Adjectives

“WOOD BASE HIGH END FURNITURE”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Hyphens, Nouns

I saw this in a television commercial.

Problem:
Hyphens and a comma are missing.

Explanation:
The noun “WOOD” and the noun “BASE” are used together as a modifier of the noun “FURNITURE”, so “WOOD” and “BASE” must be hyphenated together.

The adjective “HIGH” and the noun “END” are used together as a modifier of the noun “FURNITURE”, so “HIGH” and “END” must be hyphenated together.

We end up with two modifiers — “WOOD-BASE” and “HIGH-END” — of the noun “FURNITURE”, so we insert a comma between the two modifiers to get the solution.

It seems that the advertising copywriter fell prey to today’s prevalent copywriting style of avoiding hyphens and commas at all costs.

I believe that this style is consistent with my “Devolution toward Simpler” hypothesis. It’s simpler to leave out the hyphens and comma than to include them.

Solution:
“WOOD-BASE, HIGH-END FURNITURE”

“Apply anytime weeds are actively growing.”

Adjectives, Adverbs, Common English Blunders

I saw this on a Scotts Bonus S fertilizer bag.

Problem:
An adjective was used where an adverbial phrase is required.

Explanation:
“Anytime” is an adjective.

It’s an anytime event to have Bill Clinton visit our donut shop. is an example of the proper use of “anytime”. The adjective “anytime” tells the reader/listener the what type of event it is to have Bill Clinton visit the writer/speaker’s donut shop.

As you start to read the notice on the fertilizer bag — “Apply anytime weeds” — it seems that you are supposed to apply a particular type of weed (“anytime weeds”).

This makes no sense, especially when you then read “are actively growing.”

Some readers might unconsciously drop in “that” to get “Apply anytime weeds that are actively growing.”

Huh? What’s an anytime weed, and why should I apply actively growing ones to my lawn?!

Instead, the writer of the notice wants to tell you when to apply the fertilizer, not when to apply the “anytime weeds”.

What’s needed in the notice on the bag is the adverbial phrase “any time”, which is equivalent to “whenever”.

Getting stuck in the longest line happens any time that I try to pick the shortest line at the grocery store. is an example of the proper use of “any time”. The adverbial phrase “any time” tells the reader/listener when the writer/speaker gets stuck in the longest line.

Solution:
“Apply any time weeds are actively growing.”

“Complementary” vs. “Complimentary”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Versus

I often see these two adjectives confused.

Problem:
The adjectives “complementary” and “complimentary” are not synonyms.

Explanation:
The adjective “complementary” means forms a complement, and a “complement” is something that completes.

The adjective “complimentary” means expressing or of the nature of a compliment, and a “compliment” is related to the word “comply” and is an expression of praise.

Therefore:

  • “John has complementary dishes.” — spelled with an “e” — means that John has dishes that complete or match one another;
  • “John has complimentary dishes.” — spelled with an “i” — means that John has dishes that he got as a gift.

A simple way to distinguish “complementary” from “complimentary” is to remember that “complementary” and “complete” both begin with “comple-“.

Solution:
Use “complementary” when you are talking about someone or something that completes someone or something else. Use “complimentary” when you are talking about praise or a gift.