Month: October 2007

“Everyday – 10 AM to 9 PM”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Common English Blunders

I saw this on an Ikea sign.

Problem:
“Everyday” is an adjective, but an adverb is required here.

Explanation:
“Everyday” tells you what. For example, an “everyday event” is an event that occurs daily. In other words, “everyday” is an adjective; it modifies a noun (such as “event”). “Everyday” in this example tells you what kind of event it is. In contrast, “every day” tells you when. For example, “It happens every day.” The goal of the sign maker is to tell the reader when the store is open.

Solution:
“Every Day – 10 AM to 9 PM”

“Please send that file to Ellen or myself.”

Common English Blunders, Pronouns

I heard this during a conference call.

Problem:
“Myself” is the wrong pronoun.

Explanation:
This sentence is an imperative; the speaker is asking the listener to send something to Ellen or to him. This sentence can not be reflexive; the speaker is not talking about something that he is doing for/by himself. “Myself” is a reflexive pronoun, so it’s not the correct pronoun here in this non-reflexive sentence. Instead, “me” is the correct pronoun. To confirm this, imagine the speaker asking the listener to send something only to him: “Please send that file to me.” Adding “Ellen or ” has no impact; “me” remains the correct pronoun.

Solution:
“Please send that file to Ellen or me.”

“Please send it to he and I.”

Common English Blunders, Pronouns

I heard this during a conference call.

Problems:
1. He is the wrong pronoun.
2. I is the wrong pronoun.

Explanations:
1. You should not say, “Please send it to he.” Instead, you should say, “Please send it to him.” Adding more parties to the list of those receiving what is to be sent makes no difference; the correct pronoun is still him.
2. You should not say, “Please send it to I.” Instead, you should say, “Please send it to me.” Adding more parties to the list of those receiving what is to be sent makes no difference; the correct pronoun is still me.

Solution:
“Please send it to him and me.”