Grammar Girl here. I'm in Jan Fogarty, and today we're going to talk about the Academy Awards,

and then we're going to talk about writing about time. But first, I have a quick correction

from a couple of weeks ago. A listener named Kenden wrote in to point out that when I was

explaining when to use the one-word adverb version of the word a while versus the two-word

version that's an article plus a noun, a while, I said prepositions can't take adverbs as

compliments. And that's too strong. Using adverbs to test

the situation when you're debating whether to use the one-word version of a while that's an

adverb is still a good test. For example, if you wouldn't say we played for quietly, you don't

want to say we played for a while using the't want to say we played for a while, using the one-word

adverb version of a while. In that case, you need the two-word article plus a noun, a while.

But there are some prepositions, especially those with temporal meanings, that actually can take

adverbs as compliments. For example, you could

say they played together until recently, until being a preposition and recently being an adverb.

Since and before are other prepositions that can take adverb compliments. So I got a little

carried away saying that prepositions can can take adverb compliments. So I got a little carried away saying that

prepositions can never take adverbs as compliments. Thanks for the message, Kandon.

This next segment is by Jim Norina. Since its premiere on May 16, 1929, the Academy Awards ceremony has become a favorite among film fans.

Presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the event honors film professionals

in 24 categories, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

The statuette is officially called the Academy Award of Merit.

But informally, we also call the statuettes and the event the Oscars.

After those statuettes, which at about 8 pounds and made of gold-plated bronze are heavier than they look.

...