Language/English/Grammar/False-Ellipsis--(Part-2)

More on Omission (False Ellipsis Part 2) This is a continuation of the lesson on omission. It is advisable to go through that lesson before this for better understanding.

Rules Governing Omission To be on a safe side, there are some rules that govern omission. These include: • The word old should never be omitted when referring to age in this context:

◇ I am seven years. (wrong)
◇ I am seven years old. (correct)
◇ I am seven. (correct)

• ‘Better’ should not replace ‘had better’ in this context:

◇ Better release the bird. (wrong)
◇You had better release the bird. (correct)

• ‘The day’, ‘the week’ used in the context below should not be omitted.

◇ I’ll return week after next.
◇ I'll return the week after next

• Do not omit ‘a’ or ‘one’ before words like ‘hundred and ‘thousand’ where necessary.

◇ Thousand years make a millennium. (wrong)
◇ A thousand years make a millennium. (correct)

◇ There are hundred cents in a dollar. (wrong)
◇ There are a hundred cents in a dollar. (correct)

• The article ‘the’ should always precede the names of nationalities. Japanese are a people.

◇ The Japanese are a people.

More rules will be considered in subsequent lessons.