93 replies to this topic

[Asymptote]

Has nearly every thread title or sub-head has used Snaggletooth as guest editor?

Did I not get the memo that spellin' and grammer anarchy was now the modus operandi for all threads to get posted?

[Brass]

How many times?

IF YOU THINK A RULE HAS BEEN BROKEN you should:

• Hail 'Protest' and conspicuously display a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity;
• Deliver a valid written protest within the time limit
• Turn up to the protest hearing bringing good evidence and arugments to the protest committee

[couchsurfer]

Has nearly every thread title or sub-head has used Snaggletooth as guest editor?

Did I not get the memo that spellin' and grammer anarchy was now the modus operandi for all threads to get posted?

 crybaby.png   53.44K   5 downloads  crybaby3.jpg   6.02K   2 downloads  crybaby4.jpg   5.33K   1 downloads

[Asymptote]

Has nearly every thread title or sub-head has used Snaggletooth as guest editor?

Did I not get the memo that spellin' and grammer anarchy was now the modus operandi for all threads to get posted?

 crybaby.png   53.44K   5 downloads  crybaby3.jpg   6.02K   2 downloads  crybaby4.jpg   5.33K   1 downloads

Thank Zoroaster I don't live in a house with those three. Yikes!

I suppose that did come off like the Grammar Police...wasn't meant to be. My post wasn't exactly grammar-perfect.

[couchsurfer]

Has nearly every thread title or sub-head has used Snaggletooth as guest editor?

Did I not get the memo that spellin' and grammer anarchy was now the modus operandi for all threads to get posted?

 crybaby.png   53.44K   5 downloads  crybaby3.jpg   6.02K   2 downloads  crybaby4.jpg   5.33K   1 downloads

Thank Zoroaster I don't live in a house with those three. Yikes!

I suppose that did come off like the Grammar Police...wasn't meant to be. My post wasn't exactly grammar-perfect.

...oh gawsh,,me has -no- graphics on hand for a non-perfectly grammar- policing,,Zoroastrian ,,cry-baby kid-shy sailor,,sorry

[Ishmael]

How many times?

IF YOU THINK A RULE HAS BEEN BROKEN you should:

• Hail 'Protest' and conspicuously display a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity;
• Deliver a valid written protest within the time limit
• Turn up to the protest hearing bringing good evidence and arugments to the protest committee

What's an "arugment"? Is that like a bribe?

Fucking spelling Nazis.

[Brass]

How many times?

IF YOU THINK A RULE HAS BEEN BROKEN you should:

• Hail 'Protest' and conspicuously display a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity;
• Deliver a valid written protest within the time limit
• Turn up to the protest hearing bringing good evidence and arugments to the protest committee

What's an "arugment"? Is that like a bribe?Fucking spelling Nazis.

Definition: 'a rug ment': a device meant to be used by vain bald people.

[I'moutahere]

How many times?

IF YOU THINK A RULE HAS BEEN BROKEN you should:

• Hail 'Protest' and conspicuously display a red flag at the first reasonable opportunity;
• Deliver a valid written protest within the time limit
• Turn up to the protest hearing bringing good evidence and arugments to the protest committee

What's an "arugment"? Is that like a bribe?Fucking spelling Nazis.

Definition: 'a rug ment': a device meant to be used by vain bald people.

not short for "a rug moment"? as in what one used to do with one's wife. (or secretary)

similar to a "mat finish".

[Dog Watch]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling when I can understand what they are trying to say, and when the main topic / focus is not grammar and spelling.

HOWEVER, I always do my best to ensure that I present my posts the best I can make them. I usually use the whole 'editing period' picking up and correcting typos and spelling errors.

Pet peeves / common easily corrected errors:

• Poor spelling where a spell checker is available.
• Lack of paragraphs.
• Their / They're.
• Your / You're
• Its / It's
• Apostrophes

WHY?

An old teacher / grandmother / whoever(?), told me that people judge you by your presentation. The care taken to perfect what you present to others is immediately noticed (if only intrinsically). This has multiple effects, such as gaining respect from your audience, enhancing clarity of meaning, increases self-pride, maintaining own high standards.

It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

[jerseyguy]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling when I can understand what they are trying to say, and when the main topic / focus is not grammar and spelling.

HOWEVER, I always do my best to ensure that I present my posts the best I can make them. I usually use the whole 'editing period' picking up and correcting typos and spelling errors.

Pet peeves / common easily corrected errors:

• Poor spelling where a spell checker is available.
• Lack of paragraphs.
• Their / They're.
• Your / You're
• Its / It's
• Apostrophes

WHY?

An old teacher / grandmother / whoever(?), told me that people judge you by your presentation. The care taken to perfect what you present to others is immediately noticed (if only intrinsically). This has multiple effects, such as gaining respect from your audience, enhancing clarity of meaning, increases self-pride, maintaining own high standards.

It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

Don't forget "there."

[Dog Watch]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling...

Don't forget "there."

Dammit. Yes, I meant to include 'there' too.

BTW, jerseyguy, the full stop (period) must go outside the surrounding punctuation marks. Like this:


Don't forget "there".

DW

[cosmicsedso]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling...

Don't forget "there."

Dammit. Yes, I meant to include 'there' too.

BTW, jerseyguy, the full stop (period) must go outside the surrounding punctuation marks. Like this:


Don't forget "there".

DW

"It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether."



Occasionally and occasion are also pet hates of mine.

[Terrorvision]

Don't forget 'lose' and 'loose'.

[dreadom]

I do not wish to open the whole seppo bashing thing, but it would remiss of me not mention that any discussion regarding poor grammar and spelling should acknowledge that a vast majority of you use a bastardisation of English. American spelling is just an evolutionary stepping stone on the downward slide to SMS Language.

[Terrorvision]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

[in_TO]

Are Typo's Mandatory?

Fixed it for you.

[Presuming Ed]

• Poor spelling where a spell checker is available.
• Lack of paragraphs.
• Their / They're.
• Your / You're
• Its / It's
• Apostrophes

Less/fewer
"quite unique"

GRRRRRRRRRRR

[Mr. Fixit's brother,, Mr. Fixit]

Eats shoots and leaves

[jerseyguy]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling...

Don't forget "there."

Dammit. Yes, I meant to include 'there' too.

BTW, jerseyguy, the full stop (period) must go outside the surrounding punctuation marks. Like this:


Don't forget "there".

DW

Perhaps not:

AP Style book:

Periods always go inside quotation marks. –p 361

Chicago Manual of Style:

Periods and commas precede closing quotation marks, whether double or single. This is a traditional style, in use well before the first edition of this manual (1906) –Section 6:8

[dreadom]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

[Snaggletooth]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

It juste maide more sents that waye.....

[coyotepup]

I'm gonna squeeze in a plug for never, ever saying "for all intensive purposes" or "it didn't phase me." Nails on a chalkboard.

[big chicken]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling when I can understand what they are trying to say, and when the main topic / focus is not grammar and spelling.

HOWEVER, I always do my best to ensure that I present my posts the best I can make them. I usually use the whole 'editing period' picking up and correcting typos and spelling errors.

Pet peeves / common easily corrected errors:

• Poor spelling where a spell checker is available.
• Lack of paragraphs.
• Their / They're.
• Your / You're
• Its / It's
• Apostrophes

WHY?

An old teacher / grandmother / whoever(?), told me that people judge you by your presentation. The care taken to perfect what you present to others is immediately noticed (if only intrinsically). This has multiple effects, such as gaining respect from your audience, enhancing clarity of meaning, increases self-pride, maintaining own high standards.

It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

Shouldn't that be "whomever"?

[jimbojones]

Everyone proclaims grammar Nazi when someone points out typos and what not. But I have to say that when someone cannot manage to string some coherent words together or misspells everything then I take what they say a tiny bit less seriously.

For example, if you can't spell legend (see the ledgend thread) you would have failed a spelling test in third or fourth grade. How then do I have any idea that you are not in fact a fourth grader, this being the internet and all?

Who cares about typos, hitting an i instead of an o, or an s instead of an a. BFD. But as my fourth grade teacher once said; "If you can't communicate intelligently no one will know that you are intelligent."

[Mr. Fixit's brother,, Mr. Fixit]

irregardless

[my nuts]

Are Typo's Mandatory?

Fixed it for you.

Our Typo's Mandatory?

Typo is an abbreviation for typographical error, such as pressing the wrong button. These were troublesome in the days of typewriters, but there is very little excuse while using computers. The complaint here reflects more on poster's laziness and/or ignorance.

[my nuts]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling when I can understand what they are trying to say, and when the main topic / focus is not grammar and spelling.

HOWEVER, I always do my best to ensure that I present my posts the best I can make them. I usually use the whole 'editing period' picking up and correcting typos and spelling errors.

Pet peeves / common easily corrected errors:

• Poor spelling where a spell checker is available.
• Lack of paragraphs.
• Their / They're.
• Your / You're
• Its / It's
• Apostrophes

WHY?

An old teacher / grandmother / whoever(?), told me that people judge you by your presentation. The care taken to perfect what you present to others is immediately noticed (if only intrinsically). This has multiple effects, such as gaining respect from your audience, enhancing clarity of meaning, increases self-pride, maintaining own high standards.

It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

Shouldn't that be "whomever"?

The teacher is the subject. "Whom" is used for direct objects. Neither is correct in that sentence, however. Neither is the comma.

[narecet]

Don't forget 'lose' and 'loose'.

And "planning," where "planing" is meant.

[narecet]

I do not wish to open the whole seppo bashing thing, but it would remiss of me not mention that any discussion regarding poor grammar and spelling should acknowledge that a vast majority of you use a bastardisation of English. American spelling is just an evolutionary stepping stone on the downward slide to SMS Language.

No, by no means did you wish to open that. No full-of-shit Australian (I suppose we could call you toilet bowls or perhaps rectums in response to your so-clever slang, but we do not) likes using the term Seppos or making comments such as the above. It's a hard life having to do so. Perhaps the pressure of blood forcing itself into the head makes it occur. Surely it's not by your free will. And it must have been really hard to make yourself post the above. But surely the result was worth it for us all. So, thanx!

And I do not wish to open the whole thing about the vowel impairment of your lot. But it might worth noting that the letter "A" is not correctly pronounced as if it were an "I," is it now. Again, perhaps it's from being inverted, so I suppose you are excused.

[coyotepup]

I do not wish to open the whole seppo bashing thing, but it would remiss of me not mention that any discussion regarding poor grammar and spelling should acknowledge that a vast majority of you use a bastardisation of English. American spelling is just an evolutionary stepping stone on the downward slide to SMS Language.

Englisc bret. þú angan hit, ne ús.

[Port Tack Start]

Our Typoes's Mandantory? I was planing on typing this reply whilstever planning on my J105 doing 16kts in 12 true today. But their was a luod bump and I thought the keel fell off! Or atleast thats what my bowguy said..."you're keel' fell of!". To whit I reply, "its only a wave, standby to gybe onto the port gybe"! But it was'nt a wave either, just a lose shackle banging around. One fewer worry to worry about, definitely a quite unique experiance! But irregardless of the cause, for all intensive purposes, we nailed the gybe so it didn't phase me! (that time). Bowman, whomever it was I forget, managed to fall overboard though.

[Gouvernail]

I will never shoot someone for their poor grammar or spelling when I can understand what they are trying to say, and when the main topic / focus is not grammar and spelling.

< more similar garbage deleted>
DW

My personal impression of the canine observer had previously been based upon some of his wonderfully well thought out and carefuly written posts about the RRS.


Apparently his concern for sailboat racing rules is greater than his concern for the fundamental rules of the English language.


The very first sentence rambled on about some individual communicating the thoughts of a group and was not even presented to this forum with verbiage appropriate to the author's intended conditional statement.



The writer has made it clear his reasons for granting a grammatical pass include a personal inability to recognize violations of the rules of grammar.

Did he mean to communicate the following??


Provided the main focus of the discussion is other than grammar or spelling, and If I were to believe I understood the communication presented by another person, I would never shoot that person for making spelling errors or using poor grammar??


and



Considering the topic of this thread and his failure to eliminate himself from that group of those writers whom he might shoot, should we, as fellow members of this somewhat fraternal forum, be forming a suicide watch patrol??

[Terrorvision]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

Hmmm, maybe it was me being unintelligent?

[MoeAlfa]

That/which/who

No one gets it.

[hobot]

irregardless

Funner.

[Random Thom]

I'm gonna squeeze in a plug for never, ever saying "for all intensive purposes" or "it didn't phase me." Nails on a chalkboard.

"We need to be pacific about this." When desirous of clarity and precision. Oh the hilarity that ensues as the speaker is often being confrontational and waving a specification about. Hilarity in my head.

That/which - I tried to figure it out once. The internet told me that only Americans cared, so I stopped.

<resume lurking>

[One eye Jack]

So now we have to worry about the spelling police? Ever try to write were and it is corrected to we're ? If you want perfect.. You are on the wrong site..

[dreadom]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

Hmmm, maybe it was me being unintelligent?

The same could be said of SMS Language. It also appears to be lazy to me, but to others it might be intelligent. LOL

[doghouse]

OMG LOL, STFU!

[Presuming Ed]

That/which - I tried to figure it out once. The internet told me that only Americans cared, so I stopped.

As my Fowler's tells me: which informs and that defines.

This is the house that Jack built.
This house, which Jack built, is now falling down.

[couchsurfer]

OMG LOL, STFU!

....HTFU,,,,NTTAWWT!!

[KiwiJoker]

irregardless

Funner.

"Funner" makes me grind my teeth as does "boater" which before it was bastardized in the USA only applied to a style of straw hat.

[MoeAlfa]

That/which - I tried to figure it out once. The internet told me that only Americans cared, so I stopped.

As my Fowler's tells me: which informs and that defines.

This is the house that Jack built.
This house, which Jack built, is now falling down.

Ezzackly and Jack is the man who (not that) built the house. This American cares.

[Amati]

I knew someone would bring up a style sheet!

But face it, after spellcheck has nixed the word you're trying to post for the third time, what are you going to do?

Go ahead and post.

Dr. Johnson is quoted as saying that it's a poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word.

There: perhaps a desperate stab to ( towards?) (at?) authority will help.



Snagghie rewls!

Yeps.

[Dog Watch]

Gouvernail,

So sorry to have disappointed you! Let me respond inline, since you have beautifully broken up your post into manageable paragraphs.

My personal impression of the canine observer had previously been based upon some of his wonderfully well thought out and carefuly written posts about the RRS.

Thank you!

Apparently his concern for sailboat racing rules is greater than his concern for the fundamental rules of the English language.

I try to measure my content and effort in presentation according to the circumstance of my post. Indeed, when I peruse SA forums and partake in the discussions, its because of my interest in the rules. I don't generally come to SA for discussions about English language. With that in mind, I will focus my thoughts on getting my point across. That is not to say that I have no concern for the rules of English. Just that my focus is on the rules element of my posts, and I see no need to perfect other incidental aspects of my post.

The very first sentence rambled on about some individual communicating the thoughts of a group and was not even presented to this forum with verbiage appropriate to the author's intended conditional statement.

Unfortunately, written communication has its limits. This is illustrated in the many 'rules' discussions in this web forum, where the misunderstandings derive from the limits of the written language.

While I have always placed the higher burden to ensure understanding on 'the speaker', I feel there must be some reciprocity. The 'reader' must also 'make an effort' to derive the speaker's intent. That means the reader has to account for the limitations of the written form, the regional differences in written / spoken communication, the limitations of the media of presentation (computer screen), and thus the limitations of the tools for creation (keyboards and phones which lead to typos and difficulties in editing).


It would be easy to pick holes in most posts on an internet forum for not being perfect. However, that is not necessarily appropriate. Depending on the circumstance of the conversation, some aspects should become less or more of a priority to the two parties involved.

The writer has made it clear his reasons for granting a grammatical pass include a personal inability to recognize violations of the rules of grammar.

Not at all! This is pretty unsubstantiated statement, Gouv. I am by no means an expert. I have never said I was. However, I think I have a pretty good handle on how to create a written piece which conforms mostly to the rules of grammar. I can recognise a well written piece. I cringe at poorly written pieces. It's just that I choose not to comment, or let that aspect of the post stand in the way of the discussion at hand.

Did he mean to communicate the following??
Provided the main focus of the discussion is other than grammar or spelling, and If I were to believe I understood the communication presented by another person, I would never shoot that person for making spelling errors or using poor grammar??
and
Considering the topic of this thread and his failure to eliminate himself from that group of those writers whom he might shoot, should we, as fellow members of this somewhat fraternal forum, be forming a suicide watch patrol??

In fact I meant the former. If you do your bit in the communication process, you'll see that my first sentence says exactly that.

Gouv, you seem to think that I have attempted to claim perfection. In fact, I'm admitting imperfection. I am not trying to 'eliminate myself from the set of posters who make mistakes'. Maybe you don't need to be so confrontational.

Your attempts are largely futile, since I know I am not perfect, do not claim to be, nor try to be. Very often, after editing and re-editing my posts, I still spot errors in my construction, spelling and grammar. However, I often leave them uncorrected. I don't think I need to be perfect in front of an internet forum of people I don't know. I don't expect perfection from them.

To summarise my stance:

• Communication is a two-way process, with effort required to be made by both writer and reader.
• Written communication is limited, but good presentation improves meaning (and gains respect).
• Written communication should be appropriate for the audience, subject and focus topics. As snaggletooth's (age old, and now rather monotonous) gag proves, it is possible to convey meaning with text which conforms to a minimum of rules. We don't need perfection. A reader need not require perfection. I don't require it nor strive for it.
• Hence, I am not too interested in the quality of a poster's grammar and spelling in these forums; instead I'm more interested in the concepts they are presenting.
• Bottom line: Internet Forum Spelling Police = dicks!

DW

(Good grief. Some people are just looking for a fight.)

[ojfd]

.......................
It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

Noted!

[Amati]

[gimmee]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

And aluminium became aloominum and lieutenant is lootinent. Lazy slobs.

[atoyot]

In what dictionary do you see those examples spelled that way?

[gimmee]

In what dictionary do you see those examples spelled that way?

Precisely my point. Seppo's are just too lazy to pronounce them correctly and you can bet in a few years the slobs will spell them that way also !

[Dog Watch]

.......................
It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

Noted!

Your point is?......

Did you have problems understanding that incorrectly spelt word? Was it too poorly spelt that you couldn't derive the gist of what that thread was going to be about? Or did the spelling tarnish and prejudice any respect you may have had for what I was about to write?

Or were you just being a 'dick'?

Look - before anyone else decides to search the archives for more spelling or grammar errors in my post, don't bother. I know they are there! I have repeatedly said I am not perfect, nor strive to be.

I'M TRYING TO SUGGEST A REDUCED EXPECTATION OF PERFECTION BY READERS IS BETTER! WHO GIVES A SHIT!

DW

P.S. Rather glad you had to go back 26 months to find your example.

[ojfd]

.......................
It's true...while I would not comment on another's poor presentation, I do internally judge others (and therefore the merit of their content) on their presentation. Occassionally, if it is too poor, I will give up altogether.

Worth noting.

DW

Noted!

Your point is?......

Did you have problems understanding that incorrectly spelt word? Was it too poorly spelt that you couldn't derive the gist of what that thread was going to be about? Or did the spelling tarnish and prejudice any respect you may have had for what I was about to write?

Or were you just being a 'dick'?

Look - before anyone else decides to search the archives for more spelling or grammar errors in my post, don't bother. I know they are there! I have repeatedly said I am not perfect, nor strive to be.

I'M TRYING TO SUGGEST A REDUCED EXPECTATION OF PERFECTION BY READERS IS BETTER! WHO GIVES A SHIT!

DW

P.S. Rather glad you had to go back 26 months to find your example.

Wow! I didn't know you're so touchy, DW. Noticed that smiley there? All I get in return is "dick", capital letters and so on instead... <sigh>

EDIT - Actually, I didn't search for your post. I've bookmarked that Rules topic some time ago and, since my memory is good, I remembered that someone made a joke about spelling in that topic's title and poll.

[Gouvernail]

To summarise my stance:...



Gouv's joke was so carefully written to appear as serious he made it impossible to recognize it as such.

[Dog Watch]

Haha!

OK - Apology owed to both Gouv and OFJD. (Yes, I did wonder if I was taking the bait, hook line and sinker!)

I guess I'm touchy about it because I really do think that people spend too much time arguing full stops and commas, simply to be pedantic or impose some superiority on their counterpart in a dispute.

On the occasions when I get called up for my own failures, it frustrates me, not because I can't admit them, but because that's not what I spend my time here for. Also, because I tolerate other people who don't seem to regard standard of presentation as important.

I try my best to proof-read before posting, and then generally spend more time than I should re-reading and editing, in the hope that I can be clear and especially take care for the benefit of the wide range of abilities and language differences. I try my best to be open to everyone on the merits of their discussion, and not their expertise in language. I try to stay clear of petty arguments.

Anyway, all's good you two. Not really offended...just wanted to be clear where I'm coming from. Sorry.

DW

[Gouvernail]

My original reply above did not come out as I created it...

Dunno why this works but.



Please click on the quote reply button below to see my original post...

To summarise my stance:...



Gouv's joke was so carefully written to appear as serious he made it impossible to recognize it as such.

[atoyot]

In what dictionary do you see those examples spelled that way?

Precisely my point. Seppo's are just too lazy to pronounce them correctly and you can bet in a few years the slobs will spell them that way also !

Oh, OK. I thought this thread was about the written form of communication. I should point out that there are possibly more dialectical differences in pronunciation across the US than there are various accents of the English language as a whole. Which is especially ironic in the example of the word "house", or "about" as spoken by many in the Richmond, Virginia area (or elsewhere within the Richmond/South Boston/Lynchburg triangle). The word "House" often comes out more like "Hause" where the "U" gets some emphasis, or "Hoos" with not so sharp an "O", or split the difference. People go abaut the hause looking for things.

The origins? Elizabethan English. The Virginia colony was founded in 1607, and for the same reason the Strine dialect reflects dialects of English spoken upwards of 200 years ago, some traces of the area's ancestors' speech patterns persist.

Are the people of the Richmond area lazy, because they don't necessarily pronounce every word in [Americanised English] the way today's Britons might pronounce the word? And which region of the UK would you use as a metre stick? People across the river from me in southern New Jersey (or parts of Philadelphia) often pronounce that metal used for beverage cans "al-U-nee-um", as in, aluneeum siding around the chimbley, of which I'll gladly take a pixture for you. But so what? I know what is meant. Tell me you don't.

For the purposes of this thread, if a person makes a reasonable attempt to spell words correctly and uses generally accepted punctuation, I don't see what difference it makes how s/he pronounces a given word. Those for whom English is not a primary language, yet manage to communicate with us just fine, are probably laughing their asses (arses?) off at us right now bickering over stupid shit (shyte?) like this.

There are better things upon which to spend ones' time. I'd rather concentrate on our similar interests than continue to drive a wedge between a basically similar people spread across four nations on 3 continents, who share more in common than they do those things not in common.

[Snaggletooth]

For the purposes of this thread, if a person makes a reasonable attempt to spell words correctly and uses generally accepted punctuation, I don't see what difference it makes how s/he pronounces a given word. Those for whom English is not a primary language, yet manage to communicate with us just fine, are probably laughing their asses off at us right now bickering over stupid shit (shyte?) like this.

There are better things upon which to spend ones' time. I'd rather concentrate on our similar interests than continue to drive a wedge between a basically similar people spread across four nations on 3 continents, who share more in common than they do those things not in common.

Welle sayed!!

[slap]

irregardless

Funner.

"Funner" makes me grind my teeth as does "boater" which before it was bastardized in the USA only applied to a style of straw hat.

"Boater" is also the name of a plastic cover that goes outside of a diaper.

BTW, the Brits had a habit of adding "-er" onto words back in the 1800s - that's how the word soccer was derived from Association football ("soc" was used as an abbreviation for Association since "ass" was not an acceptable term)

[tigerregis]

Gentlemen, theirs weigh two much ad hominy in this thread. Lettuce stick to the issues geranium to the OP.

[USA190520]

Keyboards are responsible for typos...

Ban keyboards..

[Terrorvision]

Never misunderestimate them.

[narecet]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

And aluminium became aloominum and lieutenant is lootinent. Lazy slobs.

Wrong on both counts.

"Aluminum" is the original spelling as per the discoverer, Humphrey Davies. However, some Brits decided that it would be "more classical" to change the spelling and add an unnecessary syllable.

The American spelling is as was originally the case.

As for your "lootinent," I suspect ignorance is again at play. Essentially no one uses either that spelling or pronunciation. What backwater are you from?

[Snaggletooth]

I suspect ignorance is again at play.

I love thisse, in the genral sents

[MoeAlfa]

"Aluminum" is the original spelling as per the discoverer, Humphrey Davies. However, some Brits decided that it would be "more classical" to change the spelling and add an unnecessary syllable.

That would be Humphry Davy.

Carry on.

[atoyot]

Keyboards are responsible for typos...

Ban keyboards..

No, no. Tax the shit out of the letters on them, rendering them less operational.

[One eye Jack]

If you go in parts of the south instead of you.. It's yew, or in parts of the north it's paac the caa in the packing lot..now just where in the heck did The English come up with Bonnet instead of a hood, or a lorrie instead of a truck? Then you have Minesota with a hoose for a house. Texas with you all that comes out yawl, or oil is ol.

[Ballast Technician]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

Hmmm, maybe it was me being unintelligent?

Actually, your post was quite accurate - while dreadom is mostly wrong. For instance, the 'u' between 'o' and 'r' is quite a recent addition (bastardization) in British English - Shakespeare wrote 'color' (not 'colour'), 'harbor' (not 'harbour'), etc.

[Dog Watch]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

Hmmm, maybe it was me being unintelligent?

Actually, your post was quite accurate - while dreadom is mostly wrong. For instance, the 'u' between 'o' and 'r' is quite a recent addition (bastardization) in British English - Shakespeare wrote 'color' (not 'colour'), 'harbor' (not 'harbour'), etc.

Shakespeare was a pretty good story teller, but a shite speller. That's why his books are so hard to read!

[Snaggletooth]

Actually, your post was quite accurate - while dreadom is mostly wrong. For instance, the 'u' between 'o' and 'r' is quite a recent addition (bastardization) in British English - Shakespeare wrote 'color' (not 'colour'), 'harbor' (not 'harbour'), etc.

Shakespeare was a pretty good story teller, but a shite speller. That's why his books are so hard to read!

He spellte hise naime 67 diffent wayes!!

[coyotepup]

Actually........ our American cousins have a more accurate version of written English as Webster (he of dictionary fame) basically took a snapshot of the language at the time and wrote the dictionary. English in Britain, Australasia and India predominantly adapted to the changing times and looking back at written English since the mid 1800s shows that.

I do believe that it was Noah Webster who decided to change the spelling of English words, in an attempt to establish an American English identity. In 1788 he introduced the shortened spelling of words and even adjusted the words phonetically. For example, colour became color and theatre is now spelt theater in the USA.

Hmmm, maybe it was me being unintelligent?

Actually, your post was quite accurate - while dreadom is mostly wrong. For instance, the 'u' between 'o' and 'r' is quite a recent addition (bastardization) in British English - Shakespeare wrote 'color' (not 'colour'), 'harbor' (not 'harbour'), etc.

Shakespeare was a pretty good story teller, but a shite speller. That's why his books are so hard to read!

I know we're being tongue in cheek here but it's actually amazing how much of modern English is directly because that's how Shakespeare wrote it. If Chaucer had had the kind of popular effect Shakespeare had, we might all be speaking Middle English right now. Shakespeare was some 500 years ago and English has evolved far less than it did in the 200 years between Chaucer and Shakespeare. Supposedly Shakespeare's entire collected works use over 17,000 distinct words....over 1,000 of which he created and which we still routinely use today.

OK, nerdery over, back to drinking beer.

[Vendredi]

[Terrorvision]

I know we're being tongue in cheek here but it's actually amazing how much of modern English is directly because that's how Shakespeare wrote it. If Chaucer had had the kind of popular effect Shakespeare had, we might all be speaking Middle English right now. Shakespeare was some 500 years ago and English has evolved far less than it did in the 200 years between Chaucer and Shakespeare. Supposedly Shakespeare's entire collected works use over 17,000 distinct words AND PHRASES....over 1,000 of which he created and which we still routinely use today.

OK, nerdery over, back to drinking beer.

Back to a little bit of nerdery as I find this very interesting based on what I do for a living. Here is a list of words and phrases that came from Shakespeare's quill: Linky link

[Dog Watch]

[Terrorvision]

Funny- I was watching Blackadder 2 the other day and noticed how much he corrects people's grammar!

[Aloha 27]

In what dictionary do you see those examples spelled that way?

Precisely my point. Seppo's are just too lazy to pronounce them correctly and you can bet in a few years the slobs will spell them that way also !

Prolly.

[MoeAlfa]

Seppo's

Has anyone mentioned the shocking and pervasive abuse of the apostrophe? Experts believe we face a shortage of them, circa 2024.

[doghouse]

Seppo's

Has anyone mentioned the shocking and pervasive abuse of the apostrophe? Experts believe we face a shortage of them, circa 2024.

[Snaggletooth]

Seppo's

Has anyone mentioned the shocking and pervasive abuse of the apostrophe? Experts believe we face a shortage of them, circa 2024.

A expectede serplusse of comma's maye saife the daye!!

[MoeAlfa]

Seppo's

Has anyone mentioned the shocking and pervasive abuse of the apostrophe? Experts believe we face a shortage of them, circa 2024.

A expectede serplusse of comma's maye saife the daye!!

Are they easy to retrofit?

[couchsurfer]

Seppo's

Has anyone mentioned the shocking and pervasive abuse of the apostrophe? Experts believe we face a shortage of them, circa 2024.

A expectede serplusse of comma's maye saife the daye!!

Are they easy to retrofit?

,,,,,,,,,,there's an abundance in the ''NW'',,,,
,,,maybe we should do some 'exports'!!!!???.....

[narecet]

"Aluminum" is the original spelling as per the discoverer, Humphrey Davies. However, some Brits decided that it would be "more classical" to change the spelling and add an unnecessary syllable.

That would be Humphry Davy.

Carry on.

Thank you for the correction: my memory had failed there.

[Asymptote]

Nobody standing up for the ellipsis?....... or the hyphen? Woefully underused is the hyphen - it really is. But they are both team players....They could help save commas for re-purposing.

[Ishmael]

Nobody standing up for the ellipsis?....... or the hyphen? Woefully underused is the hyphen - it really is. But they are both team players....They could help save commas for re-purposing.

You could always break up a semi-colon for the comma content, but what do you do with the leftover upper dot? Utterly useless on its own.

[Terrorvision]

And the what the hell did we use the '@' symbol for before we he'd email? Is it so tough to write 'at'? I mean, of all the words to give a symbol to was this the right one? As a kid I thought '@' was short for 'around'. That makes much more sense.

[Gouvernail]

Huh?

[rgscpat]

In my son's generation, the combination of "smart" (?) phones and auto-correction yield horrid results.

Another abused word: virtually.

A hotly debated word used especially carelessly by journalists: decimate.


After Texans failed in their 1842 attack against 3,000 Mexican soldiers at Ciudad Mier, and subsequently many escaped and were recaptured, Mexico's dictator, Santa Anna angrily ordered the Texans executed. International pressure made him relent, ordering "only" one in ten to be executed, via a lottery conducted by their jailer, a Colonel Huerta. Wiki: "...To help determine who would die Huerta had 159 white beans and seventeen black beans placed in a pot. In what came to be known as the Black Bean Episode or the Bean Lottery, the Texans were blindfolded and ordered to draw beans. Officers and then enlisted men, in alphabetical order, were ordered to draw. The seventeen men who drew a black bean were allowed to write letters home and then were executed by firing squad. On the evening of March 25, 1843, the Texans were shot in two groups, one of nine men and one of eight. According to legend, Huerta placed the black beans in last and had the officers pick first, so that they would make up the majority of those killed.


The seventeen that drew black beans in the lottery were James Decatur Cocke, William Mosby Eastland, Patrick Mahan, James M. Ogden, James N. Torrey, Martin Carroll Wing, John L. Cash, Robert Holmes Dunham, Edward E. Este, Robert Harris, Thomas L. Jones, Christopher Roberts, William N. Rowan, James L. Shepherd, J. N. M. Thompson, James Turnbull, and Henry Walling. Shepherd survived the firing squad by pretending to be dead. The guards left him for dead in the courtyard, and he escaped in the night but was recaptured and shot. ...


Captain Ewen Cameron had drawn a white bean, but was ordered executed anyway by Santa Anna. As he waited to die, Cameron refused to confess to a priest. Standing before the firing squad, Cameron declined the offer of a blindfold, declaring, "For the liberty of Texas, Ewen Cameron can look death in the face." He then opened his hunting shirt and yelled at his executioners, "Fuego!", meaning fire in Spanish.

[-Julian-]

In my son's generation, the combination of "smart" (?) phones and auto-correction yield horrid results.

Another abused word: virtually.

A hotly debated word used especially carelessly by journalists: decimate.


After Texans failed in their 1842 attack against 3,000 Mexican soldiers at Ciudad Mier, and subsequently many escaped and were recaptured, Mexico's dictator, Santa Anna angrily ordered the Texans executed. International pressure made him relent, ordering "only" one in ten to be executed, via a lottery conducted by their jailer, a Colonel Huerta. Wiki: "...To help determine who would die Huerta had 159 white beans and seventeen black beans placed in a pot. In what came to be known as the Black Bean Episode or the Bean Lottery, the Texans were blindfolded and ordered to draw beans. Officers and then enlisted men, in alphabetical order, were ordered to draw. The seventeen men who drew a black bean were allowed to write letters home and then were executed by firing squad. On the evening of March 25, 1843, the Texans were shot in two groups, one of nine men and one of eight. According to legend, Huerta placed the black beans in last and had the officers pick first, so that they would make up the majority of those killed.

The seventeen that drew black beans in the lottery were James Decatur Cocke, William Mosby Eastland, Patrick Mahan, James M. Ogden, James N. Torrey, Martin Carroll Wing, John L. Cash, Robert Holmes Dunham, Edward E. Este, Robert Harris, Thomas L. Jones, Christopher Roberts, William N. Rowan, James L. Shepherd, J. N. M. Thompson, James Turnbull, and Henry Walling. Shepherd survived the firing squad by pretending to be dead. The guards left him for dead in the courtyard, and he escaped in the night but was recaptured and shot. ...

Captain Ewen Cameron had drawn a white bean, but was ordered executed anyway by Santa Anna. As he waited to die, Cameron refused to confess to a priest. Standing before the firing squad, Cameron declined the offer of a blindfold, declaring, "For the liberty of Texas, Ewen Cameron can look death in the face." He then opened his hunting shirt and yelled at his executioners, "Fuego!", meaning fire in Spanish.

why did i just read all of that?

[Ishmael]

In my son's generation, the combination of "smart" (?) phones and auto-correction yield horrid results.

Another abused word: virtually.

A hotly debated word used especially carelessly by journalists: decimate.


After Texans failed in their 1842 attack against 3,000 Mexican soldiers at Ciudad Mier, and subsequently many escaped and were recaptured, Mexico's dictator, Santa Anna angrily ordered the Texans executed. International pressure made him relent, ordering "only" one in ten to be executed, via a lottery conducted by their jailer, a Colonel Huerta. Wiki: "...To help determine who would die Huerta had 159 white beans and seventeen black beans placed in a pot. In what came to be known as the Black Bean Episode or the Bean Lottery, the Texans were blindfolded and ordered to draw beans. Officers and then enlisted men, in alphabetical order, were ordered to draw. The seventeen men who drew a black bean were allowed to write letters home and then were executed by firing squad. On the evening of March 25, 1843, the Texans were shot in two groups, one of nine men and one of eight. According to legend, Huerta placed the black beans in last and had the officers pick first, so that they would make up the majority of those killed.

The seventeen that drew black beans in the lottery were James Decatur Cocke, William Mosby Eastland, Patrick Mahan, James M. Ogden, James N. Torrey, Martin Carroll Wing, John L. Cash, Robert Holmes Dunham, Edward E. Este, Robert Harris, Thomas L. Jones, Christopher Roberts, William N. Rowan, James L. Shepherd, J. N. M. Thompson, James Turnbull, and Henry Walling. Shepherd survived the firing squad by pretending to be dead. The guards left him for dead in the courtyard, and he escaped in the night but was recaptured and shot. ...

Captain Ewen Cameron had drawn a white bean, but was ordered executed anyway by Santa Anna. As he waited to die, Cameron refused to confess to a priest. Standing before the firing squad, Cameron declined the offer of a blindfold, declaring, "For the liberty of Texas, Ewen Cameron can look death in the face." He then opened his hunting shirt and yelled at his executioners, "Fuego!", meaning fire in Spanish.

why did i just read all of that?

You were supposed to comment on the change in font size. Not that you would notice, not having any extra capitals lying around gives you away as a Canuck.

[narecet]

And the what the hell did we use the '@' symbol for before we he'd email? Is it so tough to write 'at'? I mean, of all the words to give a symbol to was this the right one? As a kid I thought '@' was short for 'around'. That makes much more sense.

http://www.shadychar...ol-part-2-of-2/

[Snaggletooth]

And the what the hell did we use the '@' symbol for before we he'd email? Is it so tough to write 'at'? I mean, of all the words to give a symbol to was this the right one? As a kid I thought '@' was short for 'around'. That makes much more sense.

http://www.shadychar...ol-part-2-of-2/

Holly crappe!! Whoe niew!

[sumpin]

teyepo?

[puddin]

& no love for the ampersand.

[Asymptote]

Is it possible that Snaggy had a hand in naming the "octothorpe" when he was #ing away at his keyboard one day?

http://www.shadychar...tag/octothorpe/

[Presuming Ed]

A hotly debated word used especially carelessly by journalists: decimate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimation_%28Roman_army%29