Notice anything different?

Yup, the Chipmunk of Doom has had a little work done. Thanks to some of our alert readers, he knows that he used to look more like a squirrel than a chipmunk (see his “before” photo on this grammar blog post), so he decided the time had come to do something about it.

After a lengthy consultation with our illustrator, it was decided that all the CoD really needed was a series of spa treatments to freshen his overall look. Of course, the first stop was at the furdresser, who gave this chipmunk his well-earned stripes.

Then it was off to the manicurist, who buffed his dainty paws; the personal trainer, who beefed up his biceps; the orthodontist, who polished his overbite; and finally the stylist, who trimmed his coat and fluffed his tail.

This is the most animated we’ve seen the Chipmunk of Doom in a long time! He has been in such a good mood since his makeover that he’s barely had time to get into a grammar snit. However, during his transformation, he did hear a couple of things that rubbed him the wrong way, and they both had to do with misused adjectives and adverbs.

Bad vs. Badly

As he was settling into the reclining chair at the orthodontist’s office, the Chipmunk of Doom overheard the orthodontist say, “I feel badly today.”

Oh, no! His sense of touch is off?! What could have happened? Did he shoot himself in the fingers with novocaine? How will he hold the dental instruments? You can imagine how nervous the CoD was about placing the future of his pearly whites in the hands of someone who…couldn’t feel his hands.

To his relief, the CoD soon discovered that the orthodontist, Dr. Hare, had merely eaten too much carrot cake and had a stomachache. What Dr. Hare really meant was that he felt bad. The Chipmunk of Doom could have avoided all that stress if Dr. Hare had said, “I feel bad today.”

Good vs. Well

Later that week, the Chipmunk of Doom’s personal trainer, Mr. Hound, commented on the CoD’s improving physique. “Your biceps are looking well today, Mr. Doom.” The Chipmunk of Doom spun around in all directions, wondering what his biceps could possibly be looking at, especially since they don’t have eyes. This confusing thought distracted him during his workout, and he dropped a half-pound barbell on his big toe. Ouch. Mr. Doom wouldn’t be limping today if Mr. Hound had said, “Your biceps are looking good.”

It’s too bad that the Chipmunk of Doom’s makeover was marred by these unfortunate events, but he hopes that his troubles will inspire you to learn the correct usage of these two grammar bugaboos: bad/badly and good/well.

The Easy Workout

The easiest way to instill the correct usage of bad/badly and good/well is to say them correctly in sentences several times a day. Repeat the exercise until the correct usage sounds right and rolls off your tongue like an acorn. Here are four sentences that you can use for practice:

1. Mr. Hare feels bad about dropping the carrot cake.
2. Mr. Hare feels badly when his fingertips are numb.
3. Mr. Hound smells good when he wears cologne.
4. Mr. Hound smells well with his big, wet nose.

The Complete Treatment

And here are the nitty-gritty details for those who like grammar as much as the Chipmunk of Doom does.

The Rules

• Good and bad are adjectives. Adjectives modify (add more information about) nouns and pronouns and most often answer the question What kind of?
  • Gertrude is a good furdresser. (Furdresser is a noun [not really -- I made it up!], and good is an adjective that tells us what kind of furdresser Gertrude is.)
• Exception: Adjectives are also used after linking verbs like be, seem, become, and sound, and after four of the sense verbs: taste, look, smell, and feel.

• Well and badly are adverbs. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs, and often end in -ly. They most commonly answer the question How?
  • Gertrude styles fur well. (Styles is a verb, and well is an adverb that tells us how Gertrude styles fur.)

• CoD TIP: To keep the jobs of adjectives and adverbs straight, just remember that adverbs ADD information to VERBS. 

• Use the adjective forms good and bad with sense verbs and linking verbs:
  • Dr. Hare is bad at grammar (but good at baking carrot cake).
  • Mr. Hound smells good (because he uses Eau d’Acorn cologne).

• Use the adverb forms well and badly with action verbs that show a concrete action:
  • Dr. Hare feels badly today (because he shot his fingers with novocaine).
  • Mr. Hound performs his job well (even when his clients are cranky).

Exceptions, regardless of the type of verb:

• When referring to health, always use well.
  • Mr. Doom did not feel well after his workout (because chin-ups make him woozy).
• When referring to an emotional state, use good.
  • Mr. Doom did not feel good about chastising Mr. Hound (because he knows chin-ups are good for him).

How are you?

• The Chipmunk of Doom is pleased to announce that answering this question with I feel good is perfectly acceptable, especially if you think the asker is inquiring about your emotional state.
• If it’s certain the asker is inquiring about your physical well-being, perhaps because your paws are all bandaged, then answer, I don’t feel so well.
• You can avoid the whole mess by saying I feel like a brand new chipmunk!

Despite the grammar slips, the Chipmunk of Doom enjoyed his time at the spa and is thrilled with his new look. He just reminds you that adjectives and adverbs can be great for giving your writing a little facelift but, when used incorrectly, they can twist your meaning so your writing gets all distorted, like a hairstyle gone terribly wrong.

You don’t want to end up like this guy…

That would be bad!

Looking for more grammar lessons? Click here for all grammar posts by the Chipmunk of Doom!

Uh-oh, the Chipmunk of Doom has his cummerbund in a twist again, and this time he’s mad about compound words. I mean, can you blame him? Just look at the invitation he received to the Chipmunk Cha-Cha Ball:

You are cordially invited to attend
the 3rd Annual Chipmunk Cha-Cha Ball.
To RSVP, login to our site and let us know
when you can pickup your tickets.

Acorns are limited, and we’re expecting a big turn out!
Reserve your spot now for the acorn barbecue,
especially if you need alot of tickets for the whole family!

Dress: Your every day tuxes and gowns. No tennis shoes.

Oh, dear. Once he’d come down from the top of the drapes where he’d gone to contemplate this calamity, our furry friend realized just what a difference a space makes. Luckily, these errors are easy to fix, and the Chipmunk knows just what to do.Read On »