Gripes (Page 2): Way back in the late '50s when I was still in high school, I asked that very question of my English teacher, and he looked at me with astonishment and said, "Well, I...

2Dragons Loc: The Back of Beyond

RS wrote:

How about the sentence that can be spoken(?) but not written!?

- There are three "to's" in the English language.

Should that be - two's, too's, or to's - if written?

Way back in the late '50s when I was still in high school, I asked that very question of my English teacher, and he looked at me with astonishment and said, "Well, I had never thought of that, and I have no answer for you."

I thought of it again in the '80s when I was taking some refresher courses and the English teacher I asked at that time hadn't a clue, either.

Floyd Loc: Misplaced Texan in Florence, Alabama

RS wrote:

How about the sentence that can be spoken(?) but not written!?

- There are three "to's" in the English language.

Should that be - two's, too's, or to's - if written?

From us old coots" that are slightly older than dirt and received a decent education, the following can be sent to those in need.

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

2Dragons wrote:

Way back in the late '50s when I was still in high school, I asked that very question of my English teacher, and he looked at me with astonishment and said, "Well, I had never thought of that, and I have no answer for you."

I thought of it again in the '80s when I was taking some refresher courses and the English teacher I asked at that time hadn't a clue, either.

I suspect that the instructor or professor you had was an idiot, since any sentence that can be spoken, can be written with the help of QUOTATION MARKS, thereby indicating something said by an individual.

This is just silly

Therefore, there is no sentence that is spoken that can't be written down..

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Something else that tends to amuse me from time to time is the way that people start sentences these days. Must every sentence start off with, OK or Well? I know it is some type of cultural thing but it would seem some people are not able to start a sentence without those two words.

Along with that is someone telling me something and at the end of every sentence asking, OK, as if I didn't understand what they just told me or that I am supposed to agree with or confirm their statement. "So I'm driving down the road, OK? I see this deer on the side of the road, OK. Well I slow down but the deer doesn't, OK? So then I hit the deer, OK.

Dennis

singleviking Loc: Lake Sebu Eco Park, Philippines

dennis2146 wrote:

Something else that tends to amuse me from time to... (show quote)

That started with the "Valley Girl Syndrome". Remember when the beginning of everything you heard was started with "Ya know."? Your example is just a natural progression of "The Dumbing Down Of America" that seems to be at epidemic proportions.

jenny Loc: in hiding:)

A huge difference between BRING and TAKE !!!
When you go somewhere, TAKE your camera with you.
Once you are there, ask others... did they remember
to BRING theirs?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

singleviking wrote:

That started with the "Valley Girl Syndrome". Remember when the beginning of everything you heard was started with "Ya know."? Your example is just a natural progression of "The Dumbing Down Of America" that seems to be at epidemic proportions.

Agreed. The sad part is that most of these people have no idea how incredibly dumb they really are.

Dennis

George Kravis

"and each one of them HAS their own meaning, etc" A case of consistency in number!

George Kravis

Oops, I overlooked another error. "Their" should be the singular compatible with "each", so "he, she, or it" would be correct.

RS Loc: W Columbia, SC

singleviking wrote:

First, get you're sentence structure correct befor... (show quote)

I know what you mean about the pronunciation of various words. I often hear people say they have spoken with a 'relator' instead of 'realtor'.

And how about hearing people use the word 'and' when saying a number; ie, four hundred AND fourteen, instead of four hundred fourteen? That seemed to come more following the year 2000, when people started saying, "Two thousand and one."

bookman Loc: Southeast Michigan

And whatever happened to "You're welcome" after telling someone "Thank you"? Nowadays, the response that I usually hear is "No problem". :thumbdown:

macsta Loc: the winterless north of nz

Past Pro wrote:

Maybe this:

There are three ways to express the word "to," and each one of them have their own meaning, etc.

Or "brought" and "bought"

Earworms Loc: Sacramento, California

dennis2146 wrote:

Something else that tends to amuse me from time to... (show quote)

OK, so what did you do after you hit the deer?

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Earworms wrote:

OK, so what did you do after you hit the deer?

OK, my plan was to throw him in the back of my truck and drop him off at my butcher as that is legal in CO, after reporting it to the local police or game warden and obtaining a permit. As I say that was my plan. What really happened, OK, was that it was 5:00 AM and I saw two oncoming vehicles coming straight for my deer which had been thrown into the oncoming lane. With my flashlight beam as a warning I successfully steered the first car away from the deer. The second vehicle, a very low to the ground sports car, apparently did not see my light and ran directly over the top of my deer, dragging it about 75 yards. The driver, who could not have missed the fact that he just hit and dragged something, just continued on as if nothing had happened. OK are you with me so far? OK, I examined the deer and after noticing it was far too damaged for consumption, I pushed it over the side of a deep ravine so other vehicles would not hit it. OK?

Dennis

Bangee5 Loc: Louisiana

jimmya wrote:

All true. One of my pets is people shooting a digital camera and saying they're "filming" - duh!

What would you have them say? That they are "digitizing"?

Recording is the proper term but so be it .

I don't like the use of the words 'I be...' I be going to the store instead of I am going to the store or at least that I am on my way to the store.