In his RNC acceptance speech, John McCain said he likes to “bend a few rules,” and that proved true, grammatically speaking.

“A lot of prisoners had it worse than I did,” he said. “I’d been mistreated before, but not as badly as others.”

When we make comparisons, we choose between as…as and so…as. The correct choice depends on whether a positive or negative comparison is being made. When comparing two things to show that they are equal or equivalent, use as…as. For example, Hillary Clinton is about as wealthy as John McCain.

When comparing two things to show that they are unequal or not equivalent, use so…as. Barack Obama is not so wealthy as John McCain. And John McCain is not so stinking rich as Mitt Romney.

Which brings us back to last night’s speech. McCain should’ve said, “I’d been mistreated before, but not so badly as others.”

He also made a couple of poor word choices in St. Paul.

“Let me offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second Washington crowd: Change is coming,” he said.

The phrase “advance warning” is redundant. A warning, by definition, gives advance notice.

Here’s another mis-speak. He said, “Today, the prospect of a better world remains within our reach.”  

A prospect is potential, an expectation. The prospect of a better word already exists; it is well within our reach. The reality of it is what we’re striving to grasp. McCain should’ve simply said, “Today, a better world remains within our reach.”

After enlisting in the Grammar Guard, proper language will be within McCain’s reach.