In Defense of Grammar

[lesiel]

Have we run out of annoying abuses of the English language so quickly?

I suppose that the obvious confusion between a certain 'master bate' and the word masturbation is a pretty common issue on here...

 

[daus42]

I suppose that the obvious confusion between a certain 'master bate' and the word masturbation is a pretty common issue on here...

what about master bait?

 

[MissCait]

"Flustrated"

I once had two bosses who would combine the words "flustered" and "frustrated." Often they would speak of being "flustrated" by a situation.

I used to have a grand-aunt who used this term... it drove me nuts then, and now when her children and grandchildren use it, it still bugs me! I had no idea other people said that.

 

[daus42]

And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129086941&sc=fb&cc=fp

 

[Firecracker]

OK, I don't know if it has been mentioned yet or not, but here is my pet peeve: First Annual.
It drives me bananas!!! An event cannot be an annual event if it has yet to happen once!

That's why the word "Inaugural" was created

Thanks for letting me vent about that one lol

 

[im_a_man]

OK, I don't know if it has been mentioned yet or not, but here is my pet peeve: First Annual.
It drives me bananas!!! An event cannot be an annual event if it has yet to happen once!

That's why the word "Inaugural" was created

Thanks for letting me vent about that one lol

Even if it's planned to be an annual event? When the first of three movies comes out (star wars, LOTR, etc) and it's a planned trilogy, can you not say the first movie to come out is the first in the trilogy? Do you have to wait until the third one finally comes out?

 

[daus42]

Even if it's planned to be an annual event? When the first of three movies comes out (star wars, LOTR, etc) and it's a planned trilogy, can you not say the first movie to come out is the first in the trilogy? Do you have to wait until the third one finally comes out?

...they don't usually wait.......unless hollywood can make more money and call it a quadrilogy. Then there are the prequals!!!!

 

[im_a_man]

...they don't usually wait.......unless hollywood can make more money and call it a quadrilogy. Then there are the prequals!!!!

That's what I'm saying... when the first movie comes out (like when Lord of the Rings) came out, it was already the first in a trilogy, even though the second two hadn't come out. That's why you can have a "first annual" even though the second or third one hasn't happened yet.

 

[peterthelicker]

Pronouns

Have we discussed the chronic misuse of first person pronouns as objects of prepositions and objects of sentences? Everyone is so afraid of saying, "Me and Jerry......" that "I" is substituted incorrectly more often than not.

For example: News tease..... "Hello, I'm Martha Prettyface. Tonight at 6 we will investigate the recent (insert story here) and show you what is truly behind it. Join Jerry Goodhair and I for those stories and more."

Should be: "Join Jerry Goodhair and ME for those stories and more."

When in doubt run the sentence in your mind this way. "Join I for those stories and more." If it sounds odd to you then probably the correct pronoun is ME!

 

[Kahlo]

Have we discussed the chronic misuse of first person pronouns as objects of prepositions and objects of sentences? Everyone is so afraid of saying, "Me and Jerry......" that "I" is substituted incorrectly more often than not.

For example: News tease..... "Hello, I'm Martha Prettyface. Tonight at 6 we will investigate the recent (insert story here) and show you what is truly behind it. Join Jerry Goodhair and I for those stories and more."

Should be: "Join Jerry Goodhair and ME for those stories and more."

When in doubt run the sentence in your mind this way. "Join I for those stories and more." If it sounds odd to you then probably the correct pronoun is ME!

That is the one thing that drives me crazy..

 

[katbound]

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[culloden]

Daus, there are a few people armed with Sharpies and guts. I am one of them.

Are you a copy editor? If so, my hat is off to you. Copy editors are the unsung heroes of publishing.

 

[katbound]

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[k_m_d_]

Hopefully this site hasn't already been mentioned.

http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/

 

[katbound]

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[daus42]

tea shurt problum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5IVuN1N6-Y

they ran a red light at 1:40 mark

 

[culloden]

No. I am a self-employed editor, writer and photographer.

The Sharpie is for when I am out and about and see errors, particularly those on advertisements- signs, placards, etc.

Oh, even better.

 

[naughtytease]

Oh God, "should of" and "could of" drive me crazy!!!

And facebook updates that I practically have to sound out to understand what they wrote - grrrrr Surely that must be harder than actually typing the words!!!

 

[katbound]

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[BillyBobJoeEd]

If a website is going to publish, they must see to it that web-based publishing is held to the same standards as publications for sale in traditional brick and mortar businesses.

If Literotica held itself to that high standard, we'd be lucky to see about three new stories per day.

 

[culloden]

If Literotica held itself to that high standard, we'd be lucky to see about three new stories per day.

How many new stories can you read in a day? More importantly, how many are worth reading?

When I scan the first paragraph or two of a new story and find poor grammar or awkward sentences, I hit the back button and try another story. I try to take into account that most Lit writers aren't pros. Still, much of what's there wouldn't pass muster in high school English class. I don't have the patience for it.

 

[BillyBobJoeEd]

How many new stories can you read in a day? More importantly, how many are worth reading?

When I scan the first paragraph or two of a new story and find poor grammar or awkward sentences, I hit the back button and try another story. I try to take into account that most Lit writers aren't pros. Still, much of what's there wouldn't pass muster in high school English class. I don't have the patience for it.

Sometimes you only have to read the title and description to know the grammar, syntax and spelling will have you pulling your hair rather than pulling, uh, something else

A separate issue on Lit is that you can often pass up good stories because nobody seems to vote, with the obvious exception of Scouries and his voting machines. I'll save that rant for another thread.

 

[CallMeMistress]

My pet hate is people saying 'nothink'; even newsreaders who are presumably reading a prompt

 

[nonimura65]

I don't know if it was posted before but...it grinds my molars when I hear people say...."Let me axed you something"

It's ASK! ASK! ASK! ASK! ASK! ASK!


Okay temper tantrum over.

 

[culloden]

And people in the construction business, and there are lots of them who call floor joists "joistses".

Sigh. Why can't everyone be a communication genius like me?

In the lumber yard, probably 25 years ago, I picked up some joist hangers. The yard ape wrote the ticket for "Joyce hangers."