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2012-07-12 10:22 PM

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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: Grammar Questions

Actually not a grammar question, more like word usage?

 

I'm reading Area 51, An Uncensored History of  America's Top Secret Military Base  by Annie Jacobsen.     Just reading some of these lines in the book don't seem right.   I'm not an expert but just something I've noticed.

 

There are a few lines that I think are incorrect.   Page 282, she writes,  "With an MiG now in their possession, the Israelis  set to work understanding the strengths.  "   (shouldn't it be a MiG? not an).  this happens a couple times in talking about MiGs on different pages.

 

A couple pages later she is writing about the XB-70 Bomber.     On the XB-70, both vertical stablilizers had been shorn off, and the aircraft began to crash.  Continuing to pick up speed, the XB-70 whirled uncontrollably into a flat spin.    (Isn't the word crash used in correctly?)  Crash is the final verb or action.   Isn't it?

This is a very good informative book.   What went on back in the 50s and 60s, lots of new declassified info.   Like pilots flying planes through the mushroom cloud stem.   The number of nukes that exploded in Nevada. ect ect.



Edited by BellinghamSpence 2012-07-12 10:40 PM

2012-07-13 12:31 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Master
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Beijing
Subject: RE: Grammar Questions

It depends on if you're saying "mig" or "Em. Eye. Gee."

 

If you're saying "mig" it should be "a MiG"  if you're saying "Em. Eye. Gee." it should be "an MiG"

 

 

As far as the "crash" I think you're technically correct.

However, you've probably got some leeway if you know the chain of events eventually(and inevitably) leads to a crash. 

2012-07-13 12:53 AM
in reply to: #4309174

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Champion
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Bellingham, Washington
Subject: RE: Grammar Questions
moondawg14 - 2012-07-12 10:31 PM

It depends on if you're saying "mig" or "Em. Eye. Gee."

 

If you're saying "mig" it should be "a MiG"  if you're saying "Em. Eye. Gee." it should be "an MiG"

 

 

As far as the "crash" I think you're technically correct.

However, you've probably got some leeway if you know the chain of events eventually(and inevitably) leads to a crash. 

Thanks,   thought I was getting too picky on the author.

2012-07-13 1:45 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Melon Presser
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions

Well ... is it an HIM or a HIM? Depends if you say "him," whether or not you're in one of the Commonwealth countries , or, like most of us, you'd never say HIM just like you'd never say LOL.

As for "crash," it's acceptable usage to treat it as a process rather than a singular event (think of a computer crash, for example).

2012-07-13 1:45 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Melon Presser
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions

Well ... is it an HIM or a HIM? Depends if you say "him," whether or not you're in one of the Commonwealth countries , or, like most of us, you'd never say HIM just like you'd never say LOL.

As for "crash," it's acceptable usage to treat it as a process rather than a singular event (think of a computer crash, for example).

2012-07-13 1:54 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions
 I would go with sheared instead of shorn. We're talking metal, not hair.

2012-07-13 2:27 AM
in reply to: #4309197

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Melon Presser
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions

mdg2003 - 2012-07-13 2:54 PM  I would go with sheared instead of shorn. We're talking metal, not hair.

You're right. Technically it ain't incorrect but it just ain't right!

Also, I'm pretty sure it's not spelled "stablilizers."

2012-07-13 8:13 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions
I'm the last person on earth to provide grammer advice, so I'll just add some foundation on the word MiG.  MiG is an abbreviation for a Soviet company/bureau founded by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich (Mikoyan and Gurevich).  I don't know if that makes the a or an any different, but thought I'd mention it.  
2012-07-13 8:43 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Pro
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions

The author is probably spelling out MiG (em i gee).

And as for the crash...probably wouldn't be my choice, but it's not wrong, if you interpret a "plane crash" as the entire event--falling out of the sky, plummeting down, and then hitting the earth.

2012-07-16 9:17 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions
BellinghamSpence - 2012-07-12 11:22 PM

 

A couple pages later she is writing about the XB-70 Bomber.     On the XB-70, both vertical stablilizers had been shorn off, and the aircraft began to crash.  Continuing to pick up speed, the XB-70 whirled uncontrollably into a flat spin.    (Isn't the word crash used in correctly?)  Crash is the final verb or action.   Isn't it?

It's weak writing, but it's correct.  the verb is began.  "To crash" is an infinitive. which can be used as a noun, answering the questiong "the aircraft began what?"

2012-07-16 10:01 AM
in reply to: #4309104

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Champion
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Subject: RE: Grammar Questions

     On the XB-70, both vertical stablilizers had been shorn off, and the aircraft began to crash.  Continuing to pick up speed, the XB-70 whirled uncontrollably into a flat spin.    

While technically correct, the above really is some pretty ugly prose:

Both vertical stabilizers sheared off the XB-70, and the plane began to crash. As it continued to pick up speed, the XB-70 whirled uncontrollably into a flat spin.

would be much better.

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