The Grammar Thread (updated) — Page 7

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.

#151

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/28/09 at 4:48pm

Just noticed this slightly old post:

It's pretty astonishing that it's been almost four years and no one has noticed that in the original post there was a horrifying mistake involving quoatation marks and the placing of a period...

Yikes.

All examples will also work if you replace "Wicked" for "Brooklyn".

One way is correct in American English, the other is correct in British English. Since this is an international message board, I don't think that counts as a "horrifying mistake."

Nothing matters but knowing nothing matters. ~ Wicked
Everything in life is only for now. ~ Avenue Q
There is no future, there is no past. I live this moment as my last. ~ Rent

"He's a tramp, but I love him."

#152

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/28/09 at 4:50pm

Yero my Hero is my hero.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#153

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/28/09 at 4:52pm

Aww, thanks. *blushes*

I think hypercorrection bugs me even more than plain old bad grammar.

#154

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 5/11/12 at 1:45pm

I think it's time for a refresher.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#155

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:18pm

I had to add more updates because things seem to be getting worse before they get better.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#156

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:26pm

One of the things I do at my day job is type daily notes the staff writes about what the clients do each day, and I have found some doozies.

"[Client] road a public transportation to work today."
"[Client] was a lot rude. She had a great day."

Thanks Jane. It's multiple staff members writing the reports, so then wouldn't it be "the staff write"?

"I've never encountered such religiously, you know, loyal fans as Broadway musical theater fans. It's amazing." --Allison Janney

Updated On: 4/19/13 at 01:26 PM

#157

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:31pm

^ there's an error in your own statement. It should be "the staff writes" not write.

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#158

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:41pm

No, iflip, you're talking about one staff that writes, not several staffs.

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#159

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 1:54pm

Jane is correct. There is ONE staff comprised of many members.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#160

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 2:06pm

Color me embarrassed, we've been saying it wrong for years then!

"I've never encountered such religiously, you know, loyal fans as Broadway musical theater fans. It's amazing." --Allison Janney

#161

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 2:16pm

Oh, don't worry. It's a common error, you see it a lot here.

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#162

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 2:22pm

Actually, either is correct, and if you're stressing that individual members write individual reports, I'd probably go with "the staff write" (though adding "members" would make it clearer). If they write them as a team, I'd say "the staff writes."

Also, strictly speaking the whole comprises the parts, so it would be "There is one staff comprising many members," but dramamamma's usage is becoming more and more common.

#163

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 2:53pm

Rules of grammar may have changed since I've been in school. I was going by what I was taught!

What is Dramamamma's usage? I thought she was agreeing with me.

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#164

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:01pm

I think grammar "rules" are a bit more fluid than they used to be, not least because a bunch them were just made up by grammar school teachers (such as not splitting an infinitive--because you can't split one in Latin!) in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

"Staff writes" is certainly more common--possibly even more likely to be correct--but "staff write" isn't automatically wrong.

I was talking about Dramamamma's usage of "comprise."

#165

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:07pm

"Comprised of" is NEVER correct.

You can say "There is one staff composed of many members" or "Many members comprise the staff" but to say "There is ONE staff comprised of many members" is a hypercorrection: a grammatical mistake made in an attempt to sound authoritative.

#166

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:20pm

I am. (Reginald's post just confuses me.)

#167

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:24pm

Sorry about that!

Both posts? Any particular part(s)?

#168

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:49pm

Regarding the word, "staff", I think it can be used two ways, as Reg says. If it is used as a singular group writing something together, then, "the staff writes..." If they, as individuals in this group, are producing individual efforts, "the staff write..." In the second sense of the word, it's comparable to the word, "people". Yes it's a group, but you wouldn't say, "the people writes..."

Is that clear? I needed an awful lot of punctuation in there and likely got something wrong.

Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.

Updated On: 4/19/13 at 03:49 PM

#169

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 3:53pm

oy. I'm here to say I'm sticking with what I was taught. The subject of the original sentence is singular (staff), so the predicate agrees (writes). Simple!

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#170

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 4:51pm

The Collective Noun

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#171

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 5:00pm

Go away, Matt.

<-----I'M TOTES ROLLING MY EYES

#172

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 5:18pm

I wasn't taking sides! I was just clearing up the issue.

Much love to all parties involved. Now, if only the people who actually need this thread would read it.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

#173

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/19/13 at 6:17pm

That's actually very helpful, Mister Matt!

"Collective nouns can be either singular or plural, depending on context." That was the point I was trying to make.

#174

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/20/13 at 8:15pm

Thanks Mister Matt! Sorry for starting this, but glad we could all get some closure.

"I've never encountered such religiously, you know, loyal fans as Broadway musical theater fans. It's amazing." --Allison Janney

#175

Is it really that difficult?

Posted: 4/20/13 at 10:01pm

>> "glad we could all get some closure."

When referring to the cast of the Elton John musical:
* Billys?
* Billies? or
* "Billy"s?

← Back to Message Board

View all Videos

Tickets From $59

Tickets From $70

Tickets From $106

Tickets From $139