Annoying grammar!

Typos are typos, but Sheesh! Pay attention!

For those who are not typo-prone but just sloppy, forgetful or don't know:

they're = they are: They're going = They are going
their - their books, their computers, their home, their mother
there - over there -------------->

there're = there are: there're 29 ways of doing it (plural) = there are 29 ways of doing it
there's = there is: There's only one way (singular) = There is only one way

then - it will happen then
than - mine is bigger than yours

it's = it is: It's not going to work = It is not going to work!
its - its motherboard is kaputt / its wiring was screwy (possessive)

to - to make, to be, to do (infinitive) or (direction) ... to her, to you, to me ... or ... to the store
two - well, there're two of them!
too - (exceeds an allowance - too much too big too small)... It's all too much for me! He's too cool!
but also, too means also: I'm going too! I have one too!

For the next thread we'll move on to missing punctuation and the calisthentics required of your brain to insert missing punctuation for people so you can read their posts. ... muharharharharhar ... :guns
r u still w/ m3?

abri

 

Hare in Tejas we don't use no fancy language like that.

When we want to say over thare we usually say over yonder.

Folks does as they been taught, which maybe ain't right, but taint too far off neither.

Just cause Anglish have rules don mean much round hare.

 

My grammar can be pretty annoying - but she's really old and a stickler about not leaning back in the chairs, and not putting your feet on the tables . . .

 

Cough, calisthenics, cough. - some dictionaries have double-l (ell), but most do not. Although the mind boggles at how the brain can do gymnastic exercises.

 

Some posters can be forgiven if English is not their first language but spelling mistakes are completely unnecessary with Spell Check.

i can spell fairly well but in word with IE in RECIEVE BELIEVE and so on do present me with a problem in the fact that the Flemish language which i use here they reverse the I and the E.

i live in an area of Brugge called ST PIETERS so i sometimes forget and Spell Check always comes through. http://bestsmileys.com/writer/1.gif

 

Especially confusing is the differences in American English and European English :- color or colour
center or centre
favorite or favourite
humor or humour
etc etc

So sometimes what look like typos are in fact correct spelling depending on who is writing.

 

There's also people using loose instead of lose. I used to hate it though I've since learned to ignore these 'typos'.

 

I'm fine with typos, until they change the meaning of the word in question (see abri's list for some examples). Plus to me it comes across as sloppy. If you really need help, isn't it in your best interest to make your post as easy to read as possible?

Plus, this is my second language as well. And if Billmcc66 and I and others across the world can learn the spelling and grammar of something as complicated as English, you native speakers have no excuse!

 

Hehe, this is why I had some trouble with the shoutbox in the beginning, then I got used to it. Other than that there are some humorous (humourous) changes that each one adds. Someone here (I think it's BC Gray but I'm not sure) uses "of coarse" instead of "of course".

 

Well, there's a really stupid rhyme for just this case that I adore! LOL
It's this one:
I before E except after C
(note: it only rhymes if you use the english pronunciation)
Receive but Believe

oh, and in Germany they have "life" concerts instead of live concerts - drives me absolutely batty

well, and just in my defense that I'm normal: I still have to look up separate and camera every time I use them ... (and Google thinks it's studying my search habits!) LOL

abri

 

Except for:
height, neigh, seize, vein, weight etc
English is very weird, well done to anyone who has successfully learnt it as a second language.

 

I look at it as, you can correct my typoes, or you can pay attention to my technical advice. If you do the former, you don't receive my help, and I will ignore you as if you do not exist.

With that attitude, I generally do not get any grammar police on me, because I have something they want: Answers.

So if I make typoes, LIVE WITH IT

 

I have type O blood. LOL

 

I only make sure I use proper grammar, if say im writing a professional letter.

If Im talking (typing) to a friend and they know what I mean there no need get all techincal about it LOL

 

Except in weird cases like "weird" and "neighbour", and "height", and "rottweiler", and ........................................on and on and on.

Neighbour is an interesting case, too, as Americans omit the "u", whereas Canada, Britain and colonies include it. (this extends to A LOT of words, like honour, and colour)

Also, language is an EVOLVING thing! Don't be frightened by change! I mean, they just RECENTLY added "ethernet" to the dictionary! What would we do WITHOUT that one????

 

I will try to remember that, could come in handy

 

Now I think your really off course, there sailor, but of course I could just be a coarse Canuck conniving to get you to capitulate to my coarse crass CanuckizeLOLLOL

 

Timmie is that you, you YanksterLOLLOL

 

Isn't it "canard" ? My French ain't what it used to be, from nearly 50 years ago.

Bazza

===

 

Translation, french to english:

Le canard = duck

 

That's because Americans think everything is about "me" - not "u"

 

OMG, RUN!

 

Git R Dun Y'all and bless yo hearts have a nice day now ya here.

 

Now that you mention it, I did always use that "i before e" rule just to keep believe and receive straight. I'm glad I didn't have to learn English as a foreign language.

It's not really typos that I'm talking about. My spelling isn't that great either. It's when people use a completely normal word incorrectly or are generally so sloppy with their posts that it takes a lot of extra time just to figure out what they want to say.

English has always been evolving. It's an INCREDIBLE language and works well internationally for a lot of reasons. My appreciation of it is much greater since I got separated from it as the common language. But the evolution of a language is something quite different than what I see as a growing tolerance of inaccuracy and ignorance. Why tolerate standards going down?

funny LOL

 

Excuse my ignorance, but what does "La Canerd" mean, or is it too rude to explain here? Bazza

===

 

(sigh) So glad someone finally commented on this...I sometimes ended up with "jawlock" through teeth grinding when trying to read some comments where the spelling also made my hair stand on end...Good one Abri!

 

CANadian NERD is I think what our Timmie was trying for Bazza. Don't feel to bad if you didn't get it, you have to have a slightly warped mind to understand much of what our Timmie writes. They say the boys with the "White Coats" understand him all too wellLOLLOLroflmao

 

The following example shows the importance of being able to express yourself properly...

I just saw a sign on a ferry in multiple languages conveying the message that customers were to check the change they got back after purchase, because if they left the counter and came back later, they would not accept the complaint. The English version ... Well, read for yourselves!

http://web.comhem.se/solange/show/Satisfied.jpg

Not exactly bad English, but what the heck! I also recently came across a parasol with extremely cautious instructions. Among all the silliness, how do you know when it is 7.9 m/s... that is ridiculous roflmao!

http://web.comhem.se/solange/show/Parasol.jpg

 

sory for these but im sorry im a dumb poor in grammar...
i can accept that 100percent

 

Since you're on the subject of grammar, there are a few things that people say that drive me nutty

Such as "You know what I'm sayin'" or "You know what I'm talkin' bout"

Those phrases go right through me for some reason

 

Hehe, yes because they convey no meaning and are just plain verbiage.

 

Thanks BCG. Bazza

===

 

Thanks Legalsuit! Just saw your nice words!

And now:
Here's a cute one copied from a website by The Phrasefinder, but um ... I'm not sure about the website itself ... when I went into it the first time it had someone's profile/avatar where it now has a menu:

Bated breath
Meaning
Breathing that is subdued because of some emotion or difficulty.
Origin Which is it - bated or baited? We have baited hooks and baited traps, but bated - what's that? Bated doesn't even seem to be a real word, where else do you hear it? Having said that 'baited breath' makes little sense either. How can breath be baited? With worms?
There seems little guidance in contemporary texts. Search in Google and you'll find about the same number of hits for 'baited breath' as 'bated breath' - around 100,000 each. In one of the best selling books of all time - Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, (whose publisher could surely afford the services of a proof-reader), we have:

"The whole common room listened with baited breath."
​

As so often, help is found in the writings of the bard. The earliest citation of the phrase is from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice, 1596:

"With bated breath, and whispring humblenesse."
​

Bated is just a shortened form of abated (meaning - to bring down, lower or depress). So, 'abated breath' makes sense and that's where the phrase comes from.
Geoffrey Taylor, in his little poem Cruel, Clever Cat, 1933, used the confusion over the word to good comic effect:

Sally, having swallowed cheese
Directs down holes the scented breeze
Enticing thus with baited breath
Nice mice to an untimely death.
​

 

Just an abbreviation of 'abated'. Holding one's breath really.

 

What about colloquialisms...Gotta say, I know when in a relaxed frame of mind, they slip off the tongue (or fingers)...'fraid we Aussies are notorious for 'em...LOL

 

Jacket image of the Compact Oxford English Dictionary


bated

• adjective (in phrase with bated breath) in great suspense.

— ORIGIN from obsolete bate restrain, from ABATE.That is the only reference in Oxford English so not much help.

 

These are language parasites, that appear from time to time. It is very difficult to get rid of them in your daily speech.
English is not my native language, but I had very good teachers in university. That's why I don't worry much about my spelling - it seems to be right. The main thing that troubles me: how native does it sound to a native speaker what I say ... Oh, a difficult construction

 

Oooh... we need a grammar nazi theme song...

& I spell bad on purpose to annoy people who care. it amuses me.

 

You do better than some people where English is their primary language.

 

without spellcheck my posts would be unreadable.

coz i aint got no lernin

http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys3/00009179.gif

 

Seriously, why does it bother anyone, if there are some bad grammatical errors here? :confused We are not in a contest, nor being graded, or even writing a book. I am a crappy, slow typist and in my dash for speed sometimes the brain disconnects just enough for 'there' to become 'their' or vice-versa.
When I am giving advice I try to sound and write semi-intelligent and yes, that should be, but in the long run, grammar on the internet is about as important as whether or not to wear white after Labor Day.

Bill, I think that's 'Spelchek'.

 

Agree with Musky. we are hear to help. If you can spell and use correct grammer it also helps. But no biggie. Bazza

 

Bazza! Cannot believe you said that.

As Abri said, "typos are one thing..." Your eyes/brain can skim over these without concern.

But, when it's evident that you’re reading ongoing bad grammar and spelling, then it is like the sound of nails on a board.:eek…it becomes quite distracting.

Plus I feel it’s bad manners towards the reader, as if one doesn't care...and when people really don't care, then I find that rather arrogant and rude. Well, that’s my opinion. Take it or leave…I just believe in simple courtesies.

 

As for you Wenchie! You ain't as bad as you try to make out...LOL

 

I also agree with Musky here In the big picture, does it really matter? After all, there are people with disabilities who are just glad to be able to communicate and whether their spelling is right or not, this is the last thing on their mind

 

I don't believe we're referring to people with disabilities here...that would be downright mean and belittling.

 

I don't mean to belittle anyone here Just that people who have dyslexia or learning difficulties aren't about to admit they have this disability here.
Just my opinion here, no offense meant
But I do see what you are getting at as well