In this installment of Word Knots we’ll discuss a phrase that is misused so often that many people think it’s correct (although grammatically it doesn’t make any sense).

Once again our source for this is installment is The Dictionary of Disagreeable English by Robert Hartwell Fiske (Chicago: Writer’s Digest Books). It’s a great book: Check it out.

From Fiske (excerpted):

try and

As Fiske writes (edited and excerpted):

Though try and is probably more often heard than try to, it is nonetheless incorrect. Public figures and spokespeople who use the unassuming, easy-to-ignore try and will never be considered eloquent. 

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Once again, I’m firmly with Fiske on this one. In conversational English, it’s less of a concern. But in formal writing, this is a “must to avoid.”

Let’s look at examples.

Although the small plane makes me nervous, I’ll try to stay calm once we’re in the air.

I said that I would try to install the new generator.

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