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18 Votes
30 Comments
Kate's Adventures: This Grammar Nazi TOOK IT TO THE STREETS!
News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Sun Jun 3, 2007 11:38 PM EDT
Article Source: katesadventures.comadvertisement
As most of you know, I have zero tolerance for incorrect grammar. For the first time, I did something about it.
My biggest pet peeve regarding grammar is not when someone misuses "your" and "you're," or "there," "their" and "they're." It's when any kind of professional writing, from advertisements to stories in newspapers and online columns, is fraught with grammatical errors. Aren't there editors that notice these mistakes?!
At first, Reebok's "Run Easy" campaign hadn't been bothering me. In fact, I kind of liked it -- if you take the red line inbound between Harvard and Central and face west, you see an ad perfectly timed with the speed of the subway car. However, when walking back from work, I came upon an ad egregiously reading, "RUN EASY BOSTON."
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16
5.5
{"commentId":755476,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
Once in a while I come across something that grates on me, but I've never done the grammar activism thing. I have no problem telling someone about horrible spelling errors, though. I figure that it may help the business in the long run.
{"commentId":755476,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
- 6 votes
#1 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 11:47 PM EDT{"commentId":755514,"authorDomain":"listenup"}
I don't do the "grammar activism thing" either, though I usually want to. I wish I could do something about all the "10 items or less" signs and Winston cigarette's slogan "Tastes good like a cigarette should."
{"commentId":755514,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"listenup"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":757789,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}
10 items or less
I never thought about that one, but you're right. It should really be "10 items or fewer," shouldn't it? Hmm... interesting.
{"commentId":757789,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":755485,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
I agree, as far as commercially produced words go. I figure if someone has been paid to write something then they should get it right or an editor should help them. But for amateurs as we have here on NV - well the message is more important than the massage, as they (might) say.
Your / you're / they're / their / there should have been well taught in elementary school, but if you missed out I still want to hear what you have to say :)
As for me, I struggle with "whom" — it started to make sense with dative case and high school German but since then it's all slipped away...
{"commentId":755485,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
- 4 votes
#2 - Sun Jun 3, 2007 11:52 PM EDT{"commentId":755512,"authorDomain":"listenup"}
"Who" is subjective case and "whom" is objective case. Subjects do an action, object receive them:
Who wrote this memo?
I should address this memo to whom?
Similarly, "he" is objective case and "him" is subjective case. To test which is correct, replace who/whom with he/him [though I can't remember if the test works all the time].
Many people overcorrect and use "whom" when "who" is actually appropriate.
I love grammar. [:
{"commentId":755512,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"listenup"}
- 5 votes
{"commentId":755629,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
That's so handy!! Thank you :)
{"commentId":755629,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":755639,"authorDomain":"spiffie"}
It should work in every case, although sometimes it might sound weird. Although, where it sounds weird, usually it's because the contruction has obscured whether the pronoun is an object or subject (my own really, really long sentences sometimes run into this problem). In any case, in such a situation one would probably face confusing between he/him, also.
{"commentId":755639,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"spiffie"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":755641,"authorDomain":"spiffie"}
"Face confusion," of course. I swear I hit Check Spelling.
{"commentId":755641,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"spiffie"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":755570,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
I hate grammer. The words are what is important to me. I usually write first and then go back and correct grammer. I do try but, it is not my strong suit.
{"commentId":755570,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"azsky13"}
- 4 votes
#3 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 1:41 AM EDT{"commentId":755643,"authorDomain":"spiffie"}
Grammar. ;-)
{"commentId":755643,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"spiffie"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":755653,"authorDomain":"azsky13"}
Yes I freely admit it. I have spelling problems too! I usually have dictionary.com on a tab for instant use. But sadly, I did not tonight!
{"commentId":755653,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"azsky13"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":755937,"authorDomain":"chum"}
I confess--misspellings on professionally produced documents annoy me. I was in the Army and was often appalled. I offered to edit everything.
Grammar nazi--not a term I want attached to me, although I'm sure a few people would say it's appropriate.
{"commentId":755937,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"chum"}
- 3 votes
#4 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 9:06 AM EDT{"commentId":756473,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
I get grumpy when I see bad grammar. That whole "Got milk" campaign drove me crazy.
{"commentId":756473,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 3 votes
#5 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 12:34 PM EDT{"commentId":756613,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
Got Grump? ;)
{"commentId":756613,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":757362,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Indeed I do.
{"commentId":757362,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":757392,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
Awww....what can I do to help?
{"commentId":757392,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
- 2 votes
{"commentId":760866,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Demand proper grammar everywhere you go.
{"commentId":760866,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":762600,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
You know what? I just had an idea for a column or series. We need a resident grammar nazi who can answer questions.
For example, my most common mistake is confusing then and than. It go to the point where, two years into a newspaper reporting job, the copy editors insisted I write the difference (which I since forgot) somewhere where I would remember it. I posted it with a post it on my computer and got it right for at least a year before I lost the post-it and forgot it again.
{"commentId":762600,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 3 votes
{"commentId":762683,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}
I'm not as hardcore of a grammar/spelling Nazi as I could be, but I'd be willing to contribute to said column. I might have to occasionally look something up, but most of the time I think I know the answer.
Then is a reference to time -- you did this, then you did that.
Than is a reference to alternatives -- you did this rather than that.
{"commentId":762683,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":762700,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Ah, yes that is it. As in
I did it right back then and since then, as I focused on special education rather than journalism I've lost my grammar gene
{"commentId":762700,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":756537,"authorDomain":"chasing"}
The line of grammar should be a fuzzy thing - if you get near it, and people understand you, then good enough. That's what language is for! And that's also why it changes over time, and why many of its rules are abitrary and (lets face it) nonsensical.
But commercially? Yes. You're trying to reach the largest possible audience (generally), without knowing who, precisely, that audience is, and what they know and understand both about grammar and your product, so probably you'll make your point better, and to more people, by getting it right. Although not necessarily.
I bet a lot of people who might otherwise post on an article about grammar don't, for fear of getting grammar and spelling wrong. Which would be an example of the rules getting in the way of communication. It happens!
{"commentId":756537,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"chasing"}
- 3 votes
#6 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 1:00 PM EDT{"commentId":756612,"authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
I agree with the corporate thing. Stuff does need to be professional. When I see mistakes on brochures, banners, advertisements, etc., I have to wonder if the business is as sloppy with their products or services.
I do understand that folks are fearful of posting their writing, lest someone point out mistakes. Even in a public forum, people can send a private e-mail pointing out a dreadful error. Most of the time it's not really necessary to do so, though. :)
{"commentId":756612,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"LAUHAL63"}
- 4 votes
{"commentId":757808,"authorDomain":"tigerblade"}
My friends have to try to be careful around me -- I'll latch onto any spelling mistakes they make, any grammatical errors they may commit, anything. I'm the self-proclaimed grammar Nazi of the group, and they know it. Hell, they took advantage of the fact in high school when it came time for term papers and such.
I have more than a few friends who are absolutely terrible when it comes to spelling and grammar. I have a friend who, in college, turned in a paper that looked like she wrote it via instant message. The whole "lol, u r a dork" sort of language. Yeah. It was bad. Yet they never bother to improve: "I'm bad at spelling!" Uh, you're in your mid-twenties entering the workforce. You can't even spell.
GAH.
{"commentId":757808,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"tigerblade"}
- 2 votes
#7 - Mon Jun 4, 2007 10:15 PM EDT{"commentId":769605,"authorDomain":"katemcculley"}
Hey -- this is my blog post! I had no idea this was posted by newsvine! What a nice surprise.
Glad you guys enjoyed!
{"commentId":769605,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"katemcculley"}
- 3 votes
#8 - Sat Jun 9, 2007 1:34 PM EDT{"commentId":770418,"authorDomain":"djehuty"}
Yay! Congratulations! Good post :)
{"commentId":770418,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"djehuty"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":769634,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
You're the Grammar Nazi? Well, then read 5.5 because I have just the job
for you.
Oh and great piece.
{"commentId":769634,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
- 1 vote
#9 - Sat Jun 9, 2007 1:47 PM EDT{"commentId":778701,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
OK, grammar Nazis I have my next question for you. well, two questions: 1) How about a column answering questions like this.
2) Insure vs Ensure?
Is this right, "In order to ensure the safety of the group"
or "I want to insure that in case of a car accident."
What's the rule here?
{"commentId":778701,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
{"commentId":778730,"authorDomain":"spiffie"}
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/assure.html
{"commentId":778730,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"spiffie"}
- 1 vote
{"commentId":778981,"authorDomain":"sbutki"}
Thanks!
{"commentId":778981,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"sbutki"}
{"commentId":873250,"authorDomain":"ZenAid"}
lauhal, I think you helped launch this woman's career.
{"commentId":873250,"threadId":"110157","contentId":"754460","authorDomain":"ZenAid"}
- 1 vote
#10 - Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:27 PM EDT{"canLink":false,"threadId":"110157","isPrivate":false}
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