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Month: December 2012

ChanteSez … Joint ownership works

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‘Tis the season for parties and get-togethers, often thrown by lovely couples, friendly neighbors and office departments.

So how do you indicate that multiple people are throwing a party? Or in other words, how do you show that two people own something together (and not individually)?

You treat the parties throwing the party as a single unit. That means using a single possessive apostrophe before the last person’s name.

Here are some examples:

  • I had such a good time and Kim and Duane’s annual Ugly Christmas Sweater and Cookie Swap Party!
  • I wish that I’d been given a heads up about Jon and Lilly’s party so that I had time to buy a gift for the hosts.
  • The Editorial and Layout departments’ party is happening next week.

Remember, this rule applies for any situation where two or more people “own” something together.

  • The trip is to visit his mother and uncle’s house.
  • The socks are Keith and Kweli’s.
  • The apartment is Wes, Nick and Robert’s.

ChanteSez … Sometimes less is more

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Sometimes less is more. I’ll have to keep that in mind when I’m crafting my Christmas shopping list this year! It’s easy to get carried away when I think about how much I love my family and friends. Getting them gifts is a way to acknowledge how much they mean to me, right? Well, I may just have to show them more in terms of my time and love instead!

On to today’s tip.

Use “fewer” when referencing things — as in individual items — you can actually count. Think about things you can pick up and hold in your hand. If you can “view” it, use “few” (as in “fewer”).

  • The house needs tidying. She needs fewer knickknacks.
  • He should smoke fewer cigarettes.

Use “less” when referencing uncountable amounts, intangibles, or items that can’t be individually counted.

  • In less than three weeks, he’d made significant progress.
  • You’ll need less tape to wrap the gift properly.
  • I’ll have one less habit going into 2013. (I suppose you could count a person’s habits, but generally that’s an uncountable thing.)

ChanteSez … Don’t forget your brand

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Tuesday is my neighborhood trash pick-up day. I forgot to move my bin to the curb. … I almost forgot to post today’s ChanteSez Tip of the Day, too.

So, speaking of trash, did you know there’s a difference between “trash bin” and “Dumpster”? That difference is trademark.

Dumpster is capitalized since it is a trademarked brand. The rule is to use the trademarked brand only if it’s essential to your story, or if you’re aiming to add a detail that gives color to your piece. Otherwise, try to use a generic alternative.

Here are a few others:

  • AstroTurf
  • Velcro
  • Thermos (if you’re referring to the particular brand name)
  • Clorox
  • Jet Ski