SIR: I have a book on usage that says not to use "each and every," but to use one or the other. Why do public speakers, television analysts and other well educated people persist in using this term? Am I being a crank? - John M.

ANSWER: I hesitate to answer that last question because, unlike many people, I see nothing wrong with the phrase. It has that fine, well-rounded sound that both speakers and audiences enjoy. It's alliterative, which doesn't hurt a bit. And it may not even be redundant; after all, "each" refers to individuals and "every" to the group as a whole.When the language is plagued with real problems like "between you and I" and "I'm going to lay down" and "let he who is without sin . . .," why would anyone want to pick on inoffensive little old "each and every"?

SIR: My husband and I are curious about the past tense of "hang." We have heard several newscasters say things like, "The man was hanged today." We both believe there is no such word as "hanged" and that the proper word would be "hung." - T.Y.

ANSWER: And you're both wrong, bless you. "Hanged" is an alternate for "hung," and it's the preferred form if you're speaking of capital punishment. So this is one time the newscasters were quite right, each and every one. They hung onto the right word.

SIR: My newspaper called a man a "widow." I always thought a man whose wife is deceased is a widower. Has this changed along with a lot of other things while I wasn't looking? - Mavis B.

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ANSWER: No, it hasn't, and what you saw was probably a typographical error. But it's worth noting that "widow" did at one time mean a man whose wife is dead. Matter of fact, for a while the word served for either gender. But that wasn't while you weren't looking; it was many years before you were born.

KIND CONCESSION of the week, by Gayle G.:

"Recently our church newsletter reported a member was recovering from `the flue.' Since she is a smoker, maybe she does have a flue."

Send questions, comments, and good and bad examples to Lydel Sims, Watch Your Language, P.O. Box 161280, Memphis, 38186. If you quote a book, please give author, title and page number. Sorry, but questions can be answered only through this column.

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