Grammar Moses: If you annoy me, you will be trespassed

Gerry McGovern offered counsel after reading a recent column in which I threw shade on the creator of the signs in Las Vegas that proclaim "Violators will be trespassed."

"It appears that this phrase is used in many states, mostly in the South," he wrote. Indeed, language blogger Neil Whitman found a citation from a 1990 digest of criminal court cases in several Southern states in which the word "trespassed" is used in the same way the Vegas sign uses it: "The defendant will stay away from the community of Plantersville so long as the Beardens and Mott family live there, particularly stay away from and is trespassed from Nina Mott or any member of her family."

Obscure? Yes.

So, in Las Vegas, those who hawk bottles of water on the street will be made to stay away from the area.

I stand corrected.

Whether alert!

Rick Barlow brought up a pair of usage issues worth exploring:

• Using "whether or not" or "whether."

Given that the definition of "whether" is expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives, the "or not" is assumed. Save yourself a couple of syllables and go with "whether."

• Systematic or systemic?

As with "continual" and "continuous," these two words have similarities but often are used incorrectly.

"Systematic" is defined as done or acting according to a fixed plan or system. Think "methodical" as a synonym.

Scientists use a systematic approach to solving problems.

"Systemic" is defined as relating to a system as a whole.

As word genius Bryan A. Garner notes, "Typically, systemic should be replaced by systematic unless the reference is to systems of the body or metaphors based on bodily systems."

Systemic drugs work throughout the body.

Continualous?

• I have a few of my own to throw on the fire, and I apologize if I left you hanging in the previous blurb. There seems to be an issue differentiating "continuous" and "continual."

Things that are "continual" occur regularly: airplane departures (unless you're on mine); election seasons; cat screeching episodes in my house after midnight.

Things that are "continuous" are uninterrupted: Oreo cookie production (thank God); the moon's orbit; Nancy Pelosi in a filibuster.

• A "bloc" is a group of political parties or countries that have formed an alliance. Think of Eastern bloc countries or conservative voting blocs.

"Block" serves all other purposes for a word with that pronunciation.

Should of?

Ingrid Schickerling wrote to tell me that what drives her bonkers is when people use "of" instead of "have," as in: "I should of known better."

"It's like fingernails on a blackboard," she said.

I agree completely. When I hear "should of" I think to myself, "That person is not a reader."

"Should've" is a contraction, and I can understand that if you only hear "should've" you might think it's "should of."

Write - and listen - 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.