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Asiasiasi Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Style vs. grammar

Style vs. grammar is of course a very broad issue, but I hope that some experienced writers and teachers will be willing to help me with one specific issue.

I'm writing something and deliberating if it would be acceptable to write the following phrase:

1. words are living, breathing thing

Now , I know that this phrase is grammatically incorrect and it should be written:

2. words are living, breathing things

Nonetheless, I want to use #1 since I feel that it has more impact and comes across more clearly.

What shall I do? And to what extent it is acceptable to bend grammar rules in order to accommodate style in formal, professional and academic context?
  

Top answer

asiasiasi - 1. W ords are a living, breathing thing . 2.

— CalifJim

  • asiasiasi - 1.
  • W ords are a living, breathing thing .
  • 2.
  • W ords are living, breathing things .
  • You can bend the language as far as example 1 (as corrected by the addition of "a"), but you can't bend it as far as example 1 as you have written it.
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6 Answers
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asiasiasi-
1. Words are a living, breathing thing. ...
2. Words are living, breathing things.
You can bend the language as far as example
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Yes, of course, #1 was a typo.

What I meant to write was exactly: Words are a living, berthing thing.

Can you please explain how does that work!

I was under the impression that since the verb is plural are the noun thing should also be plural things.

Thanks!
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asiasiasiWords are a living, berthing thing.
I suppose a berthing thing is a thing that sleeps in a berth.
You mean "breathing", of course.
asiasiasiI was under the impression that since the verb is plural are the noun thing should also be plural things.
Yes. But you can't have it both ways. You say you want to bend t
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Thanks! I get your point! Very helpful!

Sorry for the typos, I should pay attention to what I write.

I have two more questions if you are willing to help. They are both related to my first post.

1. When you use a string of adjectives, as in:

words are living, breathing thing.

Is the comma optional or mandatory?

Can I write: words are
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asiasiasi1. When you use a string of adjectives, as in:words are living, breathing thing.Is the comma optional or mandatory?
It's mandatory for formal writing, but people often leave out the comma if there are just two short adjectives.
a big bad dog.
asiasiasi2. And also what of the these two is correct:

to accommod
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