In my last column, I objected to an opinion columnist's use of the word "shambolic," when either "chaotic" or "disorganized" would not chase a reader to the dictionary.
In response, a high school teacher wrote: "I'm teaching the fundamentals of grammar to my 11th grade audience, and wow, is it rough. But what I notice most is that when I ask them to paraphrase a page of writing, they trot out words that don't fit at all but that 'make them seem smart.' I'm now a broken record — keep it simple. I love the fact that shambolic fits into that nicely. Can't wait to show them your column."
Here's another list of other readers' laments about misuses of language:
1. Don't write, "The reason why." "Why" is implicit in the word "reason."
2. Don't write "free reign," when it should be "free rein," as in giving a horse, or a person, free rein to do as they wish.
3. This one's "iffy." Which form is correct: "If I were going to the game," or "If I was going to the game"? Use "were" when the outcome of the thought is hypothetical, as in, "If I were going to the game, my team would probably lose." Use "was" in this way: "If I was mean to you, I apologize." In that case, the action was real, not imagined.
4. Other: Suppose 15 people were injured in a six-car crash. Eleven were treated at a hospital and released. Many people write, "The other four remain in critical condition." That means there's another group of four. There is not. Instead, write, "The four others . . ."
5. Good/well: "My daughter played good." No, she didn't; she played "well." She may grow up to do good in the community, meaning good things.
