Is the CDC singular? and other questions
Sep 3rd, 2008 | By John Roach | Category: Big PictureHere are a list of frequently asked questions at Prowritingtips.com and, conveniently, their corresponding answers.
- Is CDC singular or plural?
- What is the rule for fixing misplaced modifiers?
- How can you develop effective transitions in your writing?
- Do I use a hyphen with “well”?
- Does anyone actually use the en dash?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, is singular. Don’t let the fact that many people work in many centers at the CDC throw you off: In American English, any group or organization is a singular noun, even if it the words themselves are plural.
With any rule comes with an exception — sports teams are often referred to as plurals. Go figure.
Misplaced modifiers are fixed by moving the modifier right next to the word being modified.
Sitting on the couch, the TV is too far away to see.
Either you need to see an optometrist or the TV isn’t actually sitting on the couch.
Sitting on the couch, I can’t see the TV
or better yet
I can’t see the TV when I sit on the couch.
Think of the modifier as the groom and the modifiee as the bride: you wouldn’t stick anyone between them, would you?
The best transitions are the ones that clearly state how two ideas are related.
Transitions aren’t just syntactic sugar that makes your writing easier to read — they are logical constructs that inform the reader. Is the idea in the new paragraph a consequence of the idea in the preceding one? Is it another entry is a series of ideas? Is it a continuation? Make the relationship between your paragraphs explicit and you’ll go a long way.
But in addition to logical constructs, transitions are a way to keep the reader reading. Every blank line is an opportunity to put the book down, throw out the résumé, flip forward past the ad. Tell the reader that these next few sentences are crucial to their well-being and happiness.
If that doesn’t work, lead off with a joke.
Hyphens can be tricky. Luckily, there is a hard and fast rule: Use a hyphen before a noun, drop it afterwards.
That is a well-read book.
That man is well read.
Again, it is a matter of understanding. Before the noun, the compound may be misunderstood as two equal adjectives. Afterwards, not so much.
No. But apparently .
If you have a writing or grammar question, please leave it in the comments.
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This article was written by John Roach http://prowritingtips.com John is a writer and copy editor. You can follow him on twitter at . To see more posts click here |
