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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 7:01:55 AM | Grammar Nazi *check*
Spell check is a God send.
No excuses.
Nothing is more difficult than trying to read something that is not written in proper English.
Many of my friends are also Grammar Nazi's. When they find an error I make, I hear about it for a long time! lol.
Semi-colon is difficult, but if you proclaim to have a graduate degree, you should know when to use one! (I've noticed an inordinate amount of people claim to have a graduate degree on this site... Amazing. HA!)
I have come across cases where a person is very intelligent when it comes to overall knowledge and spoken word, but when it comes to writing they haven't a clue! I don't really understand how that happens, but I've seen it more than once!
I've come to the conclusion that intelligence is in the eye of the beer holder.. err umm.. beholder. What is acceptable to one may not be to another. I do my best to refrain from going Grammar Nazi on the posts here, I just try to ignore and move on.
(Grammar Nazi is an official title and is therefore capitalized! HA!)
America doesn't value intelligence as much as you think anyway. As an individual we may, but as a country and looking at the corporate and government worlds, it's not intelligence we lust after, it's the almighty dollar. That's another thread altogether though isn't it??
I leave you with the following thoughts...
In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.
Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.
Murphy's Law of Combat: "Never forget that your weapon was manufactured by the lowest bidder"
and one of my favorite sayings...
Professionals are predictable, it's the amateurs that are dangerous. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 8:23:19 AM | I guess poets, artists, and other creative types really should stay out of forum arguments regarding grammar, since we really don't give a fig anyway. While educators (those who can't do, teach), and their ilk are busy worrying about proper usage, we are busy inventing new ways to use the language.
Language is a living, breathing thing, not some ossified specimen coded in concrete.
The language serves us, not the other way round. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 9:03:05 AM | I am a foreigner.
I am also pretty lazy and I do not demand more effore than I put in myself.
Therefore, I expect everyone in english-speaking country to be at least capable of expressing intelligent thought with some semblance of the opportunities they had when growing up.
Proper command of English language would be on of those instances. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 9:13:12 AM |
so your good
LOL
Your='Your coat has a blue stripe.'
You're='You are good.'
I do love a good grammatical challenge, but I don't base my friendships on whether or not my friends know the definition of 'dangling participle'.
Many of my friends are also Grammar Nazi's.
No apostrophe needed.
We all make grammatical errors. They are not, however, the full measure of who we are as human beings. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 9:17:28 AM | HA HA! I made a mistake!! AHH!! I am shamed! LOL!
Ah.. I know everyone makes grammatical errors. I don't judge by the small ones. Only the larger ones where people should know better.
*hangs head and goes to hide behind her English book* | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 9:19:09 AM | hell i's got me hunks more skoolin then 12yrs! I is so good ats it they had me doos ever grade twoice!
I have better things to worry about than whether or not some anal-retentive, wanna-be english prof approves of my writing. This is NOT an essay. It's conversation. It's dialogue. As such, I tend to write it as I might say it.
** just an add-on ; Many of us are baffled by technology, not lazy about it. I would use spell ckeck, if I knew how. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 9:29:35 AM |
This is NOT an essay. It's conversation. It's dialogue...
Yup; I agree.
I have grammatical pet peeves that make me cringe when I see them, but for the most part, this IS about the communication rather than the language mechanics. And, as such, I find myself drawn to certain posters, not for their scintillating syntax, but for their down-to-earth, savvy ability to put their thoughts out there.
I would have missed out on so much had I closed the door on one particular relationship due to his illiteracy. Through this man, I discovered that there is so much more than a semi-colon when it comes to communication. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 10:03:57 AM | If I were you, I would be more concerned about your use of the term "retard" than where your semi-colon has been.
Edit inre below: Oh no, not you sweetheart! I should have specified I was adressing the OP. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 10:09:59 AM | If I were you, I would be more concerned about your use of the term "retard" than where your semi-colon has been.
WTF?
I absolutely NEVER use the word 'retard'. I work with special needs children, and am deeply offended by the casual use of that particular word.
Perhaps I am mistaking the above quoted comment as directed at me...?
If you are offended by my use of the word 'illiteracy', then you need to know that the gentleman in question does not read/write. He is, therefore, illiterate.
(beershark--whew! Thank you for clearing that up!) | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 10:14:07 AM | Hmmm.. It seems to me that there are a lot of different ways to get the point across and spelling or proper grammar maybe just a form of being polite.
However, I do think there are a lot of people who harbor the attitude of "If I had to do it this way thus so do you."
Has anyone ever looked into the reason why so many medical terms have the letter p before them? I seriously suspect this was a class warfare tactic to weed out people without an education in the spelling of such words.. Or as I consider it.. "training" to have one uniform verbal dress code as it were.
In this case my tshirt and jeans tell the world that I am somehow illiterate where as I should have been wearing a jacket and tie with a
"Member of the blind sheep club crest" on my lapel. LOL
Lighten up  | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 4:53:48 PM |
If I were you, I would be more concerned about your use of the term "retard" than where your semi-colon has been.
I'm going to have to agree with beershark on this one -- I missed the word my first time through.
I am far more willing to forgive an error or two or some misspelled words than I am a cruel temperament. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 5:35:37 PM | I'm personally a bit of a grammar junkie when it comes to stuff like posting profiles and messages online. The most annoying thing is when something is in ALL CAPS. Not only is it hard to read, but it reads like you're yelling. In general, the profile doesn't have to be 100% grammatically accurate, but at least make an effort, or it's not going to reflect well on you.
Instant messaging I give some slack to, as long as I know what the hell you are saying. However, please do not misuse the word 'literally', because that will set my Pretentious Phasers to 'Stun'. If you say you 'literally beat the s*** out of someone', I ask for proof of fecal matter. :P | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 6:38:59 PM | Dear Friends,
Medical terms from the greek such as psyche, pneumos, pleura, and so on keep the p in anglophonic spelling to annoy people - it is plot by sychiatrists and large farma to sell more desyrel to ocd patients.
Now I am not sure why I cannot sign my own name here, as I do on every other forum on the internet, as I hate being pseudonymous, as it makes me nervous so I itch as had I soriasis. Now, properly spellt, psoriasis can be tsuris, if one were sensitive.
Rather like hallah and challah being the same egg bread written by different transcriptionists.
Point taken. ;)
-M | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 6:58:47 PM | How the hell does this have anything to do with this forum? This should have been posted in the "Off Topic" forum. OP obviously thinks that he is better than most, judging by the word he uses (retard) to describe the people that misspell and use poor grammar.
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 9:39:12 PM | Re the so-called "silent p" (or psilent p?):
I actually think English is a bit of a tonal language, although most don't think of it that way. I sometmes think that people who spell well do so because they can unconsciuosly "hear" the word better. I say "grammer" differently than I say "grammar", but it's tonal--"grammar" has neutral tone, "grammer" goes down.
Also, that p isn't really "silent", it causes a weird pause before the word, an unconscious one for people who know how it's spelled [so it goes both ways]. Look at your mouth in the mirror, say psoriasis. Then look at your mouth when you say sore. Most people form a weird "o" with their lips before they say "psoriasis,", but not so with "sore". Plus, in the word "sore", the tone goes from high to low, opposite in the "psor" part of "psoriasis". | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 10:13:15 PM |
literate retards?
Slow folk who can read/write?
In my 20+ years online, I've had to learn to accept the fact that not everyone cares how they present themselves to the world. And that is exactly what we're doing when we post anything online.
God. I wish more people felt the same way.
Don't they teach English in the schools anymore?
I don't know about the US or even the rest of Canada, but I do know that in Quebec, they have NOT taught spelling in MANY MANY years. When I was in school, we had spelling tests once or twice a week. Now it is all "repetition". Theory goes... if you see a word often enough, you'll get it.
Apparently, it hurt the little darlings' self esteem when they missed some of the words.
Please tell me that is just gossip. Lie to me if you must because I think that after simply reading that my mind has been boggled so badly that I shall likely never be able to be boggled again. Shame.. I sort of like having my mind boggled, too.
I have better things to worry about than whether or not some anal-retentive, wanna-be english prof approves of my writing. This is NOT an essay. It's conversation. It's dialogue.
Granted, but honestly, I'd like to come off as bright as I can. I don't particularly care how others view me based on my spelling and grammar (or my lack thereof). I take as much care as I can with posts and e-mail messages (unless I am specifically tooling around... I do love to say/type "Y'all" quite a bit) because it makes ME sleep better at night.
I am exaggerating a little about sleeping better at night, but you probably get my point. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 10:39:42 PM | "This more so than anthing else drives me insane. Reading profiles and/or posts where it's some giant blurb/run-on-senctence drives me up the wall."
Yes, I'm a grammar/spelling nazi. Find the two spelling errors above! | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/20/2009 10:57:56 PM | As a laid back writer...
I do believe profiles and initial messages should be fairly well composed but, after that, I make allowances for haste, some typos and more lax behavior once contact is established.
Net-speak/short hand is used occasionally while IMing or sending quick e-mails.
Basically, put your best foot forward and try to make a decent impression and then ease up into relaxed manner.
@Vessle
<div class="quote">"This more so than anthing else drives me insane. Reading profiles and/or posts where it's some giant blurb/run-on-senctence drives me up the wall."
This, more so than anything else, drives me insane; reading profiles and posts where it's some giant blurb or run-on-sentence. It drives me up the wall.
I hope that's properly edited. *shrug*
edit:
I need to remind all of the self professed Proper English fanatics out there that Languages DO change constantly.
Word useage and structure are dynamic and NOT fixed fereverahandevah!
If the world conformed to this idea, we'd all still be speaking Ye Olde English or something similar,
Andallofoursentenceswouldlackpunctuationandpropersentencesandwordspacing.
K?
Everyone here, who is a fanatic simply isn't keeping up with the 'times'.
;)
And if anyone has an issue with that fact, well I guess 'I'll be your huckleberry.'
Or, in the case of the next generation.
i wil pwn u wen u r ^ 2 l8 u old dewdz.
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/21/2009 3:36:47 PM | *raising hand*
That is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves on here. I am AMAZED at the horrendous grammar, spelling errors, lack of punctuation, etc, I see not just in the forums but in dating ads, and in messages to me. That is an immediate turnoff for me personally.
My grammar and punctuation are not always perfect either, but at least I make the effort to look up a word in a dictionary if I'm not sure on how to spell something.
I also think "texting" is ruining the English language. I am shocked at the amount of messages I get from guys who use the letters "u r" instead of typing out the words, "you are". They have no idea, how ignorant it makes them sound and it just comes across as plain lazy.
So if that makes me anal about grammar...so be it. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/21/2009 7:36:59 PM | i cant beleaf u peeple r so hunged on peeple riting rong. There mehsure of there wurth as a pursun isnt reflectif of hoo they arrr!
I hope this reply piques your interest.
The misuse of the word pique drives me nuts. Actually it's the misuse of the words peak and peek that drive me nuts.
As long as I can see someone is actually putting in an effort I don't mind so much. I probably misused misuse.
I can never get lay and lie right either. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/21/2009 8:46:07 PM | There are obviously a lot of interesting points being made here, however in a country such as the U.S.A. where public education through grade 12 is free there really is no excuse for grammar, spelling and punctuation that borders on cave man/woman style. I think it indicates that either the person or his/her teachers have failed. I have witnessed much better skill with the English language by people in other countries whose native language might not have been English and who were not fortunate enough to have a free education. I base those statements on a 20 plus year career abroad as a TESOL (teachers of English to speakers of other languages) instructor.
Personally, I would be hesitant to get involved with a member of the opposite sex who cannot communicate intelligently. However, I would not use the word retard to describe such a person. That is an insult to many people who have mental disabilities through no fault of their own or by accident. I have also worked with those people extensively. But if you are a person lacking in communication skills and refuse to better yourself there is also no reason to insult those who do have good skills. Would you apply for a job shabbily dressed? To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "I may be drunk on grammar and spelling but in the morning your prose will still be ugly." | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/21/2009 10:20:51 PM | It is definitely a turn off to get a message in text speak. With T9, texting is actually more "proper" now. I don't mind grammar mistakes. I write a lot and like to play with styles of writing, like an art almost.
But like many on here have said, a lot of it is pure laziness. To me, if a guy can't even put in some effort to impress me with his grasp of his native language, is he going to put effort into anything else? Sure, that might be extreme, but I guess that's my "taste".
I see a lot of profiles that are just one short run on sentence,with,commas,in,weird places. Yet they have a degree, or own a business. Sorry but that looks like a bullshitter haha. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/22/2009 7:02:12 AM | | I'm a grammar nazi to an extent. I prefer people who type out their words and use proper grammar, but then I remember that my generation is of the "texting shorthand" and just brush it off. Sure it drives me INSANE but I don't really point it out.. I just ignore them given when I hear consistent shorthand then I start to believe that my chat buddy is an idiot. | |
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| Any other grammar nazis around these parts?
Posted: 6/22/2009 3:24:34 PM | As I said, I'm a professional writer by trade.
Not totally perfect thus, I'm thankful for spell check to catch most of my mistakes.
My work is read by some of the most powerful corporate execs in the US.
They aren't word or grammar nazis because they understand adaptability and the need to abbrev. information for rapid production and consumption.
I find it highly ironic that most here attribute the current generations inventions of net-speak and txt shorthand as well as new slang as being lazy.
Would you say that contractions are 'lazy'? You're rather than you are?
I know that some in preceding generations would.
Txting can allow you to actually convey a lot more in a shorter amount of time and with less space...provided your recipient also understands what you're stating.
I'm a linguistics and language Nazi. So, I'd say 'I pwn joo all'.
Spelling and grammar have NO bearing on whether a person is able to communicate (intelligently) or not. Just that their mode of communication differs from yours.
Often, if you look at the differences in communication methods, you'll note that it's not lack of education that a txter possesses but rather they come from a somewhat different culture than your own. They may be younger even.
As to the poster above who mentioned that non-native English speakers or English as a 2nd language speakers tend to have a better grasp of the 'proper English language'. Well, there's specific reasons for that that aren't commonly known. They haven't been immersed in the culture long enough to learn short cuts or to adapt to the environment that uses slang and other linguistic idiosyncrasies.
Basically, from my point of view, I see this thread as being composed of a bunch of pretentious idiots who lack understanding and adaptability and have a fallacious 'I am the world' mentality. Meaning, 'what I like and do is what EVERYONE one should like and do.'
However, when it comes to selecting someone you'd want to date or mate with.
"We find comfort in those we agree with and growth in those we don't."
Thus, we can afford to be a little anal and highly selective. No different that saying 'I don't like a guy with facial hair' or 'I want a woman who's under 5'6".'
We, myself included, simply don't want to communicate with someone who's language we find it hard to understand.
PS. I think I saw someone complain that 'Irregardless' isn't the proper way to express 'Regardless'. That may have been true in the past but, it, like the word ain't IS now a proper word. I believe Irregardless is very common to some regions of the US and not so others.
Basically, for a word to become 'English' it has to be used about 25,000 times (in the media and publications) by which time, it's meaning is established...common usage rules.
I'm sure that discussions like this will keep coming up over and over with each new generation.
With the older, and 'classically educated' groups bemoaning how lazy and uneducated the younguns are.
Almost like how such discussions come up about morality.
I guess society is going to hell in a handbasket
With all you young people listening to rock n roll music, gyrating your hips, having too much sex out of wedlock, dating people of differernt colors or the same gender as yourselves, men wearing your hair too long and women with pants and gaudy makeup and using foul language and slang. You're just plain disrespectful of yer elders.
-your grandpappy.
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