Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Let's talk about ranges: a lesson in usage.

In case you didn't know, America is experiencing an epidemic of improperly phrased ranges. I hear this all the time on the radio. It goes something like this:

Temperatures today will be between 60 to 80 degrees.

or

Prices vary between 20 to 40 dollars.

Seriously. All the time.

So here's the scoop: you can express a range in one of two ways, but you may not mix them. You may say Temperatures will be between 60 and 80 degrees, or temperatures will be from 60 to 80 degrees.  

Between goes with and, from goes with to.


Between x and y. 

From x to y.


See? Between doesn't ever go with to when expressing a range. Ever.

Go forth and speak correctly.

Be thankful ~

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Thank you! I did not know this rule.
~Natasha