Usage Part III: Miscellaneous II
Here are more misc things to look out for. Even I would argue that some of the incorrect sentences sound correct or natural (sometimes even more so than the proper or correct ones!), but I am not a professional grammarian, so I don’t get to make the rules :(
I. Amount vs Number
The rule here is similar for less vs fewer: if it can be counted, use number. If it is a mass noun, use amount.
Decide which one to use:
1. The amount/number of dogs at the park was insane!
2. The amount/number of water damage is very low.
II. Between vs Among
Another simple rule: you choose between two things, and among three or more things.
1. If she had to pick her favorite music genre, it’d be between pop punk and k-pop.
2. Among all the applicants, Angela stood out as the most qualified.
III. Indefinite Pronouns
This was probably the hardest pill for me to swallow. In my everyday speech, I tend to use the incorrect form! But I’ll teach you the correct way to use these words.
There are some pronouns that take singular verbs no matter what. These are: each, every(one/body), any(one/body), one, someone/body (and probably a few more). So, even if some of it may sound incorrect, their verbs are always singular!
1. Each of the animals has its role in the ecosystem.
2. Is anybody home?
None has become the exception: using it with a plural verb has become so commonplace that grammarians are beginning to accept it as correct.
1. None of them are going to be late to the meeting.
IV. Either _ or _
Either, neither, nor, or, but, are words that are exceptions to the above rule in a different way from none.
For these, the subject closer to the verb decides whether it is singular or plural. It’s easier to see than to explain.
Decide if the verb should be plural or singular.
1. Neither Rebecca nor her friends is/are lying to you.
2. Either Garret or they goes/go!
V. I vs Me
People often over-correct and use “I” in sentences where it really isn’t needed. Sometimes, it’s perfectly fine to use “and me”!
Subjective pronouns cause the action in a sentence, and objective pronouns receive them. I is a subjective pronoun (and so are: you, he/she/it, we, they) and me is an objective pronoun (and so are: you, him/her/it, us, them). Also, prepositions (e.g. on, in, near, from) take objective pronouns.
Long story short: When causing action or doing something, use “I,” when receiving action, or when being used with a preposition, use “me.”
What’s the correct pronoun to use?
1. He invited Andy and I/me to his birthday party.
2. My dog and I/me are very excited to go swimming.
Also important to note is that “between you and me” is perfectly grammatical! Between is a preposition, so we the objective pronoun, though “between us” is also acceptable and probably sounds less clunky.
















