Grammar: All about (Y)

Grammar: Which word to use (Y)

https://www.theguardian.com/guardian-observer-style-guide-y

1. CORRECT USAGE

1.1. Similar words mean different things…

1.2 Use the right word in context…

2. SPELLINGS

2.1 To hyphenate (or not)?

YES

yo-yo

EXCEPTIONS

2.2 One word or two?

One word

yoghurt

Two words

2.3 Frequently misspelt

2.4 Change with form or plural

y or ie?

As a general rule: -y is an English suffix, whose function is to create an adjective (usually from a noun, eg creamy); -ie was originally a Scottish suffix, whose function is to add the meaning of “diminutive” (usually from a noun, eg beastie).

So in most cases, where there is dispute over whether a noun takes a -y or an -ie ending, the correct answer is -ie: she’s a girly girl, but she’s no helpless girlie. Think also scrunchie, beanie, nightie, meanie … There are exceptions (a hippy, an indie band), but where specific examples are not given, use -ie for nouns and -y for adjectives

2.5 Take note of capitals

ic

York Minster

North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire but east Yorkshire

Yorkshire dales BUT North York Moors national park

lc

yes campaign, no campaign NOT  Yes or “yes” campaign.

yorkshire pudding, yorkshire terrier

3. EXPRESSIONS

4. PUNCTUATION

year

write 2012, not “the year 2012”; for a span of years use hyphen thus: 2011-12, not 2011/12. If you need to say it aloud – for example, in a podcast – say “twenty-twelve” not “two thousand and twelve”

5. GRAMMAR

yesterday

Give some thought to where you place the time element in a story: do not automatically put it at the start (“David Cameron yesterday insisted … “), a style satirised by the subeditor turned bestselling author Bill Bryson, who wrote: “Anyone not acquainted with journalists could be forgiven for assuming that they must talk something like this: I last night went to bed early because I this morning had to catch an early flight.”