A point of grammar
Dec 16, 2019 10:17:46 #
nicksr1125 wrote:
Not only misspelling words. How about using the wrong word aka: their, they're, there; two, to, too; etc. It's like they're not teaching grammar in school anymore.
Along with your list allow me to add advice/advise. I notice many people when trying to write the word, your as in your street neglect to add the letter, R, at the end so it comes out as, you, street. I once thought it was a simple typographical error but I see it so commonly used these days that I believe people don't know it is wrong.
I blame much of this on people who text a lot (while I am at it there is another word that is commonly misused, ALOT. I don't believe that word exists. It is A LOT as in saying I failed a lot of tests in high school. There is a word, ALLOT, meaning I will allot a given amount of money to charity this year. Where was I? Oh yes I was writing about people who text. They are so used to texting, u r correct, that I don't believe many even know that it should be, you are correct.
Dennis
Dec 16, 2019 10:19:51 #
I have been having fits hearing so many people saying "ek cetera" in place of "et cetera". I am sure it is picked up from hearing others speak, but looking up the term in a genuine dictionary will tell you how the term originated and why it is "et" and not "ek".
(I didn't flunk college English, but I did get a D. (My grammar checker just told me to remove the comma behind English! I disagree!)).
(I didn't flunk college English, but I did get a D. (My grammar checker just told me to remove the comma behind English! I disagree!)).
Dec 16, 2019 10:21:42 #
Dec 16, 2019 10:24:09 #
LVP
Loc: Seekonk, MA
My personal crusade is against the misuse of "less" and "fewer".
Not an abuse for which spell check can be blamed.
Not an abuse for which spell check can be blamed.
Dec 16, 2019 10:25:26 #
jaymatt wrote:
That’s an apostrophe you’re referring to, not a comma.
Thank you for saving me the trouble of that easy correction. I almost want to say the person did it on purpose to check to see if we were paying attention. But I do notice right here in River City (UHH) that many people use a comma where an apostrophe is required.
Dennis
Dec 16, 2019 10:29:32 #
DAN Phillips wrote:
Many need to work on the proper use of "A" and "AN". I see many , many mistakes.
Thank you for bringing that up. Quite true. I often see sentences such as, A event is happening this coming weekend. I always think to myself that nobody on the planet would speak that sentence and don't we all pretty much type as we are thinking as the sentence progresses in our mind? I guess not.
Dennis
Dec 16, 2019 10:32:52 #
jmw44 wrote:
I am a retired pastor. I was fortunate to have a f... (show quote)
You bring up two good points. First is that your teacher was a stickler and insisted on the correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. I have heard that many teachers these days, so as not to have to fail anybody, simply read a submission and if the meaning can be found then it passes. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not graded. Big mistake to my thinking. The second point of course is bringing up then and than.
Dennis
Dec 16, 2019 12:11:30 #
I believe it was Mark Twain who once said "it's a dull and unimaginative mind that can only think of one way to spell a word"
Dec 16, 2019 12:14:17 #
I’m surprised that the book “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” hasn’t been mentioned in this discussion. It was popular a decade ago and discussed the issue of how the use of commas could completely change the meaning of a sentence. It also discussed the use ”Grocer’s apostrophes” such as “Apple’s $.99 per pound” has proliferated. It’s written in a humorous vein and is quite entertaining.
Dec 16, 2019 12:21:03 #
Dec 16, 2019 12:46:02 #
cahale
Loc: San Angelo, TX
daldds wrote:
I've got to complain to someone, so Hogs, you're t... (show quote)
And don't you really enjoy "exact same" (when the play is nowhere near exact), "they have got" (they either have, or they got), "a nother" (I've never been able to decide what nother is), "he is one of the best" (he either is the best, or he isn't), and total disregard for the difference between adjectives and adverbs. I guess my protests come from computer programming, where you cannot use incorrect "grammar."
Dec 16, 2019 12:54:34 #
dennis2146 wrote:
You bring up two good points. First is that your teacher was a stickler and insisted on the correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. I have heard that many teachers these days, so as not to have to fail anybody, simply read a submission and if the meaning can be found then it passes. Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not graded. Big mistake to my thinking. The second point of course is bringing up then and than.
Dennis
Dennis
I think it’s also because many teachers need work on their own language skills.
Dec 16, 2019 12:56:50 #
Another common apostrophe error is in writing decades. It's not the 60's, it's the '60s, with the apostrophe standing in for the first two numbers.
Dec 16, 2019 12:59:33 #
ottopj
Loc: Annapolis, MD USA
JohnSwanda wrote:
Another common apostrophe error is in writing decades. It's not the 60's, it's the '60s, with the apostrophe standing in for the first two numbers.
Thanks. The first time I ever saw this and it makes sense! I was never sure what to do. With or without an apostrophe and where. My Christmas Gift. Thanks again!
Dec 16, 2019 13:09:12 #
alliebess
Loc: suburban Philadelphia
JohnSwanda wrote:
I have always felt that way about the word "unique" but I never saw anyone else remark on it.
It certainly bothers me. My high school English teacher taught us that "unique" meant one of a kind and should not be modified; after 65 years I still remember that.
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