82
Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
notary public, safe deposit box, arthritis,
pastoral, shut-ins, past/last
Mr. B used a software program to rewrite his and Mrs. B's will.
That done, he had to find a NOTARY PUBLIC, not a notary
"republic."
Then the Bluezettes put their notarized and newly witnessed will into
a lock box at home instead of in a SAFE DEPOSIT BOX, not a
"safety" deposit box.
Mrs. B's mother has some ARTHRITIS in her hands, not "arth-ur-
ritis."
Mrs. B's father had PASTORAL duties, not "pas-tor-i-al" duties.
One of them was to visit SHUT-INS, who Mrs. B thought were
"shutty-ins" when she was a wee one.
For the past 40 years or so, however, Mrs. B has used the correct
word for people who are unable to leave their homes because of
illness or the lack of mobility.
Did you notice Mrs. B said "PAST 40 years" rather than "last"?
That's because she's STILL using the correct word.
An easy tip-off is to look for the helping verb "has" or "have."
(Mrs. B. HAS used the correct word... for the PAST 40 years.)
"Last" would work in this instance:
v
During his LAST three years in office, the senator began to
make changes.
There's no "has" begun.
The senator's tenure is over.
And so is class.
