Language Nazis Unite!

[Penalt]

One thing you have to remember is that English is a nasty, evil, language that is constantly changing and evolving. The best description of the language as a whole goes something like this:

"English waits for other languages in dark alleys. Where it proceeds to bop them over the head and go through their pockets for interesting bits of loose grammer."

Many places (Quebec) try to freeze their language in place. Trying to hold it as an immovable object in the tides of time. English flows and moves. Changing itself to fit the people who use it in the time and place they use it. After all, which lasts longer, the mountains or the sea?

 

[bridgeburner]

The use of the word OF...such as:

She got up off OF the floor.

OR should it be:
She got up off the floor.

Esclava gave a good run down of things but I've got a more "feelie" contribution. She's right that "up off of" is grammatically repetative, but that can be consciously used to give certain impressions.

I find that there is a bit of tonal difference between the two phrases. Including the "of" makes the phrase marginally more starchy and emphatic. It's not a huge difference and perhaps not the sort of thing that most people pay attention to, but it's something that I notice and I think that overall in a story instances such as this influence the tone particularly in dialogue. Or perhaps it's just more tricky in dialogue. Most people have a hard time writing believable speech.

At any rate, which example you choose to use should be determined by the context where it appears.

-B

 

[arctic-stranger]

That....

I think THAT we use THAT word too much. If i tell THAT I will delete in when not neccessary, and THAT we often do not realize THAT we over THAT word, I might see THAT you are surprised.

Maybe it is because THAT i studied journalism, and THAT at J-school the teachers would take a pin and delete every occurrence of THAT word, but I just wanted you to know THAT THAT word THAT drives me crazy.

 

[bridgeburner]

That....

I think THAT we use THAT word too much. If i tell THAT I will delete in when not neccessary, and THAT we often do not realize THAT we over THAT word, I might see THAT you are surprised.

Maybe it is because THAT i studied journalism, and THAT at J-school the teachers would take a pin and delete every occurrence of THAT word, but I just wanted you to know THAT THAT word THAT drives me crazy.

I find it is more often misused than overused, but I can imagine how it might get on one's nerves.

-B

 

[Aeroil]

lol, arctic, there were even a few gramatical errors where you didn't need 'that', and a couple other places where it could be del'd without affecting the sentence

 

[arctic-stranger]

lol, arctic, there were even a few gramatical errors where you didn't need 'that', and a couple other places where it could be del'd without affecting the sentence

THAT was the point!

 

[Aeroil]

ah, well at least don't get me started on other people my age that use 'like' every third fricken word

 

[arctic-stranger]

ah, well at least don't get me started on other people my age that use 'like' every third fricken word

I have a two teenagers. Like, enough said?

 

[Aeroil]

I go to school with eight hundred teenagers, checkmate lol. I also used to talk like that...... when I was five.

 

[FungiUg]

Drug

Here's the dictionary definition (from dictionary.com):

drug
n.
1.
a. A substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication.
b. Such a substance as recognized or defined by the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
2. A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.
3. Obsolete. A chemical or dye.

tr.v. drugged, drug·ging, drugs
1. To administer a drug to.
2. To poison or mix (food or drink) with a drug.
3. To stupefy or dull with or as if with a drug: drugged with sleep.


Okay, so nowhere does it say you can use the word "drug" to mean dragged. I finished a book today that used the word "drug" to mean dragged, and I just cringed!

 

[sunfox]

Here's the dictionary definition (from dictionary.com):

drug
n.
1.
a. A substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease or as a component of a medication.
b. Such a substance as recognized or defined by the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
2. A chemical substance, such as a narcotic or hallucinogen, that affects the central nervous system, causing changes in behavior and often addiction.
3. Obsolete. A chemical or dye.

tr.v. drugged, drug·ging, drugs
1. To administer a drug to.
2. To poison or mix (food or drink) with a drug.
3. To stupefy or dull with or as if with a drug: drugged with sleep.


Okay, so nowhere does it say you can use the word "drug" to mean dragged. I finished a book today that used the word "drug" to mean dragged, and I just cringed!

That use of 'drug' to mean dragged makes me cringe. Unfortunately, I live in rural Kansas, and that's a commonly heard usage, along with other Beverly Hillbillies abuses of language. Ugh.

 

[arctic-stranger]

That use of 'drug' to mean dragged makes me cringe. Unfortunately, I live in rural Kansas, and that's a commonly heard usage, along with other Beverly Hillbillies abuses of language. Ugh.

well, how about "done drugged" as in, "I done drugged this dead mule pert near a mile."

 

[bridgeburner]

well, how about "done drugged" as in, "I done drugged this dead mule pert near a mile."

That would be "I done drug this dead mule pert near a mile," unless the speaker actually spiked the water-trough with GHB.

-B

 

[arctic-stranger]

That would be "I done drug this dead mule pert near a mile," unless the speaker actually spiked the water-trough with GHB.

-B

In north carolina we drugged it....might could have drugged it....

 

[SecretSilentQ]

mine didn't even make it in here.

the word irregardless. NOT A REAL WORD.

irrespective is a word
regardless is a word
you cannot combine the two to make irregardless.

 

[bridgeburner]

In north carolina we drugged it....might could have drugged it....

Eastern or Western Carolina, Boy?

 

[FungiUg]

In north carolina we drugged it....might could have drugged it....

Remind me never to bet against you in a horse race.

I don't mind it if it's used for a character's colloquial speech, or even the thoughts of a character. But in this case, it was used in the text of a novel. Yes, a printed novel. Grrrr.

 

[arctic-stranger]

Eastern or Western Carolina, Boy?

Piedmont....Winston-Salem and Durham, but i prefer eastern North Carolina barbeque.

 

[bridgeburner]

Remind me never to bet against you in a horse race.

I don't mind it if it's used for a character's colloquial speech, or even the thoughts of a character. But in this case, it was used in the text of a novel. Yes, a printed novel. Grrrr.

I recently came across "had rode" in a novel. It's the second time in 6 years, totally different authors, but it bothered me equally both times. The second time I was rattled enough to call a friend and ask if it could possibly be correct and I just didn't know any better. She agreed with me that it should be "had ridden" and there is no such thing as "had rode."

-B

 

[bridgeburner]

Piedmont....Winston-Salem and Durham, but i prefer eastern North Carolina barbeque.

I went to highschool in Raleigh but have lived all over the state. My favorite place to roost is in the mountains, though. Ah, Paradise, thy name is Asheville!

 

[sunfox]

well, how about "done drugged" as in, "I done drugged this dead mule pert near a mile."

Surprisingly, as bridgeburner asserted, no one ever says 'drugged', unless they are referring to having drugged a horse with tranquilizers.

"I went and drug that ol mule pert near a mile" with mile pronounced 'mahle'.. now that, you'd hear.

 

[DVS]

Surprisingly, as bridgeburner asserted, no one ever says 'drugged', unless they are referring to having drugged a horse with tranquilizers.

"I went and drug that ol mule pert near a mile" with mile pronounced 'mahle'.. now that, you'd hear.

And, when spoken, the green and otherwise discolored teeth would show. More 'en likely 'cause of de chewin' ti-backy stains.

 

[arctic-stranger]

And, when spoken, the green and otherwise discolored teeth would show. More 'en likely 'cause of de chewin' ti-backy stains.

Teeth? all four of them....

 

[FungiUg]

Just spotted this in a post -- it's amusing rather than annoying. Someone used the word "patients" instead of "patience". Rather changes the meaning of the sentence!

 

[Sir_Winston54]

Just spotted this in a post -- it's amusing rather than annoying. Someone used the word "patients" instead of "patience". Rather changes the meaning of the sentence!

Amusing? Amusing? Language Nazis are never amused...