Our first grammar question today comes from concerned reader Brian Cameron of Elora, Ontario, who writes: ``Just what does it mean when someone says, `But, by the same token'?''

A. In grammatical terminology, this is what is known as a ``constipating conjunction.'' It is used to separate two statements that would sound stupid if they were right next to each other.

EXAMPLES:

-- ``Unemployment will definitely decrease. But, by the same token, it could increase.''

-- ``In 27 years of marriage, Todd never noticed Marie's tentacle. But, by the same token, he was a fine tennis player.''


Q. How come we say ``tuna fish''? I mean, tuna IS a kind of fish, right? We don't say ``tomato vegetable'' or ``milk dairy product'' or ``beef meat,'' do we? And how come we call it ``beef''? How come we don't say, ``I'll have a piece of cow, rare''? And how come we say ``rare''? And how come the waiter always says, ``DID you want some dessert,'' instead of, ``DO you want some dessert?'' Does he mean, ``DID you want some dessert, before you found those hairs in your lasagna?'' And how come everybody says ``sher-BERT,'' when the word is ``sher- BET''? And how come broadcast news reporters end their reports by saying, ``This is Edward M. Stuntgoat, reporting.'' What ELSE would we think he's doing? Hemorrhaging?


Q. Last year, when your son, Robby, was doing a fourth-grade homework assignment that required him to use the word ``combine'' in a sentence, what sentence did he write?

A. He wrote: ``Unfortunately, many people have died being shredded by a combine.''

Q. Are you making that up?

A. No.

Q. Are you concerned about it?

A. No. But, by the same token, yes.

Dave Barry
Courtesy of Max's Useful Language Links.