Lately, numerous people are confusing the pronunciation of these two words: yea and yeah. And then consequently they use the wrong word when using these words in writing.

“Yea” rhymes with weigh or pay. And it is a celebratory exclamation. “Yeah,” is an affirmative response, like “yes.”

A good source to hear these words is http://dictionary.com. Once you’ve called up “yea” or “yeah” online, you will see a little speaker “icon” to hear what these words sound like. Just click on the icon.

Also, you could find a music fake book that has The Beatles song, “She loves you” in it to see how they spell “yeah.” “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” as the song’s lyrics go.

The Beatles did not sing, “She loves you yea, yea, yea.”

I’ve had some reminders that I have this blog. I apologize for the absence, but I’ve been extremely occupied.

One request I had was to address the little dash called a hyphen, and tell about its uses. Although people say Morse Code is a system of dots and dashes, the dashes are really hyphen-size in that code.

But let's talk about the more common use of a hypen first.

When writing, hyphens are used to break up a word to go to the next line (after a return on the keyboard). The break is placed after a syllable. For example, the word usu-

ally would be broken up like it is in this sentence.

But hyphens play a bigger role when you want to form a compound adjective modifying a noun or pronoun. They help the reader understand that the compound adjective modifies the noun. Otherwise, without the hyphens, the sentence could get confusing.

For example: According to The Grammar Desk Reference by Gary Lutz and Diane Stevenson, there’s a difference between a homeless outreach worker and a homeless-outreach worker.

The first outreach worker is homeless. The second outreach worker is one who helps the homeless.

Here’s a long compound adjective: The first-of-its-kind hybrid. You can see how awkward that might be without the hyphens: The first of its kind hybrid. Hmm, I never heard of a kind hybrid. Have you?

There are many more rules that apply to the hyphen, but the ones above are the most common for hyphen usage.

The little symbol -- , -- in sentences usually means yield or pause. I am referring to the punctuation mark, the comma, when I say "yield" or "pause." About a million rules apply to commas, but there is one basic rule (several points to it, however) that can lead you to learn all the rest. Well, maybe a "million rules" is over exaggerating, but it seems that way, doesn’t it? I bet many of you have problems with where to place a comma. Correct?

Here's a list of related topics to get the basics of comma usage:

1. Know that there are only seven coordinating conjunctions: A mnemonic to remember these conjunctions is FAN BOYS, which stands for the following: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. So what does coordinating conjunctions have to do with comma usage?

2. Coordinating conjunctions separate two or more independent clauses (an independent clause is a fancy name for a complete sentence). For example, Mary was a teacher, and Sam was her student. Notice the comma in front of the coordinating conjunction in the example sentence.

3. All coordinating conjunctions take a comma in front of them if they are separating two or more independent clauses.

4. On the other hand, lots of words that are subordinating conjunctions can confuse writers. For example, "because" and "when" are subordinating conjunctions and take no comma in front of them. So let's not broach the topic of subordinating conjunctions and commas (there are numerous subordinating conjunctions, hence no mnemonic for them although that would be interesting if someone could think of one or maybe several).

Here's a few examples:

* Eighteen letters were submitted to the representative, but none reached the state official (two independent clauses separated by a coordinating conjunction).

* The letters didn't make it because the representative had a new address ("because the representative had a new address" is a subordinate clause led by a subordinating conjunction, so no comma is needed).

One more thing: The definition of a "mnemonic" is a tool to help you remember. More on commas in blogs to come.

I was listening to the radio this past week, and a song came on with some pretty interesting lyrics:

"I can't not get no sleep..." 

To this I say, "Yeah, right" (a double positive).

OK. Wow! These lyrics create a classic sentence for negatives. My question is, "Does he really not get sleep, or is he playing with words here?

By the way, I didn't get the name of the song (wish I had).

I don't get it. Got it. Good.

The usage of "everyday" and "every day" is confusing. A colleague suggested I post something on this, so here it is:

Let's get one thing out of the way, right away: "Everyday" as one word is an adjective. All my sources agree on this. And we have an "everyday experience." Notice that everyday describes "experience" in this usage.

Get it? Got it? Good!

Now the hard part to understand comes. If you know your English structurally (for example, noun/verb/object), this is going to be easy.

"Every day" can be an adjective/noun combination or an adverbial phrase, depending on how you use it in a sentence.

Here's the difference:

"Every day is a new experience."

In the sentence above, "every" serves as an adjective describing "day."

Get it? I hope so. Moving right along...

"I climb the stairs every day."

In the sentence above "every day" is an adverbial phrase modifying the verb "climb" (climb every day).

Get it? Hmmm. I bet you don't. Read this a couple of times, and it might sink in.

Have you read it a couple of times?

Get it? Got it? Good. 

Yes, I've seen "capitol" used that way. Not that ideas can't come out of capitols (well, maybe not ... government, ideas ... hmm). No matter, the usage is incorrect.

The word "capitol" refers to the building where the governmental entity operates. Example: The capitol in Austin looks a lot like the one in Washington, D.C.

The word "capital" refers to the city where the government is based. Example: Austin is the capital of Texas.

Another usage for "capital" is hinted at in the title of this blog. Correctly written, that would be, "I have a capital idea." Used as an adjective, capital means "excellent" in this usage.

And "capital" as a noun also can mean "wealth." Example: How much capital do you have?

So now you know you can gather some capital to go to the capital to see the capitol!

Got it? Get it? Good!

The two words ensure and insure seem vaguely related, but many people confuse the two because they are homophones (they sound the same).

Ensure means to make certain or guarantee something happens or somebody does something.

Insure means to purchase insurance for life, health or for physical belongings. The noun version of this is insurance.

Make sure you ensure writing "insure" the correct way. Too bad you can't buy insurance to ensure you don't have a writing accident.

You can have insurance, but you can't have ensurance. To ensure (guarantee) is strictly a verb (ensure, ensured, ensuring).

Got it? Get it? Good.