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"I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar" - NY Times — Page 3

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#52

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Posted: 10/31/07 at 1:07pm

Updated On: 9/7/08 at 01:07 PM

#53

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 1:17pm

The indefinite third person is common in speech, and I think in verbal interaction is easier and more appropriate than saying the sexist "his". His/Hers is tiresome, and "hers" is sexist as well.

It's still a no-no in newspapers, though.

The general rule there is to just try to make it a plural construction if at all possible, thereby making the gender-neutral "theirs" correct.
#54

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 2:44pm

The one that that always annoys the hell out of me is the mis-spelling "definately" for "definitely."
"If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers." Thomas Pynchon, GRAVITY'S RAINBOW "Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Philip K. Dick My blog: http://www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com/
#55

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 2:49pm

Same, Roscoe. And the other mistake that just makes me roll my eyes is the reversing of "loose" and "lose". You can't "loose" your car keys. It just makes very intelligent people look dumb when they type that.
"I can't figure out what kind of life this is, comedy or tragedy, I just know it's showbiz. And what if I don't agree with the lines I have to read? They don't pay me enough, the way I see it."

Updated On: 10/31/07 at 02:49 PM

#57

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 4:15pm

Subposably...
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2
#59

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 5:00pm

The general rule there is to just try to make it a plural construction if at all possible, thereby making the gender-neutral "theirs" correct.

Which is absurd. We shouldn't force ourselves into plural construction because we have no viable options. I vote to include "theirs" as proper.

I should also point out that people often make mistakes when speaking and writing informally -- and to point those out is probably a tad ugly. Now, if you're mentioning to a student or coaching someone to speak formally, then by all means. But, we should make allowances for the vernacular.

"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'" -- unknown

Updated On: 10/31/07 at 05:00 PM

#62

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 5:10pm

Actually, Jesus' is correct. With proper nouns that end in an s, you put the apostrophe at the end.

With regular nouns, you do add the 's regardless, unless the next word begins with an s.

So:
My boss's pants
My boss' shoes

Bizarre, huh?

But actually, there's not a consensus on this rule. Again, I just go by what the AP tells me to do, drone that I am.
#64

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 5:36pm

Hell, EVERYTHING that comes out of George Bushes mouth...
"TheatreDiva90016 - another good reason to frequent these boards less."<<>> “I hesitate to give this line of discussion the validation it so desperately craves by perpetuating it, but the light from logic is getting further and further away with your every successive post.” <<>> -whatever2
#65

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 6:13pm

Heh, touche Lizzy...that's what happens when I eat a bag of Hershey's kisses and try to post...
"I can't figure out what kind of life this is, comedy or tragedy, I just know it's showbiz. And what if I don't agree with the lines I have to read? They don't pay me enough, the way I see it."
#66

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 11:21pm

Calvin, we had a huge debate in my writing class back in college where multiple grammar books and authorities were consulted. Even the AP said Jesus's was correct.
Like a firework unexploded
Wanting life but never knowing how
#68

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 10/31/07 at 11:51pm

One can go through a phase.

One can phase something out, or be phased out.

One cannot be phased. One is fazed.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#69

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 11/1/07 at 12:04am

Yeah, ~FF~! I love when old people make titles or locations possessive or plural:

"I'm gonna go shop at Walmarts."

"Kmarts is down the street. They have the Martha Stewart's Collection!"

I kinda like that usage you're complaining about.

Yep,, I'm old.
<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES
#71

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 11/1/07 at 12:07am

My daughter and I were at a bookstore one time and asked the clerk for directions. She said to go down the skreet. I wasn't sure I heard her right so I asked again. She repeated it was down the skreet. Now it's an inside joke with my daughter and me! Sometimes, we even go down the skreet so we can get a skrimp dinner! mom
#73

re: 'I Judge You When You Use Poor Grammar' - NY Times

Posted: 11/1/07 at 12:24am

Nope, OS. Unless the stylebook has been amended in the last year or so, and I have an outdated edition, the AP does not follow that rule when it comes to possessives. Here is the entry. Jesus is even mentioned in it.

SINGULAR PROPER NAMES ENDING IN S: use only an apostrophe: Achilles’ heel, Agnes’ book, Ceres’ rites, Descartes’ theories, Dickens’ novels, Euripides’ dramas, Hercules’ labors, Jesus’ life, Jules’ seat, Kansas’ schools, Moses’ law, Socrates’ life, Tennessee Williams’ plays, Xerxes’ armies.

I know that there are many grammar authorities who don't agree with this. But the AP is pretty clear on its position on this.

Updated On: 11/1/07 at 12:24 AM

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