英语语法：11 Grammar Manners

Grammar Girl here.

Today's topic is how to correct other people's grammar.

Dr. David asked about how he can correct other people's grammar without losing friends or sounding like a snob¹. A couple of people, whom I won't name, asked how to deal with bad grammar in the workplace, for example, what to do when their boss butchers the English language. To me, these seem more like manners questions than grammar questions, so I have invited the host of Modern Manners Guy Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life to step in and provide an answer. Here's Mr. Manners:

Thanks, Grammar Girl!  It can be a delicate issue deciding when to correct someone’s grammar, so let’s start with a few basic principles.

If the person whom you wish to correct is your child, student, or employee, you should, of course, feel comfortable (if not obligated) to correct his or her grammar, providing you do it in a polite and constructive² manner. If the child, student, or employee is an adult, and it is outside of a classroom setting, you should also do so in private. In any other case, you must ask yourself if the person you wish to correct would actually like to be corrected. If the answer is “no,” then you should keep it to yourself. One exception to this is if you are putting together a work product, and there is a grammatical³ error that would make you or your company look bad.  In this case, you should just suggest the edit⁴ and your reasoning behind the correction and refrain⁵ from delivering a grammar lesson.

If you do wish to correct the grammar of someone whom you truly believe would welcome and appreciate the correction, then start by asking them if it is OK to offer a suggestion. You might say something like, “This is kind of a delicate issue, but I was wondering if it would be all right if I were to offer you a grammatical suggestion—you know I’m kind of a grammar nerd.”  This gives the person the opportunity to welcome your suggestion and not feel bad (as you have pointed⁶ out your unusual interest in grammar). And of course, be certain that you understand the specific grammatical rules and how to apply them before making a correction.

But again, if you are not sure the person would welcome the correction, then it is better to keep the issue to yourself.

A more subtle⁷ approach can be just using correct grammar yourself—not in a pedantic⁸ way but just as a good example. And of course you can always point them to the great new podcast you have discovered: Grammar Girl. Who knows? They might even end up a little more polite as well.

Thank you for listening to Modern Manners Guy's Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Polite Life. And thank you Grammar Girl.

Thank you, Mr. Manners! He gives such great advice; I know that I can always rely on him for a good solution when I have an etiquette⁹ problem. If you enjoyed his answer, you can subscribe¹⁰ to his show at iTunes by searching for “Modern Manners,” and you can also find his webpage at quickanddirtytips.com.

That's all.

Ralph M. from Coronado, California, is the winner in this week's book giveaway. He left a comment on the Grammar Girl blog, which entered him into the giveaway, and now he wins the final copy of Robbin Knapp's German English Words: A Popular Dictionary of German Words Used in English. Congratulations, Ralph, and please check your e-mail for instructions.

Also, I have a quick favor to ask. When I first started this podcast, people said that nobody would care about grammar, and even after it became popular, people asked me if I was sure listeners didn't think they were subscribing¹¹ to Glamor¹² Girl. Well, a website called digg.com just started a podcast directory¹³ where you can “digg,” or vote, for podcasts that you enjoy. Right now, 12 out of the top 15 podcasts in their directory are technology podcasts, and I would love to have Grammar Girl rank in the top 15 to show people that grammar really does matter! So if you want to help, the website to go to if you want to vote is digg.com (that's d-i-g-g with two g's), and I'll also put a link in the Grammar Girl blog at QuickAndDirtyTips.com so you can go directly to the Grammar Girl page at digg.com.

Thank you for listening. Please send questions and comments to... or use the voice-mail line at 206-338-GIRL (4475). And if you enjoyed Mr. Manners, don't forget to subscribe to his show

1 snob   

n.势利小人，自以为高雅、有学问的人

参考例句：

• Going to a private school had made her a snob.上私立学校后，她变得很势利。
• If you think that way, you are a snob already.如果你那样想的话，你已经是势利小人了。

2 constructive   

adj.建设的，建设性的

参考例句：

• We welcome constructive criticism.我们乐意接受有建设性的批评。
• He is beginning to deal with his anger in a constructive way.他开始用建设性的方法处理自己的怒气。

3 grammatical   

adj.语法的，符合语法规则的

参考例句：

• His composition is excellent except for some grammatical mistakes.他的作文写得很好，只有几处语法错误。
• He can barely form a grammatical sentence.他几乎造不出合乎语法的句子。

4 edit   

vt.编辑，校订，主编，编辑，剪辑（影片等）

参考例句：

• You'll have to edit that tape,it's too long.那盘录音带太长，你得把它剪辑一下。
• It is not yet decided who will edit it.由谁校订未决。

5 refrain   

n.重复，叠句，副歌；v.节制，避免，克制

参考例句：

• I made a terrific effort to refrain from tears.我狠着心把泪止住。
• They all sang the refrain.他们齐声合唱叠句。

6 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

7 subtle   

adj.难于觉察或描述的，精巧的

参考例句：

• Her whole attitude had undergone a subtle change.她的整个态度发生了微妙的变化。
• There's a subtle hint of garlic in the sauce.调味汁里稍微有一点蒜味。

8 pedantic   

adj.卖弄学问的；迂腐的

参考例句：

• He is learned,but neither stuffy nor pedantic.他很博学，但既不妄自尊大也不卖弄学问。
• Reading in a pedantic way may turn you into a bookworm or a bookcase,and has long been opposed.读死书会变成书呆子，甚至于成为书橱，早有人反对过了。

9 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

10 subscribe   

vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助

参考例句：

• I heartily subscribe to that sentiment.我十分赞同那个观点。
• The magazine is trying to get more readers to subscribe.该杂志正大力发展新订户。

11 subscribing   

v.捐助( subscribe的现在分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意

参考例句：

• I am subscribing for some of the books of a book club. 我预订了几本这家书刊俱乐部出版的书。 来自辞典例句
• I am glad to have such a pleasant opportunity of subscribing myself. 今后益望努力前途，为国效力。 来自互联网

12 glamor   

n.魅力，吸引力

参考例句：

• His performance fully displayed the infinite glamor of Chinese dance.他的表演充分展示了中华舞蹈的无穷魅力。
• The glamor of the East was brought to international prominence by the Russion national school.俄罗斯民族学派使东方的魅力产生了国际性的影响。

13 directory   

n.目录，工商名录，指南；n.目录

参考例句：

• Her name is listed in the telephone directory.她的名字被列在了电话号码簿上。
• You can check the directory near the elevator over there.您可以到电梯旁的指南上查找。