A bunch of baloney!!

Hey folks. I guess it's been awhile since something urgent in the grammar world caught my attention. I recently started a new book, The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver. It's delightful and country, but I've come across a few instances of—gasp—incorrect word choice!

Here's an example:

"I ate a baloney sandwich." Well, if that were true, you'd just be eating a really weird, fake sandwich. Here, the author has confused baloney (phony) with bologna (a large, smoked sausage). That particular word is used more commonly if someone says something, perhaps, that you find a little questionable. "What a bunch of baloney!"

Here's another example:

"I felt a little badly about foisting her on Lou Ann ..." See the problem here? This is one that's commonly confused. Has someone ever asked how you're doing, and you were unsure of whether to say "I'm good" or "I'm well"? Same thing here. The culprit of the confusion is the lowly, misunderstood linking verb. A linking verb simply calls on you to redefine the subject (he is, feels, seems, appears), whereas an action verb describes an action that's taking place (he runs or he paints). Following a linking verb, you use a predicate adjective (good)—not adverb (well). If you were to say "I'm well," you'd be referring to your health—literally, how you are feeling. "I am good" refers to your overall disposition, which is usually what people are asking for in that instance. Good is how you are—you're not really taking action to be that way.

So back to the first example. Bad vs. badly. Feel can be both a linking verb and an action verb. In this sentence, by using badly (adverb), she's saying she literally feels poorly—not very well. I always imagine hands trying touch something, but not having a good sense of touch. What she means to say is that she feels bad (adjective)—she's experiencing guilt. This is because feel is used as a linking verb here, connecting the noun (she) to the predicate adjective (bad). You could just as well say "She is bad." Doesn't make sense to say "She is badly," does it?

Wow, long explanation for two simple words! Now, though, you can confidently respond to someone by saying "I'm good." Just don't say you did something good.