Try to or try and?

Should we write ‘try to’ or ‘try and’? Or are both equally OK? Look at these examples:

YY U R YY U B I C U R YY 4 ME

The death of the English language (and civilization generally) due to the proliferation of text language is regularly reported, but along with Mark Twain’s demise, this is surely an exaggeration. First of all, it’s nothing new and did not arrive with the computer age. For example, the convention of writing ‘SWALK’ (Sealed with a loving kiss) at the end of love letters or on Valentine cards has been around for decades and I can remember that children’s comics and annuals in the 1960s regularly included teasers such as the heading of this post (Too wise you are too wise you be I see you are too wise for me). Interpreting ‘C’ as ‘see’ didn’t exactly boil my brain as a child or render me incapable of learning how to read and write properly.

Double negatives

Double negatives cause some people palpitations because, strictly speaking, they mean the exact opposite of what is intended. However, after noting that double negatives of this type should obviously be avoided when speaking formally and in all but the most casual writing, we can then get off our grammatical high horses and relax a little.

Different from, to, or than?

This bicycle is different from any other. Or should that be 'different to'? Or even, 'different than'? Well, this may raise a few hackles because all three are apparently fine. See AskOxford.

Off of or off?

Look at the following sentences: I picked it up off of the floor I picked it up off the floor Which is correct?

Technical stuff – part 11: adjectives (ungradable)

Most adjectives can show a difference in degree. For example, 'hot', 'hotter' and 'hottest'. However, some adjectives cannot show this difference in degree. For example, you can be 'dead', but you cannot be 'deader/more dead' or 'deadest/most dead'.

Quotation marks #2

You may wish to break up your quote into smaller chunks. For example, look at the following: She said: "The train is coming, but I think I may change my mind and go home instead."