You thank the waiter for getting you an extra soft drink, and he replies, “No problem.”  You open the car door for a young mother who is carrying a large bag of groceries and is trying to manage her child who is eating an ice cream cone.  You open the car door for her, and she says, “Oh, thank you so very much.  I’ve really got my hands full.”  And you smile and reply, “No problem.”  A shopper in a grocery store asks a clerk where to find a certain item.  Instead of telling her where the item is, the clerk takes her directly to the aisle and shelf where the item is.  The shopper, somewhat surprised at being so graciously helped in the large grocery store, says to the clerk, “I really appreciate you assistance.  Thank you.”  The clerk responds, “No problem.”

We have all heard “no problem” frequently used in this way.  In fact, I suspect that many of my readers have used it in this way.  But replying to someone’s expression of gratitude with “no problem” is unacceptable.  Using “no problem” in this way is impolite, inappropriate, and grammatical incorrect.  When someone has graciously expressed his or her gratitude for something done for him/her, the response should be something like, “You’re welcome” or “I was pleased to help you” or “It was my pleasure” or “I am glad that I was here to help you” or “I am pleased I could be of assistance to you.”  Someone who graciously expresses his or her gratitude deserves a gracious and appropriate response.

Using “no problem” as a synonym for “you’re welcome” has only been around since the 1990s and is used much more by young people than by adults.  But it is being used more and more across the board by people up through their thirties.  We need to correct this misuse of grammar before it gets out of hand and becomes an incorrect, but accepted, practice.  And YOU can make a difference.  As a grammar guru, I urge my readers, and that includes you, to refrain from using “no problem” in this way and to urge others to do likewise.

I have to admit I had never thought about the actual meaning of “whack” used in this way.  I have frequently referred to something being “out of whack,” but no one ever asked me, “What do you mean, ‘out of whack’?” 

Partially out of wanting to keep my reputation as a grammar guru and partly out of pure curiosity, I went into action.  Within five minutes I found the answer and replied: ”Whack” is “proper order or shape.”  “Whack,” as used in your email, is not a slang word.  It is a legitimate word that has been used in the English language since at least 1736, the first known example of the word being used in literature.  “Whack” has many other definitions; some are slang and some are “R” rated.  No—I did not get this information from the Internet. 

I added that bit at the end because, at least where grammar is concerned, there is a lot of bogus information online. But I was curious about what I could find on the Internet about “whack.” 

I googled “what is whack?” and I got 790 search results. At the top of the search were five definitions using “whack” in the traditional sense of “a sharp or resounding blow.” I could not find a single definition used in the sense it was used in my friend’s e-mail. There were 785 obscene, crude, tacky, provocative, weird, and just plan “wacky” uses and definitions of “whack.” 

I contacted several acquaintances, asking them where I should go to the find the definition of “whack.” Every one of them said: “Look it up on the Internet.” 

I was recently asked to work with a young minister who was struggling to find time to visit the hospitalized people of his congregation.  I asked, “How many people do you have in the hospital?”  He fiddled with his computer.  Looking up, he said, “Two.”  Having been the minister of several churches, I couldn’t imagine needing a computer to keep track of only two people in the hospital. 

Computers are great. In many instances, they are timesavers. But sometimes they take more time than they save. Younger generations may not know what it’s like not to have a computer at their disposal, but they need to realize they are not the answer to all things. 

You may be wondering how I found the information about “whack” so quickly. I just turned to my Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, and there it was.

   Dr. B, Grammar Guru

“Big” is a Scandinavian word that originally meant important or of great significance and was used to refer to a “big deal” or a “big man” (that is, an important leader, officer in an organization or company, or office holder in the government).  Gradually, ”big” was used in terms of considerable or substantial, and now ”big” is used to refer to something that is big in size or importance, but not humungious, terribly out of proportion, or of an undesireable nature–not extra large–just big in size or importance.

“Large” comes from the English and French and originally was used in the sense of extravagant, lavish, exuberant, or lush–considered as an undesirable or a not-so-good characteristic.  ”Large” gradually has become used to refer to something that is “more than usual,” that is, very considerable in size or significance, out of proportion, or overly large. 

”Large” is genearlly thought of as being much greater and more comprehensive than “big.”  Having this information definitely influences one’s use of two words that are similiar in meaning, yet are different.



All of us have frequently heard “no problem” used in this way.  But replying to someone’s gracious expression of gratitude with “no problem” is impolite, inappropriate, and grammatical incorrect.  When someone has graciously expressed his or her gratitude for something done, the response should be something like “You’re welcome” or “I am so pleased to help you” or “It was my pleasure,” or “I am glad I was here to assit you.”  A gracious expression of gratitude deserves a gracious response.

Using “no problem” as a synonym for “you’re welcome” has only been around since the late 1900s and tends to be used predominately by people younger then forty.  But regardless of one’s age, I urge my readers to refrain from using “no problem” in this way.  We need to do better than that!

Demons are evil spirits that have as their primary goal doing battle with God and bringing eternal harm and sorrow to human beings. Demons are portrayed as working under the direction of a supreme evil spirit named “Satan,” also referred to as “the devil.” Demons have, from the beginning of their existence, always been in a spirit form and have never been in human form.

“Ghosts,” on the other hand, are the sprit forms of humans who have lived on earth, have died, and have come back as spirits. There is no indication that all ghosts are united under the leadership of one supreme spirit. Furthermore, whereas all demons are evil spirits, ghosts can be either evil or good spirits.

Although this Web site is primarily focused on English grammar and my latest book, The Big Ten of Grammar, if you click on the “Meet Dr. Bradshaw” and the “Publications” tabs of this Web site, you will see why I am interested in demons and ghosts.

William Bradshaw

The verb “lie” should be used when referring to one’s reclining on a bed, on a couch, in a chair, on the floor, or reclining anyplace.  It is something you do for yourself—someone else does not do it to you or for you.  You “lie” down (not “lay” down) to take a nap because you are doing it yourself, someone else is not doing it for you.  You should ask your dog to “lie” down (not “lay” down) because you are asking the dog to do it for itself.  “Lie” also can be used to indicate one’s staying in a horizontal position.  

The verb “lay” refers to one’s placing, setting, or putting an object someplace.  If it is something you are doing to or for somebody or something other than yourself, use the word “lay.”  For example, you “lay” a book on a table or “lay” the box on the shelf, because it is something you are doing to and for something other than yourself. 

If you are putting your young child down for a nap, you “lay” the child in his or her crib because it is something you are doing to and for the child.  The same is true with your dog.  If you pick up your dog and place it on its bed, you “lay” the dog down because you or doing it to the dog rather than asking the dog to do it for itself. 

If you have trouble deciding whether to use “lie” or “lay,” instead of using “lie” or ”lay,” use the word “place.”  If it sounds all right to use “place,” then the correct word to use is “lay”; if it does not sound all right to use “place,” you should use “lie.”

   Dr. B., Grammar Guru

If there is any question about the correct plural of a noun or principal parts of a verb, the individual entry for such a word will address the issue.  If a word is used in a unique way in a specific region of the country, that will be noted.  Correct pronunciation for each word is included.  And on and on goes the list of special features.

People tend to assume that all dictionaries that use Webster in their titles qualify as reliable resources for grammar and spelling.  That just is not the case!  Many companies use the name “Webster” in the titles of their dictionaries, but such an inclusion does not guarantee scholarly quality or authenticity.  And many dictionaries include in their titles the word “college” or “collegiate.”  The dictionary I recommend is the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary.     

New words are always emerging and accepted standards of grammar are always evolving.  It is important to stay up to date with your dictionary.  Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary is in its Eleventh Edition.  When a new edition comes out, you should go for it.  Also be careful about using your old high school or college grammar books.  If they were published prior to 1980 or 1985, they are probably out of date on some issues of grammar.

English grammar classes have historically emphasized learning umpteen rules of grammar and parts of speech.  Many books still approach grammar in that way.  But it doesn’t have to be that way—not any longer.  The Big Ten or Grammar is a refresher for people who want to learn (or re-learn) correct grammar quickly and easily.  You’ll learn that it’s more about listening to yourself and others than about memorizing.  You will learn to detect your own mistakes in no time at all, and you’ll soon be speaking and hearing grammar in a new way.

The Big Ten of Grammar provides many examples of correct and incorrect sentences, many more than most grammar books.  The person who is struggling to get a concept thoroughly in mind is helped by having a considerable number of examples, and the person who grasps the concept more quickly can skip the extra examples and move on to the next subject.  Because the examples are from everyday phrases and sentences, you will quickly identify with them and hear the differences between correct and incorrect grammar.

In addition to the ten chapters highlighting the top grammatical errors, there is also a time-saving bonus section at the end of the book that deals with “out-of-the-norm” grammatical situations.  It provides answers and examples for these less common situations that many of us will have to deal with from time to time.  After you read this book, you’ll want to keep it handy to use as a reference guide.

Fast forward, and now I listen to news on radio and television regularly and really enjoy good movies.  In recent years I have become increasingly perplexed with the number of grammatical errors I hear.  I find the same mistakes in newspapers, magazines, professional journals, college term papers, books, and on the list goes.  This is a shame because most people want to use good grammar and think that they are.  This is true of people in all walks of life.

I wrote The Big Ten of Grammar to help reverse the misuse of English grammar, to show people that it is not all that difficult to learn to use correct grammar.  And, I dare say, it can actually be fun and rewarding.  Hopefully, this book will help start the pendulum swinging in the opposite direction.

Adding a very personal note, I have four adult children and nine grandchildren.  Through the years I have offered much advice, sometimes solicited and many times not, to members of my family about correct grammar.  I know from personal experience that this book can be helpful to people regardless of age or interests in life.  It can help you put your best foot forward.

Even with working in the evenings and on weekends, it took me three years to complete The Big Ten of Grammar.  I spent a year doing research before I began writing.  The actual writing took another year.  And working with the publisher added yet a third year.  Truly, this book is a labor of love.

Dr. B, as he is known to many, working at his computer.