I'm going to start things off with a contentious subject among some grammarians: the proper use of the word myriad.
Perhaps you've been told — and I believe, incorrectly — that you can never refer to "a myriad of" something. I contest this so-called "rule" and refer you to Merriam-Webster to back my claim.
Those who insist on using myriad only as an adjective (as in: New car buyers have myriad options this year), either fail to recognize — or perhaps simply discount — the early use of myriad as a noun. Works as far back as Milton and Thoreau include use of the word as a noun, and that's good enough for me.
Perhaps this disagreement stems from the Greek origins of the word myriad, which literally means 10,000. But the word is also defined as "a great number." And even when used as an adjective, rarely does the writer or speaker literally refer to 10,000 of anything.
Personally, I use the word both ways, sometimes as a noun and sometimes as an adjective. I generally let my ear rule when deciding which usage best suits the sentence. I might say:
"Authors Tess Hardwick and Tracey Hansen, inspired by the myriad voices in the world, compile a melting pot of life paths from over a dozen unique writers." (used as an adjective)
But I might also say:
"The menu at the new restaurant offers a myriad of options." (used as a noun)
I advocate usage of the word in both its forms. And I contend it's time to stop giving writers or speakers literal or virtual "red marks" for using it one way when you happen to prefer the other. Myriad is an adjective AND a noun. Let's allow its use in both forms.
What about you? Were you taught to only use myriad as an adjective? Have you been corrected for using it as a noun? Feel free to share your thoughts in the Comments. Just remember: Disagreement is welcome, incivility is not. If you have a writing, grammar or language question, please share it here for consideration on this blog.
Perhaps you've been told — and I believe, incorrectly — that you can never refer to "a myriad of" something. I contest this so-called "rule" and refer you to Merriam-Webster to back my claim.
Those who insist on using myriad only as an adjective (as in: New car buyers have myriad options this year), either fail to recognize — or perhaps simply discount — the early use of myriad as a noun. Works as far back as Milton and Thoreau include use of the word as a noun, and that's good enough for me.
Perhaps this disagreement stems from the Greek origins of the word myriad, which literally means 10,000. But the word is also defined as "a great number." And even when used as an adjective, rarely does the writer or speaker literally refer to 10,000 of anything.
Personally, I use the word both ways, sometimes as a noun and sometimes as an adjective. I generally let my ear rule when deciding which usage best suits the sentence. I might say:
"Authors Tess Hardwick and Tracey Hansen, inspired by the myriad voices in the world, compile a melting pot of life paths from over a dozen unique writers." (used as an adjective)
But I might also say:
"The menu at the new restaurant offers a myriad of options." (used as a noun)
I advocate usage of the word in both its forms. And I contend it's time to stop giving writers or speakers literal or virtual "red marks" for using it one way when you happen to prefer the other. Myriad is an adjective AND a noun. Let's allow its use in both forms.
What about you? Were you taught to only use myriad as an adjective? Have you been corrected for using it as a noun? Feel free to share your thoughts in the Comments. Just remember: Disagreement is welcome, incivility is not. If you have a writing, grammar or language question, please share it here for consideration on this blog.
