I'd druther hear someone say, "I seen," that's seen somethin', than to say, "I have seen," that ain't seen anythin'!
A "flounder" is a fish; "founder" is what happens when a ship runs aground.
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I'd druther hear someone say, "I seen," that's seen somethin', than to say, "I have seen," that ain't seen anythin'!
A "flounder" is a fish; "founder" is what happens when a ship runs aground.
[QUOTE=Willow Oak;2428151
A "flounder" is a fish; "founder" is what happens when a ship runs aground.[/QUOTE]
But that ship has to sink below the surface of the water to "founder". If it's above and tossing about against rocks or a reef, wouldn't it be "floundering"?
My big pet peeve is "waiting on" and "waiting for". I summed it up back in post #52. That still drives me nuts.
But "I saw," or "I have seen" is correct! "I seen" is not.Quote:
Originally Posted by Willow Oak
Language is evolving. That is what drives some of us "mad." When I was in school I was castigated if I spelled "buses" as "busses." Now, the latter spelling appears in dictionaries and has been approved as acceptable. The word "ain't" has become part of many dictionaries. I believe that the word "flounder" was inadvertently used instead of "founder" when someone was lost and trying to find his way (tossed about). Now the dictionaries approve the misuse of the word.Quote:
Originally Posted by pomtzu
Most of the European languages evolved from Greek and Latin. Latin was the language spoke in ancient Rome, hence the "romance" languages.
Am I preaching to the choir here?
"I saw" is not correct, if you did not see. Likewise, "I have seen" is not correct if you did not see. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Karen
Furthermore, it is grammatically incorrect to begin with a conjunction, such as the word "but." :eek:
Still furthermore, it is grammatically incorrect to separate two words or two phrases with a comma when they are separated by the conjunction "or," as in "'I saw,' or 'I have seen.'" :p
Worse still is correcting the moderator of a forum. :(
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willow Oak
But (incorrect :eek:) if I really have seen it, or I really did see it, then "I saw it" is correct - not "I seen it". Those hyphens I use all the time are incorrect also. Correct?
Feel free Dan - I'm not a moderator! :D
It is not incorrect in the course of a conversation to begin a sentence with a connection, although it is poor form in written literature.Quote:
Originally Posted by Willow Oak
It is correct to say "I saw" as in "I saw the squirrel." It is also correct to say "I have seen squirrels." I only put that comma in that sentence as I was typing it and edited it to put the "or" in and therefore should have deleted the comma. I was in error in that particular instance.
You are totally correct (as if you need my stamp of approval). However, I think that it is okay to "break" the rules of grammar in the instance of written literature if one is doing so for emphasis or to be poetic. I do it all the time.Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen
For instance, the sentence, "I do it all the time," is grammatically incorrect. Can you tell me why?
"I do it all the time," is not incorrect, unless there's nothing after the comma and that needs to be a period.Quote:
Originally Posted by Willow Oak
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willow Oak
In the above quote, I say "I think that it is okay to "break" the rules of grammar in the instance of written literature if one is doing so for emphasis or to be poetic. I do it all the time."Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen
The context makes what I wrote okay and understandable; but technically, "I do it all the time" is grammatically incorrect. One must not use a naked pronoun -- i. e., a pronoun without an antecedent; otherwise, how is the reader to know what "it" is? The most grammatically correct way to write would be:
"I think that it is okay to 'break' the rules of grammar in the instance of written literature if one is doing so for emphasis or to be poetic. I 'break' the rules of grammar all the time."
Yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Willow Oak
Dear golf club, I don't put gift cards in "thier" stockings; I put gift cards in their stockings. This is an awkward spelling mistake on the sign in front of the club.
Dear banquet hall, I think the Illinois "Youht" USAC might have been a little surprised when they saw the name of their organization on your east welcome sign! It was correct on the sign that faces west, though.
Dear whoever came up with the word "adorbz"- I flinch when I hear an adult say this. Just say adorable.
Thank you,
Elyse (word nerd)
Too and to, I sometimes have a problem when using these two words. If you see me use these two words incorrectly, please correct me :confused:
If I notice that mistake in a post of yours, i would let you know! It is funny, my most common typo - which I often Make, post, then go back and correct, is hitting a semicolon instead of an apostrophe. I know which is correct, just hit the wrong key!Quote:
Originally Posted by redbird
I went back to read this thread, it's actually quite informative and I think I've got most of it sorted out concerning "lay down and "lie" down. You "lie" down to have a rest, and he "lay" down to have a rest - or should that be he "laid" down to have a rest? No, I think it is: He "laid" the blanket on the bed, or he "laid" the table.
Now, if you lie to someone about something (not telling the truth), is it: "He lied to you" in past tense? And... he will never "lie" to you? :D
It would be he lied to you, that is the past tense. And he would never lie to a judge ... - anything about untruths is lieQuote:
Originally Posted by Randi
He lied He lies He told a lie He will lie
Sign on the street near where I work: "No parking on all village streets between 2 and 6 AM". Wouldn't it be "no parking on any village streets..."? #wordnerd
To me, either one could be correct/acceptable. It's not one of those blunders that screams "no way" at you, like "saw/seen", etc., but then, I'm no expert. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by cassiesmom
Cassiesmom, I tend to agree with you - in fact, I'm pretty sure you're right. :)
What happened in the schools the past 20 years? :eek:
Ok, I'm sure this has already been covered, but I just saw it again on Facebook and it irritates me!
People using are for our. "You've been in are lives for a long time."
UGH!!! :mad::mad::mad:
Nov 13 2014
Using "there and their" and "it's and its" incorrectly bugs me.
There should be no problem.
Their dogs are very cute.
It's going to be cold tomorrow.
The dog ate its food.
I used to work with a woman who had a much better paying job than me but her grammar/spelling was terrible. I always proofread her work. I sure hope I do the examples correctly LOL.
She would say:
Get me a vanilla folder (manila)
Ring the buzzard on the door (buzzer)
Hang the pitcher on the wall. (picture)
My child had chicken[B] pops. (pox)
My clothes are in a chester drawer. (chest of drawers)
I made a lemon chest pie (chess)
I have trouble when to use 'then' and 'than'
If you can substitute "now" and the sentence makes sense, use "then" - (now and then is easy to remember.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vette
Examples,
"I'd rather have pizza now pasta" so it is "I'd rather have pizza thAN pasta"
"I went to supper now went to bed" makes much more sense (other than timeframe) so it is "I went to supper thEn went to bed."
Does that help?
I have a girlfriend who says pig style when referring to a messy place instead of pigsty. I also have a friend who sez, but ,for no aparrent reason after every sentence. Used to drive me nuts. I realized that no one enjoys being corrected. As long as you get their drift, I just carry on the conversation and get on with it. I figure that there are far more important things to crap my pants about or get all bent out shape about than this eh.... Get my drift....
That being said, ax instead of ask is unnerving. I think it's just a slang thing. Sometimes I think peeps should just sit back and feel smugly superior if they feel so irritated. Communication with a sense of humor sounds like a plan.
I will admit I have trouble with this one too! Along with who and whom. :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by Vette
First of all, I don't undestand how some can get confused about the words then and than. They are two completely different words! It seems to me that people use then where than should be used, a lot more than the opposite. It's rare to see people use than where then should be used.
In Denmark, we have the words ja and men - ja means yes, men means but. In recent years, a LOT of people start a sentence saying... ja, men... = yes, but... I just don't get it. 10 -20 years ago, you never heard anyone starting a sentence with yes, but, unless they were defending themselves in an argument. Oh well, language deteriorates everywhere in the world. I wonder what people will be saying in another hundred years.
My biggest hate is how language is totally destroyed by computer speak: the shortcuts used with email and text messages. If someone sends me a message like that I'm not going to waste my time trying to figure out what they're tring to say.
Just for fun. This was going around when I was in college and we had a blast with it. Can you punctuate the words below so the phrase makes sense? It can be done.
that that is is that that is not is not is that that is that is
[QUOTE=momcat;2510408]
Just for fun. This was going around when I was in college and we had a blast with it. Can you punctuate the words below so the phrase makes sense? It can be done.
That "that is" is that, "that is not," is not. Is that "that is" that is?
I'm afraid I will barf or scream - or both - if I read/see/hear the word y'all much more, and when not used in a joking manner, but as part of practically every sentence that some type or speak. It is so REDNECK, and certain people carry the use to extreme. I was on FB yesterday, and had to close it out since the use of this word seems to be coming contagious and I was finding it super annoying and getting on my last nerve. People that never/seldom used it before, just can't seem to express themselves anymore with using this word very frequently. And in some cases, it's just a matter of the person being lazy, and even thinking that this is a proper and acceptable manner of speaking. I'm sure some English teachers must be turning over in their grave. :eek:
Is it just me being persnickety, or does this grate on other folks nerves too?
And don't tell me it is a recognized word.................so is f--k, among other slang words. :mad:
Woot! finally found post to read back on,, an yes it does. thank you ^^Quote:
Originally Posted by Karen
now my problem will come with remembering it... LOL
Over the last few decades, it seems that schools haven't been focusing much on spelling. That might be one reason that children mix up "then" and "than" and just guessing what is should be, from the sound they hear. You see more spelling mistakes everywhere - over here, too. If smaller children keep reading texts with so many mistakes, they'll probably think it's right and copy it. I don't believe that bad spelling is solely because of texting so much, although it might be part of it.
Using "y'll" instead of everyone or everybody, I find quite charming/positive, because to me it gives a feeling of "togetherness," or good vibes from the person saying it, but I could be totally wrong, I'm not American.
Ummm not everybody comes from a good education or even had a chance at a decent one for that matter.
This is a public forum for pet lovers not for teaching "correct" English.
To use this site to belittle someone because they used incorrect English is kinda sad. (look up kinda, it's called slang)
Not everyone has the greatest use of English, we are supposed to be pet lovers...
I could care less if someone uses bad English as long as I can get the gist of what they are trying to convey...
It's about the story and the emotion our pets bring to us, not the spelling....
Just sayin'.....
Here's to our pets!!!!!!!!
Amen to that, all ya f*@ckin' ya'll!!!;)
I don't think that anyone (including myself), was criticizing anyone in particular -- simply making an observation and expressing their personal opinion. I presume that is acceptable to y'all????? :rolleyes:
Agreed, and it's sad that everyone don't get the same chance in life. I grew up in a working class family and I didn't go to the best school, but later I took further education. However in Primary school, most, if not everybody, learnt the basics including how to spell I suppose we're lucky over here, we don't have to pay to be educated, unless you go to a private school. My parents could not afford that.Quote:
Originally Posted by kaoK'okung
I know that, thank you!Quote:
Originally Posted by kaoK'okung
I find it easier to read a text where the spelling is correct. Also, I enjoy speaking to someone who is well articulated and it's kinda neat when the language is flowing, don't ya' think. ;)
Pet peeve: "impacted" as a past tense verb. I heard it on the news again last night. "The company is unsure how its sales will be impacted by this incident." Uhmmm, I think the word you want is affected.
I don't mind "y'all" informally. "You" can be plural or singular. In Chicago I hear a lot of "you guys" or even "youse guys" - but again, that's informal. In a past position I had a manager who was from the South -- she would use y'all to address a small group and "all y'all" for a big group, like "all y'all go ahead and go home, the weather's really bad, but transfer the phones to the answering service before y'all leave.'
Sometimes ignorance speaks for itself.Quote:
Originally Posted by pomtzu
I wasn't speakin' to anyone specific by the bye.