Q: When did the verb "to be" suddenly disappear from proper usage — specifically, not using "to be" in phrases such as "That light bulb needs replaced"? In a TV commercial for Safelite AutoGlass a technician says, "When your windshield needs fixed, trust Safelight." — Daniel Murphy, West Hartford, Conn.

Really? Yup. I checked this ad out on youtube, and that's exactly what the technician says.

While dropping "to be" after "needs" grates on the ears of most of us, this construction is widespread in central and western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

Consider, for instance, these postings from the weblog metafilter.com:

"When I went to college in central Pennsylvania, many of my classmates would omit 'to be' in phrases like 'this room needs cleaned' or 'my hair needs combed.'"

"[I'm from] Central Ohio with great-grandparents from southeastern Ohio/western Pennsylvania who passed it down to us."

"The saddest use I've ever seen (both grammatically speaking and otherwise), from Pittsburgh Craigslist, was 'Kitten needs rid of.'"

Meow!

Two theories about the origins of this idiom have emerged. Some say it's derived from the German spoken by settlers in Pennsylvania and Ohio, which is why it's common among the Amish and Mennonites.

But others suggest it was imported by the Scots-Irish who settled along the Appalachian Mountains, which explains why it's also common in western Virginia, eastern Tennessee and Arkansas. The American Heritage Dictionary notes that this idiom is still prevalent in Scotland.

Safelight is headquartered in Ohio, so it's not surprising that the company would use this idiom in a TV commercial. What IS surprising is how fast this usage is spreading across the nation.

Like a tiny chip in the windshield, it's sending tentacle-like cracks across American English. Metafilter.com posters report hearing it in places ranging from Illinois to California to Hawaii.

But is it standard English? You could argue that this construction is simply a handy shortening of a longer phrase, and that "to be" is understood. Most of us use a similar elision when we say, "I want in on this," (instead of "I want to be in on this") or "the cat wants out."

Nevertheless, the construction sounds so uncouth to most of us that it can't be deemed acceptable, even in spoken English.

This cat isn't out of the bag yet, but watch out. Meow!

Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Conn., invites your language sightings. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to Wordguy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.

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