It is time to be a grammar Nazi

[mudesi]

There - "George W. Bush's puppet master, Dick Cheney, is over there."

Their - "The occupation in Iraq is the doing of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. It is their fault."

They're - "The media has been lying to the people for decades now. They're not going to fool me, anymore."

Your - "Your comments are insulting and rude."

You're - "You're insulting and rude."

Its - "In case you couldn't tell from its name, Democratic Underground is a site for Democrats."

It's - "It's stupid of you to use that simplistic and irrelevant argument."

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

1. This Has To Be One Of The Only Posts I've Seen Where You Knew What You Were Talking About LOL

Course, I'm not sure it was really necessary and comes off a bit, well, petty and childish.

[mudesi]

2. OF course....

Also, you shouldn't capitalize every word.

[hisownpetard]

3. Do you no

that you're post - well, it's kinda
way out their!

[Mandate My Ass]

4. ..

:yourock:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. In A Header? Can If Ya Want To.

That's a matter of individual preference. It isn't a matter of grammar. Both sentence case and title case are acceptable.

Guess you used up all of your accurate knowledge in your OP. :rofl:

[treestar]

59. Your header is thus a title

Each post of yours must be a complete work of literature. :rofl:

[treestar]

60. Wrong Place

[datasuspect]

87. use the title case in the subject header if there is an actual TITLE

and not if you are using the subject header as the beginning of the body of your post.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

97. No.

[datasuspect]

98. There Is No Valid Reason to Use This Form of Capitalization

In a Subject Header Unless You Are Creating an Actual Title.

It Makes People Think A Person is Trying to be Smart or Something.

Either That, or It Lends an Officiousness and Fussiness to Thoughts That are Actually Mundane and Rather Pedestrian, But Which the Poster Thinks Are Profound and Dripping with Logic and Reason.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

102. Your Logic Is Severely Flawed.

You think you're the one trying to be all smart and dictate to people what it means if someone chooses to write their headers in a title case format.

What is completely missing from your list, and what is actually the most basic rule involved, is that IT SIMPLY COMES DOWN TO THE POSTERS INDIVIDUAL PREFERENCE. Nothing more. No armchair psychology. Nothing more complicated. Simple, user, preference.

It's a message board pal. Just a non-serious, do what ya please, non-professional, just for kicks message board. You obviously take it wayyyyyyyyy too seriously.

If you actually opened your eyes and your mind and looked around ya here, you'd notice there are PLENTY of posters who CHOOSE to use title case, for no other reason than that they simply just fucking want to. There are no hard rules or psychological stigmas attached to the concept. It's just quite simply cause they fucking want to.

Again, it's just a message board pal. A harmless, innocent form of personal entertainment and interaction. And there is no set in stone rules to follow in what writing style people are to use when interacting on them. The fact you want to assign such rules makes you rigid and borderline arrogant. But when it comes down to it, you have failed to recognize the most basic point in what I stated upthread. That is that BOTH sentence case AND title case are acceptable formats to use in the headers of posts; ANY posts, based merely on the users preference and NOT on the context of the header itself. Don't like it? Too damn bad. The world don't revolve around you pal.

But look around you. You'll find many a poster who uses title case in their headers as well. They're doing nothing wrong by doing so, no matter how petty and childish some others want to be in chiding them for it. In fact, the reason I began using title case to begin with was because as a lurker, my favorite poster 'The Magistrate' used it in each and every post. I loved his posts and CHOSE to adopt title case as my style as well, almost as a way to pay homage to him. But now, I get an additional reward from using it, and that's knowing it pisses off the petty noselifting 'my way or no way' children here by my doing so.

But even that's irrelevant. Fact is, no explanation is required. Know why? Cause no matter what hilariously misconceived amateur psychology you want to assign to it, it only comes down to nothing more then user preference of either style that's completely acceptable in a message board format.

But get over it pal. You take message boards wayyyyy too seriously. :rofl:

[datasuspect]

108. define "logic"

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

110. For Sake Of This Exercise, Let's Make It Synonymous With Reasoning.

And your reasoning was just quite simply flawed, as I firmly showed above.

Bye now! :hi:

[datasuspect]

112. but it isn't synonymous with reasoning

reasoning is an adjunct or process through which logic can be used.

i will not hector you about its definition anymore. i'll provide one definition of logic to you for your edification:

"Logic is the science of correct argument."


notice it doesn't say "persuasive argument."

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

121. I Said For Sake Of This Exercise, In Order To Simplify It For You. And It's Synonymous Enough.

There are many definitions of logic. But in this context the ones applicable would all deal with methods of reasoning and the methods you incorporated.

So to spoon feed you further, since you obviously are having trouble understanding such basic concepts, the method of reasoning you used in forging your logical argument, was tragically flawed and warped in perception. You built your house out of straw, so to speak.

Furthermore, the definition you provided also stands as critical of your post. You didn't make a correct argument. You made a tragically flawed and misguided argument. As far as not saying persuasive argument, no one claimed that was necessary. Just merely being accurate or of sound reasoning. But your reasoning wasn't sound, it was flawed. Your logic wasn't correct, it was flawed. What is so hard for you to grasp here?

Now your obsessing about your petty interpretations of what logic means, after you were already embarrassed previously as to your absurdly ignorant and arrogant armchair psychology declarations as to why someone would use title case on a message board. But you're only serving to embarrass yourself further by obsessing about what 'logic' means, as if this side conversation has a thing to do with the original context.

Your argument was exposed as flawed; and it was. The logic, the reasoning and your methods of interpretation were all false within the context given. One need not have to define 'logic' to understand that the logic in which you used was tragically flawed for the reasons shown. That's not do to me finding your argument to have not been persuasive, it has to do with my recognition that your argument was just quite simply of ignorant knowledge and flawed premise.

Have no doubt: Your logic further up thread was tragically flawed. I exposed why it was tragically flawed. You want to deflect with this equally laughable petty bickering of definitions of 'logic', yet your doing so makes your case hold no water than it had previously.

You're drowning here. You were being petty and arrogant and had your argument obliterated. You can't save it, since it was built shoddily to begin with. Fact is, you thought you were cool or something by trying to criticize my use of title case, as if you are some be all end all guru of what is acceptable or not on message boards. It was incredibly petty, childish, arrogant and quite simply wrong. Get over it pal. :hi:

[datasuspect]

124. the coherence of your thoughts is obscured by the lack of cogency

and concision in your remarks. that sure is a lot a fluster.

seems like i touched a nerve.

dude, i shouldn't be having this much fun with you. i apologize.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

125. Fact Is, I Bested Ya. Pretty Obvious Too.

You're an amateur.

Bye now! :hi:

[datasuspect]

126. yeah, you win

hee hee

[mudesi]

127. Wasn't that a riot?

A poster who capitalizes every word and another poster who doesn't capitalize at all arguing about grammar. :rofl:

[datasuspect]

129. i was hoping someone would catch that

here's a cigar!

[MLFerrell]

128. Must you piss on every thread that you visit?

:eyes:

[MrMickeysMom]

133. Sure, haven't you ever seen a dog wanting to mark their territory? n/t

... :P

[Dutch]

162. Errr...this thread is itself pissing on other posters...

It's a bit rich to whine about not all the piss being allowed to go in direction.

[Toasterlad]

7. I'll Capitalize What I Please, Thank You.

The purpose of language is to communicate thought. If you understood what a person was trying to say, no matter how poorly it was written or grammatically constructed, the language has done its job.

Spelling and grammar nazis are unnecessary and elitist. Let people write however they want. Its the thought that counts.

[Greyhound]

20. But that is the problem, as our grammatical and language skills deteriorate,

meaning becomes less apparent and misinterpretation becomes more likely. The more limited a person's vocabulary, the more difficult accurate expression becomes and the easier it is to twist that (intended) meaning.

[Toasterlad]

27. I Think It's All About What's Appropriate Where

I believe it's important to know HOW to spell and write properly; in the business world, where everything is up for judgment, it reflects poorly on a person if they can't write passably (although I've seen many examples of HORRIBLE grammar/spelling from supervisors, department heads, you name it.)

I just don't think grammar or spelling is too important on an internet message board. It annoys me when people feel compelled to "correct" other people's mistakes, and it annoys me even more when a misspelled word is used as "evidence" in a flame war. ("It's 'their', not 'there'! You must be a idiot!") Some people care way too much about this stuff, that's all I'm saying.

And I was an ENGLISH major.

Edited for spelling. Oh, sweet irony!

[Clark2008]

34. This communications major/English minor agrees with you.

I hate seeing the misuse of words, but it is, after all, a message board - not the Magna Carta.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

37. LOL That Was A Great Line.

"but it is, after all, a message board - not the Magna Carta."

[hfojvt]

55. I correct some

Sometimes to help people to learn, sometimes to be funny, and other times to poke at people with a sharp stick.

Its ultimate irony when someone posts a rant about how stupid everyone else is, or how stupid the person their arguing with is, or bragging about how smart they our and they make some obvious gaffes that are not typos.

"Get a brian, morans!"

[Toasterlad]

63. "Get a Brain, Morans!" Is Obviously a Special Case.

B-)

[Ex Lion Tamer]

96. Editing for spelling in a post about grammar really isn't "irony."

Sorry, couldn't resist!

:evilgrin:

[baby_mouse]

79. Nope

There are instances where bad use of the language makes it impossible for it to do it's job.

The word "disinterested", for example, has come to mean the same as "uninterested". No other word is currently in use in the English language to replace it, a meaning has been lost. No-one under 35 understands what "disinterest" means.

Correct spelling isn't elitist, it's *normal*.

[mwb970]

86. Um, it makes it impossible for it to do *its* job, not it's.

Or did you use this abnormal spelling on purpose to be ironic?

[baby_mouse]

116. How embarassing.

That'll teach me...

[Toasterlad]

99. You're Missing My Point.

What I'm saying is that if you understood what the author was trying to say, the language has done its job; there is no need for correction. If you DIDN'T understand, you're free to ask for clarification.

Correct spelling is not elitist, but correctING spelling IS.

[Canuckistanian]

46. sniffa capitalizes all "L"s

Is this permissible?

[Toasterlad]

64. Yeah, What's Up With That? Busted Keyboard? Political Statement? What?

[Canuckistanian]

65. Just to be different, I guess

To stand out. To be recognized.

I think I read an explanation about why he does it and that's all I can remember.

[Longhorn]

76. I thought that the L's stand for "Liberal." nt

[HCE SuiGeneris]

115. Um... if you're going to use an ellipsis,

you should only use three full stops.

[Control-Z]

144. Unless you're YELLING!! n/t

[Guaranteed]

66. Uh, I believe that's "knew what you WE'RE talking about" ha ha!

Looser!

:silly:

[seemslikeadream]

5. Could you tell me what this means?

Its'

[TheBaldyMan]

24. plural possessive apostrophe erroneously used with indefinite 3rd pers possessive

Glad I could help.

"Ich war nie immer ein grammatische nazi, ich war bei dei Preutzische Pedogogische Korps" Buchstabeirtfuhrer Kahlermann

[seemslikeadream]

40. Vielen Dank so sehr viel

:hi:

Ich bin unwissend manchmal.

Aber nicht ebenso unwissend als unser Präsident.

[TheBaldyMan]

43. stimmt, mein alte junge

:hi:

[melody]

8. Since most people here have solid English skills, you can be sure we're going to be watching you :)

One little slip-up and I'm going to hold you up to scrutiny. If you're an
Inquisitor, you ought to expect to be subject to the Inquisition. ;)

[HCE SuiGeneris]

117. See post # 119...

:evilgrin:

[melody]

118. I prefer #123 myself. n/t

[rucky]

9. Next lesson: Comma Usage. n/t

[Speck Tater]

10. But NOTHING is more egregious than...

"alot", as in "I see alot of people over there."

If you are going to fuse "a" and "lot" into "alot" then shouldn't you also fuse "a" with "few" into "afew", and "a" with "whole" with "bunch" into "awholebunch"?

It's "I saw a lot of people over there." and "I saw a few people over there." and "I saw a whole bunch of people over there." NOT "I saw alot of people over there." or "I saw afew people over there." or "I saw awholebunch of people over there."

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

A With Whole? Ok, You Sound Like An Awhole.

:rofl:

[JerseygirlCT]

44. How about "fewer" and "less"? The beer advertisers could use

a few lessons on that.

[SidDithers]

155. That's the one that makes my eyes hurt...nt

Sid

[kskiska]

78. Alright

is not all right.

[Wiley50]

11. To, Two and Too drive me crazy

also

[libodem]

12. Does this make anyone else feel kinda bad?

It's all about me, of course. My paranoia springs up into the 'on guard' stance. I wonder if I have posted an embarrassing mistake somewhere beside using loose for lose in the lounge a couple of days ago. That caught me up short. I fairly burned with shame and it was too late to edit when I figured it out. It is still bothering me. I never have been able to spell. I must be a fuckin' chromosomal aberration. I should have been aborted. So shoot me, already.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

17. Lots of my posts have grammatical errors, sadly. I type quickly and my proof reading may or may not

pick up those particular missteps.

I do the best I can and figure we all make mistakes.

Most of us here know the standard rules, however, since the use of language and text is undergoing a significant transformation, we can probably be forgiven our occasional slip ups.

And,yet, I still get frustrated by my mistakes, especially after the edit time expires. I have to restrain myself from posting a reply to my "erroneous" post explaining that I really do see the glaring error in my syntax. :-) MKJ

[Libby2]

21. Yes, it does.

I'm sure most of us have made a mistake at one time or another.
To call someone on it is childish....IMO.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

31. Very Childish.

But we see a lot of that type of mentality around here by some.

Those silly noselifters LOL

[Warren DeMontague]

51. Are you using Firefox?

Built in spell check. Of course, it won't catch everything, but it's handy as hell.

[Hippo_Tron]

81. Firefox's built in spellcheck has made me stop using DU's

Which is a bad thing because DU has a better spellcheck than firefox, IMO.

[baby_mouse]

82. Also "bear" and "bare" are increasingly confused... NT

[in_cog_ni_to]

92. Spelling and grammar police SUCK. Just ignore them. They get great pleasure out of embarrassing

people.

My favorite spelling police story is: I misspelled "subpoena" (left out the "b") and the person who started the thread I had posted in, had ALSO misspelled "subpoena", BUT that person had the gall to point out MY error without realizing SHE had misspelled the word in her OP! :rofl:

Just ignore them. NO ONE is perfect. EVERYONE misspells a word on occasion and the people who have to nitpick it are just trying to embarrass you FOR THEIR PLEASURE.:(

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

150. If It's One Thing I've Noticed Here,

it's that EVERY SINGLE TIME someone steps up to point out a spelling error, they end up having made one themselves in the process. Every time. It's like destiny or somethin. Too damn funny. :)

[in_cog_ni_to]

157. You are correct! I always get a good chuckle out of it.

:7

[Dutch]

161. I'm sure it does. This thread has more than a whiff of bullying about it.n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

163. I think it's pretty easy to spot the occasional "oops" from the

habitual "huhs???", lol.

We ALL make mistakes: in spelling, grammar, sometimes even content!

I don't think you should be worried about it. I think it's just that for some of us, these things, especially the most common ones, really stick out like sore legs (bigger than thumbs). This is definitely a place for casual writing!

You could compare it to the musician with a good ear. For her/him that singing a quarter-tone off really rankles. Other people may not notice a bit, but for those who do, it's *very* obvious. Does that make sense?

[William769]

13. Why should today be any different?

[Uncle Joe]

14. I know these things, however I still forget them on occasion, particularly

when I become passionate or in a hurry with my posts.

Thanks for the reminder lynyrd_skynyrd.

[annabanana]

15. oh phooey. . .

Whilst I find the "your/you're" thing to be a "bump" in the rhythm when I read a post, I don't think it's worth stocks & pillories.

[EFerrari]

16. Could you run down laid/layed because I always screw those up.

lol

[madinmaryland]

33. I'll get this thread locked if I explain that one!!1!!

:evilgrin:

[EFerrari]

36. Keep us barefoot and ignorant, that's the ticket!

:)

[IChing]

38. Toon explaining the difference.

[Az]

18. Sux Syntax

:hide:

[Joanie Baloney]

29. Hee, hee

Does, yes it!

;)

[Madspirit]

19. I think

I think most of these kinds of errors are people in a hurry. I don't think it's ignorance. I just wish people would use their spell checker. It wouldn't fix this kind of error but at least we would be seeing real words.

My brother can't spell worth a damn. I actually once heard him, as an adult, say the following:

"MOM, how do you spell "where"? He wasn't sure about the "h". My brother has a Masters in Physics. Go figure.

Lee

[notadmblnd]

167. My son is dyslexic and spells phonetically

This is and example of his spelling "YERP", can you tell me what real word it is?

I'll use it in a sentence. "My mom is taking me to Yerp for vacation."

My son will probably never be able to write properly, he can't help it. I don't police grammer because I know that for some, it's truly a disability.

[chaska]

22. Lose vs. loose.

Don't bet against me, you'll lose, you loser.

My hat is too tight. I should adjust it to make it loose, or at least looser.

[chaska]

23. 'Different than' is incorrect. It's 'different from'.

[chaska]

25. Something is not 'very unique'. It's 'unique'. Period.

[CTyankee]

47. What about "more" as in "more perfect." See the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

n/t

[wtmusic]

56. Interesting

in a strict grammatical sense, "more perfect" makes none.

Sometimes ya gotta bend the rules ("more better" might be going too far) :scared:

[Stuckinthebush]

107. Hmmm....technically couldn't something be very unique?

One of the definitions of unique is "unusual or extraordinary".

Something could be very unusual couldn't it?

[Jed Dilligan]

26. This thread contains one glaring example

of how people can use perfect grammar and say nothing but nonsense. And it AIN'T the OP.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

28. Thanks For Providing It. But We Were Already Aware.

:rofl:

[Name removed]

30. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[eggman67]

32. You might as well cover...

...affect/effect and Marshall/marshal/martial (said with a Jan Brady whine)

[AngryOldDem]

42. I think we should start a forum dedicated to proper spelling and syntax n/t

[yewberry]

39. I'd say that the OP title clearly indicates that the post is about grammar.

If people don't want to read a post about grammar, why would they open up this thread?
:shrug:

[Joanie Baloney]

41. Hmmm...

You are WAY too logical, Tofunut.

Off with yer head!!

:D

[devilgrrl]

45. I've seen those very mistakes made by DU's finest wordsmiths...

sometimes it just happens. :shrug:

The spell checker doesn't catch grammatical errors.

[JerseygirlCT]

164. Yes. It's absolutely going to happen, and probably to everyone!

I wouldn't exempt myself at all -- but that doesn't mean the mistakes still don't stick out for me.

Residual effects of an English major?

[mr_hat]

48. I'm to smart for that.

[flying rabbit]

145. Two many times

have I thought that

[JerseygirlCT]

165. LOL!

[riona]

49. Their going to be sorry after reeding this.

Its not write when they're grammar is two awful to bear and you knead to watch you're spelling to. Be wear!!!!!

[Warren DeMontague]

50. The one that drives me the most nuts is "Loose" and "Lose".

You lose your keys, your mind, the football game.

You let loose the dogs of war, your shoelaces are loose, and so are your morals.

[devilgrrl]

52. Mine is, "I could care less..."

It's "I couldn't care less."

:mad:

[Warren DeMontague]

54. Eh, I could care less about that one.

Sorry! Sorry! :hide:

[Skittles]

68. then when you point it out they will ARGUE about it!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[juajen]

75. Mine is "anyways"

The only time this is a word is when anyways is plural, and this happens very infrequently, i.e., "There were two anyways in that crossword puzzle." Anyways, this bothers the hell out of me. Just sayin'.

[JerseygirlCT]

166. I'm always correcting that one if I hear my kids saying it

It seems accepted idiom around here. I can't stand it. Oh, and "axe" instead of "ask". And in these parts, the mysterious disappearing internal "t". Somehow, button has lost its two center letters in the common parlance around here.

[baby_mouse]

80. WORD.

That one's *so* annoying...

[Az]

53. I've seen that one show up in published books

Blows my mind.

[Warren DeMontague]

57. It's out of control. I've seen it on packaging for software products, too.

I wonder if it's one of those areas where, due to something about the structural nature of the way the brain deals with language, a large number of people mix up the two. Like I've always had trouble with ie and ei (never could remember that stupid rule) and words with double vs. single consonants.

I sympathize with people- I'm hardly the spelling genius (like I said upthread, Firefox's built in spell check helps a lot) but I wonder if the English language isn't sort of falling into disrepair.

[wtmusic]

58. Reading "The Elements of Style" takes about an hour

and would clean up 90% of the common grammar mistakes here on DU:

http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-Fourth-William-Strunk/dp/0205313426/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8505835-8648447?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185053752&sr=1-1

[EFerrari]

61. And practicing them takes a lifetime.

:)

[treestar]

62. On DU it's usually not true ignorance

Even if you know these rules you can mistype from time to time.

I'm series. There aren't any morans here.

[scarletwoman]

67. It's ALWAYS time to be a grammar nazi! It drives me nuts that people are unable to communicate

properly in their own language!

Of course, I'm just an English major, so what do I know...

[Skittles]

69. no split infinitives for you, woman!

:7

[opihimoimoi]

70. Its not only the grammar,,,more critical is the COMPREHENSION and ABSORBSION...

Ya can spell it rite all ya like..but if the uddur side is not unnerstanding..its all moot.

[Zomby Woof]

71. I like your post a lot

But not alot.

[stevedeshazer]

72. Not to nitpick, but isn't it "Leonard Skinner"?

:rofl:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

73. Its a well-known fact that they're are more folks who know how to put an apostrophe in it's place

than their are people who actually place there apostrophes in the right place.

Your being too hard on people; and its simply due to you're own experiences with grammar Nazis.
:evilgrin:

[soothsayer]

74. your loosing it

[SoCalDem]

77. :)

[Hippo_Tron]

83. Their their now, your over-reacting a bit dont you thinks?

[Enthusiast]

84. What about Then and Than?

Then and than have become interchangeable. Well, in some minds, than has ceased to exist.

[Cobalt Violet]

85. Written language is so over-rated anyway.

That's just my opinion as a painting major. I just don't care about the little verbal things. I care even less for the enforcers of verbal correctness.

[datasuspect]

88. and it's "should have" not "should of"

[mwb970]

89. I hate the "and I" mistake.

As in, "The news came as a complete surprise to Ed and I." Or "The visitor brought a present for my wife and I."

I assume this increasingly common error stems from the child's mistake of saying "Billy and me went to the store." After being corrected repeatedly, the child learns to replace "X and me" with "X and I" on every occasion. The trouble is, sometimes "X and me" is correct, namely whenever the phrase is the object of a verb or preposition. "X and I" is only correct when the phrase is the subject, i.e. is in the nominative case.

I was taught in fifth grade to reason it out this way:
The visitor brought a present for my wife.
The visitor brought a present for me. (not "for I")
The visitor brought a present for my wife and me.

How hard is that?

[mwb970]

90. P.S. I also am amused by the "incident" variations.

Even professional announcers seem to use the following words, each of which has a distinct meaning, as if they were interchangeable:

instants
instance
instances
incident
incidents
incidence
incidences

Over the years, I have heard each of these words used when one of the others is meant. Listen for it. You'll see what I mean.

[jpgray]

100. Conjunctions' functions can be confusing

:D

[ArkySue]

159. Drives me crazy too!

And yes, that's the way I learned it too.

[RebelOne]

168. I have even seen that mistake in TV commercials.

One was for UPS. It said something like "to make the world a better place for you and I." It drove me crazy every time I saw it, so I finally e-mailed UPS and asked them what planet their copywriter was on.

[in_cog_ni_to]

91. It's = it is, You're = you are, They're = they are. That helps. n/t

[Philosoraptor]

93. My grammer WASNT' a Nazi thank you very much.

[Randypiper]

94. My favorite

In a letter to Stephanie Miller the freeper accused her of being a trader(sic)to America.

[kiki]

95. "Alot"

allot - to assign as a share or portion.

a lot - "a large amount" or "to a great extent".

alot - a meaningless non-word used by message board posters.

[Sparkly]

106. I am so guilty of that!

I don't know where it came from, but I think I used "alot" since I was a kid without correction, so it's become a hard habit to break!

[kiki]

134. For most, I think it's a sign of the "txt msg" age...

I just tried entering "alot" on the predictive text on my phone, and it allowed the word, even though no such word exists.

Actually, I place most of the blame on e-mail. I know people just bang out e-mails without thinking about this sort of thing, and the general bar for letter-writing in e-mail form, even for official letters and job applications, is dramatically lower than what you would expect for a written letter. (And, of course, replying to a friend's e-mail criticising their grammar would make you seem like kind of a wang.) It's become accepted that e-mails will be hastily written and grammatically poor - but nowadays, most (if not all) of people's written communication is in e-mail form, so the bad habits are becoming standard practice and are spreading into all areas of writing. As a sub-editor of around 10 years' experience I can say with some certainty that general adult literacy levels are jaw-droppingly low - this even extends to trained, professional journalists, whose prose usually wouldn't pass muster for grammar or spelling in a 14-year-old's English exam.

I take people's point that the basic content of any text is arguably more important than the grammatical details, but going on the assumption that we should care about people's education, I think it's a little sad that some posters consider plummeting literacy levels* to be of no concern whatsoever. And then there are others who just want to call you an asshole for caring about it. :)

* I guess I should qualify here that I haven't checked the figures to see if actual basic literacy levels in the West are falling (although, would it really surprise anyone if they were?), but I am convinced that people's deeper understanding of grammar - of how the English language works - is in rapid decline, and I think we should aspire to more than just school-age functional literacy. It is important that people know the difference between "there" and "their". Anyone who's read Nineteen Eighty-Four will remember that for the powers that be, the less words there are in existence, the better.

[immoderate]

143. "Alot" precedes text messaging.

As a teacher, I remember stomping on that one in the seventies. It's my pet peeve. :)

--IMM

[walldude]

141. That one is my bane as well

the really bad part is spell check catches it and I still let it go.. Old habits die hard I guess.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

151. All right is two words.

NOT alright. Ain't no such animal.

[Sparkly]

154. "Alright" is in Merriam-Webster...

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/alright

Did I use it in my post? :shrug:

[wtmusic]

101. My dictionary says 'orientated' is now a word

WTF? Can 'moran' be far behind?

[SoCalDem]

103. Isn't it amazing?

Instead of trying to get people to use the proper words, the dictionary just makes the weird words and odd spellings..normal:eyes:

Are they going to change these too?

to:

Febuary
mischievious
libary
:grr:

[wtmusic]

105. Hearing any of those is enough to make me choke on my expresso

:hi:

[kiki]

139. "Orientated" IS a word.

It is the UK English version of "oriented", although it's rarely used these days.

[Sparkly]

104. "Loose" when "LOSE" is meant.

I just had to say that!!

[Tracer]

109. Lynyrd - I think you live in a glass house.

In your upthread post regarding sexist countries, you misspelled "wear" as "where" at least 3 times.

Once is a typo, 3 times is poor spelling.

[flying rabbit]

147. Misspell me once shame on you... Misspell me twice...

Won't misspell again!

[Stuckinthebush]

111. Your so right about this!

Yes indeed!!!!!! This is a important discussion and is not very unique to are little slice of the internets. Hear we are on a bored that contains supposebly educated people and we can't use good grammar. It boggels the mind! You know their looking at us over at free rebuplic and laughing! Its a crying shame that we have so many hear who want use the spell checker let alone use good grammar. It happens alot. While I could care less about what the freepers think, I hate to see us loose credibility by using bad grammar. I don't won't us to lay down with the dogs by giving in to bad grammar! So, it is important for us to be constantly aware of what we say. So I say to the OP 'here here!'.

[DrDan]

113. I guess its you're perogative to correct they're grammar if you must

butt it comes of a bit arrogant

[SmokingJacket]

114. Nice to feel superior to others, huh?

Grammar Nazis have self-esteem issues.

[wtmusic]

119. Grammar Nazis are the kinder, gentler Nazis

I have no problem with one of these threads popping up once in a while, because bad grammar reflects badly on us as a community.

[tjwash]

120. I like spell checkers. Everybody should use won.

nt

[wtmusic]

122. LOL ain't it the truth

:thumbsup:

[blondeatlast]

137. So they're! nt

[tjwash]

148. **ahem** its actually-- "sew their"

:rofl:

[eggman67]

123. Others I've seen around the boards are:

"For all intensive purposes" and speach

[DS1]

130. I'm IN UR THRED, SEIGING UR HEILS!

:eyes:

[Thirtieschild]

131. And then there's "tow the line"

[HamdenRice]

132. YOUR SO RIGHT! SPOT ON! Its so annoying

that so many people CAN'T SEEM TO GRASP these simple usages. For example, I post at another board and over they're, their constantly getting this kind of usage WRONG! Its there own damned fault! But it also is the nature of the internet -- it's speed and anonymity makes people NOT CARE! You're comments are SO WELCOME on this issue!

[blondeatlast]

135. DU is an active conversation, not literature. Mistakes are made; if they are too glaring, move on.

IT'S either understandable or it isn't. If it isn't, ignore it and move on.

I taught 8-12th grade Enclish and I'm not that nitpicky and I don't claim to be anywhere near perfect myself.

[blondeatlast]

136. LOL (or is ti lol?)! Mustn't make a mistake! nt (or NT or n/t?) Does it belong

in the subject line or in the message?

Dear leader, please to ejumicate me...

Seig Heil!

[blondeatlast]

138. If you think DU is literature, well--YIKES. It's a textual conversation, pure and simple. nt

[krispos42]

140. Heil Skynyrd!

http://img176.imageshack.us.nyud.net:8090/img176/595/grammarnazicomicja5.jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com.nyud.net:8090/hassani/Images/SpellingNazi.jpg

[nam78_two]

142. I must confess to being guilty in the last two cases

It isn't even that I am unaware of my deficiency there. I somehow learnt that wrong early on and now it just doesn't come to me instinctively. Unless I am actively paying attention, I always get those two switched and that isn't even something that most spell check programs ever catch.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

149. Don't Fault Ya One Bit. There Are Things Within The English Language That Are Just Simply Illogical

Funniest thing is that I've never really had trouble with the its/it's usage, I've found myself so much more obsessed about making sure I don't make mistakes with it here because some of the 'grammar nazis' make such a stink about it. But I've always considered the whole its/it's thing to be quite stupid to begin with. Who came up with such a strange thing? Who put such tricky things in the language to begin with, as if designed SOLELY to fuck with people and trip em up? And while we're goin there, what's up with the whole then/than thing? Was it really necessary to need both? Then we got the whole whose, who's, whom, who, whomever, whoever bullshit. Yeah, that's a lovely one. And commas. Oh those fucking commas. Does anyone REALLY know the true right time to use one of those elusive cause they wanna be commas? Sure, you ain't supposed to use them so often, but what if I want there to be a pause in the way someone is reading my comment? Shouldn't I be goddamn ALLOWED to put a comma there so that the pause in syncopation is noted, even if the comma didn't technically belong? I say YES, goddammit!

I know there's some background mumbo jumbo reason to all of it but I still say there are some things within the english language that though technically proper, still are just plain dumb anyway.

So I say don't sweat it. Way I see it, the only damn point of language is for sake of communication anyway. If the person reading your stuff knows what you mean, then the purpose of language has been served, right? :)

[kiki]

170. There's nothing illogical about it.

Hers, yours, its. Belonging to her, belonging to you, belonging to it. Would you ever write "her's" or "your's"?

She's hot, he's a dick, it's a bad movie. She is, he is, it is. Would you ever write "shes right" or "hes wrong"?

It's really simple.

And your confusion over "then/than" is really bizarre, if you don't mind me saying. These are two words that mean completely different things, so I'd say it's "necessary to need both" (by the way, "necessary to need" is a tautology :P ).

"Better than" means "better than". "Better then" means absolutely nothing.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

171. First Of All, I Can't Help But Think You Could Use A Better Sense Of Humor.

For example, I'm actually laughing quite a bit at how serious you responded to me as if you thought you were so smart or something, while completely seeming oblivious to the fact that not only was I obviously posting in humor, but also in an overly dramatic and emotional fashion just for sake of being lighthearted. Too funny how you actually felt the need to respond as if serious! LOL

And for the record, if you're going to provide examples, you'd be better served if you actually knew what you were talking about.

For example your hers, yours and its thing is quite funny in its premise. They are completely different in usage. I could say "that was its last day on sale", but would you say "that was hers last day on the job"? I could say "You don't even understand its proper usage", but would you say "You don't even understand yours topic"? God did you make me laugh with that.

But then I loved your last one even more! Better then means absolutely nothing? Ok pal, let's see if this makes sense to you or not, since technically it should mean nothing:

"I used to play a lot of baseball as a kid but I don't do it as much any more. I was feeling better then."

Thanks for the laugh. I really got a kick out of your post. Not only cause I was so blatantly just being lighthearted and overly dramatic in my initial reply for sake of humor, but also because your oh so serious "gotta school 'em" post was so full of errors.

Cheers!

:toast:

[kiki]

172. Ah, the old "Hey, I kid!" routine.

Yeah, I believe ya.

"Hers" and "its" still mean the same thing - "belonging to her" and "belonging to it" - but in different sentence contexts. What I wrote was merely the most concise way of putting it. The fact remains that "it's" is clearly a different word, that does not mean "belonging to it". My point is that anyone wondering whether to use "its" or "it's" need only ask themselves, do they mean "belonging to it" or "it is"?

And your "better then" example doesn't make a lot of sense, as I was obviously comparing it to "better than" as a compound phrase. "A is better then B", a usage I regularly see on internet posts, is meaningless, and it's completely obvious that this is the usage I was referring to. I responded to you because your clearly stated notion that "then" and "than" mean the same thing is frankly the dumbest thing I've ever seen written about the English language.

Oh but of course, you were joking. Riiiiiiiight.

[Siyahamba]

146. This isn't "being a grammar Nazi"

This is "simple Grade 2 English."

[stirlingsliver]

152. Compose/Comprise

This drives me nuts.

Correct: The United States comprises 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Wrong: 50 states and the District of Columbia comprise the USA.

"Comprise" means "include". If you cannot substitute the word "include" for "comprise", then you are not using "comprise" correctly.

Correct: 50 states and DC compose the United States.

Wrong: The USA is comprised of 50 states and DC.

[stirlingsliver]

153. Let's Not Forget "The Most Unique"

This thread is the most unique thread I have ever seen.

Awwwwkkkkkkkk......

Things are either unique (one of a kind) or they are not.

You cannot have something that is "the most unique".

[tjwash]

156. It's the most best I've seen.

can't....stop....posting....in...grammarian....thread...

[ArkySue]

158. Thank You!!!

Now, if you would address the "I vs. me" thing. That really drives me crazy!!!!

[Dutch]

160. No, it is not.

It is time for those who are disproportionately irritated by minor grammatical errors to stop taking this out on others, and it's time for some people to stop trying to make themselves feel clever by bitching about the use of language on an what is, after all, an INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD.

Generally, if the word 'nazi' can be applied to a piece of behaviour, it's probably not a good idea.

[blondeatlast]

169. DU is a conversation in text. When the political bombs drop, I like the spontaneity.

I don't want people to edit themselves when Bush ignores Congress. I love the dynamic here, the full-on reaction of those in the know.

I agree with you and I taught 7-12th grade English. Your last line is spot-on.