Grammar Moses: Is this headline different than what you'd write?

Don Meseth of Des Plaines asked a question I hear often:

"How does one use 'from' and 'than'? Example: 'Black is different from white' ... or 'black is different than white'? I was always taught that 'from' is the correct word to use, but many news articles use 'than.' Which one is the proper word?"

As many of you know, I despised having to parse sentences in school, and I don't much enjoy it now that I'm a card-carrying AARP member.

But I've always had a logical mind. Sometimes you just need to look at a sentence in a different way and the answer comes easily.

Think of it this way, Don: This thing differs "from" that thing. You'd never say this thing differs "than" that thing, right?

Dual language

Sometimes we make spelling errors that are embarrassing.

Sometimes you can find spelling errors in advertisements, too.

Gary Andersen of Rolling Meadows found an example of the former.

"A sports headline regarding a recent Bulls' loss reported on their 'gusty performance.' I'm assuming that was supposed to be 'gutsy performance' since the first sentence as about them passing the 'gut-check test,' but then again maybe it was alluding to fact that the Bulls do blow both hot and cold."

Touche, Gary.

Dorene Wackerfuss of Palatine found an advertisement in our paper for an interesting program on the life of Alexander Hamilton, as told by an actress portraying his wife, Eliza. Here is part of the program's description: "She will tell you about their marriage, the love they had for each other, his betrayal, his death by dual, and life after."

Did you spot the unfortunate spelling error?

"Death by dual what, since 'dual' is an adjective?" Dorene asked.

"The writer probably meant 'duel,' the noun meaning 'a formal fight between two persons, armed with swords or firearms.'

Correctamundo, Dorene.

Fear not, Evelyn

As I've mentioned in this space, headlines are shorthand descriptions of stories. It is hard to write one that doesn't leave the door open to alternative meanings.

Take this headline: "McSweeney reintroduces bill to abolish lieutenant governor."

"Maybe there is some financial justification for eliminating the office of lieutenant governor, as Jake Griffin's story does make clear, but I hope that Evelyn Sanguinetti and her family are OK with what the headline seems to imply," wrote Bill Murray of Palatine.

Evelyn, if you're reading this, I'm sure state Rep. David McSweeney means you no harm; it's your office - not you - he wishes to eliminate.

Another 5-letter word

For those of you who are bonkers for quizzes, today I finish with a note from Ron Tenggren, who lives in Sun City Huntley.

I challenged you in last Sunday's column to name a five-letter word that is pronounced as one of its letters. My answer was "queue."

Ron has another: "aitch."

What's an aitch? It is the word for "H," just as "jay" is the word for "J" and "ess" is the word for "S."

Write carefully!

• Jim Baumann is 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.