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Grammar Rules: How to Sound Smarter

Think you know how to talk real good? Test yourself: These grammar rules will surprise even the experts.

By Paul Silverman and Sarah Wharton from Reader's Digest Magazine

Grammar Rules: How to Sound SmarterIllustration by Timothy Goodman
SHADES OF MEANING

You might say: exuberant
You might mean: exorbitant
Why: While both mean “extreme,” the terms are often confused in relation to money. Exuberant refers to unrestrained enthusiasm or flamboyance; exorbitant means “exceeding an appropriate amount.” Another way to look at it: Exuberant use of a credit card leads to an exorbitant bill down the road.

You might say: come
You might mean: go
Why: Come refers to movement toward the speaker (Henri says, “Come to Paris!”); go denotes the opposite (After you’ve stayed two months, Henri says, “You should go”). But idiomatic use sometimes clouds this rule, as “I’ll come over” is more comprehensible than “I’ll go over.”

You might say: jealous
You might mean: envious
Why: Great grammarian Bryan Garner reminds us that “jealousy connotes feelings of resentment toward another, particularly in matters relating to an intimate relationship,” while “envy refers to covetousness of another’s advantages, possessions, or abilities.” So your ex is jealous of your new boyfriend but envious of your ability to use these two terms correctly.

For more ways to sound smarter and to get an animated version of this story, download the Reader’s Digest app for your iPad or Kindle Fire.

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Your Comments

  • Anonymous

    This is more about correct definitions than proper grammar. 

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/VV47LXLBMJIF4C4PCGDTREGYQQ Annie Ireland

    I must be getting extremely  long in the tooth.  I had a very basic education and grew up poor  but always knew the difference between subject and object pronouns.  It seems everyone, including supposedly very well-educated people,  consistently say things like John and me – and her- and him - went to the store – when they would never say me/her/him went to the store.   Something that has seemed to turn up in the last 20 years or so is a change in  when we would use the words “with” or  ”about”  for ”of” and “for”  - I’m bored of it , I’m excited for the concert.  And funner?  Missed the birth of that word completely. 

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/VV47LXLBMJIF4C4PCGDTREGYQQ Annie Ireland

    I must be getting extremely  long in the tooth.  I had a very basic education and grew up poor  but always knew the difference between subject and object pronouns.  It seems everyone, including supposedly very well-educated people,  consistently say things like John and me – and her- and him - went to the store – when they would never say me/her/him went to the store.   Something that has seemed to turn up in the last 20 years or so is a change in  when we would use the words “with” or  ”about”  for ”of” and “for”  - I’m bored of it , I’m excited for the concert.  And funner?  Missed the birth of that word completely. 

    • hockeyhouse

       Then you must not have had children.  ;o)  Funner is a word that most kids use until they learn proper grammar.  Apparently, many kids were never corrected.

    • Anonymous

       and they are lazier also

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/VV47LXLBMJIF4C4PCGDTREGYQQ Annie Ireland

    I must be getting extremely  long in the tooth.  I had a very basic education and grew up poor  but always knew the difference between subject and object pronouns.  It seems everyone, including supposedly very well-educated people,  consistently say things like John and me – and her- and him - went to the store – when they would never say me/her/him went to the store.   Something that has seemed to turn up in the last 20 years or so is a change in  when we would use the words “with” or  ”about”  for ”of” and “for”  - I’m bored of it , I’m excited for the concert.  And funner?  Missed the birth of that word completely. 

  • Priyanka

    Interesting . I have been breaking these rules every single day of my life . Good to know . 

    • Anonymous

       well stop being so lazy and uneducated-

  • Anonymous

    all the ghetto people on the court shows need to learn their grammar-they are so appalling and when they say “I axed someone”–it’s just deplorable

  • hummingbird

    I like to remind my grandchildren, when they improperly use “me and my friend” or “me and him”… went
    or did some activity, they are, not only using that phrase incorrectly, they are also, seemingly, putting themselves as “more important” than the other person.  They should always put their friend first!!  Then they would remember the correct phrase, “my friend and I” ……went or will go or want to …….whatever!  Remember, you would Never Say “me want  to go or do” something!

  • BalakrishnanGurumurti

    sound smarter is a lovely piece. speaking positively unscathed talking!

  • BalakrishnanGurumurti

    try to teach your children the positive strokes in language you speak generally,then their life well made out by you as a parent, as you carve their well measured fiture

  • http://twitter.com/LaylaChloesNana LaylaChloe’sNana

    “talk real good”???

    • http://twitter.com/LaylaChloesNana LaylaChloe’sNana

      Why: Come refers to movement toward the speaker (Henri says, “Come to Paris!”); go denotes the opposite (After you’ve stayed two months, Henri says, “You should go”). But idiomatic use sometimes clouds this rule, as “I’ll come over” is more comprehensible than “I’ll go over.”

      Actually, since it is “movement toward the speaker”, ‘I’ll come over’ seems to be the correct choice, if you are going over to where the speaker is. If you are talking about a different location, ‘I’ll go over’ seems the appropriate choice.