I’ve wanted to do a Grammar Outs post that focused grammar mistakes made on TV Home shows for a long time. Finding time to actually watch the shows, however, has been a challenge. Then I realized that even quick channel surfing would allow me to out public grammar abusers.
“They have a 16-year-old son that needs his bedroom done,” explained the host of “Donna Decorates Dallas”. Another show–or maybe it was a commercial–announced, “I would love to meet the people that” … I couldn’t bear to listen to another word. Last I heard, people were, well, people not things. Even in Texas, when referring to people, you use the word who. Period.
Todd Davis, season two “Design Star” runner-up and host of new show Room Crashers has a sense of grammar that’s as out there as his design. “It was very unpersonal.” The word is impersonal, Todd.
In their “Modern Media Room” show, the “Room Crashers” crew tried to “create a very unique” space. The “Kitchen Cousins” cousins also built “something very unique” in their “Big Bad Built-In” show. I hope their decorating isn’t as redundant as their grammar. If something is unique, it’s one of a kind. Something can’t be very one of a kind. It either is or it isn’t.
“Design Star” David Bromstad is usually quite articulate. He slipped when he said, “They’ve both worked so hard and they both want it so bad.” Bad boy, David! They wanted it “badly.” Since the word “bad” is modifying the verb “want”, it’s an adverb. A tip: Adverbs generally end in “ly.” Another “Design Star” winner with her own show announced, “It’s really important that my style as a designer speaks really loud.” Ditto on the adverb front. Unless she wants her style to come off as uneducated, it needs to speak loudly.
I personally agree with your use of loudly, but I’ve been informed that both loud and loudly are correct as adverbs. My impression is that it is a question of style… is that true? I would say “out loud”, but I wouldn’t say “out loudly”…both are adverbs describing how someone might speak. What’s your take? Thanx.
Hi Josh,
Thanks for weighing in. I think you’re hit the nail on the head, although I don’t think it’s a matter of style but rather of good grammar. This falls into the “English is weird” category. You’re right that “loudly” is an adverb. “Loud”, however, is a adjective (which means it modifies nouns). The exception comes with “out loud”. In this case, the word “out” modifies “loud”, turning it into an adverbial phrase. Does that make sense? I hope so.
Cheers,
Linden