Grammar Nazi

[Pucker]

Another thing I like about the SKMB is that it seems most people here use correct grammar/spelling. Part of me (a big part) wants to delete any facebook friends that use "your" when they mean "you're" or "definately" instead of "definitely" but I'd have no friends left. And do not get me started on the whole "would of/should of/could of" nonsense!

This is one of those things that is funny and sad at the same time, because the day is coming -- and sooner than you think -- when people who actually understand the language will be the ones being laughed at by those who are "too busy" to actually convey their thoughts coherently.

 

[blunthead]

This is one of those things that is funny and sad at the same time, because the day is coming -- and sooner than you think -- when people who actually understand the language will be the ones being laughed at by those who are "too busy" to actually convey their thoughts coherently.

Depending on where and who a person is that time has been now for a while.

 

[Pucker]

Depending on where and who a person is that time has been now for a while.

I suppose that's true.

I had a guy (I'm guessing it was a guy) subtly imply that I was a racist for pointing out that his posts were incomprehensible on a sports-themed message board for a daily metropolitan newspaper.

Code language rears its ugly head once again.

 

[not_nadine]

Yet another from (you guessed it) my sister-in-law's facebook.

View attachment 11321

I am going to try and translate this.

I think it says,

"Guess what? I really did not know too much but after." (until?)

"I really do believe that the jail and the cops had everything to do with it. Sorry if anyone feels otherwise."

 

[80sFan]

I am going to try and translate this.

I think it says,

"Guess what? I really did not know too much but after." (until?)

"I really do believe that the jail and the cops had everything to do with it. Sorry if anyone feels otherwise."

No wat? I fink ur rite, not_nadine!

 

[not_nadine]

The really great part is that I wrote that out at work, left my desk and there is was just sitting there for anyone to read.

 

[Lepplady]

 

[blunthead]

Love 'em.

 

[blunthead]

Spoiler

 

[blunthead]

(Per the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary...)
Usage Discussion of AFFECT

Effect and affect are often confused because of their similar spelling and pronunciation. The verb affect usually has to do with pretense: she affected a cheery disposition despite feeling down. The more common affect denotes having an effect or influence: the weather affected everyone's mood. The verb effect goes beyond mere influence; it refers to actual achievement of a final result: the new administration hopes to effect a peace settlement. The uncommon noun affect, which has a meaning relating to psychology, is also sometimes mistakenly used for the very common effect. In ordinary use, the noun you will want is effect: waiting for the new law to take effect; the weather had an effect on everyone's mood.

 

[blunthead]

Usage Discussion of FARTHER

Farther and further have been used more or less interchangeably throughout most of their history, but currently they are showing signs of diverging. As adverbs they continue to be used interchangeably whenever spatial, temporal, or metaphorical distance is involved. But where there is no notion of distance, further is used: our techniques can be further refined. Further is also used as a sentence modifier: further, the workshop participants were scarcely optimistic — L. B. Mayhew, but farther is not. A polarizing process appears to be taking place in their adjective use. Farther is taking over the meaning of distance: the farther shore, and further the meaning of addition: needed no further invitation.

 

[blunthead]

Usage Discussion of LIE

lay has been used intransitively in the sense of lie since the 14th century. The practice was unremarked until around 1770; attempts to correct it have been a fixture of schoolbooks ever since. Generations of teachers and critics have succeeded in taming most literary and learned writing, but intransitive lay persists in familiar speech and is a bit more common in general prose than one might suspect. Much of the problem lies in the confusing similarity of the principal parts of the two words. Another influence may be a folk belief that lie is for people and lay is for things. Some commentators are ready to abandon the distinction, suggesting that lay is on the rise socially. But if it does rise to respectability, it is sure to do so slowly: many people have invested effort in learning to keep lie and lay distinct. Remember that even though many people do use lay for lie, others will judge you unfavorably if you do.

 

[blunthead]

(Per Grammar Girl : Lay Versus Lie :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™...)
Lay Versus Lie

First, we'll do the easy part, which is the present tense. If you exclude the meaning "to tell an untruth" and just focus on the setting/reclining meaning of lay and lie, then the important distinction is that lay requires a direct object and lie does not. So you lie down on the sofa (no direct object), but you lay the book down on the table (the book is the direct object).

This is in the present tense, where you are talking about doing something now: you lie down on the sofa, and you lay down a book. There are a bunch of ways to remember this part...

How to Remember the Difference

The way I remember is to think of the phrase lay it on me. You're laying something (it, the direct object) on me. It's a catchy, dorky, 1970s kind of phrase, so I can remember it and remember that it is correct.

What's that I hear, music in the background? I know I don't normally play music, but I love Eric Clapton, and his song Lay Down Sally can actually help you remember the difference between lay and lie. To say “lay down Sally” would imply that someone should grab Sally and lay her down. If he wanted Sally to rest in his arms on her own, the correct line would be “lie down Sally.”

You lay something down, and people lie down by themselves.

We don't have to judge Clapton on his grammar; we can still love his music and at the same time know that it's grammatically incorrect! In fact, that helps us remember, and we can love him more. If you're more of a Bob Dylan fan, you can remember that "Lay Lady Lay" is also wrong. The lyrics should be “Lie lady lie, lie across my big brass bed.”

OK, so that was the present tense. It's pretty easy; you lay something down, people lie down by themselves, and Eric Clapton can help us remember. Let's move on to the past tense—it's harder...(con't)

 

[blunthead]

(con't from Grammar Girl : Lay Versus Lie :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™)...
Lay Versus Lie in the Past Tense

But then everything goes all haywire, because lay is the past tense of lie. It's a total nightmare! I tried and tried to come up with a mnemonic for this, but I couldn't do it. Instead, I've made a table that you can print out from the website and tape up over your desk or in your notebook, because you just have to memorize this or look it up every time.



How to Conjugate Lay and Lie

Here's how to conjugate these two verbs:

The past tense of lie is lay, so...

Last week, Steve lay down on the floor.
The cat lay in the mud after it rained yesterday.

The past tense of lay is laid, so...

Last week, I laid the TPS report on your desk.
Mary forcefully laid her ring on the table.

The past participle of lie is lain, so...

Steve has lain on the floor for days.
The cat has lain in the mud for hours.

The past participle of lay is laid, so...

I have laid the TPS report on your desk.
Mary has forcefully laid her ring on the table.

Don't feel bad if you can't remember these right away. Practice will help, and truthfully, I still have to look them up every time I use them. It's just important to know what you know, and what you don't know, and to go to the trouble to look it up and get it right because these are hard-and-fast rules.

 

[PatInTheHat]

(con't from Grammar Girl : Lay Versus Lie :: Quick and Dirty Tips ™)...
Lay Versus Lie in the Past Tense

But then everything goes all haywire, because lay is the past tense of lie. It's a total nightmare! I tried and tried to come up with a mnemonic for this, but I couldn't do it. Instead, I've made a table that you can print out from the website and tape up over your desk or in your notebook, because you just have to memorize this or look it up every time.



How to Conjugate Lay and Lie

Here's how to conjugate these two verbs:

The past tense of lie is lay, so...

Last week, Steve lay down on the floor.
The cat lay in the mud after it rained yesterday.

The past tense of lay is laid, so...

Last week, I laid the TPS report on your desk.
Mary forcefully laid her ring on the table.

The past participle of lie is lain, so...

Steve has lain on the floor for days.
The cat has lain in the mud for hours.

The past participle of lay is laid, so...

I have laid the TPS report on your desk.
Mary has forcefully laid her ring on the table.

Don't feel bad if you can't remember these right away. Practice will help, and truthfully, I still have to look them up every time I use them. It's just important to know what you know, and what you don't know, and to go to the trouble to look it up and get it right because these are hard-and-fast rules.

A lay lie getting laid..lain...lain lie..?..ahh now I'm so confused...yeah I'll see myself out, I know the way

 

[blunthead]

A lay lie getting laid..lain...lain lie..?..ahh now I'm so confused...yeah I'll see myself out, I know the way

It's okay, language is too much for some primates.

 

[PatInTheHat]

It's okay, language is too much for some primates.

Okay so the hair on my back has turned a lovely shade of silver/grey, whatchere point?

 

[blunthead]

Okay so the hair on my back has turned a lovely shade of silver/grey, whatchere point?

My point is here...

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I had a great short story collection wherein I highlighted in yellow (use any color available) words like lay, lie, lain, lying and the like. I highlight split infinitives when I come across them...and they are plentiful. Strunk & White are spinning, doing pirouettes. Reminds me of the clocks in heaven? One tic for each misdemeanor? Ole Frank's clock, they got that in the main banquet room, using it as fan.

How long before we have tests of the EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM on message boards and the like? You're sitting there, viewing you favorite por-- favorite music of something. BRAAAAAAACK! MEEEP! MEEEEP! MEEEEP! This is a test of...so forth and so on.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled difficulties.

 

[PatInTheHat]

My point is here...

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle, why blunthead, t'would seem you've gotten taller..ah, did you perhaps get lift shoes?