Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. Please click here to update your account with a username and password.

Hello. Some features on this site require registration. Please click here to register for free.

Hello and thank you for registering. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. If you can't find the email you can resend it here.

Hello. Some features on this site require a subscription. Please click here to get full access and no ads for $1.99 or less per month.

Annoying grammatical errors

Using “a” instead of “an” before a “silent H.”

Example—

It was a honor to meet you (incorrect)

VS.

It was an honor to meet you (correct)

by Anonymousreply 324March 20, 2023 5:11 AM

I was taught to say "an historical," because the "h" was silent. Today every publication uses "a historical,". Maybe a grammarian can explain reason for change, unless we're victims of the ignorant prevailing.

by Anonymousreply 1February 25, 2023 6:00 PM

How is H in historical, silent?

by Anonymousreply 2February 25, 2023 6:02 PM

I don’t need no grammar

by Anonymousreply 3February 25, 2023 6:11 PM

"Had went."

by Anonymousreply 4February 25, 2023 6:19 PM

R2, years ago, yes, the “H” in “historical” was silent, as R1 states.

I enjoy languages, though, so I tend to prefer the time-honored pronunciations vs. popular usage.

by Anonymousreply 5February 25, 2023 6:21 PM

"Me and her went"

by Anonymousreply 6February 25, 2023 6:37 PM

I like literally can't stand the literal combo of bad grammar and ignorance.

by Anonymousreply 7February 25, 2023 6:44 PM

"Brad and I's" house.

by Anonymousreply 8February 25, 2023 6:47 PM

"An" is used before an H when the H is silent, as in "honor". "A' is used when the H is pronounced as in "historical".

by Anonymousreply 9February 25, 2023 6:49 PM

I akse him his number

by Anonymousreply 10February 25, 2023 8:00 PM

"Should of"

Arggghhhh!!!

by Anonymousreply 11February 25, 2023 8:00 PM

Their wasnt

by Anonymousreply 12February 25, 2023 8:03 PM

They're vs. Their vs. There Your vs. You're

by Anonymousreply 13February 25, 2023 8:05 PM

Alot

by Anonymousreply 14February 25, 2023 8:05 PM

Anyways

by Anonymousreply 15February 25, 2023 9:08 PM

I'm annoyed at the misuse of transitive verbs.

by Anonymousreply 16February 25, 2023 9:28 PM

I can't bear illiterate people bringing in scatalogical words to cover the gaps in their vocabulary.

by Anonymousreply 17February 25, 2023 9:38 PM

Scatological words?

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 18February 25, 2023 9:43 PM

[R2], years ago, yes, the “H” in “historical” was silent, as [R1] states.

Uh, and how far back are we going? And like, where?

by Anonymousreply 19February 25, 2023 11:29 PM

R5 "My wife and myself went."

by Anonymousreply 20February 25, 2023 11:34 PM

R19. Way, way back in 2022.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 21February 25, 2023 11:59 PM

Alot of people misuse apostrophe’s.

by Anonymousreply 22February 26, 2023 12:14 AM

The current Marie Osmond weight loss commercial. “As women, our bodies change….”

by Anonymousreply 23February 26, 2023 12:16 AM

R18 Yes, I said scatological and I meant it.

by Anonymousreply 24February 26, 2023 3:54 AM

R19 r21 the use of "an" with "historical" is fairly common but does not indicate the H was silent

by Anonymousreply 25March 4, 2023 11:08 PM

I seen

Her and I

Anyways

by Anonymousreply 26March 5, 2023 12:11 AM

What about acronyms that with the letter “N”?

Which is correct: “A NFL player” or “An NFL player”?

by Anonymousreply 27March 5, 2023 12:32 AM

* begin

by Anonymousreply 28March 5, 2023 12:33 AM

For R22:

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 29March 5, 2023 12:35 AM

Fewer vs Less Than:

“There were less cars on the road.”

by Anonymousreply 30March 5, 2023 12:35 AM

R27, "an NFL player" would be correct, IMO.

by Anonymousreply 31March 5, 2023 12:36 AM

R30 -Yes! There was less traffic. There were fewer cars.

by Anonymousreply 32March 5, 2023 12:38 AM

I resonate with this thread.

by Anonymousreply 33March 5, 2023 12:47 AM

Some soeak well. I speak weller.

by Anonymousreply 34March 5, 2023 12:48 AM

R34 here, Guess I'm not a weller speller :)

by Anonymousreply 35March 5, 2023 12:51 AM

Are kids still taught conjugation?

by Anonymousreply 36March 5, 2023 12:52 AM

Me/I/Myself. These are slaughtered repeatedly in emails, presentations, Zoom meetings, social media posts and the list goes on. Misuse angers myself.

by Anonymousreply 37March 5, 2023 12:55 AM

To paraphrase Aaron Sorkin in The Newsroom, many dictionaries are including a definition of “literally” the way many misuse it. That is to say, “virtually”. So, now there is literally no word that means “literally”.

by Anonymousreply 38March 5, 2023 1:29 AM

"Come meet David and I for dinner Friday!"

by Anonymousreply 39March 5, 2023 1:40 AM

The second someone uses the word "literally" I know that they are retarded.

by Anonymousreply 40March 5, 2023 1:41 AM

"Wade could of killed me on that jet ski!"

"Their running late!"

"Your drunk again, Kimmy!"

"I wish I was still pissing clean, so I could of got that hospital job!"

by Anonymousreply 41March 5, 2023 1:42 AM

Annoying grammatical errors, OP?

ALL OF THEM.

by Anonymousreply 42March 5, 2023 1:43 AM

There are several common grammatical errors that can be annoying to some people. Here are a few examples:

Misusing apostrophes: This can include adding an apostrophe to indicate plural, such as "banana's" instead of "bananas," or using an apostrophe incorrectly to indicate possession, such as "its' fur" instead of "its fur." Confusing "your" and "you're": "Your" indicates possession, while "you're" is a contraction of "you are." Mixing them up can lead to confusion and make your writing look unprofessional. Using double negatives: Using two negative words in a sentence, such as "I don't have no money," can create confusion and make the sentence harder to understand. Using "they" as a singular pronoun: While some people use "they" as a gender-neutral singular pronoun, it can be confusing to others and may not be grammatically correct. Using "less" instead of "fewer": "Less" refers to things that cannot be counted, while "fewer" is used for things that can be counted. For example, "less water" and "fewer cups." It's important to remember that everyone makes grammatical errors from time to time, and it's not always necessary to correct them. However, being aware of common errors and striving to improve our writing and communication skills can be helpful in avoiding confusion and improving clarity.

by Anonymousreply 43March 5, 2023 1:49 AM

Ahistorical is a word.

by Anonymousreply 44March 5, 2023 1:53 AM

I just learned not to use a comma after a mid-sentence quotation that ends with a question. The added comma looked awkward, but its absence also made the sentence appear incomplete.

by Anonymousreply 45March 5, 2023 1:58 AM

"Apart" does not mean the same thing as "a part", people!

I feel wounded by such errors. Attacked, in fact.

by Anonymousreply 46March 5, 2023 1:59 AM

R46 Your sentence structure is horrid. You should never criticize others.

by Anonymousreply 47March 5, 2023 2:01 AM

The use of the word "ain't."

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 48March 5, 2023 2:02 AM

When Dionne went all bipolar in the 1970s and temporarily added an "e" to her last name "Warwick."

by Anonymousreply 49March 5, 2023 2:25 AM

"Alright."

by Anonymousreply 50March 5, 2023 2:53 AM

The popularity of "y'all". It just feels dumb and poor.

by Anonymousreply 51March 5, 2023 3:06 AM

I had excellent teachers growing up. The best way to teach the difference between "They're, there and their" is so simple.

They're = the conjunctive of "they are." There = Here or there. The word has "here" in it. Their = Possession. It has the word "heir" in it meaning they own something.

I will never understand why schools don't teach it this way.

by Anonymousreply 52March 5, 2023 3:11 AM

Y’all need to get a copy of Ilene Kranshaw’s best-selling album:

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 53March 5, 2023 4:28 AM

Monty Python discussed this grammatical controversy.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 54March 5, 2023 4:51 AM

"Her and Phil went to the movies."

by Anonymousreply 55March 5, 2023 5:01 AM

Apostrophes signify that something is missing or owned.

by Anonymousreply 56March 5, 2023 5:11 AM

“I use to be bad at grammar”.

by Anonymousreply 57March 5, 2023 5:18 AM

I say an historical and I will continue to say an historical. Fight me.

by Anonymousreply 58March 5, 2023 5:24 AM

Laughing at all of you. Any armchair linguist knows how foolish futile and intellectually provincial grammar nazism is.

by Anonymousreply 59March 5, 2023 5:31 AM

You did that on purpose, r59.

by Anonymousreply 60March 5, 2023 5:38 AM

Yep. 😘

by Anonymousreply 61March 5, 2023 5:56 AM

🤗 I blame my Amazon Fire Tablet Spell Check.

by Anonymousreply 62March 5, 2023 6:42 AM

[italic] I seen it

Axe me bout it

Man goes up into the man

by Anonymousreply 63March 5, 2023 6:45 AM

I should of.

by Anonymousreply 64March 5, 2023 6:50 AM

^ Definately!

by Anonymousreply 65March 5, 2023 7:17 AM

Op, in another thread I just read “an hatchet.” I assume they’re British.

by Anonymousreply 66March 5, 2023 7:23 AM

Abit, asmuch, aswell.

by Anonymousreply 67March 5, 2023 7:44 AM

Speaking of Grammer, there's the Hungarian Goose conundrum

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 68March 5, 2023 7:50 AM

Irregardless

by Anonymousreply 69March 5, 2023 7:51 AM

Gifted, costed, recasted, etc...

by Anonymousreply 70March 5, 2023 8:03 AM

Some of that is autocorrect, R41. I never learned to type, so do a lot of dictation instead; I may be lousy at catching those before posting, but know the difference between there and they're, it's and its, etc.

by Anonymousreply 71March 5, 2023 8:22 AM

Alot

by Anonymousreply 72March 5, 2023 9:10 AM

Your welcome.

by Anonymousreply 73March 5, 2023 9:30 AM

Does anyone have any advise? It's advice. You give advice to someone by advising them.

Also, people who use "funner" should be slapped viciously.

by Anonymousreply 74March 5, 2023 9:56 AM

It's hanged, not hung, if you're talking about the manner of death.

by Anonymousreply 75March 5, 2023 9:58 AM

As in, "Once he was hanged, he hung there for hours."

by Anonymousreply 76March 5, 2023 10:00 AM

Yes, because hanged refers to the manner of death and hung refers to a period of suspension.

by Anonymousreply 77March 5, 2023 10:03 AM

In just gonna leave this Jack in the Box as here ...

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 78March 5, 2023 6:14 PM

“Cringe” as an adjective.

by Anonymousreply 79March 5, 2023 6:16 PM

I could care less

by Anonymousreply 80March 5, 2023 7:27 PM

R27 Follow the common pronunciation. So it's "an NFL player" but "a NASDAQ ruling."

by Anonymousreply 81March 5, 2023 7:40 PM

Something I’ve noticed mostly on UK-based news sites is the convention of not capitalizing acronyms, like NASA. Instead, The Guardian, i..e., will write Nasa.

That really bugs me for some reason.

by Anonymousreply 82March 5, 2023 8:32 PM

Speaking "on" when they mean speaking "of" or "about".

Speaking "to" when they mean speaking "of" or "about".

by Anonymousreply 83March 5, 2023 9:52 PM

Diffuse a situation

by Anonymousreply 84March 6, 2023 1:16 AM

These are the ones that make me want to hurl my pumpkin-spice potpourri accent bowl the hell across my cubicle:

The chair needs painted. It's not that big of a deal. It's quite/rather/somewhat (insert qualifier) unique.

by Anonymousreply 85March 6, 2023 1:30 AM

Most people is dumber than an box of used condoms.

by Anonymousreply 86March 6, 2023 1:31 AM

“Swole”, “mirin’”, “thicck” and all those other non-words that closeted gymbros use when they think that they’re fooling others.

by Anonymousreply 87March 6, 2023 2:09 AM

Anything coming out of the cotton patch since about 1992.

by Anonymousreply 88March 6, 2023 2:11 AM

Actually make that “thicc”.

by Anonymousreply 89March 6, 2023 2:29 AM

R71 You're talking about homonyms.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 90March 6, 2023 3:08 AM

Anyways

by Anonymousreply 91March 6, 2023 3:31 AM

I swear half of the folk on Reddit pluralise Bradley as Bradley's. Bradley's what, bitch? How is this not the first grammar rule you learn in English class, native or ESL? And don't blame it on the autocorrect either. Reread your shit before you post!

by Anonymousreply 92March 6, 2023 4:25 AM

[quote] Reread your shit before you post!

No.

Place it in the toilet immediately.

by Anonymousreply 93March 6, 2023 5:07 AM

I'm a true believer in AN before "historical" but not 'hysterectomy.'.

by Anonymousreply 94March 6, 2023 5:21 AM

[quote]mirin

Why do they call each other sweet cooking rice wine?

by Anonymousreply 95March 6, 2023 5:50 AM

Using "an" before a word starting with a vowel only exists in English because it enables speakers to speak faster, without awkward glottal stops. Many words that start with h have only the barest minimum of puff to start the word. Historical is one of those. Put your hand in front of your mouth and say "hue" . Now say the word "historical". You'll see that the amount of aspiration or puffing is considerably less with historical. This is what leads people to say an historical, and I tend to do that myself. Some words have a pronounced h only in some accents. Americans say "urb" for "herb", whereas the British pronounce that hell out of that h. The word itself comes from French and the h is not pronounced by the French either. We have a ton of those French loan words starting with h - honest, honor, hour, heir. I'd give people a pass on this one, based upon their accents.

by Anonymousreply 96March 6, 2023 6:36 AM

R95 you obviously missed the single inverted comma before the second set of quotation marks - as if a gymbro would know about mirin!

by Anonymousreply 97March 6, 2023 6:37 AM

I can't stand the misuse of "myself" when "me" is the correct word.

It's really prevalent among young people on competition reality tv shows and drives me NUTS.

"Who was chosen to lead your team"

"Well, Rupaul, we chose myself and Squirrel Interrupted as co-captains"

Me! YOU chose ME! It's a reflexive pronoun. You only use it when the subject and the object of the sentence are the same!!

by Anonymousreply 98March 6, 2023 6:50 AM

At least Madeline Ashton got it right !

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 99March 6, 2023 6:58 AM

“That” and “which” when describing people. The correct words are “who” or “whom”.

“Casted” - no, it’s “cast”. And while it’s Awards Season, please stop using “nom” instead of “nomination”. I know that it has four syllables but it’s really not that difficult, especially if you don’t want to sound eight years old.

by Anonymousreply 100March 6, 2023 7:42 AM

Every illiterate fucking moron in 'merika says that when referring to people. People are just stupid, so best be fucking getting over it.

by Anonymousreply 101March 6, 2023 7:50 AM

I’m not in America particularly often but I do have access via “the internet” so am exposed to the illiterate fucking morons on a daily basis. But thanks for your valuable input, R101.

by Anonymousreply 102March 6, 2023 8:00 AM

"An" goes before words beginning with a vowel sound.

by Anonymousreply 103March 6, 2023 8:01 AM

All intensive purposes

by Anonymousreply 104March 6, 2023 8:18 AM

"Add two tablespoons full of sugar."

"America's had more than a dozen postmaster generals."

"Jesus's soul is eternal."

by Anonymousreply 105March 6, 2023 8:30 AM

I'm generally not annoyed when someone makes a honest mistake. My own recurring mistakes annoy me though. Two big issues: The prefixes un-and in-give me trouble still because often (but not always) they are just the opposite of their use in German which is my first language. E. g. "unacceptable". (Why? It's a Latin root! That it is "in-" in Italian and French too in this case doesn't help one bit.) Another thing: prepositional phrases/verbs. (Why is it "arrive in time"?) Of all the interesting peculiarities English has, I find these two the most challenging.

by Anonymousreply 106March 6, 2023 9:03 AM

"On accident" instead of "by accident". This is now epidemic, especially among younger people. I guess they're modeling the phrase on "on purpose", but it sounds stupid.

by Anonymousreply 107March 6, 2023 9:39 AM

R94: “An” is still occasionally used before a word that starts with “h” when the first syllable is unstressed. “An hotel”, “an historical event”, etc. At one time, the “h” in these words was only barely pronounced or even completely elided, so the word seemed to start with a vowel sound and thus called for “an”.

In “hysterectomy”, however, the first syllable receives secondary stress and is the "h" is fully aspirated, so “an” would not be appropriate.

All of this is somewhat outdated now, at least in American English, but if you want to stay in “an hotel” located in “an historic neighborhood”, go right ahead.

by Anonymousreply 108March 6, 2023 9:41 AM

R100, I agree with everything you say, except that “nom” for “nomination” is journalese. You can love it or hate it, but it’s a long tradition in popular journalism to use supposedly clever, breezy abbreviations. This is especially true in entertainment, where, for example, “biopic” for “biographical picture” and “sitcom” for “situation comedy” have been around for a long time.

by Anonymousreply 109March 6, 2023 9:43 AM

R106 Hope you don't misunderstand "inflammable."

by Anonymousreply 110March 6, 2023 9:48 AM

Hi, Dr. Nick!

by Anonymousreply 111March 6, 2023 10:02 AM

To NYT today, it's "an Hermès handbag." Is there any justification for this?

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 112March 6, 2023 10:27 AM

[quote]Is there any justification for this?

Yes! It's a French word, that H is completely silent and that's not up for debate. Saying it out loud just makes you sound like an ignorant hick. Same for Hervé Leger.

This is one instance where I do approve of such use.

by Anonymousreply 113March 6, 2023 11:30 AM

“Cause” or “cos” for “because”, cos I’m just a little whittle kid who doesn’t like big words.

by Anonymousreply 114March 6, 2023 12:35 PM

This morning, Noam Laden, News Director of New York's WABC did story on a fire in Spring Valley. "The house was completely engulfed."

by Anonymousreply 115March 6, 2023 5:41 PM

The single most annoying grammatical mistake hands down is when people say “I could care less.” No, moron, you mean “I couldn’t care less.”

by Anonymousreply 116March 7, 2023 1:58 AM

I don’t get why people are upset over plural proper nouns ending in s’s, such as Charles’s, it’s technically correct as stated in the MLA. Common nouns end in just the apostrophe (snakes’).

by Anonymousreply 117March 7, 2023 4:45 AM

^possessive not plural.

by Anonymousreply 118March 7, 2023 4:46 AM

I'll be the first to admit that I *do* know the difference between they're, there, and their. But my thumbs are much slower than my brain and I fuck those up ALL the time when I'm quickly typing or texting on my phone.

by Anonymousreply 119March 7, 2023 5:44 AM

^and I don't proofread unless I'm getting paid.

by Anonymousreply 120March 7, 2023 5:45 AM

R120 probably applies that same logic to wiping his ass.

Why do anything for free?

by Anonymousreply 121March 7, 2023 12:12 PM

Today, kids say "Me and her went to dinner together." It makes me cringe

by Anonymousreply 122March 7, 2023 12:31 PM

[quote] I don’t get why people are upset over plural proper nouns ending in s’s, such as Charles’s, it’s technically correct as stated in the MLA. Common nouns end in just the apostrophe (snakes’).

I'm a grammar Nazi but I hate the " 's " after proper names that end it s. Don't know why--maybe I'm too lazy to add the s.

by Anonymousreply 123March 7, 2023 12:33 PM

Ect instead of etc

by Anonymousreply 124March 7, 2023 4:30 PM

Mary & I went to the movies.

by Anonymousreply 125March 7, 2023 4:38 PM

^ Wrong example. My bad. I’m thinking of those sentence structures where people refuse to say, “me,” instead using “I.”

by Anonymousreply 126March 7, 2023 4:42 PM

To and Too

I want to go to the store. I want to go TOO.

by Anonymousreply 127March 7, 2023 4:48 PM

There's a big difference between a while and awhile.

The past tense of lead is led, NOT lead.

The past tense of plead is either pleaded or pled.

by Anonymousreply 128March 7, 2023 5:07 PM

I’m annoyed at the misuses of words/verbs such as—

1. This music track slays…

2. Jon Stewart CRACKS THE FACE …Nathan Dahm nurses his burns…

by Anonymousreply 129March 7, 2023 10:20 PM

"I seen" irritates me.

"Gifted" used as a verb instead of "gave" or "given."

"Arial" or "Ariel," when what they really meant was "aerial."

"Their" vs. "there" vs. "they're," as well as "your" vs. "you're."

Misuse of the apostrophe.

by Anonymousreply 130March 9, 2023 3:23 AM

"Would of" instead of "would have."

by Anonymousreply 131March 9, 2023 3:23 AM

Atleast

by Anonymousreply 132March 9, 2023 3:57 AM

This isn't a grammatical error so much as an annoying idiom.

I grew up in the South. Whenever people mishear something and instead of saying "could you repeat that", "excuse me", "what", or even "huh?" they'll say "Do what?"

Dowhut?

It drives me bananas.

by Anonymousreply 133March 9, 2023 4:50 AM

“Based off of” instead of “based on”

by Anonymousreply 134March 9, 2023 5:11 AM

Using “whenever” instead of “when.” I’m not criticizing but I’ve only heard this from Southerners, describing a one-time incident as “whenever I was…”

I first heard this on Big Brother, the season Nakomis was on (she was the one who said it) & I’ve been hearing it more often of late.

by Anonymousreply 135March 9, 2023 5:57 AM

“Definately”.

by Anonymousreply 136March 9, 2023 6:41 AM

Discrete for “discreet”

by Anonymousreply 137March 9, 2023 6:43 AM

Language is not static. Grammatical constructions become obsolete and die. So will you. There's no escape. There's an easy way and a hard way to deal with this, and it seems many of you have chosen the hard way.

by Anonymousreply 138March 9, 2023 6:48 AM

DL geezers that haven't gotten any sex for decades will obsess over the stupidest most repulsive things. Grammar and the Golden Girls and now Pedro Pascal. Make me puke.

by Anonymousreply 139March 9, 2023 7:00 AM

Oh great. All the retired English teachers on DL get to show off on this thread and act superior. How thrilling!

by Anonymousreply 140March 9, 2023 7:14 AM

Could of, would of, should of

by Anonymousreply 141March 9, 2023 1:38 PM

alot of this bothers me....

by Anonymousreply 142March 9, 2023 2:09 PM

^ It shouldn't be that difficult to remember, but I seem to see more "alot" than "a lot."

by Anonymousreply 143March 9, 2023 2:15 PM

From Grindr

I'm a very dominate man.

by Anonymousreply 144March 9, 2023 3:36 PM

“Everyday” and “every day” are not the same thing.

by Anonymousreply 145March 9, 2023 5:09 PM

“An” for “and”.

by Anonymousreply 146March 9, 2023 5:20 PM

When someone says "My sister and I" when it should be 'me.'

I can't stand when I see posts from seemingly intelligent people and they write, "Look at this picture of my mother and I when I was 7."

It's so easy to remember this rule. All you have to do is eliminate the "and" person and see if you'd say the sentence that way. Would you say, "Look at this picture of I when I was 7"? Of course not, so 'me' is correct.

by Anonymousreply 147March 9, 2023 5:53 PM

Those are good little tricks, R52, thank you. Unfortunately, some will have difficulty differentiating "here" from "hear" and, as for knowing how to spell "heir"...

by Anonymousreply 148March 9, 2023 5:57 PM

I grew up white trash but tastefully educated, and mother always said proper grammar was one sure way to distinguish yourself from the herd.

When you're dirt-poor, people will assume you're ignorant trash. But poverty and ignorance are not the same thing.

by Anonymousreply 149March 9, 2023 5:57 PM

Rogue comma in R148. Désolé.

by Anonymousreply 150March 9, 2023 5:57 PM

"My bad" R26 - Ugh

by Anonymousreply 151March 9, 2023 5:59 PM

Obsolete belief, R149. It's somewhat true, but not as much as it used to be

by Anonymousreply 152March 9, 2023 6:03 PM

OMG

by Anonymousreply 153March 9, 2023 6:36 PM

Sussex - singular: “Sussex is a delightful place”.

Sussexes - plural: “The Sussexes have traveled by private jet, again, but again, not to visit Sussex”.

Sussexes’ - possessive: “The Sussexes’ hypocrisy and sense of entitlement continue to astound”.

by Anonymousreply 154March 9, 2023 6:41 PM

"I'm presently working." When they mean "currently."

by Anonymousreply 155March 9, 2023 10:09 PM

R139 you sound rather sensitive.

by Anonymousreply 156March 9, 2023 10:14 PM

You don't stand AT a Podium. You stand ON a podium. Think Feet, Podiatrist.

by Anonymousreply 157March 9, 2023 10:19 PM

The past tense of sneak is sneaked, not snuck.

by Anonymousreply 158March 9, 2023 10:23 PM

The past tense of dive is dived, not dove.

by Anonymousreply 159March 9, 2023 10:24 PM

These are spelling errors but very common and annoying -

"Per say' instead of 'per se'. 'Peaked' instead of 'piqued.' 'Poured over' instead of 'pored over.'

by Anonymousreply 160March 9, 2023 10:35 PM

Hyperfixated Klan Granny at R154.

by Anonymousreply 161March 9, 2023 10:36 PM

[quote] ... cos I’m just a little whittle kid who doesn’t like big words.

R114, that's what I always think when I see or hear "veggie".

by Anonymousreply 162March 9, 2023 11:23 PM

R149 speaks the truth. If you are from a trashy background but would like to rise above that, speaking well is the first and most important step. Use grammatically correct English, have a reasonably wide vocabulary without sounding eccentric, and lose as much of your regional accent as you can. (Slight regional accents are fine, but a strong regional accent is a negative class marker. Middle- and upper-middle class people under 50 have slight or no accents.)

by Anonymousreply 163March 9, 2023 11:36 PM

Saying daylight savings time is a marker of stupidity.

by Anonymousreply 164March 9, 2023 11:43 PM

R157, oh, dear. That is, oh dear to me because I've definitely (not to say definately) been guilty of this.

The thing in front of the speaker is the [bold] lectern [/bold], right? The lectern stands on the podium, as does the speaker.

The problem is that "at the podium" is so common, even among well-educated people who make their living talking to the public (that is, journalists and pundits) that I wonder if people will even know what I mean if I say "at the lectern".

by Anonymousreply 165March 9, 2023 11:43 PM

R163 Are you suggesting a wide vocabulary is a sign of eccentricity?

by Anonymousreply 166March 9, 2023 11:47 PM

"Me and Cher ate dinner" vs "Cher and I..."

by Anonymousreply 167March 9, 2023 11:49 PM

Taken back, rather than taken aback.

by Anonymousreply 168March 10, 2023 12:34 AM

R166, no. I'm suggesting that using long or obscure words where simpler, more common words will work is eccentric. Also, using many long words increases the chance of using one of them incorrectly, which makes one seem ridiculous.

by Anonymousreply 169March 10, 2023 12:42 AM

I use to pronounce 'gibberish' as 'jibberish'.

But the great Evelyn Waugh pronounces the 'g' as a hard 'g'.

by Anonymousreply 170March 10, 2023 12:48 AM

[quote]I use to pronounce

Here's one right now.

It's useD to do something.

by Anonymousreply 171March 10, 2023 12:52 AM

Maybe and may be are not the same thing.

by Anonymousreply 172March 10, 2023 12:53 AM

“Hyper fixated”, R161? That’s rather a large word for someone of your humble background.

by Anonymousreply 173March 10, 2023 1:22 AM

“Workout” is not the same as “work out”.

by Anonymousreply 174March 10, 2023 1:25 AM

“amount of” instead of “number of”

“less” instead of “fewer”

by Anonymousreply 175March 10, 2023 1:30 AM

KG Troll it’s way past your bed-time - have one final swig of the Polish vodka that you picked up down at the offy then crawl into your single bed with the rancid sheets that you wash once every year.

by Anonymousreply 176March 10, 2023 1:31 AM

Not using a possessive pronoun in front of a verbal phrase drives me crazy.

HIS being a grammar nazi.

MY whining about grammar errors.

DLers mocking HIS dying.

by Anonymousreply 177March 10, 2023 1:38 AM

R170 "use to"

Oh, dear!

by Anonymousreply 178March 10, 2023 1:58 AM

Adults who write "cuz"nstead of "because" sound like they're still in junior high.

"In to" is not the same as "into."

by Anonymousreply 179March 10, 2023 3:00 AM

Instead

by Anonymousreply 180March 10, 2023 3:03 AM

"Irregardless" is NOT a word. I am not bending to the unwashed masses. I don't care how many of them say it despite being wrong!

by Anonymousreply 181March 10, 2023 3:04 AM

It's "toward." NOT "towards."

by Anonymousreply 182March 10, 2023 3:05 AM

[quote] Reread your shit before you post!

R92 Place it in the toilet before you post.

by Anonymousreply 183March 10, 2023 3:09 AM

I refuse to end a sentence with a preposition. It makes MAAAAAD!

It makes me laugh, it makes me cry. It makes me live, it makes me die for you. It makes me sing, it makes me sad. It makes me glad, it makes me MAAAAAD for you. I love you, hate you, love you, hate you. But I want you 'til the world stops turning. For whatever you do, I never, never, never want to be in love with anyone but you.

by Anonymousreply 184March 10, 2023 3:16 AM

R179 I’ll see your cuz and raise you cos!

It’s a fucking lettuce, people!

by Anonymousreply 185March 10, 2023 4:54 AM

R159, the past tense of "dive" can be either "dived" or "dove". Both are acceptable.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 186March 10, 2023 6:58 AM

So it’s correct to say: last night I muff dove?

by Anonymousreply 187March 10, 2023 7:07 AM

Not sure, R187. You'd have to ask a lesbian.

by Anonymousreply 188March 10, 2023 7:09 AM

People who pronounce the silent T in often. Like nails on a chalkboard. Some of these people seem smart too but this instantly makes me think they’re dumb.

by Anonymousreply 189March 10, 2023 7:16 AM

I don't pronounce the T in often but whether you do or not, both are correct.

by Anonymousreply 190March 10, 2023 8:30 AM

There's no such thing as 'correct'. There's standards that language may or may not follow, but there is no such thing as a universal 'correct'.

by Anonymousreply 191March 10, 2023 8:35 AM

[quote]There's standards that language may or may not follow...

R191 Wrong. For example, it's grammatically CORRECT to say "The are standards...." and INCORRECT to say "There's standards...." as you just did.

by Anonymousreply 192March 10, 2023 8:40 AM

Not grammatical, but still irritating: walla when they really mean voilà.

by Anonymousreply 193March 10, 2023 9:02 AM

[quote]For example, it's grammatically CORRECT to say "There are standards...."

FIFY, R192.

by Anonymousreply 194March 10, 2023 9:04 AM

Grammar is a standard, dear, and it's not universal. It's subjective. I know it's difficult for many of you to unclench those control issues to get this. Too bad — it's a truly limiting lens to apply to life, no matter how good self-stratification feels.

by Anonymousreply 195March 10, 2023 9:09 AM

R163 Not one word you said is true. Not when the best job that most can aspire to in America is a dollar store. LOL. So fuck all you Nazi assholes. No one cares how you speak.

by Anonymousreply 196March 10, 2023 9:21 AM

"Pointless bitchery"

by Anonymousreply 197March 10, 2023 10:34 AM

Grammar is subjective? What bullshit. I guess the alphabet is subjective, too.

by Anonymousreply 198March 10, 2023 10:41 AM

Lol, R198, the alphabet is, too. Is Y a vowel? Do we use umlaut in double vowel constructions, like the New Yorker does? What about tildes and accents? Are these required or not?

Please expand your conceptual mind and drop your addiction to so-called 'correctness'. It's much better and more fun over here.

by Anonymousreply 199March 10, 2023 10:50 AM

People who pronounce "important" as imporTANT.

by Anonymousreply 200March 10, 2023 11:05 AM

People who pronounce button as BUH IN should be punched as well, R200

by Anonymousreply 201March 10, 2023 11:09 AM

R164, Savings go into bank. The change is Daylight SAVING Time.

by Anonymousreply 202March 10, 2023 11:38 AM

[quote] Saying daylight savings time is a marker of stupidity.

THAT is your marker of stupidity?! I could think of others.

by Anonymousreply 203March 10, 2023 11:43 AM

R191, your are right With two pronunciations, one is "Preferred," not "correct."

by Anonymousreply 204March 10, 2023 11:43 AM

[quote]Not grammatical, but still irritating: walla when they really mean voilà.

Then, it must bother you immensely that "walla, all of a sudden" is a long-running DL joke.

by Anonymousreply 205March 10, 2023 11:55 AM

R199 If the alphabet and any word spelling are subjective, then we can spell anything the way we want. So how are teachers to grade a student's spelling test? Is Y a vowel? Yes, sometimes. Is that difficult? Why does it have to be absolute, control freak?

So your way of understanding is correct, I guess. What a nutcase. I spell your name CUNT.

by Anonymousreply 206March 10, 2023 12:26 PM

Talking about receiving your tax return when what you actually mean is your tax refund.

by Anonymousreply 207March 10, 2023 12:34 PM

Pronounciation is subject to regional variations, which makes it subjective. But grammar is not, aside from slang (which is not actually grammar).

by Anonymousreply 208March 10, 2023 12:46 PM

Calm down, R206. It's causing issues with your comprehension skills and you're projecting your control issues on me. Control of language is an illusion. It's constantly evolving, oftentimes in ways that annoy us... especially as we age or gain status. .You're communicating more to us about your attachment to the world revolving around your viewpoint, and it just plain doesn't. You also are a complete and utter fool to anyone who has studied linguistics for five minutes. Who's the cunt now?

The teacher is grading the test based on agreed collective standard they follow. There is no ultimate authority on the English language — only agreements on style, and none of them universally binding.

by Anonymousreply 209March 10, 2023 12:46 PM

Get some help, R209. We don't have to continually or annually agree that the first number is spelled ONE. You've done too much poppers in your day, that's for sure.

by Anonymousreply 210March 10, 2023 12:56 PM

Hahahahaha! Can't take the heat, just hurl an insult and ignore rather than open your mind to other views. Good riddance!

by Anonymousreply 211March 10, 2023 1:01 PM

R208, the correct spelling is "pronunciation", not "pronounciation".

by Anonymousreply 212March 10, 2023 1:41 PM

^ When spoken, it is the most ironic mispronunciation. It often lets you know that you're dealing with someone who overrates their own intelligence.

by Anonymousreply 213March 10, 2023 1:44 PM

Lol, R213. I do love it when snobby grammarians are proved wrong.

by Anonymousreply 214March 10, 2023 1:48 PM

R187, I guess "muff dove" is correct, even though it sounds odd. Maybe I'd say: "Last night I went muff diving." (Not me personally. I've never been that close to a vagina.)

by Anonymousreply 215March 10, 2023 1:53 PM

He's my sister's and I's brother.

by Anonymousreply 216March 10, 2023 2:02 PM

I just saw an ad on television advertising the "Lost 80's Live Concert Tour. Is it 80's or 80s?

by Anonymousreply 217March 10, 2023 2:17 PM

[quote] Is it 80's or 80s?

'80s.

by Anonymousreply 218March 10, 2023 2:35 PM

“Bored of” instead of “bored with”.

by Anonymousreply 219March 10, 2023 5:09 PM

Actually, I prefer bored by ....

by Anonymousreply 220March 10, 2023 9:20 PM

"Enamored OF" not "Enamored WITH".

by Anonymousreply 221March 10, 2023 11:53 PM

Here is the biggest grammar mistake that has surfaced in the past few years...

Using "they" to describe those who identify as nonbinary. "They" is plural, goddammit. "They" cannot be used to identify one, singular, individual person.

Think up another word or make one up..e.g., zee, zed or something else! But "they" is plural !!!

by Anonymousreply 222March 11, 2023 1:27 AM

^ Agreed. I’m a supporter, but so wish(ed) “they” would not co-opt the existing English language like this.

by Anonymousreply 223March 11, 2023 6:32 AM

^ Speaking of which, “agreeance.”

by Anonymousreply 224March 11, 2023 6:51 AM

You're not a supporter, really, if these are y'all's priorities around these issues. How hard is it, really, to let it go for the sake of the greater good? "They" was already evolving in usage anyway, so it's a bit easier for people to adopt than a coined pronoun that take more cognitive load to put into use like "zhem".

Some serious issues exhibited by people in this thread. Y'all think you're enforcing the rules, but you're really enforcing the forces enforcing the rules. Not all of those forces are benevolent.

by Anonymousreply 225March 11, 2023 6:59 AM

Normalcy instead of normality.

by Anonymousreply 226March 11, 2023 7:05 AM

^ Tell that to Warren Harding.

by Anonymousreply 227March 11, 2023 7:18 AM

Dinning room

by Anonymousreply 228March 11, 2023 7:25 AM

R225, there’s loyalty & then there’s blind loyalty.

by Anonymousreply 229March 11, 2023 7:29 AM

Conversate.

by Anonymousreply 230March 11, 2023 7:31 AM

"A" is when the first letter of the following word is a consonant. "An" is when the first letter of the following word is a vowel.

A historical moment. An odd moment.

by Anonymousreply 231March 11, 2023 7:52 AM

“Lady’s” Room

by Anonymousreply 232March 11, 2023 7:59 AM

That reminds me, R225: "y'all".

by Anonymousreply 233March 11, 2023 7:59 AM

I ❤️ precise second person plural pronouns and fucking with people who are insecure.

by Anonymousreply 234March 11, 2023 8:20 AM

[Quote]“Lady’s” Room

I actually saw something similar on a store's awning in New York: "Ladie's Handbags"

by Anonymousreply 235March 11, 2023 8:40 AM

You "actually" saw that? WOW

by Anonymousreply 236March 11, 2023 9:03 AM

R235 Oh, dear!

by Anonymousreply 237March 11, 2023 9:43 AM

For mateur audiences only

by Anonymousreply 238March 11, 2023 12:00 PM

[quote] For mateur audiences only

There can be no excuse, then, for such violaters to misspell "amateur."

by Anonymousreply 239March 11, 2023 1:14 PM

Pardon, r212?

by Anonymousreply 240March 11, 2023 1:51 PM

Got it now thanks

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 241March 11, 2023 1:53 PM

[Quote]You "actually" saw that? WOW

R236 Yes, I "actually" did. What's your problem with the word "actually"?

R237 Same question, since you "Oh, deared" me.

by Anonymousreply 242March 11, 2023 2:11 PM

[quote]For mateur audiences only

So, they only want professional audiences instead of "amateur" audiences?

by Anonymousreply 243March 11, 2023 2:28 PM

“Can you loan me some money?”

Ugh. As a verb, the customary usage is lend.

“No, I will not lend you any money, you parasite!”

by Anonymousreply 244March 11, 2023 3:53 PM

What obsolete cunts most of you are!

by Anonymousreply 245March 11, 2023 4:30 PM

I sense that there’s a handful of Linguistic Relativists present, but the DL contingent of Linguistic Absolutists is much more prevalent

by Anonymousreply 246March 11, 2023 4:32 PM

[quote]R236 Yes, I "actually" did. What's your problem with the word "actually"?

R242, this thread attracts super pretentious people like R236. Just ignore them.

by Anonymousreply 247March 11, 2023 4:44 PM

Indeed, R246. The grammar, spelling and punctuation on this website are far superior to what you'd find on most websites/comments sections and, let's face it, it's at least partly because we're all a bit afraid of the "Oh, dear!" queens.

by Anonymousreply 248March 11, 2023 4:56 PM

R245 and obtuse!

by Anonymousreply 249March 11, 2023 5:00 PM

I'm not obtuse, r249. I'm not fat at all.

by Anonymousreply 250March 11, 2023 5:04 PM

r248, very true, which is one of the reasons I love DL.

It's also why I don't understand when people get their britches in a bunch when someone oh, dears them. I always found it comical, like a schoolmarm tsk-taking under her breath in the corner as she watches.

by Anonymousreply 251March 11, 2023 5:05 PM

I’m finding lots of Gen Z YouTube influencers say “Your guyses” when addressing their audience (as in “I’ve seen a lot of your guyses suggestions…”) instead of saying “you guys’,” and it grates.

by Anonymousreply 252March 11, 2023 5:08 PM

[quote]"An" is when the first letter of the following word is a vowel.

However, English language learners sometimes make the mistake of applying this rule to "vowel" graphemes that don't actually begin with a vowel sound:

A one-ton truck <-- "one" actually starts with the semivowel [w]

A unicorn; a ukelele; a united front <-- long "u" starts with the semivowel [y]

by Anonymousreply 253March 11, 2023 6:02 PM

woah instead of whoa

It’s being used frequently. I saw that proscribed spelling in a tv commercial.

by Anonymousreply 254March 11, 2023 6:40 PM

Most people are linguistic relativists, whether they know it or not, and I love how threads like these bring out the psychological issues in you dime a dozen linguistic absolutists. You're small thinkers who need to get out more, the lot of you.

by Anonymousreply 255March 11, 2023 7:14 PM

[quote] A unicorn; a ukelele; a united front <-- long "u" starts with the semivowel [y]

The Hawaiian pronunciation of "ukulele" would actually start with a vowel sound, sort of like an "oo" sound.

The spelling is actually "ukulele," not "ukelele."

But, you're correct in that you-kulele, which is an accepted pronunciation (in English), does start with a consonant or Y sound.

by Anonymousreply 256March 11, 2023 7:23 PM

[quote]Most people are linguistic relativists, whether they know it or not, and I love how threads like these bring out the psychological issues in you dime a dozen linguistic absolutists. You're small thinkers who need to get out more, the lot of you.

Talk about small thinkers. You're so convinced that the sum total is pedantic rule following rather than seeing the bigger picture of how language shapes thinking and in turn shapes language in a virtuous circle , how good communication is clear and precise communication and how grammar errors lead to all sorts of poor communication which ultimately stifles new ideas, creativity, and critical thinking, and how you clearly type fat.

by Anonymousreply 257March 11, 2023 7:26 PM

R2 If you want to know why the H in Historical is silent, ask people in Massachusetts why the H in Amherst is silent?

by Anonymousreply 258March 11, 2023 7:27 PM

I want r257 in me quite deeply.

And I'm a top!

by Anonymousreply 259March 11, 2023 7:38 PM

Would you prefer to live in the Singular or Plural region? ....

The North - "You can fuck me." The South ..- "Y'all can fuck me."

by Anonymousreply 260March 11, 2023 7:39 PM

R257, lol if you think that's the case here. You're too generous. Not one poster in this thread has acknowledged regional differences, style differences, etc. This all about self-aggrandizing, finger pointing at "the other" and not much more.

by Anonymousreply 261March 11, 2023 8:03 PM

R206 Your writing skills are atrocious.

by Anonymousreply 262March 11, 2023 8:06 PM

R260 It would be "you guys"

by Anonymousreply 263March 11, 2023 8:06 PM

R261 Intelligent adults don't type "lol."

by Anonymousreply 264March 11, 2023 8:10 PM

Says who, R264?

by Anonymousreply 265March 11, 2023 8:22 PM

R265 Everyone who has graduated high school

by Anonymousreply 266March 11, 2023 8:38 PM

[quote]threads like these bring out the psychological issues in you dime a dozen linguistic absolutists

Dime a dozen? Nothing could be more commonplace than those who declare, "It's all relative! I heard that in my Linguistics 101 class." If anything, being something of a prescriptivist is now a revolutionary act. As R255 says, these rules contribute to clear communication, which is a positive good. Yes, people may appear to be overdoing it in their defence of those rules but, if no-one policed boundaries, how long before clear and productive communication would disappear?

by Anonymousreply 267March 11, 2023 9:16 PM

[quote]"They" was already evolving in usage anyway, so it's a bit easier for people to adopt than a coined pronoun that take more cognitive load to put into use like "zhem".

R225. "They" was not evolving for those who identify as nonbinary. "They" had been used as a colloquial term in reference for "he or she" such as: "The plumber is coming to my house today, but I don't know when they are arriving." This is a simple statement said simply because you just don't know who is actually coming to your house.

However, "they" for a nonbinary person, (which is questionable anyway), is referring to an actual person who you know. "They" are not a plural '"they." They are an individual.

Nonbinary people need their own pronoun (zee, zhed or whatever might be created) as inconvenient as you make think it may be. Language has meaning, and "they" is plural--not for an individual standing right there in front of you.

by Anonymousreply 268March 11, 2023 9:34 PM

[quote]R265 Everyone who has graduated high school.

No, dear. Only the most laughable, pretentious twats think that way. I see this thread is full of them. You wouldn't use "lol" in business emails or other formal situations but it's perfectly fine for a chat forum such as this. Just who are you trying to impress, dear?

by Anonymousreply 269March 11, 2023 10:02 PM

R269 Bless your heart. You are quite offended over this! I'm guessing you also throw out "stay pressed," "lmao," "literally," etc. It's okay! It's hard to feel ashamed as you do here. It's happened to all of us before we knew better. I hope things improve!

by Anonymousreply 270March 11, 2023 10:09 PM

R270, you're adorable. I don't feel the least bit ashamed to be here. There's nothing wrong with my spelling and grammar. I wonder if the people who put on airs the most come from humble backgrounds and continue to have a humble station in life. Probably. You wouldn't fall into that category, would you?

by Anonymousreply 271March 11, 2023 10:15 PM

R271 You tried!

by Anonymousreply 272March 11, 2023 10:21 PM

Oh, dear R272. A ten year old could come up with a weak rebuttal like that. I'm so disappointed. I'll be ignoring you from now on. Please go talk to you pretentious friends. So you are a sales clerk who likes to pretend he's upper class. I thought so.

by Anonymousreply 273March 11, 2023 10:29 PM

R273 We don't start sentences with "So."

by Anonymousreply 274March 11, 2023 10:35 PM

People say "None of the students were injured." None means One. "None of the students was injured."

by Anonymousreply 275March 11, 2023 10:43 PM

None doesn't mean one.

by Anonymousreply 276March 11, 2023 10:45 PM

It's "None were ..." Not "None was ..."

by Anonymousreply 277March 11, 2023 10:58 PM

[quote]R273 We don't start sentences with "So."

I do. It's an effective way of showing you've reached a conclusion. It's a complete sentence not a phrase

Shouldn't your sentence be: R273, we don't start sentences with "So"?

Your grammar is appalling, R274.

by Anonymousreply 278March 11, 2023 10:58 PM

R278 You are incorrect. I sense that you are furious. I know you are stressed, and I genuinely hope things improve.

Your placement of the question mark is humorous. I will assume that was intentional, if that makes you feel better!

by Anonymousreply 279March 11, 2023 11:02 PM

Good heavens. Your knowledge of grammar is abysmal. I am asking a question, so there should be a question mark at the end, silly goose.

by Anonymousreply 280March 11, 2023 11:05 PM

R280 Sweetheart, we place the question mark inside the quotation mark.

by Anonymousreply 281March 11, 2023 11:07 PM

R273 "I'll be ignoring you from now on."

You can't. This is eating you a alive. I wonder if you will be able to sleep tonight, given this humiliation.

by Anonymousreply 282March 11, 2023 11:09 PM

Hahaha, R281. I'm the one asking the question. Why would I put a question mark inside your sentence? You must be trolling.

by Anonymousreply 283March 11, 2023 11:10 PM

R283 You are sweet. I often see those around me who struggle with self esteem. I'm a genuine person, and I wish you well. I have full confidence that you will feel equal one day!

by Anonymousreply 284March 11, 2023 11:12 PM

Good bye, R284. No point in engaging with a troll.

Oops. There's no point in engaging with a troll. I can't be writing phrases on this thread.

by Anonymousreply 285March 11, 2023 11:15 PM

[quote]Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence...Question marks should go inside of the quotation marks if the quote is a question. If the quote is not a question, but the sentence is, the question mark should be outside the quotation marks. Examples: The caterpillar answered, “Who are you?”

[quote]When a comma or period is needed after a quotation, publishers in the United States typically put the punctuation mark before the closing quotation mark. The reason for this convention is to improve the appearance of the text. The convention goes back at least to the nineteenth century.

I'll just leave that for anyone who needs it.

by Anonymousreply 286March 11, 2023 11:16 PM

R285 I'm the guy at a party that you want to befriend. You can't, because you think I'm too superior. You would be correct, but I'm still friendly. You should still try. I would engage, knowing it would be a favor!

by Anonymousreply 287March 11, 2023 11:16 PM

Girls, girls! You're both pretentious cunts.

by Anonymousreply 288March 11, 2023 11:31 PM

[quote]None doesn't mean one.

Correct. It means "not one."

[quote]It's "None were ..." Not "None was ..."

No. "None was" is correct, as in "Not one of them was seen at the theatre tonight." You wouldn't say "not one of them were seen at the theatre tonight," would you?

by Anonymousreply 289March 12, 2023 12:24 AM

Seems to depend on what you're talking about.

None of the pie was eaten. (Correct.)

None of the children were hungry. (Also correct.)

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 290March 12, 2023 1:11 AM

R286. Place all punctuation marks inside the quotation mark including periods, commas, question marks and exclamation points.

At the end of the sentence, you would never place a period following the quotation marks.

.

by Anonymousreply 291March 12, 2023 1:48 AM

Why do DLers like the saying "I've had sufficient"?

The question mark goes on the outside, sometimes.

Or:

Can you believe he told me, "I've had sufficient"?!

Both the question and exclamation marks go on the outside.

by Anonymousreply 292March 12, 2023 1:56 AM

[quote][R286]. Place all punctuation marks inside the quotation mark including periods, commas, question marks and exclamation points...At the end of the sentence, you would never place a period following the quotation marks.

You can make that sweeping statement, but many style guides, such as AP and MLA disagree with you. Chicago Style guide agrees with you.

by Anonymousreply 293March 12, 2023 2:03 AM

R292 No

by Anonymousreply 294March 12, 2023 2:04 AM

r292 - as previously stated: "Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself. Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence."

If the quoted material itself is a question (or exclamation), the question mark would go inside. In our examples, the question applies to the entire sentence, not just the quoted material - according to the AP and MLA guides while according to the Chicago Style Guide, it always goes inside the quotation marks.

by Anonymousreply 295March 12, 2023 2:09 AM

[quote]R285 I'm the guy at a party that you want to befriend. You can't, because you think I'm too superior. You would be correct, but I'm still friendly. You should still try. I would engage, knowing it would be a favor!

R287, I can't take you seriously if you still don't know how to use DL's quote format. That kind of thing is unforgivable. Bye.

Btw, I don't have the slightest problem with self-esteem.

by Anonymousreply 296March 12, 2023 4:59 AM

So, since fags can't talk sports they have to talk grammar? Such littles Hitlers with grammar, too.

by Anonymousreply 297March 12, 2023 10:32 AM

[quote]Everyone who has graduated high school

R266, I hate to say this because I agree with your sentiment, but it should be "everyone who has graduated [italic]from[/italic] high school."

by Anonymousreply 298March 12, 2023 10:33 AM

How about ‘everyone who *was* graduated from high school’?

by Anonymousreply 299March 12, 2023 10:35 AM

R298 No, dear. You can say you "graduated high school" but you would say you "graduated from Jefferson High School" if you wanted to note that. Both are acceptable.

by Anonymousreply 300March 12, 2023 10:36 AM

[quote]At the end of the sentence, you would never place a period following the quotation marks.

In British English, you most certainly would if the period did not belong to the words in quotation marks. It's a much more sensible system that I prefer, even though I speak American English.

For example: At the Datalounge, we do not begin sentences with "so".

by Anonymousreply 301March 12, 2023 10:42 AM

R299, that is correct but outdated English. That's how the phrased started out.

R300, "graduated high school" in an "emerging" usage. That is, it's new and common, but careful writers and speakers still consider it incorrect. If you want to help it emerge, so be it.

by Anonymousreply 302March 12, 2023 10:50 AM

R302, since it ruffles your feathers, bitch, YES, I want to help it emerge.

by Anonymousreply 303March 12, 2023 11:49 AM

Specially instead of especially! Is this a new phenomenon?

by Anonymousreply 304March 12, 2023 11:55 AM

R301: hear hear

Logic and sense surely ought to take precedence over some outdated type-setting practice

by Anonymousreply 305March 12, 2023 12:33 PM

Harding? I thought normalcy was Harry Truman's word.

by Anonymousreply 306March 12, 2023 12:43 PM

R306, Harding started it. He was a good-looking man who lacked intellect & education. Truman just adopted what had become semi-common usage by the time he was speaking in public.

by Anonymousreply 307March 12, 2023 2:47 PM

R274 and R301, you are so wrong.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 308March 12, 2023 3:59 PM

Harding ran in 1920 on a Return to Normalcy platform.

by Anonymousreply 309March 12, 2023 4:03 PM

Harding used "normalcy".

[quote]Before his nomination, Warren G. Harding declared, “America’s present need is not heroics, but healing; not nostrums, but normalcy; not revolution, but restoration; not agitation, but adjustment; not surgery, but serenity; not the dramatic, but the dispassionate; not experiment, but equipoise; not submergence in internationality, but sustainment in triumphant nationality….”

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 310March 12, 2023 4:05 PM

R308, to be fair, both of the posts to which you're replying said that "we" don't do that, i.e. it's a Datlounge thing, and the second post made that explicit.

A linguist being quoted in an NPR piece is the last person in the world I'd expect to be a prescriptivist, so that link is neither here nor there as far as DL goes.

Personally, I do use "so" at the start of spoken sentences - maybe because I'm young - but I don't write it here out of deference to my caftan-clad DLders. The old stalwarts are rather sensitive about such things, and I play by their rules.

by Anonymousreply 311March 12, 2023 4:15 PM

I like annoying the old stalwarts, R311. Sometimes DL's snobby grammarians really don't know what they're talking about.

I used "so" to express that I've reached a conclusion. This is what I wrote:

[quote]So you are a sales clerk who likes to pretend he's upper class. I thought so.

I'd like someone to prove to me that this usage is incorrect, using a reputable source.

by Anonymousreply 312March 12, 2023 5:39 PM

I'm with r312.

"So" as a conjunction: and for this reason; therefore; with the aim that; in order that

As an adverb: to such a great extent; to the same extent.

It's similar to starting a sentence with "and" or "but," upon which both are frowned by DLers. However, while not technically grammatically incorrect, the number of people who believe it is can make doing so a dubious stylistic choice.

So, since I don't care all that much about erroneously made corrections, I'll just keep using "so" at my discretion.

by Anonymousreply 313March 12, 2023 5:47 PM

[quote]It's similar to starting a sentence with "and" or "but," upon which both are frowned by DLers.

I'm just going to "Oh, dear" this now so someone else won't have to do it then!

In all seriousness, though, R313, I get what you're saying about not giving too much thought to erroneous "corrections", but my perspective - yours is different, and that's fine - is that I'm not going to say something which I know is likely to provoke a "correction" and thus potentially derail things.

by Anonymousreply 314March 12, 2023 6:00 PM

[quote]I'm just going to "Oh, dear" this now so someone else won't have to do it then!

As I previously stated: "I don't care all that much about erroneously made corrections."

We can debate whether the comma is extraneous, but I stand by it.

by Anonymousreply 315March 12, 2023 8:07 PM

R311, exactly right.

I am R301 and an eldergay besides, and I start sentences with “so”, too. I don’t do it at the DL much because it tends to provoke “oh, dears” that clutter up the thread. (It’s also not appropriate in business writing, which is the main kind of writing I do outside the DL.)

The sentence in R301 just happened to be the first thing that came to mind as an example of when to put the comma outside the quotation marks.

R313, I believe most of the objections to "so" arise when it's used more as a kind of introductory interjection:

"So, today it I decided to clean out the garage."

I don't mind this usage and do it myself sometimes, but it is provocative in some settings.

by Anonymousreply 316March 12, 2023 8:07 PM

Ladies need to relax. Sometimes language evolves and we learn to accept it. Didn't "awful" mean "full of awe" like it was something wonderfully inspiring? It doesn't mean that anymore, bitches.

by Anonymousreply 317March 13, 2023 7:12 PM

I find “and so” annoying. Just choose one and go with it.

by Anonymousreply 318March 14, 2023 1:14 PM

I don't know if this is a grammatical error or not, but saying "try and" instead of "try to" irritates me.

You don't try and do something, you try to do something.

by Anonymousreply 319March 14, 2023 4:23 PM

[QUOTE] KG Troll it’s way past your bed-time - have one final swig of the Polish vodka that you picked up down at the offy then crawl into your single bed with the rancid sheets that you wash once every year.

Love the way you project your own alcoholism and slovenliness on anyone who calls you out. Why the fuck did you bring up Meghan on a thread about grammar? You're a monomaniac.

by Anonymousreply 320March 15, 2023 7:31 AM

'Phase' instead of 'faze.'

by Anonymousreply 321March 15, 2023 7:34 AM

Anyone who is this concerned about grammar mistakes is an unhappy person.

by Anonymousreply 322March 18, 2023 1:13 PM

It’s true that language keeps evolving, but it also requires rules, just as math, science, sports, society, etc., do. Otherwise, we’ll all eventually sound like Tarzan, Tonto, Frankenstein, and Yoda.🤪

by Anonymousreply 323March 20, 2023 3:56 AM

"Bradley's" poster from upthread here again and I have another one -- ordinance instead of ordnance. Keeps popping up now with the war in Ukraine. Markos Moulitsas, founder of Daily Kos, insists on using the incorrect one in his (otherwise wonderful) analyses despite getting corrected every time in the comment section. It's like a sunk cost fallacy for him at this point, might as well keep doing it forever. Hailee Steinfeld also used the incorrect version when reciting that Volcanoes poem in her Dickinson TV show. No one bothered to correct her, apparently.

I don't mind when ammunition and munition get conflated, though. That's a technical distinction that not everyone is familiar with.

by Anonymousreply 324March 20, 2023 5:11 AM
Loading
Need more help? Click Here.

Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Take a look at our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn site without all this bureaucratic nonsense, click ACCEPT. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site for your pointless bitchery needs.

×

Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads!