A point of grammar
Dec 16, 2019 08:41:20 #
Unfortunately your English is slipping! The plural of comma is commas. To use comma’s is wrong to indicate the plural. It is also incorrect to talk about the Anderson’s. The correct usage is the Andersons ( note absence of an apostrophe). It is used to indicate possession and not the plural condition. Another common grammatical error is to write or say ‘for him and I’. It is correctly ‘for him and ME’. ‘For’ is a preposition and takes the objective case which is ME and not I. One would never say that a friend gave a present ‘for I’. Finally, the words are his, her, and ITS, not his, her, and IT’S. This is the instance where the apostrophe indicates the contraction for ‘it is’, and not for any possession.
Dec 16, 2019 09:09:52 #
Some have talked about commas. The comma can save lives as in “let’s eat Grandma vs. let’s eat, Grandma. Saw that on a t-shirt and thought it was funny.
Dec 16, 2019 09:25:33 #
Language evolves. Compare modern english to Shakeapeare's english and then to Chaucer's english. Same language but the further back you go, the more incomprehensible it is to us.
My pet peeve was always "flounder" (a fish) versus "founder" (an out-of-control ship about to crash onto rocks). If you can find a old dictionary, the only definition of "flounder" is a fish but if you look at modern dictionaries, "flounder" includes what used to be the definition of "founder." Flounder has been misused so long it's now acceptable to use it to indicate a person, team, organization, etc. that's in trouble. To me, the misuse of flounder is the mark of an uneducated person but I guess it shows I'm the dinosaur who won't accept change!
My pet peeve was always "flounder" (a fish) versus "founder" (an out-of-control ship about to crash onto rocks). If you can find a old dictionary, the only definition of "flounder" is a fish but if you look at modern dictionaries, "flounder" includes what used to be the definition of "founder." Flounder has been misused so long it's now acceptable to use it to indicate a person, team, organization, etc. that's in trouble. To me, the misuse of flounder is the mark of an uneducated person but I guess it shows I'm the dinosaur who won't accept change!
Dec 16, 2019 09:27:25 #
The word "for" has disappeared in broadcasting and has been replaced by "fur."
For dpullum--I too can't spell worth squat, but as you say, it sure results in a large vocabulary. English grammar, not so much.
For dpullum--I too can't spell worth squat, but as you say, it sure results in a large vocabulary. English grammar, not so much.
Dec 16, 2019 09:27:33 #
Dec 16, 2019 09:32:05 #
ottopj
Loc: Annapolis, MD USA
St. Mary's
Going to the midwest from the East Coast for Grad School in the mid 70's I quickly noticed the almost universal "fur" pronunciation. My favorite I heard out there is: "The Escape goat" for scape goat.
Going to the midwest from the East Coast for Grad School in the mid 70's I quickly noticed the almost universal "fur" pronunciation. My favorite I heard out there is: "The Escape goat" for scape goat.
Dec 16, 2019 09:33:51 #
The best teacher I ever had was Miss Eleanor Weirman in High School--and I graduated from Stanford with a BS in physics, and I had two Nobel Prize winners for professors in the physics department. I had Miss Weirman my Junior and Senior year in HS. We were required to write a 5 page theme every week plus a 10 page term paper twice a year.
Currently, the LA Times sports section commonly quotes athletes with such sentences as, "Next game, we got to get better..." instead of "we have got to get better," i.e., they almost never use, or at least print, the future perfect. The past perfect ("had gotten") and present perfect ("have gotten") are also seldom used. I am not sure if these are accurate quotes of the athletes or ignorant sports writers or a sloppy sports editor, but it really irritates me. This poor written grammar started about the time the new owner of the paper took over.
Currently, the LA Times sports section commonly quotes athletes with such sentences as, "Next game, we got to get better..." instead of "we have got to get better," i.e., they almost never use, or at least print, the future perfect. The past perfect ("had gotten") and present perfect ("have gotten") are also seldom used. I am not sure if these are accurate quotes of the athletes or ignorant sports writers or a sloppy sports editor, but it really irritates me. This poor written grammar started about the time the new owner of the paper took over.
Dec 16, 2019 09:38:15 #
ottopj
Loc: Annapolis, MD USA
Verryl,
I believe grammar is not taught in school at present. My sister was a teacher up until 10 years ago and they were told not to correct spelling, punctuation or grammar.
I believe grammar is not taught in school at present. My sister was a teacher up until 10 years ago and they were told not to correct spelling, punctuation or grammar.
Dec 16, 2019 09:47:10 #
Dec 16, 2019 09:53:40 #
I’m generally willing to cut broadcasters some slack on their grammatical errors. If they spoke perfect English all the time they might sound like the lawyers you mentioned. That would be worse than a few mistakes for the sake of sounding “down home”.
That being said I do have my pet peeves and number one is the thought many people have that “You and I” is always correct. Just as you point out that the verb “to be” requires the nominative case, the use of the objective preposition “me” is often the correct use. For example: “You and I have a concern for grammatical issues” and “Others will be taking shots at you and me for being so freakin’ picky”.
That being said I do have my pet peeves and number one is the thought many people have that “You and I” is always correct. Just as you point out that the verb “to be” requires the nominative case, the use of the objective preposition “me” is often the correct use. For example: “You and I have a concern for grammatical issues” and “Others will be taking shots at you and me for being so freakin’ picky”.
Dec 16, 2019 09:55:11 #
ottopj
Loc: Annapolis, MD USA
BillFeffer
My niece worked with a bunch of introverts who would stop by her desk for whatever reason. When there is nothing more they want to say and not sure how to end the conversation, they stand there for a few seconds and finally say, "So!" turn around and walk away.
My niece worked with a bunch of introverts who would stop by her desk for whatever reason. When there is nothing more they want to say and not sure how to end the conversation, they stand there for a few seconds and finally say, "So!" turn around and walk away.
Dec 16, 2019 09:58:28 #
ottopj
Loc: Annapolis, MD USA
If you are announcing nationally or regionally, I believe you need to know proper English. My prejudice!
Dec 16, 2019 09:59:24 #
pesfls wrote:
OK, one of my weaknesses is admitted. I don’t like improper punctuation or misspelling. I’m aware though of some linguistic variations as such tire or tyre depending on your nationality. But poor grammatical skills, etc rub me the wrong way. I was an A student in English and writing courses I guess because I took it seriously. We sometimes call our eldest daughter the grammar nazi. Not meaning to offend, just admitting I’m not perfect. Intriguing subject here. Good luck ya’ll.
Don’t you mean: Good luck all y’all?
Dec 16, 2019 10:04:37 #
[quote=Verryl”This poor written grammar started about the time the new owner of the paper took over.@[/quote]
Shouldn’t that be “poorly” written grammar?
The adverb “poorly” modifies the adjective “written” which modifies the noun “grammar”.
Shouldn’t that be “poorly” written grammar?
The adverb “poorly” modifies the adjective “written” which modifies the noun “grammar”.
Dec 16, 2019 10:07:19 #
Let's face it. When it comes to proper grammar, we as a country, are paying considerably more for a lot less when it comes to education. I, too, was no where near the top in my English classes, so when someone like me cringes when hearing some of our media journalists' delivery, it's got to be a pretty bad verbal faux pas.
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