The Uses of While

Photo credit

My interest in the conjunction while got picked when I saw a sign on SM Department Stores, which goes, "Pay your bills while shopping."

When I read that line, I had to look up the word "while" again. I know that while connotes simultaneous action. This means that I am paying bills and shopping at the same time, which is highly improbable to do.

Here's what I learned (again) from Dictionary.com about the uses of the conjunction "while."

1. during or in the time that.
2. throughout the time that; as long as.
3. even though; although: While she appreciated the honor, she could not accept the position.
4. at the same time that (showing an analogous or corresponding action): The floor was strewn with books, while magazines covered the tables.

That SM line is correct after all. :D

That DID it! (The Use of DO, DOES, DID)

Photo grabbed from Claresa.net

Do is a busy word in the English language. It can be a main verb, and it can also be used as an auxiliary verb. It is even used as a noun in informal English or British slang. Dictionary.com tells me that. :)

As a verb, Do takes the form of do, does, and did.

As a main verb, Do takes on the action word. Examples:

I do sit-ups every morning.
I did everything to improve the situation.  

It is when Do is used as an auxiliary verb, especially in the past tense, that I often get bothered. That is because many people use it wrongly. They'd go:

I did not noticed the hole on the street.

I did talked to him about it.

What did you did?

I see these on Facebook statuses, in emails, and even in formal writing. Please people, when you use Do as an auxiliary verb, ALWAYS pair it with a verb in its base form. The image above is a good reminder of this rule. Do is surrounded by verbs in the base form.

Examples:

I did not notice the hole on the street.
I did talk to him about it.
What did you do?

I do know that this medicine is good for us.
I didn't receive your message. (Not: I didn't received your message.)

Got the drift?

Where's the Edit Button on Facebook?

Posting with errors? I am guilty of this all the time!

If I really want to put out a good piece of writing (not like this one ~ lol), it takes me hours to finish it. And even if I feel that I am ready to publish it, I still edit it.

In this time and age, however, microblogging is so prevalent. Any thought, encounter, experience you have you always would want to shout it out there. Often you just type and push the Send / Publish button, and regret a minute later because what you had written badly needs editing.

For blogs or websites, it's easy to edit; but Facebook, nah. This is the status I want to edit. Look here:

The fourth line should read: Well, guess what? For 20 years, I was doing assignments.

Then next line: Everyone laughs.

The ones posted are not really wrong but for usage, style, I feel the corrections are more appropriate. But I can't find the edit button. Where is the edit button in Facebook?

Got excited to see that Edit or Remove option there. But look at my options:

No option to edit the post itself. 

Before, during the early days of Facebook, I remember clearly they have this Edit button. I should know because I would edit my posts several times. (lol) 

Wish they would bring it back. 

Too v. So

The use of too and so is a common mistake among English speakers and writers. So when is it correct to use too and so?

I get confused, too. That's why I consulted two dictionaries: Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster.com.

Too
–adverb
1. in addition; also; furthermore; moreover
Example: We have to sell the house and car, too.

2. to an excessive extent or degree; beyond what is desirable, fitting, or right: too sick to travel.
Example: This condo unit is too large a house for you, don't you think?

3. more, as specified, than should be
Example: Don't get too near the fire.

4. (used as an affirmative to contradict a negative statement)
Example: I am too!

5. extremely; very
Example: She wasn't too pleased with his behavior.


So
1 a: in a manner or way indicated or suggested.
Example: Do you really think so.
—often used as a substitute for a preceding clause
Examples: Are you ready? I think so.
I didn't like it and I told her so.
b: in the same manner or way : also
Example: I worked hard and so did she
c: thus 1
Example: For so the Lord said — Isa 18:4(Authorized Version)
d: then, subsequently
Example: After this long meeting, I'll have dinner and so home and to bed.

2 a: to an indicated or suggested extent or degree
Example: I had never been so happy.
b: to a great extent or degree : very, extremely
Example: He loves her so.
c: to a definite but unspecified extent or degree
Example: I can only do so much in a day.
d: most certainly : indeed
Example: You did so do it.
e: most decidedly: surely
Example: I so don't believe you.

Read more here.

Why Mis(s) Usage?

It's my English with all the quirks and the perks. 

In this blog, I'll be chronicling the "misusage," a term I coin for this purpose, which refers to the lapses in English usage, stylistics, and grammar. 

I will also share good usage with you, which we all can learn from. Thus, the name Mis(s)Usage, a play of "misusage" and Miss Usage, you know like Ms. Grammar. ;)

More about me HERE.