<p>Did they poll CC parents? (
I recall we had a grammar discussion thread.)</p>
<p>[BBC</a> NEWS | Magazine | 20 examples of grammar misuse](<a href=“http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7595509.stm]BBC”>BBC NEWS | Magazine | 20 examples of grammar misuse)</p>
<p>I think some of those go a little overboard (such as #20, stadia vs. stadiums :rolleyes:). </p>
<p>I agree with #11 on the overuse of the word “literally.”</p>
<p>I find the grammar nazi threads as negative as some people find the political threads. I could use some grammar instruction, no doubt, but the tone of most of those threads is demeaning rather than instructional. My suggestion to anyone that is concerned about the grammar of their fellow posters is to instruct kindly rather than ridicule condescendingly.</p>
<p>Feel free to correct my post if you see any errors! Just do it kindly.</p>
<p>I relate to #12 and #14, and would nominate one I didn’t see: you’re and your.</p>
<p>lizschup - I am by no means perfect at grammar, spelling etc., but I do almost always review my posts before I hit that reply button. Sometimes I catch my mistakes, and sometimes (not too often) I don’t. I also pay much more attention to stuff that is meant for publishing than I do my own musings.</p>
<p>I guess what aggravates me to no end, are people who put their words in writing, meant to articulate a message to others (especially the public) who don’t bother to review their own writing, even one time. I learned in college (was a journalism major) that one of the most valid reasons writers must be sticklers is that print errors create more work for the reader. If you’re reading an article that has errors (even if they’re typos), it takes the average person more time to digest that article. For instance, if a sentence misuses the word their and there, you mostly likely have to go back and reread the sentence to make sure you read it in the correct context and didn’t miss the point. Same goes with font choices… some fonts are much easier to read, even if another larger font is used. It’s what is easier on our eyes. Same logic goes for all caps. While many people are offended by all caps as it suggests yelling, I find all caps offensive because it is harder on the eyes to read. Very rarely do I look at anything in print that is all caps - it’s just not worth my time as it slows down my reading.</p>
<p>Teriwitt,
I generally review my posts before hitting the button but I truly don’t know good grammar from bad - I suppose it’s my education or so I like to think since I raised two kids that write very well. I’m a designer so writing was never that important to me - I wish it had been because I think it’s a fundamental skill that comes in handy no matter what you do. </p>
<p>Regarding the all caps, designers use all caps at times to emphasize and other times purely for it’s simplicity, uniformity and elegance. </p>
<p>I definitely see your point about errors and bad grammar tripping up a reader.</p>
<p>Most of these are in my old Warriners English compostitoin and in Strunk and White…both from about 40 years ago.</p>
<p>Today its seems to be viewed as wrong to note what is incorrect, (so long as you understand the meaning). </p>
<p>A little sentence diagramming and noting common mistakes could go a long way. Our principal, who is a fine fellow recently sent a letter to parents noting that the administration intended to “try and do something about something”.</p>
<p>as a designer, then you understand the judicious use of all caps, and not to use it when not called for (hey, even I had to take a graphic arts class, but that was before computers!). That’s what’s important. The fact that you even review your posts says you care about articulating your message in the most efficient manner possible - it’s good manners.</p>
<p>
lizschup, you asked for corrections, so I will try to be kind, and not be a “grammar Nazi.” </p>
<p>The error in this clause is one of the easiest errors to make, and one of the most frequent. Unfortunately, the possessive of “it” is “its”; there is no apostrophe. “It’s” is the contraction of “it is”.</p>
<p>The one I’ve noticed recently is the use of the term “a couple” in places where “a couple of” is generally considered to be the correct usage. For example, “I’d like a couple slices” as opposed to “I’d like a couple of slices.” It’s not just that people are talking informally and dropping off the “of” somewhat, as in “Gimme a couple a those” because I’m seeing that people seem to be dropping it in written form, too. I’m wondering if it’s a regional thing that has now spread by way of the internet and into more common informal usage.</p>
<p>The one I’m seeing and hearing so much lately: Misuse of “less” and “fewer.” As in “there were less dogs” rather than “there were fewer dogs.”</p>
<p>And the misuse of “its” and “it’s” is rampant. I have read legal briefs written by highly educated attorneys who misuse those words.</p>
<p>
Agreed. I cringe every time I hear that Gardasil commercial. You don’t want to be “one less”; you want to be “one fewer”!</p>
<p>Maybe somebody can help me with this question.</p>
<p>For example-
“She is the one THAT goes to my school.” Should THAT actually be WHO?</p>
<p>I’ve often wondered about that usage but haven’t been compelled enough to go to a dictionary.</p>
<p>I read in a Philly newspaper column: “could care less” when the author (a member of the paper’s editorial board) actually meant to see “could not care less.” </p>
<p>If you like this topic, “Eats, Shoots and Leaves” would be a fun book.</p>
<p>Shiloh, you’re correct. “the one who” refers to a person, “the one that” refers to a thing.</p>
<p>Jolynne, that drives me nuts, too!! If you *could not *care less, that means that you don’t care at all – zero! If you could care less, then you care somewhat. Why is that so hard for folks to comprehend?</p>
<p>patsmom :</p>
<p>sometime many people who come fromdiffernt language and come from different culture, it is difficult to comprehnad the langauage skills.</p>
<p>If I expect you that you becomemaster of Arabic when you will live in Arab world, it is very difficult to have mastery formany people. But some some people do that. But that path to comprehand is very difficult for majority.</p>
<p>“10 items or less”… If the items can be counted, shouldn’t the sign say “fewer”? (BTW, I will never be allowed to throw the first stone at grammar sinners, since I have sinned many, many times!)</p>
<p>How about “How are you?”. “I’m good”. My kids are fined every time they answer that way. How about “I’m fine” or “well, thanks”. That’s my pet peeve.</p>
<p>I just find it amusing that it’s the BBC who conducted this poll. Have you read any English newspapers lately? Or listened to their television? I spend a lot of time in England and am always happy to come home and read our (mostly) grammatically correct newspapers and be able to watch television again without my ears hurting. The English also tend to abbreviate much more than we do, and use slang terms for everything. Not just different terms as in nappy vs diaper, but slang that nobody would understand. For example, I had a friend use used to use the word “mo” instead of “moment.” I thought he was just being lazy since it was in text messages or emails. Then I not only heard others using it in speech, but saw it printed in a paper. As in “I am busy at the mo.”</p>
<p>Thanks Chedva, I genuinely appreciate that!</p>
<p>DKE: you mean your kids aren’t good?</p>
<p>How much do you fine them? I used to fine my kids a quarter for swearing (they could get me too) and for saying “duh.”</p>