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Last month, the Associated Press (AP) announced several changes to the widely adapted style.

Let’s see if you can guess the changes:

A. “Email” or “E-mail”?

If you guessed “email,” you’re correct!  That’s right, ladies and gents, the hyphen has, well, taken a hike.

B. “Cellphone” or “Cell Phone”?

Drum roll please…the correct answer is “cellphone.”  It’s now one word.  Get it right or pay the price. (Bonus points for anyone who can tell me what 1990′s TV show that saying was made famous on.)

C. “Smartphone” or “Smart Phone”

You didn’t think I would tell you the answer right away did you? Let’s think people! Okay, okay, the answer is “smartphone.”

Think of it this way: An email, a cellphone,  and a smartphone are all essentially one unit so why use two words or waste space with a hyphen?

You should also note:

Website: In 2010, AP announced that “website” will now be one word versus the old rule of writing it as “Web site.

Just what is AP and why should I care?

Below is the description of the 2010 AP Stylebook as included on apstylebook.com:

The AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, a spiral-bound style manual produced by the world’s leading news  agency, is an essential handbook for all writers, editors, students and public relations specialists. The 2010 edition provides fundamental guidelines on spelling, grammar, punctuation and usage, with special sections on social media, reporting business and sports. Included is an updated guide to media law.

Why is this style important?

I’ll put it this way, every journalist follows AP Style and today’s  journalism industry is more competitive than ever.  If you’re trying to get a journalist to write a story, you need to make their job as easy as possible. This includes a well-written press release that uses AP Style.

When you understand how someone feels, do you sympathize with them or do you empathize with them?  I have personally been confused by the differentiation between these two words on a few occasions.  But, have no fear, Miss Ink’s latest Grammar Refresher is here. To really understand these words, you have to first understand the definitions of “sympathy” and “empathy.”  Sympathy means to share feelings with someone or to experience a feeling as a result of another person’s experience. Empathy means to understand the experience, whether feelings, thoughts or experiences, with another person.

Sympathize: When you share someone’s grief or suffering, you sympathize with them.  In other words, you feel for them, but you don’t necessarily understand their emotions if you have not experienced something similar.   It’s easy to remember when you think, sympathize equals to share.

Example:  I sympathize with the despair of homeless veterans.

Empathize: The experience of empathy.  In other words understanding or empathizing with their feelings, thoughts or experiences.  It’s easy to remember when you associate empathy with experience.

Example:  Being a mother myself, I can empathize with Suzy’s feeling of exhaustion.

Let’s try it out:

A.  I have never worked the night shift at a job, but I can empathize with how difficult those hours must be.

B. I have never worked the night shift at a job, but I can sympathize with how difficult those hours must be.

Answer: The correct answer is “B.” The key is that this person has not experienced a night shift so therefore, they can only share  the emotion from an objective point of view.

Let’s try one more:

A. I can sympathize with your frustration.  I had termites in my house several months ago.

B. I can empathize with your frustration.  I had termites in my house several months ago.

Answer: The correct answer is “B.”  The person speaking had a similar experience and therefore has a firsthand understanding of the other person’s frustration.

One more tip: You have sympathy for someone because you have felt a similar emotion. You empathize with someone when you have experienced the same situation.

For more detailed information on the meaning of these words check out Merriam-Webster online.  It is a fantastic resource that helped me put together this Grammar Refresher.

Have you ever written an email and stopped typing mid sentence?  Did you delete what you wrote and reword it because you weren’t sure if you used proper grammar?  Stop being afraid.  Miss Ink’s Grammar Refreshers are here to help!   This week we’re reviewing “former” vs. “latter.”  This one is actually really simple.

Former: An item that appears first in a list of two things or persons.  You can easily remember the meaning of “former” by associating it with the word first.

Example:  Tiffany was given a choice between a blue dress and a red dress. She chose the former.

Bonus Tips: This is similar to the word “formerly,” which means something that occurred before something else. However, don’t confuse it with the word with “formal,” which means a custom that is clearly defined, something that is strictly regulated or, as it pertains to attire, clothing that can be defined as fancy (e.g., black tie).

Latter: This word refers to the last item in a list of two items or people.

Example: The cafeteria was serving ham and turkey.  I prefer the latter.

Bonus Tip: Don’t confuse “latter” with the word “later,” which is something that will happen in the future.  Also be careful to not misspell it as “ladder” and wind up talking about an object you step on to reach high points.

Let’s Try it Out:

A. The teacher asked her students, “which is red, a banana or a raspberry?”  Most of the students answered correctly when they said the latter.

B. The teacher asked her students, “which is red, a banana or a raspberry?”  Most of the students answered correctly when they said the former.

Answer:  The correct answer is “A.” A raspberry is red and it appears last in the list.

A. Tiffany and Brandon wanted Dairy Queen for dessert while Martha and Billy opted for Cheesecake Factory.  We chose the former since we were in the mood for ice cream.

B. Tiffany and Brandon wanted Dairy Queen for dessert while Martha and Billy wanted Cheesecake Factory.  We chose the latter since we were in the mood for ice cream.

Answer: The correct answer is “A” since we wanted ice cream and Dairy Queen serves ice cream.

It happens to all of us. You’re standing in front of your closet staring at the abundance of clothes yet you’re still wondering, “what do I where?” Wait a minute, “what do I where?” That can’t be right. Or is it?  While you’re focused on what’s in fashion, allow me to pardon your inner fashionista for a moment to take you on a walk down the grammar runway.

Where: Mostly simply, the word “where” most often indicates a location. It can be a physical location or as Merriam-Webster defines it, the location can be, “at, in, or to what situation, position, direction, circumstances, or respect.”

Examples:

Where are my car keys?

Where do you see your career in the future?

Wear: This one is a little trickier so I will stick to the most common usage.  “Wear” can mean an article of clothing or an item that a person has on.  It can also mean to deteriorate something or to produce gradually by friction (Merriam-Webster).

Examples:

I want to wear my party dress.

Tiffany is wearing her favorite pair of earrings.

The carpenter used sandpaper to wear down the rough patches on the baseboard.

Let’s try it out:

Which is correct?

A. Where can I find a good pair of running sneakers?

B. Wear can I find a good pair of running sneakers?

The correct answer is “A” because we are referring to a location.  “Wear” would only be correct if the sentence said something like, “I am going to wear my new pair of running sneakers.” or “I usually wear down the soles of my running sneakers within six months.”

Which is correct?

A. Now that summer is here I can wear my flip-flops again.

B. Now that summer is here I can where my flip-flops again.

The correct answer is “A” because flip-flops are shoes and therefore they go on your feet.  “Where” would be correct if the sentence said something like, “Where are my flip-flops?”

Does English grammar have you confused? Email us your questions to info@miss-ink.com.

“I’m going to loose my mind.”  A friend recently wrote this sentence in an email that they sent to me.  Grammar oversight or grammar confusion?   Having seen this mistake made on more than a couple occasions–yes, I am a grammar nerd even when it comes to Facebook status updates–I thought it would make a good grammar refresher.  Whether writing a friend or a business associate, grammar is crucial to getting your point across correctly and maintaining credibility.  Before you write something embarrassing like, “I may loose the business deal” read through the difference between “loose” and “lose” below.

Loose:  Indicates when something is not fastened tightly or no longer confined.

Examples:

- I have loose change in my pockets.

- The dog shook loose from his collar.

Lose: As per Webster’s dictionary, there are several meanings for this word including, unable to find an item or person; fail to win; fail to keep, or to have taken from by accident, death, removal, etc.

Examples:

- Shannon left her diamond necklace in a safe so she would not lose it.

- I lost my car keys.

- John is a sore loser.

Putting it to practice: Which is correct?

A. Did Lee lose her sunglasses?

B. Did Lee loose her sunglasses?

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  The person is inquiring if Lee has misplaced her sunglasses.

Let’s try one more. Which is correct?

A.  Tiffany’s watch is loose on my wrist.

B. Tiffany’s watch is lose on my wrist.

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  The person is saying that Tiffany’s watch fits big on his/her wrist and is therefore loose.

Grammatically confused? Email your grammar refresher suggestions to info@miss-ink.com.

The difference between “between” and “among” is probably not something you think about very often.  Okay, so maybe you’ve never thought about it at all.  (Am I the only grammar nerd here?)  Seriously though, there is a difference and while they may seem to be interchangeable terms, these two words have different meanings.  So, what’s the difference?  Here’s the breakdown:

Between: The easiest way to determine when to use this word is to think of “between two things.” Note that it can also be used for a list of single, clearly identified items.

Example:  She chose between strawberries, blueberries and bananas for her smoothie.

Among: This word is used with plural items and in reference to a group that someone is either a part of or left out of.  It can also be used to describe an ambiguous location.

Example: Ronnie enjoyed being among other fishing enthusiasts.

Let’s Try it Out:

Which is correct?

A. She chose to spend her free time between the dog park, the mall and the gym.

B. She chose to spend her free time among the dog park, the mall and the gym.

Answer: “A” is correct because the sentence is describing three distinct places.

Which is correct?

A. Tiffany was the only brunette among the group of blonds.

B. Tiffany was the only brunette between the group of blonds.

Answer: The correct answer is “A.”  Taking a closer look, the “A” sentence makes the most sense because Tiffany is left out of the group of blonds.

Let’s try one more…

Which is correct?

A. Henry rode his bike between the rocks.

B. Henry rode his bike among the rocks.

Answer: Both!  This is a little tricky, which is why I wanted to include it last.  When it comes to location, if you say “between” you are talking about a distinct location. For instance, “A” means Henry rode is bike in the middle of rocks, avoiding them all together.  On the other hand, “B” means that Henry rode is bike around the rocks or on the rocks, but not on a clearly defined path.

Reference credit: Grammar Girl, one of my favorite grammar resources, has a fantastic post on this topic as well. You can find it here.

These three homophones (words that sound alike but mean different things) have a tendency to trip people up in written communication.  For instance, I can recall a recent conversation with someone who had no idea that “cite” and “site” were not the same word.  That experience inspired me to pass the explanation on to you.  To that end, I hope you find this Grammar refresher useful.  As always, email me with any questions at info@miss-ink.com.

Site – Refers to a location.

Example:  Bring the tools to the construction site.

Sight – Refers to vision.

Example: She blushed at the sight of him.

Cite – To refer to a source or a reason. To make a reference to something.

Example: Mary forgot to cite the sources in her research paper.

Let’s practice:

A. Most professional athletes cite nutrition as one reason for their success.

B. Most professional athletes site nutrition as a one reason for their success.

C. Most professional athletes sight nutrition as a one reason for their success.

The correct answer is ‘A.’ In this sentence, nutrition is listed as a reason that professional athletes are successful.

Let’s try another one:

A. Where exactly was the sight of the recent archeological jewelry discovery?

B. Where exactly was the cite of the recent archeological jewelry discovery?

C. Where exactly was the site of the recent archeological jewelry discovery?

The correct answer is ‘C’ because the sentence is talking about the location of the archeological jewelry discovery.

Let’s try one more:

A. Don’t lose sight of your goals.

B. Don’t lose site of your goals.

C. Don’t lose cite of your goals.

The correct answer is ‘A.’ Although the sentence does not refer to vision in the literal sense, a goal is something that you ‘see’ happening for yourself.

The words “there,” “their” and “they’re” are confused quite often.  I’ve seen it misused in emails, text messages and in microblogs (e.g., status updates and tweets).  I have to admit, the misuse of these words is one of my grammar pet peeves. So what’s the confusion?  They are all pronounced the same, making it a little confusing by nature.  However, the differences are easy to remember if you just take a moment to think about the context of the sentence.

There: Refers to a location, either figuratively or literally.

Example: The book is over there.

Their: Indicates possession.

Example: Tom and Alice are having a party at their house.

They’re: Contraction of “they are.”

Example: They’re going to the football game.

Let’s try it out:

A. The party is at the new Italian restaurant, but we are picking Lee and Fred up at they’re house first.

B. The party is at the new Italian restaurant, but we are picking Lee and Fred up at their house first.

C. The party is at the new Italian restaurant, but we are picking Lee and Fred up at there house first.

The correct answer is “B.”  We are talking about the house that belongs to Lee and Fred so therefore the correct choice is “their.”

Let’s try another one:

A. They’re is a church on the corner of Woodward and Tennessee Street.

B. Their is a church on the corner of Woodward and Tennessee Street.

C. There is a church on the corner of Woodward and Tennessee Street.

The correct answer is “C.”  The sentence is referring to the location of the church so the correct choice in this sentence is the word “there.”

Let’s try one more:

A. My dogs are so funny. They’re always the center of attention.

B. My dogs are so funny. Their always the center of attention.

C. My dogs are so funny.  There always the center of attention.

The correct answer is “A.” The dogs are the subject of the first sentence and therefore are properly referred to in the second sentence by saying “they are” or “they’re.”

Its: Indicates possession.

Example: The store held its grand opening last week.

It’s: The contraction of “it is.”

Example: It’s a perfect day to go out on the boat.

Let’s try it out:

Which is correct?

A.  Emma is wearing a coat even though its hot outside.

B. Emma is wearing a coat even though it’s hot outside.

The correct answer is ‘B.’ Let’s take a closer look by slightly changing the sentence. “Emma is wearing a coat even though it is hot outside.”  Now, it’s easy to see why ‘B’ is the correct choice.

Let’s try another example.

Why is correct?

A.  I love the ocean because of it’s calming colors.

B. I love the ocean because of its calming colors.

The correct answer is “B.” The word “its” is referring to the ocean’s colors and therefore is a possessive reference.

Bonus tip: When referring to a company, use “its” instead of “they.” For example, “McDonald’s is one of the most popular fast food restaurants in the world. The company is recognized by its golden arches.”

This week’s Grammar Refresher comes to us from a reader who wants to know the difference between ‘further’ and ‘farther.’  Easily confused, ‘further’ and ‘farther’ are common grammar mishaps.  So what’s the difference?

Further – Use this when you mean to convey a metaphorical distance such as a time or an amount.

Example: We will review the proposal further next week.

Farther –Used in sentences that are conveying physical distance.

Example:  Ronnie ran farther than Ray yesterday.

Let’s try it out:

Which is correct?

A. Tallahassee is further north than Miami.

B. Tallahassee is farther north than Miami.

The answer is ‘B’ because we’re talking about an actual physical distance.  We know that Tallahassee is north of Miami so therefore it is farther north.

Which is correct?

A. Brandon used a gas mileage graph to further prove his point about fuel efficiency.

B. Brandon used a gas mileage graph to farther prove his point about fuel efficiency.

The answer is ‘A’ because we are not talking about a physical distance, but rather a metaphorical one.

Want to know more? Have a grammar refresher suggestion? Email us at info@miss-ink.com.

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