It would be funny if . . .

[UncleEd]

I am sure many in this thread have
been "in line" to buy tickets while
others have been "on line" to buy
tickets.

And how many of you have said
something like "over 100 attended
the meeting" while others have
commented that "more than 100
attended the meeting."

I noted that in some of the commentary
here that "..." was used. Was something
omitted?

 

[SafeTFirst]

I cringe when I walk into a store and a worker says “Welcome in.” I want to say “It’s pronounced VIL ko men, but my German isn’t very good either.”

Then there’s “Let’s cheers!” Ugh.

 

[Mule Packer]

So true. It's surprising how many people nowadays can't tell the difference between a split infinitive and a dangling participle.

 

[Rustyt1953]

So clips can be magazines?

My dad called magazines "clips" since he returned from the ETO.

I knew what he meant and never corrected him.

 

[soFlaNative]

split infinitive

"To boldly go where no man has gone before"
After decades of usage I think that taboo has been squashed

 

[Mule Packer]

My dad called magazines "clips" since he returned from the ETO.

I knew what he meant and never corrected him.

Yep. Same goes with revolver vs. pistol or .45 Long Colt vs. .45 Colt. C'mon, folks. We know what they're talking about.

 

[NFrameFred]

Lest anyone stick me with a sobriquet like "authoritarian" or "grammar nazi", I'm not one to correct those around me when, as Rusty and Mule Packer said, "we know what they're talking about". We're all human, fallible and imperfect. I only know One Guy who ever was pefect.

Sure wasn't my intention to stir up any contention with or agitate anyone; but as one poster noted about his profession, my working life was in the engineering professions, and to me . . . "words mean things" is not just a good sounding slogan. I sometimes inadvertently misuse words due to the places and people I grew up and worked with, since we slide into familiar jargon or phrases when we're talking informally in social situations when with family and friends.

The burr under my saddle in this particular case is when people we expect to be knowledgeable and professional don't set the example and follow the standards they were (or should have been) taught and trained to uphold. I was taught and it was impressed upon me that to call myself a professional there were standards I was expected to meet. I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.

 

[Mule Packer]

I sometimes inadvertently misuse words due to the places and people I grew up and worked with,

I understand completely where NFrameFred is coming from...or I should say, "from where NFrameFred is coming." (I used to tell my students when they were beginning their term papers, "And don't use prepositions to end a sentence with." Of course, very few got the humor.)

And as Archie Bunker once said, "We shouldn't be making any suppository remarks."

 

[Rustyt1953]

I, too, understand. My grandmother and mother instilled a hunger in me for the "King's" at the age of four. A lifetime of devouring books ensued.

I have striven to improve my diction (I often stumble and fall short) as I take pride in how I present myself both orally and on cyber paper. I notice the errors made by the MSM who of recent have been getting their editors at yard sales and I make mental note but my bloomers remain unbunched by it.

Four of my grandkids are home schooled with two of them under my guidance under this roof. The written and spoken words are paramount here.

I am immensely proud of their communication skills especially when people outside our circle take notice.

Good grammar starts at home.

 

[LVSteve]

I think I've heard "on accident" in the UK on occasion. I cannot remember what part of the country though. Whatever, it's still wrong.

 

[mrchick]

I cringe regularly at the butchering of our language. It’s sad that people don’t care and have no desire to learn.
I have learned, from watching threads like this, that we will continue the decline as it doesn’t matter to most people.
Oh well, I’ll sit back and drink my coffee from a favorite mug.
Happy New Year!

 

[Warren Sear]

Another one I do not understand is the phrase "price point" instead of the word "price". As far as I know, the two terms mean exactly the same thing. I understand (but do not agree with) dropping letters and words out of sheer laziness, but this never made sense to me.

 

[Telecaster]

Price Point is like making a gun to sell at a $500 price instead of, say, $1000. When a customer will only shell out $400 for it, that is its Price.

 

[Telecaster]

Or if customers line up to pay $600 for a gun built to a $500 price point, its Price is $600.

 

[pasound]

My factory new 45 Colt Blackhawk I bought last year cost $500 and change - over $300 off retail, from my fave Retail LGS (a local chain farm/equipment/tools/clothing/gun store). I think it was the last one the home office had in inventory, and wanted it gone. Local clerk's eyes got big when he looked at the price on my paid-for invoice. Price? Price point? No, recover their cost and get it out of inventory.

 

[Peak53]

Kind of the opposite of "on purpose"

 

[BC38]

I'm with you Fred. It seems the rules of English grammar and syntax we all learned just 30-40 years ago are being increasingly ignored/abandoned. Even by people who WRITE for a living and whose job description includes upholding those standards (journalists).

While the author's meaning and intent may still be easy to discern, that doesn't make ignoring (or being unaware/ignorant of) the rules for writing in the English language any less grating - or more acceptable.

It seems that the majority continues to devolve to the lowest common denominator, no matter how much those of us in the minority object.

Every single day I read something published by so-called journalists, and approved by their editors, that would have been given an "F" by any of the middle-school or high-school teachers that were grading my writing skills just a few decades ago.

Does it matter? I think it does. Unless we are content to have our communications devolve into unintelligible grunts.

JMO...

 

[BC38]

Another one I do not understand is the phrase "price point" instead of the word "price". As far as I know, the two terms mean exactly the same thing. I understand (but do not agree with) dropping letters and words out of sheer laziness, but this never made sense to me.

FWIW, I think of the term "price point" as being pretty much the intersection between "MSRP" (what the seller wants to get for their product) and "street pricing" (what the market is willing to pay for said product).

Therefore the price point is the amount that the seller aims for that exceeds their production costs enough to allow for a reasonable profit margin.

Just my interpretation of the term.

 

[Eddietruett]

Heck, just the number of folks who don't know "loose" from "lose" is mind boggling.

I've had to train myself to ignore how others write or speak. As long as I can understand them, I'll cut them some slack.

I am blown away by the number of people that spell nickel wrong, especially gun guys.

 

[Llance]

When I started writing stories of life (real or imagined) I couldn't spell s--- even when I was stepping in it, thus I carried a dictionary with me nearly everywhere. I didn't need one in the head, bed, or the shower. As my writing got better so too did my spelling. I didn't take creative writing in school mostly because my handwriting was so bad. Now days both have improved to the stage where I am no longer embarrassed by it. All of my writing now, regardless of it's purpose, is done long hand first then typed into my computer for editing, before I send it to anyone I care about for their enjoyment. This message is an exception as are other messges on this internet site.

ATB Llance