Q. Recently a fellow editor and I had a discussion on the use of “whether or not” and when the “or not” is needed. I have always followed what’s stated in CMOS 5.250: “The ‘or not’ is necessary only when you mean to convey the idea ‘regardless of whether.’ ” Is the “or not” necessary in a construction like this, even if there are two alternatives? “You will need to plan, whether or not you have an existing design or you are starting from scratch.”
A. Sometimes “or not” is unnecessary, but if it does no harm and the writer likes it, it’s not wrong to leave it there: Let me know whether or not you are coming or Let me know whether you are coming. If the “or not” turns the sentence into a confusing mess, however, as it does in your sentence, and if deleting it will render the sentence crystal clear, then delete it.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. My boss likes to dictate letters using what I refer to as declarative or emphatic speech: “She did go to the store and she did buy that hat. I did tell her that it was a lovely hat.” I have never seen text typed in this manner and generally edit it to “She went to the store and bought that hat. I told her that it was a lovely hat.” Which is correct?
A. There’s nothing incorrect about your boss’s construction, but even perfect grammar can be distracting and annoying. I’ve noticed this usage particularly in flight-attendant speech. (“We do expect to be landing shortly.” “We do ask you to return your seat to its upright position.”) You should feel confident editing out the extraneous emphasis.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. When did calendar come into common US use as a verb? I always find it difficult to obey when asked to calendar an upcoming meeting, because I hear calender (comes from cylinder), the act of moving paper between two rollers to smooth its surface.
A. It’s possible you aren’t the only person who, when faced with an upcoming meeting, imagines smashing the agenda to bits, but I’m guessing that among US workers calendar is far more familiar than calender. Merriam-Webster tells us that calendar has been a transitive verb since the fifteenth century—plenty of time for it to catch on in the States. A superficial search of the verb forms calendared and calendaring at Google Books’ Ngram Viewer shows their usage in American English beginning in the early nineteenth century.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I’ve been coming across this construction using the verb help: helping our patients be home for the holidays; knowing that we have helped so many people be home for the holidays. I recognize the usage; it’s common in my region. But I’ve been recommending to be home as the grammatically unimpeachable (and to my ear better) choice. I haven’t found a discussion of the matter anywhere. I would appreciate a recommendation.
A. The omission of to in constructions with help is also unimpeachable. In fact, often the addition of to would impart an unreasonably stilted or formal tone: Let me help you to reach that. Please take a look at CMOS 5.106.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Is it proper writing to start a sentence using a coordinating conjunction in a quotation? “Her dress is ugly,” said Jane. “But please don’t tell her I said that.”
A. Of course—as long as it reflects the intention of the writer. Your construction indicates a firm pause in Jane’s speech, with the effect that the second half reads like an afterthought. Using a comma and lowercasing “but” could leave open the possibility that Jane spoke without a significant pause, in which case the second half would come across as Jane’s main point: “Her dress is ugly,” said Jane, “but please don’t tell her I said that.”
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I was taught that one cannot have a “first annual” of anything—that “inaugural” or “first-ever” were the appropriate terms. Lately, though, I have seen some college websites indicating that “first annual” is now acceptable. What is the CMOS ruling?
A. Your view is a popular one, but in referring to the first of many annual events, neither “inaugural” nor “first-ever” conveys clearly to the reader that it wasn’t the last. Surely “first annual” can refer to the first occurrence of what has since become an annual event. Although it doesn’t make much sense to use “first annual” to describe an event before the second annual one has taken place, banning the phrase altogether seems extreme.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. An author insists that superlatives must always be preceded by the because there is only one thing that can be the most or best of something. I think that rule is bogus. For example, “The weather is hottest in July” seems grammatical and much more natural than “The weather is the hottest in July.” Am I wrong, or is this just another zombie rule?
A. Zombie rule. You can see at CMOS 5.164 that most of the examples omit the. If you are pressed on it, ask your writer to provide an authoritative source for his rule.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. I would like to ask about negation. If I would like to say “Neither A, B, nor C is D,” is it also grammatically correct to write “A, B, and C are not D”?
A. Both are grammatically correct (though sticklers may insist that either-or and neither-nor can be used only with pairs), but the second version is slightly ambiguous, since it may be taken to mean either “A is not D; B is not D; and C is not D” or “A + B + C does not equal D.” It’s good to remember that even nonsense can be grammatically correct.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. In an academic manuscript for journal submission, we contrast those who pursue deep and narrow expertise with those with the breadth and reputation of a Renaissance man. How can we best use “Renaissance man” without being sexist and without using quotation marks, which feels amateurish. Thank you very much.
A. It’s too bad that this perfect phrase is undeniably sexist. If you use it only once, you could either write “Renaissance man or woman” or gloss the phrase with a semi-apology (“what we used to call a Renaissance man”). If it’s going to keep cropping up, you would do better to find your own expression. “Renaissance mind”?
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]
Q. Can you please explain how active and passive voice works. I am editing a technical document and I’d like to know how to better handle changing passive voice into active voice. Many thanks for your help!
A. Please see CMOS 5.118 for a very basic description of active and passive. There are also many online discussions and explanations: to find them type “active versus passive” into your search engine. Here is an elementary discussion from Purdue University; for more depth (and a great deal of amusement), here is a list of Language Log posts on the subject. Although it’s good to avoid excessive use of the passive voice, and it’s especially important to avoid using it to hide who has done something (“Lies were told”), the best writing usually involves regular use of the passive, and it would be a mistake to root it out as a policy.
[This answer relies on the 17th edition of CMOS (2017) unless otherwise noted.]