Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

I have never been clear when to use ‘are’ or ‘is’. Here is a sample sentence:

The first attachment is an overview of the assignment and the second attachment are or is the questions she will want to ask you.

--Becky

A:

Dear Becky,

This one is tricky...

The subject is singular, because it is one attachment; however, the attachment is a container that holds questions, which we learn from the direct object (questions).

Breaking this down, the sentence is "The attachment is questions".

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,
What is the correct way to say this?

When playing cards:

1. Hearts are trump.

2. Hearts is trump.

--Keith

A:

Dear Keith,

This is not clear cut, and it brings into play the concept of collectives.

A collective is a group of things that act as individuals, like a flock of geese or a pack of dogs. Collectives use the singular, even though there may be a number of individuals in the group.

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

We are writing a marketing piece in which the tag line reads "Consistently delivering the promise to our customers". Would this be acceptable or should it read "Consistently delivering on the promise to our customers"?

Many thanks for your assistance.

--Stephen

A:

Dear Stephen,

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

Do I need a comma in the following: Orders of $100. 00 or more are free. Shipping is free on orders of $100. or more. How should it be stated?

--Patricia

A:

Dear Patricia,

When writing ad copy, you have quite a bit of leeway. Generally, aesthetics take precedent over grammar.

Here's what I like:

Free shipping on orders of $100 or more –if it's called out, like in a heading or balloon
Shipping is free on orders of $100 or more. –if it's in the run of text, like in a paragraph

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

John and I or John and me. Which is correct?

Mary

A:

Dear Mary,

This depends on the situation, and what part of speech the phrase takes. If the word is the subject of the sentence or phrase, use "I". If the word is the direct object of the sentence or phrase, use "me". If you're confused by the compound (having two names), simply take one away.

Examples:

John and I went to the movies. -- I is part of the compound subject. It would be "I went to the movies" without the compound.

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

We have been asking this questions, but receive several different answers.
What is the correct spelling for: Veterans Memorial Park
or
Veteran's Memorial Park
or
Veterans' Memorial Park

It is for a park sign in our village

--Linda

A:

Dear Linda,

This is a matter of some debate.

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

I need proper use of "this" or "next" in a sentence. Example. If today is Sunday and I am referring to Tuesday (two days from now), is it - this Tuesday, or next Tuesday. My daughter says that next Tuesday is actually one week from the up coming Tuesday. I say that next Tuesday means the one coming in 2 days, since it is "next". Thank you for your help. Kathy

--Kathy

A:

Dear David,

"This" would be the first available, while "next" is the one immediately after that.

So, in your example, it's "this Tuesday".

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

Is it proper to write August 1st on a letter, or should it be August 1?

--Robin

A:

Dear Robin,

It would depend on the context, but in most writing, both the Chicago Manual of Style and the MLA Stle Guide prefer cardinal (one, two, three) over ordinal (first, second, third) numbers.

That is, use August 1, 2007 or 1 August 2007 in most writing.

Hope this helps!

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

The sentence is "...Thank you for your continuing support." One person

thinks it should read "thank you for your continued support." Please

let us know which is correct. Thank you.

—Anita

A:

Dear Anita,

Your examples use some unusual tenses ('aspects' as some might say), that is, it's not the usual 'present','past perfect','future', etc.

"Thank you for your continuing support" is in the present continuous tense, which is something that is ongoing, and it is happening right now.

Q:

Dear Grammer Cop,

We have some disagreement in our office on how to correctly write a name suffix such as "Jr." or "IV" when the last name gets listed first (i.e., Doe, John). If John Doe is a Jr., should the correct listing be "Doe, John Jr. or Doe, Jr., John?

Thank you for your assistance!

Jean

A:

Dear Jean,