General TE tips

[Lise]

Hey Lise - have you ever read the book Ex Libris by Anne Fadiman? She has a really hilarious essay in there about her family (grammar grinches one and all!) who have a family sport of collecting published grammer errors. That's a really great little book! (She also wrote the wonderful The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, which was mentioned on a another thread here recently.)

(Can anyone tell I'd rather be doing something besides working right now?)

Oh, yes, I loved Ex Libris and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Especially the latter. My first degree is in anthropology, and the next two are in science/health care. The only thing wrong with that book is I didn't write it! If somebody ever offers to pay my bills and support me while I get a doctorate, I'll look at something like that.

I am going out to ride my bike. Really. Right now!

(has anyone ever noticed how hard it is to type with a cat sitting on your hands?)

[Adventure Girl]

Then there's the whole it's/its debacle - and I don't mean the tasty ice cream sandwich made locally in the Bay Area....

My favorite post of the day!!!

[Dianyla]

Regarding the re'sume's sign... I don't consider this outright apostrophe abuse. They were trying to type the french e+acute accent letter to produce the word résumés. A lot of word processors have the language options set so that you use the apostrophe key right before or after the desired vowel to be accented.

So, in their quest to be more professional, they ended up looking incompetent.

[yellow]

OK, I'll come out of the closet as well as a GGG.

In addition to grammar, I have issues with the misuse of perfectly good words. I'll never forget the time I was in some high-powered meeting (back in the day when I wore suits) and I heard my boss use the word irregardless in front of about 30 snooty professionals. I'm sure my face turned red. THAT one drives me batty.

Others? Mischevious, not miss-chee-vee-us. And potable, not pot-able. However, as a friend of mine once said, "If millions of people make the same mistake, is it truly a mistake? Maybe YOU'RE the one that needs to get updated." I still refuse to conform.

I'm not perfect, by any means. But I know how to use an apostrophe and most forms of punctuation.

P.S. Lise, I'm with you. I've wasted enough time that it started raining again, which means that I won't be riding outside. I think I have a date with my trainer instead.

[SadieKate]

Comparable? Compare-able or?

Often as in orphan or as in frequently? (Anyone know their Gilbert and Sullivan?)

[Crankin]

I thought I was the only grammar grinch. I have not given in to the urge to correct posts that constantly put apostrophes any place an s appears at the end of a word. But, it seems like the whole world does this. I don't want to seem like an old lady English techer (which I am). It's one thing if my sixth graders can't do this correctly, but adults should know the difference between a plural and a possessive.

[maillotpois]

Then there's the whole it's/its debacle - and I don't mean the tasty ice cream sandwich made locally in the Bay Area....

My favorite post of the day!!!

Thanks! Every time I drive by their factory or whatever it is on South 101 by the SF airport, I'm always fixated on their sign. Mmmm. It's Its. Or are they It's It's? Now that I don't know.

You know, I should really go get one to clarify the issue.

[Veronica]

What about capitals at the beginning of sentences? I've wondered if there are keyboards out there without a shift key.

Like MP, I am a terrible typist. Three fingers and a thumb on my right hand do most of the work. AND for some reason "the" often gets typed as "teh". Annoying.

Wanna have some fun... explain the difference between a subordinate clause and a coordinating clause to a fifth grader. Then convince them that although a sentence has a conjunction, it is not necessarily a compound or complex sentence.

V.

PS I do know that wanna really should be want to.

[Veronica]

Thanks! Every time I drive by their factory or whatever it is on South 101 by the SF airport, I'm always fixated on their sign. Mmmm. It's Its. Or are they It's It's? Now that I don't know.

You know, I should really go get one to clarify the issue.

You know whatever they are, I don't like them. I'd rather have a Klondike. Alas, poor Yorick and I are swearing off Klondikes in hopes a few more pounds will disappear to aid the climbing effort. I knew those Klondikes very well.

V.

[maillotpois]

What about capitals at the beginning of sentences? I've wondered if there are keyboards out there without a shift key.

Like MP, I am a terrible typist. Three fingers and a thumb on my right hand do most of the work. AND for some reason "the" often gets typed as "teh". Annoying.

Wanna have some fun... explain the difference between a subordinate clause and a coordinating clause to a fifth grader. Then convince them that although a sentence has a conjunction, it is not necessarily a compound or complex sentence.

V.

PS I do know that wanna really should be want to.

OMG - another 3 fingered typing freak!! We should have a club. Or a support group. (Yes, I know I should not start a sentence with a conjuction - and that that was a sentence fragment. "Conjunction junction, what's your function....?").

I also transpose letters, which can be a pain. I am also guilty of not capitalizing letters that should be capitalized when I am using my handheld. (Have you seen the size of my thumbs? You think typing with 3 fingers is tough.... )

[Jones]

Maybe you English teachers and grouchy grammar grinches can help me. I was taught that you could go anyway but not anyways. I see and hear people use the word anyways as a conjunction often. It bugs me. Is it correct.
Jones

[SadieKate]

You know, I should really go get one to clarify the issue.

Another good excuse for "the calories don't count when . . . " thread. The calories don't count when it is to solve a grammar question.

Good one, MP.

[maillotpois]

Another good excuse for "the calories don't count when . . . " thread. The calories don't count when it is to solve a grammar question.

Good one, MP.

But thank you for supplying the validation.

[Lise]

Regarding the re'sume's sign... I don't consider this outright apostrophe abuse. They were trying to type the french e+acute accent letter to produce the word résumés. A lot of word processors have the language options set so that you use the apostrophe key right before or after the desired vowel to be accented.

So, in their quest to be more professional, they ended up looking incompetent.

Alas, it is a neon sign.

[withm]

It would seem that proper grammar is not everyone's forte.

Even the FRENCH pronounce it "fort." Where do people get the idea that it's for-tay?