Spelling/Grammar Errors- Page 3

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:34pm

Anal-retentive grammanazi cellists of the world, unite! *keeps tongue planted firmly in cheek and bow at the ready*

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:35pm

Me too.
Although I often put in mistakes on purpose to make a point as well.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:37pm

I've got some serious anger issues to diffuse today, Jaily...it's gotta go somewhere.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:38pm

Maybe you should play through the first movement of either the Elgar Concerto or the Shostakovich 2nd Concerto. :)

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:50pm

Perhaps I would give it a try (watch the neighbors head for cover...), IF I had a cello upon which to play it.

And therein lies the conundrum.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 2:52pm

Ahh...no backup axe, eh? Better get that crack fixed pronto! :)

[jasonf]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:06pm

I have a simple reason for it annoying me (though I rarely post comments to that effect). I'm a middle school English teacher. I can't tell you how many students I've dealt with who write in IM crap ALL the time. It's bad enough there are so many printed mistakes in the world (signs, in magazines, etc.). Everyone makes mistakes (myself included, possibly even in this post), but blatant disregard for the rules of spelling and grammar leads to an inability to coherently put together an argument or narrative because it becomes so ingrained. I NEVER use internet language when IMing (such as "U," "R," and "Becuz." I do actually think that abbreviations such as "lol" are useful, and I do have a fondness for smileys to highlight sarcastic comments. I don't necessarily think there's anything wrong with either of those. Honestly, I would actually have to consciously think about using "u" instead of "you" when typing, therefore it's not shorthand. If things like "u" become ingrained, then it's difficult to get out of that habit.

I've always believed (for better or worse) that this board was a home to more intelligent people (of all ages). Use of internet slang as described above denegrates that expectation, and, as has been posted before, forces me to question the merit of the poster.

Aiight, y'all?

[Kringas]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:14pm

And if you really think that having proper grammar and spelling is the domain of people with BAs in English, it's no wonder you have issues with it. Barring outside circumstances like learning English as a second language, you should be able to write properly well before you're 18, let alone 22

A-freaking-men, Plum. I almost made a similar comment earlier. Most of these grammar issues should have been handled by about six or seventh grade.

Another pet peeve - People have no clue when to use or not use apostrophes.

Of course everyone makes typos and mistakes, but willful ignorance of any kind just infuriates me.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:16pm

I agree, the willful ignorance is reprehensible.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:16pm

So which is correct,

*hugs*

or

*hugz*

and is it one *, or two ** before and after the correct plural of "hugs?

Also, is it * or is it :?

Thank you.

Baytchosé

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:20pm

jasonf, while I agree with everything you've said, I must object to the sarcastic statement at the end of your post. "Y'all" is a perfectly acceptable term in the English language, it is a contraction of "you all." I've had to put up with this misconception since moving north of the Mason-Dixon line and it really bugs me that people up here naturally assume it's not proper English just because Southerners (usually stereotyped as hicks) use it.

Now, any Long Islanders want to argue about how to properly pronounce the word "long"?

Updated On: 11/7/05 at 03:20 PM

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:23pm

OS, it is moving more and more into commonly accepted speech, but "y'all" is not proper English grammar. The plural form of you in English is simply you, not you all. Again, the other form is becomming more common, but it is not the "gramatical rule."

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:30pm

I must take grave issue with the increasingly widespread belief that "y'all" is an acceptable expression in the English language. Simply because it's commonly understood and used does NOT render it acceptable. Everyone knows what the word "f*ck" means, but you don't hear it being used in formal public address, scholarly presentations, or on the nightly news, do you?

Colloquialisms do indeed have a colorful, lively place in our language, but they are anything but formally acceptable.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:32pm

English, unlike many other languages, requires speakers to use the same term when addressing both the indiviudal "you" as well as a large group of people. I know that in Spanish, they use "usted" and "ustedes". In certain situations, people want to specify that they are addressing the group at large and not the individual, usually to avoid insult. The English language is merely evolving to have acquire aspects of other languages that may be superior to its currently limited rules.

There's also a vast difference between formal speech and every day speech. If I were go to around speaking as through I were giving a State of the Union address, everyone would wonder what was wrong with me.

Seriously, have either of you spent any time in the South?

Updated On: 11/7/05 at 03:32 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:35pm

"Colloquialisms do indeed have a colorful, lively place in our language, but they are anything but formally acceptable."

One of the very many things I have against our president...

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:39pm

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:39pm

The grammatically correct term for that is "all of you."

I am not saying that "you all" should be as undervalued as it is, but it remains far from being accepted as English standard. Y'all is therefore even more apt to be dismissed.

Following and correcting other's uses of, grammatical rules is part of what this thread is all about.

I tend to agree that in most common usage it can be "acceptable" but it remains far from "accepted," especially amoung teachers and writers.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:40pm

I cannot *possibly* imagine what sort of person would be offended if one was sitting in a large auditorium full of people and the speaker said "As I stand here before you today...", or what sort of person would be confused as to the plurality of the address. Needing to further specify the intent of the statement by using seperate expressions for the singular "you" and the plural "you", in my opinion (OPINION, that is), serves only to clutter an already over-populated language. (And, really, if you're not bright enough to figure it out, then why are you in the auditorium in the first place? :-P)

To use the vernacular that I am so inclined to rail against today..."If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

We have enough difficulties to worry about with this odd chop-suey of a language we speak to spend time fussing over the various usages of "you".

Now, who got a martini 'round here? I sho' need one.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:41pm

I think "ya'll" is fine, orange. It implies a certain folksy humor and no-nonsense country attitude. It may not be proper, but it has personality. I wouldn't use it in a term paper, but I think it's fine to use here, especially to make a point.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:42pm

I grew up in West Virginia, orangeskittles.

[peach]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:44pm

I agree with Kringas on the improper use of apostrophes. It doesn't bother me so much on the board as it does in public. I see it quite often in printed material (store signs, etc.) such as "Computer keyboard's are on sale this week." It's irritating, and it looks weird. If it is not possessive, it should not have an apostrophe!

But what gets me BATTY is the improper use of the word "myself." People, especially in the corporate world, think it is interchangable with the word "me," as in "if you have any questions, please call Mary or myself." Aarrgghh! the correct word is "me!"

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:44pm

Both "y'all" and "ain't" are perfectly appropriate for effect, yet isn't that part of the point, to use them on occasion but not generally?

Robbo, neither horse is dead, the discussion flows from both sides and has included some give and take.

[JailyardGuy]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:45pm

But that graphic is absolutely PRECIOUS, and gave me a much-needed chuckle!

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:46pm

orangeskittles, I was born in Georgia, grew up in Alabama, went to college in Georgia and lived in North Carolina for several years after that.

[RobbO]

Posted: 11/7/05 at 3:49pm

it wasn't so much a statement as to the thread discussion as it is just a fun sport in the south, y'all.