Here is today's tip to keep you from sounding like a moron: Learn the difference between "bad" and "badly." There is a moment in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that I especially appreciate (that whole film is wonderful), a moment that perfectly illustrates the difference. When I saw this movie in the theatre, I couldn't help but applaud when Harmony (Michelle Monaghan) corrects Harry (Robert Downey Jr.) after Harry says, "I feel badly." "Bad," Harmony says. She explains: "'Badly' is an adverb, so to say you feel badly would be saying that the mechanism which allows you to feel is broken." Harry doesn't quite learn the distinction, and later makes a mistake when talking with Perry (Val Kilmer). And Perry corrects him. "Who taught you grammar? Get out. Vanish." Perhaps that should be our response when anyone makes this mistake.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment