Grammar Moses: What's more important — where you came from or where you're going?

It's clear Ron French of Naperville is unhappy about more than inflation when he writes: “I am forever annoyed by the selection of: ‘The price went up to $2 from $1.' Sure seems backward compared to: ‘The price went from $1 to $2.' I think it's in the so-called ‘Grammar Book.'”

Well, Ron, if it is I haven't found it.

Somewhere in the deep recesses of my prefrontal cortex is a hazy memory of being taught the order always should be to somewhere/something from somewhere/something.

I can't recall, though, what the rationale is for that. It might have something to do with being less passive.

Passive writing is — or should be — anathema to news writers.

However, the from/to order is far more common.

I consulted some grammar texts and came up dry. I've spoken with a couple of my grammar nerd buddies at the paper, including Jim Slusher, our Opinion Page editor who also is a novelist, former English teacher and evil genius. He came up with this example — from a letter to the editor — for when one provides greater clarity than the other.

“‘That is the same Ronald Reagan who reduced taxes for the uber rich from 70 percent to 28 percent.' The person's phrasing could be misconstrued to make it sound like the writer is giving a range of what the proportion of change was,” Slusher said. “It would be clear immediately if he just wrote, ‘That is the same Ronald Reagan who reduced taxes for the uber rich to 28 percent from 70 percent.'”

Good point, Jim.

In general, I rely on my news instincts. Why not lead with the most important number or place?

I went to Paris from Lyon.

Paris is the bigger and better place.

My salary went from $10 an hour to $2 million a year.

I would argue that people know that you're rich now, so your humble start is the surprise.

If the result is more important, go with a to/from construction.

But if the journey or process is more important, go with the from/to construction.

Portmanteaus

Here's something you can talk about to impress your friends: A portmanteau is a word created from the combination of two other words that takes on the characteristics of both.

For example:

Motor + hotel = motel

Smoke + fog = smog.

Friend + enemy = frenemy.

Information + entertainment = infotainment.

Here is another I hear every once in a while: flustrated.

Before you whack me upside the head with the Oxford English Dictionary, which includes flustrate or flusterate as a word used in the 18th or 19th century, I don't know any grammar nerds who have ever heard of either variation.

I don't doubt its existence; I doubt that many people are aware of it.

So I'm attributing modern-day usage of flustrated to be a mispronunciation of frustrated or, judging by the context given, a portmanteau of flustered and frustrated.

Final word

Reader Ed Szarkowicz tweaked me a couple of weeks ago on the misuse of the verb “phase” in a story in the Daily Herald in which the homophone “faze” was intended.

A project that is completed in sections is phased in. A pitcher who is unfazed by Anthony Rizzo doesn't get jittery when he's at the plate.

Write carefully!

• Jim Baumann is assistant vice president/managing editor of the Daily Herald. Write him at jbaumann@dailyherald.com. Put Grammar Moses in the subject line. You also can friend or follow Jim at facebook.com/baumannjim.