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The word rather is common in everyday situations, having several meanings and applications that native English speakers take for granted. In writing, however, using rather causes some concern because of uncertainty regarding the placement of associated commas. The main thing to remember is that “rather” almost never takes a comma, but when it does, the comma is most often one of a pair that serves to set something apart and make it nonessential (hence, parenthetical) to the core meaning of the sentence. Finding rather attached to a single comma is rather rare.
When rather's not essential,
Two commas separate it;
And comma unilateral
Is never there permitted.
It's parenthetically
Diverting us with data
That's not required really,
A smoothish operator.
“One doesn't wish to linger
But, rather, keep on going.
The time to rest is yonder
When past the area daring.”
A single comma seldom
With safety is abounding,
And “rather” feels more winsome
With commas—two—attending.
So, “rather,” almost certain,
Eschews a single comma,
Unless conjunctive curtain
It hangs before the comma.
In being conjunctive adverb,
Connective function serving,
It joins two parts that contrast
Across a stop or such thing;
A semicolon often,
The bridge for many takers,
To “rather” then will shunt them,
Suggesting comma spacer.
“Let's not hold on to doubting
Forever; rather, let us
Advance with faith, asserting
That grace removes all onus.”
But when a simple adverb,
With meaning only “fairly,”
Or when it tells of preference,
Degree, or if exactly,
Or “rather than“ in complex
(With words between or after),
No comma leads and ushers
That “rather” in its barter.
“I'd rather peel an apple
Than juice a yellow lemon;
Get flavor rather subtle,
Not rather tempt a demon.”
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Frequently misused is the adverb awhile, being confused with the noun while. There's also the conjunction while, which can mean either “at the same time” (somewhat akin to simultaneously) or “whereas.”
A while ago, I stopped awhile
To while away the day.
And then at rest, 'twas but a while,
A smile had come to stay.
Another “while,” conjunction style,
Not adverb, noun, or verb,
Doth neither calm nor tend to rile,
Though joining two in blurb.
When simultaneous those it pairs,
No need for comma “while.”
But if “whereas” instead it bears,
Then pause for single file.
“All cats and dogs have usual beats
While both will also prowl.
A cat may arch and hiss through teeth,
While dogs will bark and growl.”
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When considering whether “sometime” would be the proper choice relative to “some time” in a sentence, the most helpful hint comes from asking yourself if, in the sense of what’s being said, it could be replaced correctly by “someday.” Meanwhile, not only is there a second meaning of “sometime” to keep in mind, but there's also the other word “sometimes,” with an entirely different definition.
The “sometime” word has faces two
That tell of meaning dual;
Most often looking like “someday”
But “former,” too, to fool.
Yet “sometimes” comes along with “s,”
Expressing “now and then”;
“Occasionally” doth it mean,
That further stroke of pen.
And, next, “some time” we have to meet,
To question where it stands.
A “span of time,” to thwart defeat,
Its meaning for all fans.
So, two words make this one distinct,
An aid for weary minds
That wish for something more succinct,
A verse combining kinds:
If only we'd take some time to play,
Like sometime kids we were,
Then sometimes work we'd happy pay
To sometime life defer.
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Two interesting words that we take for granted in the English language are “onto” and “into.” Like “to,” they are both prepositions, created akin by combination with that other preposition. But they each have an adverbial portion as well, and that's where the fun begins:
“Onto” and “into” of prepositions are,
Pointing us forward while standing before.
Signs at the crossroads of grammar and tar,
Granted the basics of “on,” “in,” at core.
“On” as an adverb is separate from “to,”
Keeping its distance like “in” does at times.
Both near the “to” may shift backward the view,
Favoring the verb as the focus sometimes.
Joined up instead with their oneness declared,
“Onto” and “into” must look forward true.
Split, though, that view may no longer be shared,
Weightier allegiance to verb could be due.
“On” in the context of pointing ahead
Offers up “onto” and “on to” as well.
Free of direction, like lying on bed,
“On” itself offers, however you tell.
Think of that place that sells pastries and more;
People did see you as there you got nigh.
Driven by purpose, you strode “in to” store,
Eyes bright and shining and fixed “onto” pie.
How you went “in” there of interest was more,
Emphasis subtle but backward from “in.”
Testing the “on” when already through door,
Featured a future of gustatory sin.
“On to” was option since offering up both
Rear-facing adverb and front-looking prep.
Lacking resourcefulness, others may loathe,
Wish for this “on to” a desperate misstep.
Whether with “on to” or “onto” one goes,
Often is doubtful, the factors not strong.
Govern decisions with study that shows
Which is the word that would most there belong.
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When the word staff refers to a group, the word for more than one such group—plural—is staffs. However, each staff may have multiple members, and those members are called staff—the plural—rather than staffs. Just as curious, perhaps, is the British tendency to not have the verb agree with the singular subject staff when it signifies a group. In the following illustration, the American perspective comes first:
While staffing here, across the pond,
The staff was clearly seen as one.
Returning home, despite such bond,
The tone was that of separation.
The staff were welcomed home with cheer,
Reception steeped in beer and rum.
Where’er such staffs may find their fare,
Their worth is greater than their sum.
When the word staff refers to a group, the word for more than one such group—plural—is staffs. However, each staff may have multiple members, and those members are called staff—the plural—rather than staffs. Just as curious, perhaps, is the British tendency to not have the verb agree with the singular subject staff when it signifies a group. In the following illustration, the American perspective comes first:
While staffing here, across the pond,
The staff was clearly seen as one.
Returning home, despite such bond,
The tone was that of separation.
The staff were welcomed home with cheer,
Reception steeped in beer and rum.
Where’er such staffs may find their fare,
Their worth is greater than their sum.
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Homophones are words that are pronounced the same while differing in derivation, meaning, or spelling. They belong to the larger group of homonyms, some pairs of which have both pronunciation and spelling in common.
Two homophones will speak alike,
To qualify as homonyms.
Some words may simply dress as twins--
Let people hail them “homonyms.”
These quiet ones are “heteronyms,”
Not speaking up or sharing laughs.
They may indulge in similar trims,
And even pose with matching scarves.
Some homonyms share sound and look
And mirror clear for eye and ear.
'Tis meaning where these words unhook,
Still homophones to those who hear.
Thus pike are fish not fished with pike;
No seed you sow will grow to sow;
Beware the bear that's bare of hair;
Mistake it not for milking cow.
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Antibiotic resistance often occurs when populations of bacteria change enough to resist previously effective antibiotics. Using antibiotics unwisely or too frequently can cause the issue. And people who insist on trying this type of medicine to treat their viral illnesses are courting disaster:
So wondrous the promise of medical advances
That salve the ills of everyday man,
We grasp with hope beyond all chances
At last a glimpse of panacea land.
And so it's been with antibiotics,
Which now too often taken are.
Spectacular success against bacteria
Must surely mean that none shall bar.
Yet viruses block these perfect marvels
Of modern treatment proudly shared.
Like magical shield that shifts and baffles,
They dazzle the foe as long as dared.
The same is true with illnesses viral,
Like common colds and runny nose,
And sore throat standard, not streptococcal,
Most coughs, most flu, including flows.
To antibiotics, this war is loathsome,
Collateral damage their only whip.
They clear away bacteria welcome,
Leave space for others, re-equip.
The virus runs its course no matter,
Bacteria—only the fittest survive.
Bacterial resistance advances, gets fatter,
If antibiotic misusage we drive.
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Italicized text with its quick-looking forward slant came into use more recently than quotation marks, which were ancient by comparison. Based on CMOS guidelines, one way to think of italicization of titles is as follows:
Periodicals, books, not chapters,
Take speedy new italics.
Play titles, too, are faster,
But shorter poems get relics.
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Transforming words that split in two
Change form and meaning both.
For “anytime,” like “anyway,”
Divorce doth break an oath.
Though “anytime” “whenever” means,
Its parts may speak amount.
And “anyway” (“in any case”)
To “any means” can bound.
And “anymore” may stretch apart,
Not “any longer” claim,
Since “any more” relates to plus,
Which cannot be the same.
Though “maybe” into “may be” shifts,
Some pairs are always one.
“Whereas,” “wherever,” and “someday”
Have parts that never run.
But “every time” no knot will tie,
While “everyday” may stray
To join the group of “everything,”
In larger games to play.
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There's a certain delight in having words like “who” and “whom” in the English language. Maybe it’s the same charm that comes with fraternal twins!
Words “who” and “whom” are pronouns both
That dress alike apart from hem.
Yet clothing fails to tell us who
Hath right of place when phrases stem.
One serves as subject, acting out,
The other, object—acted on.
Think “who” might shout and dash about
Regardless “whom” imposed upon.
To know if subject pronoun is,
Try “he” or “she” to substitute.
Its nature true may object be
If “him” or “her” doth better suit.
Though language changes over time
And fashion cycles ever more,
The hem of “whom” remains the same
While “who” encroaches more to score.