BETWEEN YOU AND I #1

                       bad

a little book of ^ english

James Cochran

Certain mistakes in English are so ingrained in the language that the author considers them LOST CAUSES - that is, there's no point in trying to correct the mistake - just live with it. Some examples:

1. Agenda - this is the plural form of agendum. Since no one has a list of just one thing to be done, this is a lost cause.

2. Bacteria - same problem. Bacteria is the plural of bacterium.

3. Between you and I - Between is a preposition and takes an object. Even people who are unaware of this basic rule would never think of saying "Between I and my wife," but have no problem with "Between my wife and I." This oddity presumably arises from a feeling of discomfort of using the word me, a sense that it is somehow impolite or "uneducated." Whatever the reason, this is such a major misapprehension, and such an egregious example of Bad English being used under the impression that it is somehow better than the English one would naturally speak or write, that we have used it for the title of this book. "Between you and I" is not a lost cause yet, but it could be, especially with the growing number of teachers and others who should know better making this mistake.

4. Criteria - Criteria is the plural of criterion. Even many educated people use the plural when, if only one principle or standard is being considered, the singular criterion would be the correct choice. Also approaching lost cause status.

5. Gerund - The gerund is certainly a lost cause, at least in the sense that very few people nowadays know what a gerund is, yet it survives in use, although largely unrecognized. The gerund is derived from a verb, usually by adding the suffix ing. Although remaining a verb, it acts in some respects as if it were a noun. The gerund is always preceded by the possessive form. Some examples: "We were surprised at their remaining so calm." "She was distressed at his leaving so suddenly." "I was surprised at its being so easy to do." It would be wrong to say, "We were surprised at them remaining so calm." 

6. Graffiti - Not many people, it seems, know that the word graffiti is the plural of graffito.Graffiti should therefore be used with a plural verb ("Those graffiti are disgusting.") Conversely, a single spray-painted slogan should be termed a graffito (That graffito is disgusting."). This distinction is rarely made, even by educated speakers and writers, and is considered a lost cause.