Sir: There is a story by O. Henry titled "To Him Who Waits." Shouldn't it be "To He Who Waits," or should I take another stab at studying grammar?
- R.M.
Answer: No, it shouldn't, and yes, you should. "Him" is the object of the preposition "to." "Who Waits" is simply a clause describing "him"; "who" is its subject.
The next time you forget that, try to laugh yourself to scorn: Instead of saying "To he," say "Tee-hee." Maybe it won't help, but at least it won't hurt.
Sir: Do we compare things "to" something else or "with" something else?
- V.B.
Answer: That's a tough one. Various authorities drag us through confusing examples to demonstrate what they consider to be rules on the subject. If you're pointing out similarities, they often say, use "to," but if you're pointing out differences use "with."
Fair enough, but then they cite as an example something like the Shakespeare sonnet that begins "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" That's the one that points out differences, not similarities.
No wonder that after a bit of dithering they say, well, either preposition is permissible. Yeah, sure.
Sir: What is the relationship, if any, between the words "carnivore" and "carnival"? Does a carnival have to do with eating meat?
- V.B.
Answer: Yes, but perhaps not in the way you think. A carnivore is a flesh-eater, but a carnival originally meant feasting and merrymaking just before Lent. You might say a dyed-in-the-wool carnivore would dread a carnival, because at a carnival you were about to call off the meat-eating. A carnivore has no such plan.
Sir: I am told by friends that German almost became the official language of the United States of America, and that the motion was defeated by only one vote. No one says what the vote was or who voted. I say bunkum, but I have no proof of this in writing. Could you elaborate?
- Vince P.
Answer: Sure, I'll elaborate. I've heard the same thing, and it's not only bunkum, it's also hokum, foolishness, idiocy and baloney. You asked for a printed denial and I thought I could put my finger on one in a minute, but after wasting several hours looking for it I gave up. But hey, this is a printed denial. Use it in good health.
Inspired guess of the week, made by G.M.: "My newspaper had a headline saying: `Horses, burrows adopted.' Maybe they were looking for burrows large enough to put the horses in?"
Send questions, comments, and good and bad examples to Lydel Sims, Watch Your Language, 366 S. Highland, Apt. 410, Memphis, TN 38111. If you quote a book, please give author, title and page number. Sorry, but questions can be answered only through this column. Lydel Sims of The Commercial Appeal in Memphis writes this column weekly.