The Dangling Modifiers Club: A place for the grammar geeks - Page 5

stevel · #61 03-02-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wundergussy

Descriptivists make their argument sound valid, but at the end of the day you need something on which to hang your hat. Prescriptivism gets my vote.

One thing's for sure: we ain't speaking olde English no more ;-)

What would Yoda say?

Evolve it will.

Steve

cutaway · #62 03-02-2012, 08:33 PM

i should of just stayed out of this thread.

Brian D · #63 03-02-2012, 08:34 PM

I posted this in a recent "Grammar Nazi" thread, but thought I'd share it again:

Do you suffer from Grammar Obsessive Disorder?

I'm always striving to improve, but I still have a long way to go.

wundergussy · #64 03-02-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cutaway

i should of just stayed out of this thread.

"Should have." But smiley probably indicates kidding!

Notverysuttle · #65 03-02-2012, 09:01 PM

I have found most folks who pride themselves in grammatical skills are far much harder on themselves than others.

cutaway · #66 03-02-2012, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wundergussy

"Should have." But smiley probably indicates kidding!

Irregardless of kidding, or not.

boo radley · #67 03-02-2012, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crawz

The posts that begin like this always throw me:

Recommend me a compressor

That doesn't look or sound correct to me. But I'm no grammar scholar. The object of recommend here is me... like Can you recommend me for this job?

Probably a better way would be:
Recommendations on a compressor?

I despise this, too. It's not that it's grammatically wrong -- it's just a completely affected (mis)use of an intensive pronoun, because the poster thinks it sounds cute.

"Please recommend a compressor pedal" Good. I'm going to assume the pedal is for YOU, but I'll open the message, and if you're the stage manager for a major act...a pleasant surprise!

"Recommend a compressor pedal" A little more imperious, but still good.

"Recommend a compressor pedal for me" You've now emphasized the pedal is for YOU, yourself, only. Let there be no misunderstanding. Important stuff, and recommend carefully.

"Recommend me a compressor pedal" OK. I will guarantee you tell others, "I loves me some mayonnaise on my fries...."

Brion · #68 03-02-2012, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallbutmighty

I'm almost afraid to post in this thread. I feel like my every jot and tittle is being scrutinized by a thousand eyes. (Have you ever had your jot and tittle scrutinized? It ain't comfortable.)

But here I am, so....

I hate it when people misuse "you and I" and "you and me". It drives me nuts.

I also hate it when people mix their tenses, especially in song lyrics.

But my number one pet peeve has got to be the misuse of the word "literally"!

As in "I literally went ape-shit!"

Really?

When my 'Tittles' are scrutinized, I literally go ape-shit, really. Don't scrutinize my tittles, or titles for that matter.

Here's a common one:

Where are you at? (Dangling Preposition)
Where are you? (Correct)

toocommercial · #69 03-02-2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevel

I still don't really understand the difference between the passive voice and anything else. All I know is my old grammar checks in MS Word consistently pointed out my use (or mis-use) of it.

You are in the passive voice when no subject is responsible for the action in the sentence:

Passive

"The amp was fixed yesterday."
"The cables were put away neatly."

Active:

"My tech fixed the amp yesterday."
"I put the cables away neatly."

This is a basic explanation.

By the way...I get the distinct feeling that there are no friends on this thread, only potential editors of others' posts.

I teach English at university, but I don't bring my work home with me.

LarryN · #70 03-02-2012, 10:35 PM

This is OT, but has to be mentioned. lose: unable to find. loose: not snug. You know who you are.

FeloniousBishop · #71 03-02-2012, 10:39 PM

I think we should try to as much as possible, and within reason, but without being too weighed down by the responsibility to the point it affects our other day to day activities such as guitar playing, the quest for tone, and TGP surfing avoid the split infinitive.