Strive Notes

The ‘number’ of mistakes I encounter relating to the bleedin’ apostrophe, for example, or the ‘amount’ of ignorance there is in the use of common English grammar, is a good sentence to illustrate the use of two words - ‘number’ and ‘amount’ - that are, so often, mixed up. ‘Number’ relates to specifics, ‘amount’ is a general reference.

This great number of mistakes prompted Paul Brians, English professor at Washington State University, to compile a whole book on the subject, the thick tome is entitled: ‘Common Errors in English Usage.’

Of all the mistakes that are made in the usage of English, one of the professor’s particular bugbears, (he said in an interview with Voice of America’s Wordmaster programme), is the inappropriate use of ‘at all’ at the end of a sentence. For example: ‘Do you want any help with that at all?’ The prof said when you stick ‘at all’ on the end of the sentence you are in fact suggesting you’re offering little help.

Personally, I use ‘at all’ frequently and mean it as a general offer of help suggesting: “I’ll offer in any way I can, but am not suggesting you can’t handle this by yourself.” The good news for me is, the prof says it’s more commonly used by young people … so it’s an indication of youth.

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