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I think this thread should be closed due to the obvious linguistical shaming perpetrated on some of the more challenged readers.
It's not fair.
It's not fair.
How to write good.
- Thread starter Rastoff
- Start date
I like this'n as well: Never use a large word when a diminutive one will do.
nicky4968
Member
When my brother was four, he asked at the dinner table, “Why do we say if I were, when everybody else says if I was?”
My mother gave us a lecture on if clauses contrary to fact.
My mother gave us a lecture on if clauses contrary to fact.
Jack Flash
Member
Sentences should be as concise as possible since extra clauses, qualifications, and the like are often unnecessary and confusing, causing the reader to get lost in the verbiage, forgetting the sentence's meaning and give up reading it at all, not to mention that sometimes even the writer himself gets bored and abandons the ...
Maybe this is helpful....
Every time you use an
apostrophe to make
a word plural, a
puppy dies. | Teacher Week Ecard
Every time you use an
apostrophe to make
a word plural, a
puppy dies. | Teacher Week Ecard
On my first day of school, my mother gave me her "Oxford comma".
It was a touching moment.
It was a touching moment.
RobertJ.
Member
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
This grammatically offends me.
Why does "monosyllabic" have so many syllables?
The first proper use of an ellipsis I've seen in some time.Jack Flash said:
This thread reminds me of my 11th grade English teacher. she was a dried up little stick of a woman. She wore her hair in a super tight bun at the back of her head. No one ever saw her blink because she had her hair pulled back so tight she was unable to close her eyes.
she always said that a pencil was the tool of the illiterate. If she saw a pencil she would confiscate it, break it in half and toss it in the round file.
She counted off for spelling and would not accept a paper or test with more than 3 misspelled words. Contractions were not tolerated.
Looking back I still can't believe I made it out of her class.
Oh and just FYI she was from England. That just made it worse. I'd like to tell y'all what her nick name was but I don't want to take the ding.
she always said that a pencil was the tool of the illiterate. If she saw a pencil she would confiscate it, break it in half and toss it in the round file.
She counted off for spelling and would not accept a paper or test with more than 3 misspelled words. Contractions were not tolerated.
Looking back I still can't believe I made it out of her class.
Oh and just FYI she was from England. That just made it worse. I'd like to tell y'all what her nick name was but I don't want to take the ding.
And now something completely different:
One day a fellow came in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
"Who's there?". St. Peter asked.
"It is I". Was the answer.
"Jesus! Another teacher incoming!" Yelled St. Peter.
One day a fellow came in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.
"Who's there?". St. Peter asked.
"It is I". Was the answer.
"Jesus! Another teacher incoming!" Yelled St. Peter.
fiasconva
US Veteran
I think the most important part is. Using proper punctuation.
LVSteve
Member
The misuse of lose and loose is a pet peeve. Mind you the number of folk on gun forums who cannot get "muzzle brake" correct astonishes me.
As for folk leaving out "to be", I must assume that they were never taught or cannot remember the correct form of the verb. "This needs fixing" passed them by in class. Mind you, the English language does lend itself to the inclusion of unnecessary words. I think it's one of the reasons English speakers have issues with other languages.
Then there are the different dialects and their peculiar linguistic devices. One from England: "Get out of my way, or I'll hit you else". Why did else suddenly get relegated to the end of the sentence? A proven way to wind up and/or confuse the aggressor is to reply, "Else what?"
I have the (often dubious) honor of reviewing technical reports written by other people, so parts of this thread are funny and others give me bad flashbacks. Maybe now is not the time to start the active versus passive voice debate in writing.
Last edited:
Geronimo Jim
Member
snubbyfan gets my vote for post of the day. Is that great or what?
Don't use a foreign word when there is an adequate English quid pro quo.
Contractions aren't necessary.
Don't use no double negatives.
Eschew obfuscation.
Contractions aren't necessary.
Don't use no double negatives.
Eschew obfuscation.
Gulfecho
Member
Please write in thrift. Long paragraphs get dismissed. You'll get peoples attention. Bye!
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
Sesquipedalian
OP
Rastoff
US Veteran
I love that that single word is long enough to post by itself.
Ever since I retired, my uncle who lives nearby and I call or text each other every morning, since I live alone. If I sent a text message that wasn't properly punctuated and/or capitalized, he'd probably call the paramedics for me because he knows that I am rather formal when I write.
In a previous job where I was issuing title insurance policies, careful draftsmanship was an important consideration. The courts looked with disfavor upon insurance companies, and would construe any ambiguity in the policy against the company. One of my favorite clauses for drafting exceptions from coverage was "including, but not limited to" specifically listed matters found in a particular document. Otherwise a court could and probably would say that the policy only excluded from coverage those few specific things from that document that were specifically mentioned.
In a previous job where I was issuing title insurance policies, careful draftsmanship was an important consideration. The courts looked with disfavor upon insurance companies, and would construe any ambiguity in the policy against the company. One of my favorite clauses for drafting exceptions from coverage was "including, but not limited to" specifically listed matters found in a particular document. Otherwise a court could and probably would say that the policy only excluded from coverage those few specific things from that document that were specifically mentioned.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I think it was Dylan Thomas who said he spoke three languages: English, Third Programme (BBC radio), and saloon.
I can speak pretty good saloon and hillbilly, but those overlap a lot.
As for correcting the grammar and spelling of others, especially on this forum, I don't do it and consider it rude. If I can understand what you wrote, I'm content. Nobody appointed me the forum editor.
I can speak pretty good saloon and hillbilly, but those overlap a lot.
As for correcting the grammar and spelling of others, especially on this forum, I don't do it and consider it rude. If I can understand what you wrote, I'm content. Nobody appointed me the forum editor.
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