the right place in your sentence. But you knew that. Maybe she did, too. She was only trying to help, after all.


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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits, consults and speaks on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. She blogs on all things publishing (not just editing!) at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.

Q&A: Proofreader Wonders About Words That Switch Parts of Speech

QUESTION:

Hello,

I have a question regarding the distinction, if there is one, between “grammatical error” and “grammar error.” I notice that both seem to be in common use, but it seems to me that the first one could be construed as an error that is grammatical, is in a mistaken assertion that is syntactically correct. The second instance, however, gives us the awkward problem of a noun used as an adjective.

Your thoughts?

I own www.theProofreader.org and have a vested interest in finding the best choice in the matter.

Thanks

ANSWER: I couldn't find a single reference that would say one is right and/or wrong in any given instance. As you noted (and many might argue) "grammar" is the noun, "grammatical" the adjective. But in doing a search I saw that grammar sites were about evenly split on whether they use the term "grammatical terms" or "grammar terms." That's one of the difficulties (and blessings) of English. Words can and do float from one part of speech to another and there is no help for it. There is a grammar (or grammatical) term for that floating process but I try to keep this column in layman terms as much as I can. (-:

Those interested in elegant and precise English are sure to see the difference.Still, it wouldn't exactly be a "grammar error" if you chose the wrong form of "grammar" for either meaning. That's because, however much those of us who are "Grammar Snobs," as my grammar-guru friend June Casagrande (author of "Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies"), would like to see our meanings drawn clearly and concisely, usage dictates (eventually) what is right and what is wrong. And I'm pretty sure that's the side of the fence June would come down on, too. That is, neither side. Ha!

So, I'm afraid, the distinction has evaded the general reader. But good for you for fighting the good fight. (-: Go ahead and proof for the more exact meaning but don't be surprised if your client doesn't quite see what you are trying to do. Or care.



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Carolyn Howard-Johnson edits and consults on issues of publishing. Find her The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success on Amazon. Learn more about her other authors' aids at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.