Nouns

“… net net effect …”

Adjectives, Nouns

I heard this a few times on a conference call recently.

Problem:
I do not know why two “net” adjectives are needed, and I suspect that many other people don’t know, either.

Explanation:
The speaker was explaining the effect of an action.

It has become popular in American English to say “net effect” instead of just “effect”.

I understand modifying the noun “effect” with the adjective “net”; it means something like final result.

I do not understand modifying the phrase “net effect” with yet another instance of the adjective “net”.

Given this lack of understanding — and I’m sure that I am not the only one — it doesn’t make sense to have two instances of the adjective “net” in a row, unless one is absolutely certain that everyone in the audience understands that distinction.

Solution:
“… net effect …”

“The DVD is due on next Sunday.”

Adverbs, Nouns, Prepositions

I heard this at Blockbuster Video over the weekend.

Problem:
The phrase “on next Sunday” did not sound right.

Explanation:
My wife and I were renting a DVD at a local Blockbuster Video store last Saturday evening.

Blockbuster has a seven-day return policy.

I was expecting the Blockbuster sales clerk to say one of the following:

  • “The DVD is due on Sunday, June 29.”
  • “The DVD is due next Sunday.”

So when I heard her say, “The DVD is due on next Sunday,” I was taken aback and began to wonder why “on next Sunday” was incorrect.

Here is what I realized:

  • The clerk wanted to say when the DVD was due.
  • Saying when is equivalent to modifying the verb “due” with an adverb or adverbial phrase.
  • “Sunday” is a noun.
  • One can combine the preposition “on” with the noun “Sunday” to get an adverbial phrase that says when.
  • The phrase “next Sunday” is already an adverbial phrase because it says when.
  • Therefore, it is a mistake to combine the preposition “on” with the adverbial phrase “next Sunday” in an attempt to get an adverbial phrase.

Solution:
“The DVD is due next Sunday.”

“… a couple callers …”

Adjectives, Common English Blunders, Devolution toward Simpler, Nouns

I heard this the other day, and I hear this type of construction a lot.

Problem:
The word “couple” is not an adjective.

Explanation:
The word “couple” is a noun, not an adjective.

In particular, “couple” is a group noun, just as “flock” and “gaggle” and “colony” are group nouns.

Just as you should not say “a gaggle geese”, you should not say “a couple callers”.

The solution is illustrated in these examples:

  • “a gaggle of geese”;
  • “a flock of seagulls”;
  • “a colony of ants”.

That is, the solution requires the preposition “of” between the group noun and what the group noun is collecting, if you will.

I believe that the dropping of the preposition “of” in “a couple callers” is consistent with my “Devolution toward Simpler” linguistic hypothesis. It is simpler to not say or write the preposition “of” than to include it.

Solution:
“… a couple of callers …”