We have reached the end of the road, for some at least. The final episode of A Murder of Mistakes is upon us and I hope you have enjoyed unravelling the story as much as the grammar.

We conclude by focusing on the usage of the semicolon. It is oft misunderstood, more often misused, or simply not used at all. After this finale, you shall know how to wield it with absolute ease.

As Professor Merriweather elegantly put it, the semicolon is “half-stop, half-trumpet”, which is a fitting end to such a case. The semicolon: neither a comma nor a full stop, but a measured pause in the conversation.

Who knows? We may see some of these suspicious characters again.

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We have reached the penultimate episode of A Murder of Mistakes. However well the suspects have conducted themselves, masks have certainly slipped—as has grammar. No one’s alibi is watertight, and some did not live to see the end; nevertheless, everyone remains a suspect.

In today’s episode, we look at the use of however and nevertheless. While many writers treat them as identical twins, they are actually just cousins. They both signal a shift in thought, but they do entirely different jobs in a sentence.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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Understanding can come slowly and laboriously after painstaking time spent working something out. Whereas realisation usually comes thick and fast, rather like an epiphany.

The difference between these verbs boils down to action versus possession. Are you actively trying to solve a puzzle, or do you already hold the knowledge in your head?

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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We have a strange case of “like-itis” in contemporary society. The word has evolved to become as useful as a Swiss Army knife, pervading our everyday speech with such ease that even the most sophisticated amongst us cannot escape its influence.

While “like” serves many functions, today’s lesson focuses solely on its use as a preposition meaning “similar to”, being distinct from “such as”.

Whether one likes it or not, “like” is here to stay; however, should one wish to add a little distinction to your expression, read on.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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Today’s lesson is a perennial headache of grammatical confusion. It is ‘lie’ or ‘lay’? The difference depends entirely on whether there is an object (a thing being acted upon).

To untangle this mystery, we must interrogate their usage.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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These two words (or three, if you are being pedantic) still give me pause for thought. One hopes that today’s lesson will shed enough light to dispel any further confusion.

Are we all together ready? Very well, do carry on!

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

P.S. The subtitles may be helpful for this one.

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Has a witting suspect finally been caught in a grammatical trap of their own making? Or do they possess enough education to evade sentencing?

The lawyers amongst us surely know the power of words and the importance of their placement.

However, as with any language, there is a large degree of ambiguity one can leverage to their advantage.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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Today we have an exquisite look at a particular grammar issue (i.e., the misuse of i.e. and e.g.). While e.g. is generally used with aplomb, i.e. can certainly cause some… issues.

May this lesson serve to clarify their usage and sharpen your prose.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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We are now entering the fourth and final act of A Murder of Mistakes.

Please take today’s lesson with a large pinch of salt. For this is more a question of style than of strict grammar agreements.

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Ah, the art of apologising. While actions always speak louder than words, the right words in the right order can go a long way to making amends.

Apologise, excuse, and sorry all share similar undertones, yet each one’s usage is unique. Of course, this wouldn’t be English if we didn’t add a little confusion to the mix with the combination: ‘sorry excuse’.

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By the end of today’s lesson you shall have mastered the subtle differences between these two prepositional phrases. At the end of the publication you will find your quiz, and in the end, you will be all the more accurate for it.

Yours sincerely,
Thomas

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In English, the difference between Find, Find Out, Discover, and Search comes down to the process versus the result.

Each one has their individual nuances and characteristics. A brief look at their etymologies may aid you in today’s lesson:

1. Search

• Meaning: To examine carefully and in detail.

• Etymology: Dates to around 1300 from Old French cerchier (Modern French chercher). This ultimately derives from the Latin circare, meaning “to go about or wander”, which comes from circus (meaning a circle).

2. Find

• Meaning: To come upon or meet with something.

• Etymology: A native Germanic word originating from the Old English findan. This traces back to the Proto-Germanic findan (originally meaning “to come upon”), which relates to ancient Indo-European roots meaning to go, pass, or find a path.

3. Find Out

• Meaning: To learn something or reveal information through inquiry, asking, or testing.

• Etymology: A phrasal verb developed in English by combining the native root find with the directional particle out (which comes from the Old English ute) to emphasise pulling information to the surface.

4. Discover

• Meaning: To obtain knowledge of for the first time, or to unearth something that already exists but was previously hidden.

• Etymology: Enters Middle English around 1300 from Old French descovrir. This is built from the Latin prefix dis- (the opposite of) and cooperire (meaning to cover up).

Search carefully, find everything, discover the answers.

Yours faithfully,
Thomas

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Dearest member,

We have safely passed the threshold of the twentieth episode in A Murder of Mistakes. Whether you have been here since the beginning or have just joined, this quarterly review quiz is …

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The confusion between Expect, Wait, and Await usually stems from translating directly from other languages where one verb covers all three meanings. In English, they are distinct actions involving the mind, the body, and the clock.

Let us not dilly-dally any longer, for the answers to their usages awaits!

Yours faithfully,
Thomas

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In English, Fit, Match, and Suit all relate to how things go together, but they focus on completely different criteria: Dimensions, Aesthetics, and Appropriateness.

These three verbs are easily confused because in many languages, a single verb covers all three meanings.

If grammar precision be the food of love, read on dear reader.

Yours faithfully,
Thomas

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Ever, Never, and Always are adverbs of frequency that tell us how often something happens. In British English, their position in the sentence is crucial, and their meaning shifts slightly depending on the context.

Yours ever faithfully,
Thomas

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The distinction between Fun and Funny often trips up non-native speakers (and the occasional native speaker in high-pressure situations). While they relate to positive feelings or amusement, they function differently grammatically and semantically.

When we use ‘funny’, we can mean ‘funny haha’ or ‘funny peculiar’. To confuse the two can make one appear sociopathic, or cold-hearted. Enjoy guessing the various meanings of ‘funny’ in today’s quiz.

Yours faithfully,
Thomas

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Borrow and lend may seem straightforward at first blush, but just like make and do, bring and take, they have their nuances.

These words are commonly confused because they describe the same temporary transfer of ownership from two opposite perspectives—giving versus taking. The confusion is exacerbated by influence from other languages that use a single word for both, and the fact that “borrow” is often used incorrectly to mean “lend” in colloquial speech (e.g., “borrow me a pen”).

May this lesson lend you a hand in your pursuit of mastering them.

Yours faithfully,
Thomas

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Bring, take, and fetch may already feel perfectly, or intuitively logical to you; however, I assure you there is some nuance to be discovered because the appropriate word hinges on a question of perspective.

Consider these two scenarios:

Scenario 1. Both people are in the sitting room.

A: Where are you going?
B: To the kitchen?
A: Can you bring/fetch/get me some water?

Scenario 2. One person is already in the kitchen; the asker calls out from the sitting room.

A: Are you in the kitchen?
B: Yes
A: Can you bring/fetch/get me some water?

How would you answer in such scenarios? You may try your hand in today’s quiz.

Yours faithfully,
Thomas

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