Before you say, “Who cares?” let me say, “I know no one cares.” (about the English language except a few of us) but couldn’t people, especially those who are spokespeople or journalists, just clean up on a couple of things to start with: Do “amount of people” and “less people” really have to sneak in to common usage? The countable/non-countable rule is so simple and lovely. If you can count the word, use “number of people” and “fewer people.” And HRM, how much did you pay the person to create the slogan “Drive Wiser” now advertising our hickishness all across the McDonald bridge? “Wiser” is the comparative form of the adjective “wise” and is used to describe a noun. “Drive” is not a noun; it is a verb so, as the grammatically correct “Drive More Wisely” slogan doesn’t pack that much punch, the person being paid to create something catchy should have been sent back to the drawing board. —”Beautiful English” Pedant
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2011.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artistic_lice…
http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_fullxfull.226…
yep o.p., who gives a fuck about gramdma.,gramma, drama or whatever the fuck else. we are all gonna be in the day of the i-clone and shit anyway, so you might as well get used to it.
Figures you wouldn’t care …
I love you and your grammar. I’m on your side.
There are some amazing – and abundant – expressions: “I seen her in the hall.” Just read that in an email. A work email. Really? How did you get a job?
better than i seed her peeing in the hall. and no donk, i honestly don’t.
Ooooh LPeedle — you’d be surprised how many people use the term “seen” when they should be using “saw” and have actual semi decent jobs.
OR they use “no” instead of “any” as in “I don’t have no money” intstead of “I don’t have ANY money.”
And this may be too picky, but I hate it when people use “good” when they should use “well” as in “I did good on the test” instead of “I did well on the test.” “Well” just sounds much more… so-fiss-ta-kate-ted heehee ^_^
my mother always got us with the “turkeys and chickens are done, people are finished”
Hens lay, people lie. – My ‘English Teacher’ aunt.
…”can i?” i don’t know can you?
Ooh, did you know that if like, someone calls you on the phone or something and asks for you, the grammatically correct thing to say is “It is I” not “It’s me”. It’s a fun thing to say to telemarketers :D!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OonDPGwAyfQ
this is so good.
You might want to consider not starting a sentnence with “And”. Additionally (notice how I did not use ‘and’ to continue the discussion), try using a period from time to time. It helps to reduce 40 word sentences and helps to articulate your point more clearly.
There’s some rule that allows you to use and to start a sentence, as well as the word but. I remember being in grade 11 and reading novels wondering why you could do that. I think it’s used in informal original thought writing. It’s some weird dig down in the rule book type thing … it’s generally used to draw attention to a statement in the writings of modernists … but I dare say OP wasn’t trying to be that … riveting.
what diskussion? am i on kandid kamera?
‘And’ is a word you should not start a sentence with, even though I just did perfectly legally.
You shouldn’t start a sentence with “and,” you’re right, but in some stylistic forms of writing, it’s perfectly acceptable.
In my line of work, SOME grammar is switched around for a more “stylized” effect, but that would never include misspelling of words (unless on purpose in a pun-like situation) or sounding like an uneducated dolt.
CORRECT GRAMMAR & THE QUALITY OF MIND
What is the philosophical issue here? There is always a philosophical issue somewhere on a bitch since, by definition, a bitch is a complaint about some violation of rules of some sort, of some standard of conduct. The violation might be minimal, even trivial – think of the prevalence of traffic bitches, personal relationship bitches, supermarket line-up bitches and the like on this site which are admittedly pretty dismal stuff but, nonetheless, are based on a principle however diffused, however diminished. So what’s the principle being violated here? Does it rise to the level of the philosophical? I think it does.
The philosophical principle at issue here is one of acceptable social standards. For a society to function at a certain standard, one which allows for a degree of leeway in communication but at the same time which provides a baseline for civilized social intercourse (that’s social, not sexual but the principle also applies in that case) beneath which it is impermissible to descend, standards of linguistic propriety are essential if that society is not to descend into a state of barbarism. In other words, the principle need not be one which demands a high level of formal discourse but, on the other hand, one which does demand acceptable and appropriate diction even in cases of linguistic informality.
Like so much else, the principle guiding appropriate discourse is not entirely specifiable in objective terms. Correct grammar, of course, provides a baseline for appropriate usage, but only that. Beyond that I think it is the quality of the mind of the speaker/writer which determines the standards of acceptable usage and that quality of mind, “certeris paribus,” is itself determined by class and educational attainment (which, of course, are themselves inextricably inter-related). As can be seen in the replies of the commenters to the bitches, this places a burden on the majority of the members of the Halifax Underclass which, in many cases, is clearly insupportable.
Annyway, these two criteria – class and educational attainment in case you have forgotten – are themselves subject to further philosophical scrutiny which, because of limitations of space and general disinclination on my part, I will not venture into at this point.
A pleasure as always.
Cheerio!
So annie, are you a balloonist?
If not, all that hot air is going to waste.
I think spelling and grammar are super sexy. One time a girl asked me out via a note (in university!) and I refused to reply because she put to instead of too.
Well that and I was seeing a couple other girls.
But seriously, can’t handle dumb.
http://www.thestar.com/article/1002200–to…
i would also include broccoli, zucchini and radicchio
Love all the amazing examples and comments. I’ve learned from your comments. May the discussion continue. Thank you.
To Raoul Duke–I like long sentences. David Foster Wallace is my sentence guru. I like some writers, like Bruce Chatwin, who write concise sentences, but I think both models are justifiable and that the English language can perform well in both is testament to its versatility. I’ve been on discussion forums long enough to see those who troll around looking for opportunities to write in a pointedly insulting tone. What a skill!