geekhack
geekhack Community => Other Geeky Stuff => Topic started by: captain on Tue, 17 April 2012, 20:27:24
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It is dismaying to see the language mistakes repeatedly made by otherwise seemingly intelligent people. I blame the Internet. Let me help with one of the most bemusingly common errors:
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this topic is asking to be trolled
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this topic is asking to be trolled
No its not.
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Defiantly/Definitely, Lead/Led
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No its not.
You did that on purpose, didn't you? :-( "No, it's not." It's is used as a contraction of "it" and "is". Its is the possessive form of it. "It's not its best work," said the editor about the gender neutral author's latest submission.
Egads. I haven't seen lead/led. That other one is just a typo, no? Or are people frequently belligerent when they mean to be precise?
For the most part, geekhack otaku are more facile with English than the rest of the Internet, else I couldn't stand to stick around. Thank you for using proper grammar and spelling! That shows respect, not only for the language, but also for your reader. ;-)
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Why is the 's' in 'science fiction' capitalized in you're signature? That better not be a typo.
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Why is the 's' in 'science fiction' capitalized in your signature? That better not be a typo.
ftfy
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Captain, do you read and/or write for a living? It seems like most people who don't tend to rely too much on spell check and/or suffer from laziness. Moreover, even the very best spellers can have trouble with some of the crazy subtleties of English grammar rules and word usage. For example, it's always difficult for me to determine whether it's correct to use "which" or "that", and it's nearly impossible for me to determine when to use "who" versus "whom". As another example, is it correct to put the comma and period outside the ending quotation marks (as I have above), or should the punctuation marks go inside the quotation marks?
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ftfy?
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Bad grammar on the Internet (or elsewhere) is not worth being dismayed over IMO.
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Bad grammar on the Internet (or elsewhere) is not worth being dismayed over IMO.
Yeah, we shouldn't loose our tempers.
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Remember that some people find things like this hard. I for one have poor spelling but am trying to improve on it. It doesn't make people feel good when they are trying to get something across and people just take the piss even though they know what they mean. Grow up and stop being a ****.
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i hav gud gramer :cool:
I hate how people use "your" when it's supposed to be "you're" or vice versa.
Oh, and "their", "there", and "they're".
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i hav gud gramer :cool:
I hate how people use "your" when it's supposed to be "you're" or vice versa.
Oh, and "their", "there", and "they're".
So you hate that people make mistakes. I don't see why it annoys people. I think people just do it to feel superior in some way. Low self esteem maybe?
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maybe ther'e first language isn't english?
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Why is the 's' in 'science fiction' capitalized in you're signature? That better not be a typo.
I was riffing on ripster's .sig. It's a parody, so follows his lead in form.
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So you hate that people make mistakes. I don't see why it annoys people. I think people just do it to feel superior in some way. Low self esteem maybe?
I probably shouldn't say hate, I just find it aggravating, when someone will constantly use the "your" in every post/comment/status.
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I was riffing on ripster's .sig. It's a parody, so follows his lead in form.
Extra period, plus missing pronoun/identifier between 'so' and 'follows', and 'in form' is unnecessary too! This is the USA, learn to speak American before posting here. Scholastic Aptitude Test or gtfo ty :)
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.sig is likely a holdover from users of unix accounts w/ the finger tool. The pronoun/identifier is allowed to be implied. Being specific about what way captain was following ripster's lead is also good form.
Seems like you're either too young or trying too hard.
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.sig is likely a holdover from users of unix accounts w/ the finger tool. The pronoun/identifier is allowed to be implied. Being specific about what way captain was following ripster's lead is also good form.
Seems like you're either too young or trying too hard.
Irony
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.sig is likely a holdover from users of unix accounts w/ the finger tool. The pronoun/identifier is allowed to be implied. Being specific about what way captain was following ripster's lead is also good form.
Seems like you're either too young or trying too hard.
Irony
PS you're saying that implication is grammatically correct, and then that it is wrong in the same post. The implication in the first part is not obvious, and would produce noticeable problems in flow; whereas the second implication about 'how he leads' is obvious and makes the sentence unnecessarily longer which should be avoided.
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hey rip, this thread is about exactly that so not doing so would break the off topic rule, right?
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Hey, it's OK to discuss common errors in a general sense though!
Anyway, Im of too brake some keyboards...
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PS you're saying that implication is grammatically correct
Implying is perfectly fine when there's only 1 thing to be implied especially when the subject has already been used in the same sentence. The second part could be directed in many ways and so it's a nice touch to be specific and not leave the reader to guessing.
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Why is the 's' in 'science fiction' capitalized in you're signature? That better not be a typo.
I was riffing on ripster's .sig. It's a parody, so it follows his lead, in form at least.
Captain, do you read and/or write for a living? It seems like most people who don't tend to rely too much on spell check and/or suffer from laziness. Moreover, even the very best spellers can have trouble with some of the crazy subtleties of English grammar rules and word usage. For example, it's always difficult for me to determine whether it's correct to use "which" or "that", and it's nearly impossible for me to determine when to use "who" versus "whom". As another example, is it correct to put the comma and period outside the ending quotation marks (as I have above), or should the punctuation marks go inside the quotation marks?
I am the child of a professional editor, so I do come from a rarified environment. Still, if our goal is to communicate politely, then it behooves us to strive for intelligibility and correct usage of our language. It is just RUDE to write what you do not mean, yet expect your reader to correctly misinterpret you. English is ambiguous enough without carelessness exacerbating the arcana and thereby devolving into obfuscatory jingoistic argot. See what I mean? ;-)
Of course, people make typos and sometimes miss them in the proof reading (you DO proof your writing before hitting send/post, right??). However, habitual abuse is unforgivable, as is laziness in any endeavor. As Yoda said, "Try? TRY? There is no try! DO, or NOT DO!" Perhaps quoting an infamous abuser of English is detrimental to my cause, but since Yoda's primary language is ostensibly not English, he is allowed leeway, particularly since his grammatical errors do not inhibit the communication of his great wisdom. Likewise, I would give wide berth to ESL people here, but still expect them to work to improve, and certainly to correct chronic abuses that are easily learned, e.g.: then vs. than, your vs. you're.
Remember that some people find things like this hard. I for one have poor spelling but am trying to improve on it. It doesn't make people feel good when they are trying to get something across and people just take the piss even though they know what they mean. Grow up and stop being a ****.
It is commendable that you are working to improve your communication skills! However, your last statement appears to be self-reflexive. :-/ Please refrain from further inflammatory commentary.
Speaking of "further": farther refers to greater measurable lengths, further refers to greater, non-length, quantities. Also, the rules for use of quotation marks are a not arcane, and probably left for another post devoted solely to that one point.
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I found IMPACT to be a troublesome font for Sigs.
I found IMPACT to be a troublesome font, since it's yet another cheapass Microsoft imitation, in this case of Helvetica Inserat.
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Implying is perfectly fine when there's only 1 thing to be implied especially when the subject has already been used in the same sentence. The second part could be directed in many ways and so it's a nice touch to be specific and not leave the reader to guessing.
Yes I know, that's what I said afterwards [I clarified in an edit posted before your post]
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Hey, it's OK to discuss common errors in a general sense though!
Anyway, Im of too brake some keyboards...
Ouch! My poor ears. :-P
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Implying is perfectly fine when there's only 1 thing to be implied especially when the subject has already been used in the same sentence. The second part could be directed in many ways and so it's a nice touch to be specific and not leave the reader to guessing.
By the way, when numbers occur in dialog they are best spelled out. This is a minor error, and even I would certainly overlook it in all but the rarest cases.
My impetus for this thread is the CHRONIC abuse of several common words and phrases, easily learned and remedied.
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Yeah, when I'm working I write a lot of scripts and then switching to posting in the forum I keep using digits because they work better in 'for' loops. ;)
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I'll just leave this here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muphry%27s_law)
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One thing I love is people using defiantly instead of definitely. Great marker for me to exit a conversation.
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You mean that isn't Steve Jobs?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]48604[/ATTACH]
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You mean that isn't Steve Jobs?
(Attachment) 48604[/ATTACH]
I see 1 other typical common error here:
It is NeXT not NEXT!!!
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^Luckily I was following my own signature, otherwise my tea would have been all over keyboard, monitor, and my expensive amp.
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captain, what do you think of the usage of of double periods and commas, like ".." and ",,"?
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captain, what do you think of the usage of of double periods and commas, like ".." and ",,"?
issue
I think I've never done this error which the OP refers to. Also English is not my main language but I try to explain myself and try to make my posts easy to read which sometimes may lead to really simple lines and not difficult words. Google translate is quite useful sometimes when I can't find the exact word I'm looking for.
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I senses alot of xNTP who is normally grammar nazis.
(http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/139/490/I%20see%20what%20you%20did.jpg)
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I tend to overuse ellipsis when I am writing a forum post. It's a habit I picked up from multi-user chat where I'd type a partial thought and an ellipsis then send it. I'd then continue my thought after a bit and keep on like that. I did it to signal I was not yet through with what I was saying.
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captain, what do you think of the usage of of double periods and commas, like ".." and ",,"?
I have never encountered a case where either of those would be acceptable.
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You know what really pisses me off?; 'could of' 'would of'... [ATTACH=CONFIG]48790[/ATTACH]
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should of?
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(http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/560659_434160706613388_205344452828349_1546757_1693520279_n.jpg)
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should of?
Yeah, that too!
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One thing I love is people using defiantly instead of definitely. Great marker for me to exit a conversation.
Definately comes up ALOT!!!! But that's just a way too common spelling error.
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"A lot" is two words! *I shall allot you a lot of leeway, but i shall not extend that courtesy to anyone who uses the word Nazi to refer to those of us who use, and request, proper spelling and grammar. *Name-calling is uncalled for, rude, and belligerent--and the last resort of the small mind who knows he cannot win.*
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Definately comes up ALOT!!!! But that's just a way too common spelling error.
Look closer. defiantly. Definate is a common one, but defiantly is just... odd.
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When did people get confused about "avatar" vs. "icon"? I blame that pop movie guy who used Papyrus as his movie title font! :-P
An avatar is an interactive icon, a vessel representing and carrying you in cyberspace (from sanskrit - a manifestation of a god in a human body) - much more than just an icon. These icons we use to identify our posts are icons. A "character" in WoW, SecondLife, etc. is an avatar: i.e. a vessel into which we pour our soul and maneuver in cyberspace as an extension of "self".
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I am surprised at you brother ripster. You, above all, seem to have a desire to communicate effectively. Then again, you merely equated Grammar Nazis with trolls; I'm sure that you are not besmirching anyone present. ;-P
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less." — Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
edit: corrected the quotation marks, dashes, and book title style.
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'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less.' -- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass
I think that should be a dash between "mean" and "neither", rather than a hyphen. I say this in the spirit of the thread, not to rib you.
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I saw someone here write "for all intensive purposes" instead of "for all intents and purposes" a while ago. I thought that was very strange.
For the most part, I've sort of given up caring about people's grammar and calling them out, or even making a spotless job of it myself.
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So, which of the following:
1) I could care less
2) I couldn't care less
I see way too many people thinking #1 makes sense, or at least not realizing that it doesn't work.
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So, which of the following:
1) I could care less
2) I couldn't care less
I see way too many people thinking #1 makes sense, or at least not realizing that it doesn't work.
This one actually does bug me.
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I think that should be a dash between "mean" and "neither", rather than a hyphen. I say this in the spirit of the thread, not to rib you.
You are absolutely correct! I didn't proofread what I was quoting. :-P
Of course, in typing (like here, where we either don't have full typesetting, or I don't know how to abuse the vBulletin formatting system) one uses two hyphens to represent an em-dash. I'll go back and fix that now. Thanks!
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"A lot" is two words!
Yes, thanks "a lot"! haha
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So, which of the following:
1) I could care less
2) I couldn't care less
I see way too many people thinking #1 makes sense, or at least not realizing that it doesn't work.
I heard a funny bit on this subject from a comedian on the radio this morning. He went on a tear about how much less he could still care, even though he didn't care much at the moment. Ah ha! Here he is, although this performance seems to be an abridged version:
(skip to ~01:30 to hear the grammar rant)
[video=youtube;7fhyZ-c9c7Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fhyZ-c9c7Y[/video]
I recall having this epiphany early in college, where I encountered an inordinate number of seemingly functional illiterates who abused the first phrase with alarming regularity.
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so addicting! (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHmZeGAA2pw/Tw9HHzmr2RI/AAAAAAAAB6I/wcW9a5I8Wk0/s1600/troll%2Bface.jpg)
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I identify with the sentiment of this post, from another BBS:
I've noticed several instances lately (not on this list, thanks be) in which
somebody says something like "I got a pit in my stomach when I thought about
X."
Is this as ridiculous as I think it is
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/pit-of-your-stomach
or do I have to accept this idiocy because after all, English is an
evolving, ever-changing, living language? How many ignorant people does it
take to make something which is obviously incorrect, correct or at least
acceptable? And what's the minimum number of instances of such usage, or
what is the length of time during which the incorrect usage is used, that
it takes before it's accepted even though it's obviously wrong? And will
somebody please tell me where and when to draw the line?
I agree that the English language is flexible and it should be; but words
mean certain things after all, and aren't copyeditors supposed to make sure
that they're used correctly?
Stuff like this drives me nuts.
I think I may just spout this to the "English is a living language!" wankers:
How many ignorant people does it take to make something, which is obviously wrong, acceptable?
How the Hell did I get to 1000 posts?!? :-o
One more post Captain.
One more....
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=The+Ripster+Signature+Wiki#RIPS TER+CODE+OF+BULSHIDO
Actually, according to the bulshido code, I still have ONE to go! ;-P (and please stop capitalizing my moniker)
Meanwhile, 1000th post written while listening to:
[video=youtube;xat1GVnl8-k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xat1GVnl8-k[/video]
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and please stop capitalizing my moniker
ripster's accuracy decreases when he's not discussing keyboards. He thinks my name is RicerCar.
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ripster's accuracy decreases when he's not discussing keyboards. He thinks my name is RicerCar.
it's not?
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Irony is a disciplinarian feared only by those who do not know it, but cherished by those who do.
- Soren Kierkegaard
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"I my experience Grammar Nazis are just trolls. [sic]"
-ripster