I have noticed a lot of time when I think a word should have an " 's" on it, spell checker marks it wrong and suggests a "space s". Is this correct, am I right and spell checker wrong, or are we both wrong? miles
I don't understand the "space s" suggestion, either. But I do know that most people abuse and misuse the apostrophe. It is almost never used to create a plural, for example.
Never the possessive of a pronoun �
its, not "it's"
yours, not "your's"
hers, not "her's"
ours, not "our's"
theirs, not "their's"
It is rare to read a book that has been printed in the last few years that does not contain errors that are obviously the fault of spell check.
It is almost never used to create a plural, for example.
I am most likely guilty of that and spell checker is not helping me with it.
miles
One problem with computer composition comes with the practice of hyphening broken words. Many times, later editing or reformatting moves the hyphened word into the middle of the line � like this, for example � "It was extraordi-nary to find � under normal circum-stances � ."
So I never use hyphening to square-up the right-hand end of a line. If the word is too long to fit into a line, it goes intact down into the next line.
The two widest, deepest, and fastest-growing abysses that I see in the prevailing public knowledge of proper English are the proper use of
� prepositions
and
� punctuation
As far as I'm concerned if you can read it , it is spelled good enough . No one coming out of our schools today can read, write or spell anyway and all you scholar who graduated from the sixth grade need to get over the grammar problems encountered on the web. Most people write a sentence the way they would speak it in person. Us Southern Boys reinvented the English Language a long time ago and have our own way of speaking and spelling the words.
Proud of being ignorant? miles
Proud of being ignorant? miles
Evidently.
I don't have a problem with most of what I read that is incorrect, but it bugs the hell out of me to make the mistakes myself.
I have noticed a lot of time when I think a word should have an " 's" on it, spell checker marks it wrong and suggests a "space s". Is this correct, am I right and spell checker wrong, or are we both wrong? miles
Do you really need to ask this?
Do you really need to ask this?
It is what I usually do when I don't know something, instead of trying to bluff my way through. I don't pretend to know it all and do try to learn things. miles
One problem with computer composition comes with the practice of hyphening broken words. Many times, later editing or reformatting moves the hyphened word into the middle of the line � like this, for example � "It was extraordi-nary to find � under normal circum-stances � ."
So I never use hyphening to square-up the right-hand end of a line. If the word is too long to fit into a line, it goes intact down into the next line.
Paragraph justification and word wrap are your friend.
Proud of being ignorant? miles
You are impressing no one but yourself . Miles Patton remembered for his spelling on the internet. What a crock of chit.
The problem, bea, is that you may think you understand what you are reading, but it may not be what the writer meant. Here's an example from a thread I came across recently, reproduced exactly:
your stupid dog
So, what does that mean?
The problem, bea, is that you may think you understand what you are reading, but it may not be what the writer meant. Here's an example from a thread I came across recently, reproduced exactly:
your stupid dog
So, what does that mean?
It seems to be the title of an article about someone's stupid dog.
One problem with computer composition comes with the practice of hyphening broken words. Many times, later editing or reformatting moves the hyphened word into the middle of the line � like this, for example � "It was extraordi-nary to find � under normal circum-stances � ."
So I never use hyphening to square-up the right-hand end of a line. If the word is too long to fit into a line, it goes intact down into the next line.
Paragraph justification and word wrap are your friend.
With "friends" like that, who needs enemas?
Do you really need to ask this?
It is what I usually do when I don't know something, instead of trying to bluff my way through. I don't pretend to know it all and do try to learn things. miles
Ouch!
The problem, bea, is that you may think you understand what you are reading, but it may not be what the writer meant. Here's an example from a thread I came across recently, reproduced exactly:
your stupid dog
So, what does that mean?
he doesn't like your wife or your dog
See? You think you know what was meant. You'd be wrong.
The poster was calling someone stupid. In correct English, it should have read: "You're stupid, dog." But with no punctuation and the improper use of "your" there is simply no way to know that. (I abhor the ghetto use of "dog" as a familiar title.)
Proper language is important.
You are impressing no one but yourself .
Impressing people on here is not my goal. miles
I never got to read the article, so I still don't know what this headline meant �
TEXAS FIRM WANTS MiGS USED IN AIR FORCE TESTS
It could mean either
that firm would like for MiGs to be used
or
that firm wants the MiGs that have been used.
The headline gives ne'er a clue. Nor do these tell just what their articles are about �
BLACKS MARCH IN BROOKLYN; BEAR JEERS
RETIREMENT WORRIES HIT MAN
For years, I used a line from an article in TV Guide to illustrate the need for the serial comma � "Major risk groups for AIDS are male homosexuals, intravenous users of drugs and Haitians."
Then I heard of this one, which I like better �
"Major influences on my life are my parents, the Pope and Mother Teresa."
What I'd like to know is what size of a needle you need to IV the average Haitian through?
By the way, if you've spent any time with miles (as some of us have) you'd know that he is quite impressive without trying.
Not Getting Any Better Come Home
Above is a widely known telegraph from Jane to her serviceman husband. Wonder what it says?
Do you really need to ask this?
It is what I usually do when I don't know something, instead of trying to bluff my way through. I don't pretend to know it all and do try to learn things. miles
If ever two exact opposites crossed paths on the internet.... this would be it.
Nobody has ever called Miles a Kook.
Lots of guys have met Miles in person.
Miles has a lot of hunting, shooting, and general outdoors experiences to share.
I'm sure I've overlooked other differences.
As far as I'm concerned if you can read it , it is spelled good enough . No one coming out of our schools today can read, write or spell anyway and all you scholar who graduated from the sixth grade need to get over the grammar problems encountered on the web. Most people write a sentence the way they would speak it in person. Us Southern Boys reinvented the English Language a long time ago and have our own way of speaking and spelling the words.
I understand what this says, understand this type of thinking, and am not taking any personal shot at the person who wrote it. However, this post indicates a position taken by way too many public school/college teachers (including teachers of English and writing, which position inexorably leads to the dissolution of skills in writing, reading and overall communication in out populace. A bad downhill dive for many, and degrees of such skills will separate the skilled and economically successful wheat from the less-fortunate chaff over time. This is not good.
Do you ever wonder why we, less and less, appreciate and admire those who wish to use proper English and good writing forms? I certainly admire anyone who tries to grow in this area - and in many others - for such growth is an important life factor.
This leads me to speak of Miles - whom I admire greatly, and who is immediately able to deal just fine with the smart-alecks here without any help from others - and to note that I liked his inquiry a lot. I wish that many would do just that, and much appreciate the constructive answers that were given.
Do you really need to ask this?
Do you really need to ask this, and why?
I must be one of the worst offenders here as far at typographical errors, pitiful spelling, and poor grammar. That said I often catch errors in others posts where I would miss them in mine. I try my best to just read what the poster was intending to say and look for content rather that perfection.
You do just fine, Scott. We ALL make typos.
Our current school system doesn't even teach English any more. Is it a wonder that many of us can't read and can't write? Is it a surprise that many of us believe in such fake science as global warming? That we can't compete with countries that do teach language?
While having no dog in this fight... I still think it is ridiculous how downhill the use of the English language has gotten....our society abuses the hell out of slang anymore.. and then the slang itself seems to change every 6 to 12 months....
ebonics being a good example, but that does not preclude local trailer park slang ( that we hear around here)..... and even Mexicans I know locally, tell me when I ask them why so many hispanics refuse to learn English, they tell me that their Spanish is pretty poor also....
another thing that they don't teach in school anymore, is penmanship.....while my son is an advanced student with a 4.0 GPA, and has a very extensive vocabulary and spelling ability, along with good command of proper English...
give him an ink pen and ask him to write something down, and then compare it with something he might have written in second grade with a crayon... you'll see no improvement in his penmanship... yet he can carry on a conversation with you, and look at you, while at the same time be typing something on his computer keyboard 3 times faster than I can type with no mistakes and mine would be more mistakes than not....
yet he and many of the other scouts in our scout troop are 'amazed' at my penmanship... shows what is or was important in school at the times we went thru it...
I must be one of the worst offenders here as far at typographical errors, pitiful spelling, and poor grammar
No worse than I do Scott, but I would never advocate not trying to better myself. Thanks to all that put in a good word for me. That means a lot. miles
I'm amazed at some of the outdoor TV folks that can't come close to meshing pronouns and verbs. We/they was, he seen etc. That's pretty much 4th grade stuff.
Sew who kneads a spell Czech??? Eye no how to beet that thing. Dew yew no two?
Sew who kneads a spell Czech??? Eye no how to beet that thing. Dew yew no two?
Its to, knot two.
� if you've spent any time with miles (as some of us have) you'd know that he is quite impressive without trying.
There are several quiet, extra-decent gentlemen around this "fire" whom I'd hate to have to tangle wits with � APDDSN0864, CCCC, Curdog4570, DARBY, krp, Rocky Raab, Scott F, THOMAS MAGNUM, to name a few examples. It's kinda hard for me to tell from this far down the slope � if Miles isn't right at the top, he's awful close!
I am, of course, a Czech speller!
While we're on pet peeves, the two that drive me nuts are the misuse of the word "unique" and the pervasive "me and blank did something."
There is no degree of unique; nothing can be "very unique" or "more unique". It does not mean unusual; it means one of a kind.
If you wouldn't say "Me went fishing" then don't say "Me and Joe went fishing." If you would say "I went fishing" then say "Joe and I went fishing."
� There is no degree of unique; nothing can be "very unique" or "more unique". �
I could never get any of my engineers to see that their beloved "half infinite" and "near infinity" made no sense at all. Where's
halfway to a point that isn't there yet?
Even offered 'em "seemingly infinite," but that wasn't good enough for some reason � or none.
I am, of course, a Czech speller!
While we're on pet peeves, the two that drive me nuts are the misuse of the word "unique" and the pervasive "me and blank did something."
There is no degree of unique; nothing can be "very unique" or "more unique". It does not mean unusual; it means one of a kind.
If you wouldn't say "Me went fishing" then don't say "Me and Joe went fishing." If you would say "I went fishing" then say "Joe and I went fishing."
Of course, there's the equally wrong, but educated-sounding, "They hired Fred and I."
It was also fruitless to try to get 'em to understand that less than one can't be plural � like "0.0005 inches." Five ten thousandths? Yes, of course � but not "five ten-thousandths inches."
Why is that so hard for intelligent people to understand?
Proud of being ignorant? miles
You are impressing no one but yourself . Miles Patton remembered for his spelling on the internet. What a crock of chit.
That crock has never been within a hundred miles of Miles.
"Efficacy" has crept into common usage. What word did it replace?
And "robust" used to describe a healthy man. Now, engineers use "more robust" instead of simply saying "stronger". [or,"mo' betta"]
And about the time I think I have "affect" and "effect" figured out, I'll see 'em used in a newspaper opposite of what I figured was right.
A mnemonic may help �
[act]ffect (verb)
[end]ffect (noun)
(But any mnemonic is hard to use if you have it tattooed on your knee 'stead o' your brain!)
Do you really need to ask this?
It is what I usually do when I don't know something, instead of trying to bluff my way through. I don't pretend to know it all and do try to learn things. miles
If ever two exact opposites crossed paths on the internet.... this would be it.
Nobody has ever called Miles a Kook.
Lots of guys have met Miles in person.
Miles has a lot of hunting, shooting, and general outdoors experiences to share.
I'm sure I've overlooked other differences.
I, frankly, just like the name--"milespatton".
No son catches me when I get around fellow southerners, especially if they are from Virginia or West Virginia...
I'll use terms like irregardless.... and A'fer ( instead of Before)... or TAR ARN, for a tire iron...FAR, for fire...
he says it changes pretty quick also....
wonder if they have a southern version of spell check...
they'd need geographical versions...
...and all you scholar who graduated from the sixth grade need to get over the grammar problems
I was the UIL spelling champ when I was in sixth grade. I do all within my power to apply proper grammar. And, at 55 years of age I still try to learn a new gooder word daily.
Us Southern Boys reinvented the English Language a long time ago and have our own way of speaking and spelling the words.
Not going to argue there.
I don't understand the "space s" suggestion, either. But I do know that most people abuse and misuse the apostrophe. It is almost never used to create a plural, for example.
Wait, what's your sayings' is this mean's that spellchecks' correction's all these year's has had innaccuracie's? I'm shocke'd!
Donna Fargo was a high school English teacher who made it big with a couple of hit songs.
When she went back to her hometown for a visit, there was a large welcoming committee at the airport.
Among the crowd was a group of her former students with a large banner:
Donna Fargo learnt us english.
Punctuation saves lives!
Let's eat Grandma.
Let's eat, Grandma.
It's worse,
Axed= asked
Acrosst. = across
Then this one: I could care less
Really you care enough that you have some care remaining to be able to reduce your amount of care further?
I think it's " I couldn't care less"
As far as errors, I'm not sure that spell check is improving our lives. I now have an iPad which chooses whole new complete words that I never intended to begin with, sure it's spelled correctly but it's now the wrong word.
There is a website called damn you auto correct. Wow the texts that went in error will knock your socks off!
� There is no degree of unique; nothing can be "very unique" or "more unique". �
I could never get any of my engineers to see that their beloved "half infinite" and "near infinity" made no sense at all. Where's
halfway to a point that isn't there yet?
Even offered 'em "seemingly infinite," but that wasn't good enough for some reason � or none.
I'm not sure what your engineers were doing, but there are different sizes of infinity.
I must be one of the worst offenders here as far at typographical errors, pitiful spelling, and poor grammar. That said I often catch errors in others posts where I would miss them in mine. I try my best to just read what the poster was intending to say and look for content rather that perfection.
Yeppers, dat is write on!
I'm sure I screw up all the time, but to all those that walk on water, raise your hand.
I must be one of the worst offenders here as far at typographical errors, pitiful spelling, and poor grammar. That said I often catch errors in others posts where I would miss them in mine. I try my best to just read what the poster was intending to say and look for content rather that perfection.
Yeppers, dat is write on! I'm sure I screw up all the time, but to all those that walk on water, raise your hand.
Well, we all have our limitations and shortcomings - mine are numerous. Then again, walking on water is a very, very special and rare feat - one I have never seen. Use of correct language and punctuation is not so special - just seems to come across as good, proper, respectful effort.
Good, proper, and respectful are fine. The punctuation police need to find another hobby.
The tight interconnection between thought and language has been recognized and studied for a long, long time. Its existence is not a matter of opinion, nor is it open to a Hell of a lot of opinion or to be altered by opinion. It just is, whether we like it or not. Language is the tool that we think with, just as a hammer is a tool that we drive nails with and a screw-driver is a tool that we drive screws with.
It's long been recognized that laziness with language and laziness with thought amount to the same thing. Good thinking requires good language, and scorn for good language is scorn for good thinking. Sloppy language reveals sloppy "thinking," and habitually sloppy language reveals an inability to think with any depth, complexity, impact, or vigor.
I, frankly, just like the name--"milespatton".
Thank you, it was a gift that I received when I was just a young man.
miles
I found some noteworthy typographical errors in an eBay ad for Swarovski binoculars. Spell checkers can only do so much, whether good or bad.
Not sure I'd want to buy these, given where they've seemingly been used...
"Swarovski Optic 8x30 SLC Habitch binoculars"
"...some minor scuff on ovular lenses..."
Thanks to calikooknik for reminding me of another common one. It's the very common "those that" or "people that". It should be those WHO or people WHO. "That" should be reserved for objects, as in "Here's the rock that hit my windshield" whereas people deserve a "who" as in "and the vandal who threw it."
"hard road to hoe" (properly "hard row to hoe." Nobody hoes roads! Weeds invade garden rows.)
"hone in on it" (properly "home in on it" from lingo of old system of aerial navigation by radio signal.)
"to no end" (properly, "no end" means "extremely." "to no end" means "without purpose.")
As far as errors, I'm not sure that spell check is improving our lives. I now have an iPad which chooses whole new complete words that I never intended to begin with, sure it's spelled correctly but it's now the wrong word.
There is a website called damn you auto correct. Wow the texts that went in error will knock your socks off!
Sent a text to my son about the weather. I input barometer. It sent bra meter. Cracked me up so much I left it and now we use the bra meter to tell just how cold its getting.
Is the BRA meter any kin to the ther MOM meter?
Only to those who wonder how ther mom meter future husband.
I've had a built-in bra meter since learning the ABCs at about age 16.
I, frankly, just like the name--"milespatton".
Thank you, it was a gift that I received when I was just a young man.
miles
You're welcome. The pleasure was mine.
An expression I read and hear more and more is a proposal needs to be flushed out, rather than fleshed out.
A good many proposals would be best "flushed out".
gibe also jibe (j�b) v. gibed also jibed, gib�ing jib�ing, gibes jibes. --intr. 1. To make taunting, heckling, or jeering remarks. See Synonyms at ridicule. --tr. 1. To deride with taunting remarks. --n. A derisive remark. [Possibly from obsolete French giber, to handle roughly, play, from Old French.] --gib�er n. --gib�ing�ly adv.
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jibe1 also gybe (j�b) Nautical. v. jibed also gybed, jib�ing gyb�ing, jibes gybes. --intr. 1. To shift a fore-and-aft sail from one side of a vessel to the other while sailing before the wind so as to sail on the opposite tack. --tr. 1. To cause (a sail) to jibe. --n. The act of jibing. [Alteration (perhaps influenced by jib1) of gybe, from obsolete Dutch gijben.]
jibe2 (j�b) intr.v. jibed, jib�ing, jibes. Informal. To be in accord; agree: Your figures jibe with mine. [Origin unknown.] adv.
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jive (j�v) n. 1. Music. a. Jazz or swing music. b. The jargon of jazz musicians and enthusiasts. 2. Slang. Deceptive, nonsensical, or glib talk: �the sexist, locker-room jive of men boasting and bonding� (Trip Gabriel). --jive v. jived, jiv�ing, jives. --intr. 1. Music. To play or dance to jive music. 2. Slang. a. To talk nonsense; kid. b. To talk or chat: �You just jive in one big group, putting each other on, trying to top the last line� (Time). --tr. Slang. 1. To cajole or mislead. --jive adj. Slang. Misleading; phony. [Origin unknown.] --jiv�er n. --jiv�ey or jiv�y adj.
Punctuation and spelling are important to get your message across, or else we will all be writing in Ebonics.
"Can you help Jack off that horse?"
Or
"Can you help jack-off that horse?"