Grammar Nazi

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danie

I am whatever you say I am.
Feb 26, 2008
9,760
60,662
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Kentucky
Thanks, Bev and Ms. Mod for the help on this. I agree with the advice here (wish I had noticed the comma issue; then again, I think I probably didn't know the rule to begin with).

However, it's interesting about the word "couple" -- that is considered usually plural in nature? I always get confused on some words like that. For instance, the term "police" is usually associated with "are," but my instinct is to always think of that as a singular institution (I always use are, though). But if I use a band name in a sentence, I tend to use is, although admittedly I'm always uncomfortable with that; plus, I probably don't always do it. I suppose, too, it depends on the context of the sentence.

The Monkees is an amazing musical business model.

But...

The Monkees is coming to town sounds awkward, but Cheap Trick are coming to town also seems awkward.
I agree that your examples sound awkward, but they are grammatically correct.
You can use a plural verb with The Monkees when speaking of them individually: The Monkees are playing different instruments.
 

Moderator

Ms. Mod
Administrator
Jul 10, 2006
52,243
157,324
Maine
Oh good. I'd like you to be able to see me become the next recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. I understand the bar has been lowered. Wouldn’t that be a kick in the pants? :)


hell-norway.jpg
 

mal

content
Jun 23, 2007
4,714
27,243
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Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
OK, have a question for you Grammar people on this board. This was on the weather channel last night for my area's Local on the 8s. Hubby didn't agree. Summary said, "Showers off and on through the day." He thought it should have been "on and off" because they can't be off until they are on << his phrase. I said that it wasn't raining, so they were already off and they'd be on later. What say you editor types out there???
In my house the man is always right! Oops, better post this quick...I hear the wife coming...
 

recitador

Speed Reader
Sep 3, 2016
1,750
8,264
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This thread was quite the read. I am more than likely guilty of doing a few of the minor things described here, so I'll apologize to those who have developed tics reading my comments. I won't promise not to do them in the future, habits die hard. The biggest sin I might be guilty of is my usual lack of capitalization. I'm not sure if I can break that. However, in honor of this thread, I'm making a one time effort to do so properly.





I got 25 correct. Many were guesses based on context clues, or based on my totally random guessing ability. Having only two choices was a great help.


I got 13 out of 12 somehow. Does this mean I'm extra good at grammar?

it doesn't

http://prntscr.com/gkujef

I don't understand people who know how to spell but don't apply that knowledge, even in casual writing.
I'm assuming she can spell because she graduated from a decent high school.

I have a friend who does this. She's really not dumb by any means, but she uses text short hand for no apparent reason on Facebook. Wut for what, for example.


I'm in the 5% by virtue of guesswork. I'd like to know what the answers were, because that test messed with my head a bit.
 

grin willard

"Keep the change, you filthy animal!"
Feb 21, 2017
1,144
6,024
50
I don't know why but I can't break my habit of capitalizing the seasons.

You know what? Good for you! You yourself are wordsmith of some skill, and the best of them usually have certain eccentricities. And our elementary school stuff hangs on hard. For years I've remembered, "AEIOU ... and sometimes Y, and sometimes W." Over the last 3 decades if I mentioned W was sometimes a vowel to someone, I'd get baffled stares. I'm pretty sure I've lost relationships over it -- turns out, it was true! Google it if you don't believe me. Oh, and I was at schooled at the cusp of the period when students were suggested to write a seven with a line thru it to make it more easily recognizable. Not me, I put my foot down. This isn't what a seven looks like ...

Hand_written_7.png


This is what a f-cking seven looks like!!!

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