Grammar, punctuation and syntax irritations

[James]

The thread about the correct spelling of 'independent' got me wondering if I was alone in being vexed by the abundance of misplaced apostrophes (for the avoidance of doubt, it's = it is and its = belonging to 'it').

One mistake that has always annoyed me is your/you're (surely this is obvious?) However my latest bugbear is 'anymore' as one word (should be two words - 'anymore' as one word is American).

Finally, the announcement on trains that tells you to ensure you have all your "personal belongings" - what other kind of belongings might you leave on the train? Aaaaaaagh!!!

Am I turning into a grumpy old man? Or are worryingly huge numbers of people lacking basic spelling and grammar skills?

(PS Before anyone accuses me of discrimination, yes I am discriminating... against poor use of English)

[Brendan]

American spelling makes a lot more sense than the traditional system that the rest of the English speaking world uses.

[HonaloochieB]

As an aside when Bob Dylan was told his radio show was going to be broadcast in the UK, he said he would start pronouncing the words 'color' and 'favorite' with a 'u'.

He's a pistol that Bob.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Quite right, Brendan. Keep Johnny Foreigner guessing.

[Brendan]

hee heh. I thought you would have summat to say about that PGC.

[James]

I think American spelling just makes things even more muddled. How exactly does "color" make any more sense than "colour"?

I know English is pretty idiosyncratic but I am amazed at how bad a lot of people's basic grammar and spelling is.

[giggirl]

You think it's bad now; there's a whole new generation coming along that has grown up texting.

[AcedOut]

Your absolutely right James. Its definately annoying that english grammar isnt up to scratch anymore.

[James]

I know! I only hope they are being taught how to spell and punctuate in school.

[AcedOut]

The tihng is, it's easy to udnesrtand setnences no matter waht odrer lettres are in, so why btoher with decnet gramamr?

[*Bob*]

If then be stayed a longer all Latin had the Romans little we'd speaking and word order wouldn't matter.

[Michael Palaeologus]

I hate the sound of infinitives being split.

(edited for bad spelling)

[SeanMacGabhann]

people who care about punctuation are soooo g.... no, no I can't make that joke and not expect the world to implode

;-)

[Tony.London Suburbs]

People can't learn basic English Grammer which simply infuriates me!:X.........

[Jah Lush]

It irritates me too. Here is a clear case of knowing that an apostrophe needs to be in the word but no idea where to put it.

[Brendan]

Now that?s posh for you. A company that makes sure your drugs don?t get lonely.

[ruffers]

I pronounce "Would have" as "would've", but I increasingly see it written as "would of".

Before I vent and it turns out I'm wrong, is "would of" now acceptable?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

NO!

[Shu.Kurimu.Sensei]

IMHO, pretty much nobody born after 1970 gives a flying fig about grammar and all that unless it crops up

in a publication they have paid good money for. Getting up tight about it anywhere else, *especially* teh internet shows you either have way too much time on your hands, like holding your turds in as a pleasurable challenge, or simply enjoy being a Grammar Nazi, blissfully unaware that nobody else out their apart from your fellow creed gives a shit :))

[mockney piers]

Nonsensical, so agree with PGC there.

Mind you, as much as bad grammar annoys me, typos and the odd misplaced apostrophe shouldn't be taken as reason enough to totally undermine someone's argument in, ooh, say a forum.

Spelling/Grammar fascists online are almost as annoying as their targets' crimes.

[mockney piers]

Perfect cross posting, both invoking Godwin.

End of discussion, nuff sed.

[Keef]

  Quote

Spelling/Grammar fascists online are almost as annoying as their targets' crimes.

Absofeckinglutely!

2 sticklers for grammar spelling on here, Asset & PGC don't get nasty (as I think we've said quite recently), if anything with those 2, it has become part of their "characters" in my head, and I almost get disappointed iof one of them doesn't bite at a misplaced apostrophe.

What bugs me is when a person makes a point and is then dismissed because they missed out a comma, so obviously their point was a load of rubbish. That's is just bloody rude!

For my part, I probably make mistakes, but don't think I'm too bad. The your / you're thing is one that does bug me, but can't quite get riled up about it.

[Moos]

Shu.Kurimu.Sensei Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> IMHO, pretty much nobody born after 1970 gives a

> flying fig about grammar and all that unless it

> crops up

> in a publication they have paid good money for.

> Getting up tight about it anywhere else,

> *especially* teh internet shows you either have

> way too much time on your hands, like holding your

> turds in as a pleasurable challenge, or simply

> enjoy being a Grammar Nazi, blissfully unaware

> that nobody else out their apart from your fellow

> creed gives a shit :))

Well, nnnnnnyeeeeeeesss. As other have rightly said, bad spelling and grammar don't invalidate your argument, particularly on a forum where people type madly away, don't spellcheck and are essentially in a virtual pub. However, they do weaken your argument in 'real' publications - they distract the reader and can make your writing harder to understand. If you are writing something because you are paid to, you should check it and get it right.

On a more emotional point, ours is a beautiful, rich and precise language. Why slosh it around as though it were junk?

Moos (born after 1970)

[Slosh]

  Quote

Why slosh it around as though it were junk?

Oi, don't take my name in vain! (6)

[Moos]

Were you not amoosed?