Use and misuse of words

The use and misuse of words often confuses us and sometimes offers us interesting situations. A teacher posed a question to a policeman who was directing traffic. She asked him, "Can I make a left turn?" Mischievously, he answered, "I don't know whether you can, but you may."

Though "may" and "can" don't have an ocean of difference between them, "can" conveys one's ability and "may" suggests permission.

Misplaced words may even ruin your life. Imagine a lover saying my heart is only for you. Does he mean then that his ears and eyes belong to someone else. My heart is only for you may be apt.

Even a small comma can change the whole meaning of a sentence. This was told to me by one of my teachers. I don't know whether this following incident is true or not. A judge came to learn that a prisoner was innocent. He quickly wrote a letter to release him. But unfortunately he wrote: "Hang him, not release him." He should have written: "Hang him not, release him." The first sentence means hang the prisoner and the second sentence means to release him from jail.

I saw a letter on Oct. 5 that said: "only 60 days were given for my visa and not two months." What's the difference? Well, both mean the same.

UMA RAMAKRISHNA

Jakarta