The Riddler

Pls clarify crowns three geeks of the week

Pls clarify crowns three geeks of the week

May 12, 2011 Grammar

I’m pleased to announce that three readers quickly and correctly answered this morning’s Riddler, which asked readers to identify the problem with this sentence:   The company, relying on the contract, responded that the case could neither proceed in court nor as a class action in any forum. I (incorrectly) suggested this Riddler was a bit [...]

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What's Paul Hamm doing in this Riddler?

What’s Paul Hamm doing in this Riddler?

May 12, 2011 Grammar

What’s wrong with this NY Times sentence? The company, relying on the contract, responded that the case could neither proceed in court nor as a class action in any forum. It’s from an article describing the recent Supreme Court decision allowing companies to bar consumers from bringing class actions.  (Part of the compelling human rights campaign for [...]

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Riddler solved. Don't touch that "whoever."

Riddler solved. Don’t touch that "whoever."

May 3, 2011 Grammar

Yesterday’s Riddler asked whether the whoever in this sentence is correct: Suffolk County detectives looking for whoever killed four prostitutes are pursuing leads on the Web. The friend who sent me this question is a very smarty-pants journalist, so I had an inkling that this question would be a tough one. And indeed, of the [...]

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Riddler: Whoever or whomever?

Riddler: Whoever or whomever?

May 2, 2011 Grammar

Riddler:  Is this sentence from today’s NY Times grammatically correct? Or should whoever be replaced with whomever? (Please note: whatever is not an answer.) Suffolk County detectives looking for whoever killed four prostitutes are pursuing leads on the Web. Send me your answer; I’ll post mine tomorrow.

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