Grammar

[rogerthomas]

Not specifically for this topic but it applies to all.

Please make your posts readable by using correct grammar. Remember, full stops break up sentences and make their meaning obvious.

Apostrophes are used to show possession and missing characters. They are not used to pluralise nouns.

Please learn the difference between there, their and they're.

When writing about something that belongs to more than one person, use 'our' not 'are'.

Please, please, please don't use text writing.

The word etcetera is abbreviated to etc. not e.t.c.

I could go on but I think you've got the point. Language is power - use it correctly.

[Peter Pedant]

Oh dear, brenardo, grammatiocally correct but still requites improvement

.....it would have to be uncooked sticks of broccoli to get someone's eye out. Believe me - I 'm an expert in this ! Uncooked sticks of sharpened broccoli in fact....

what was roger thomas' question ? why arent we better at what we attempt ? A good question indeed.....

[janesmythe22]

Quite right rogerthomas. I've got the same problem with that Shakespeherian Rag.

[MargeB]

Editor, the above post should be bard.

[MargeB]

<cuts and pastes bernardos post>

No offence bernardo, but your shops are rubbish. Just a bunch of old books and suits that no body want's.

[georgit79]

'i' before 'e' except after 'c'. there, i helped.

[stevie21]

georgit79, that's just a weird idea! Where do you get them from?

[bernardo]

Shops?  What shops?

[MargeB]

It kind of sags a bit on explanation :-p

http://www.barnardos.ie/shoplocations.htm

[Champagne]

And don't get me started on the letter 'aitch', roger me ol' dodger!   }:o(

[hinge1967]

Interesting rogerthomas, that you equate language to power. Isn't it likely then, that modifications to the english language can be seen as attempts to redress power imbalances within society.

And.......is your attempt to correct other's usage a means of holding on to your percieved power at a cost to others?

[liquoricemad]

...with "perceived" being the operative word...

[Sasha13]

MargeB, I think you deserve a prize as the funniest person on AB - you have just had me in stitches with your last few posts!!!

[lady_p_gold]

haha very good bernardo .. you forgot .. and be forced to watch Jeremy Beadle constantly on a loop system ...

[tubeway]

If rogerthomas is so perfect, how is there a spelling mistake in this post. It should be et cetera not etcetera, it is two words not one.

LANGUAGE IS POWER _ USE IT CORRECTLY

 

[dothawkes]

don't give two hoots how i seem to spell cos how i spell is down to how much vodka i have had b4 i type so i think i am admonished from all guilt, and who appointed u the grammr polis anyhew and did u find a natural pause in this or are u breathless cos u failed to react to the lack of punctuation

[Scylax]

Yes , to all of the above, but rogerthomas still has a point.  Wittgenstein's comment on the Sapir-Whorf hypothethis refers.  Go on, pick holes in that.

[janesmythe22]

Sure thing, Scylax, but Wittgenstein said: 'Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent' (nicely translated from the German by C K Ogden), but do have a look at some other truly awful translations of the same statement. 'Lost in Translation'?

[Scylax]

Exactly, janesmythe. 'My language defines my world', is as near as I can get in my rather hesitant German. Wittgenstein agreed with Whorf et al that language is the same as thought, if not identical, and vice versa We can only draw conclusions about thought-processes from the language being used, good or bad.

Rogerthomas deplores bad grammar - from the above argument, what is he really deploring ?  Over to you, Roger, and out.

[liquoricemad]

Rogerthomas remains strangely silent...

[Scylax]

My word. Big aches from little toe-corns grow, or whatever. You too started something, Liquoricemad, which went ballistic... and why not ?

In the last analysis (fill in your own cliche here), it seems that some people can write good English, and use flawless grammar.  Others can't. It is a gift for which one should be grateful.  Those who can't probably have other gifts and abilities of  which to be proud, and I, for one, am jealous. But builders and handymen everywhere, if ever you want an essay writing.....