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picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 2/18/2007 5:23PM - in reply to J. Valdez Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Okay, time for a refresher. Here's another one that's been spelled incorrectly (more than once) in recent days:

"fartlek"

The word is of Swedish origin and means something like "speed/play."

These running terms are the ones we should be getting right.
Dan Onymous
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 2/18/2007 6:18PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
As long as we have a thread to bitch about grammar (AAAH! I almost just spelled it "grammer"): "For all intensive purposes" is not right. Think about it. It sounds f***ing stupid.

It's "For all intents and purposes."
hoya
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 2/18/2007 6:40PM - in reply to Dan Onymous Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
TITCR
kartelite
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 2/18/2007 6:52PM - in reply to Al Davis Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Al Davis wrote:

This is a funny thread, not just because of these little parochialisms, but because it's discussing the usage of non-standard English. Most of you are Americans, and don't speak English. And certainly don't write it...



Huh? Are you stupid? American English is not non-standard English. Most non-native speakers learn American English not British English. You are pathetic. In fact in many ways American English is closer to older English than British English. But I guess you're from England and are by definition stupid, jealous, and have poor oral hygiene.

"Spelling tendencies in Britain from the 17th century until the present day (e.g. -ise for -ize, programme for program, kerb for curb (noun), skilful for skillful, chequered for checkered, etc.), in some cases favored by the francophile tastes of 19th century Victorian England, had little effect on American English."
FYI
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 2/18/2007 8:42PM - in reply to I'm Confused Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Ending a sentence with a preposition is not technically incorrect, as I learned when NPR did an interview with the senior editor of the American Heritage Dictionary some years ago.
Fewer not Less
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 2/18/2007 9:30PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
I get so frustrated when people say LESS when they mean FEWER. It is grating to my ears but I don't know why. Maybe it is because it was drilled into me. When I see commercials like the one for Gardasil I feel like yelling at the TV, "Its fewer!"
present
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 3/1/2007 10:37PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Bump to contribute to the "ban grammar police?" discussion.
picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 3/25/2007 1:24PM - in reply to present Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Okay, another update on words that this board should be spelling correctly.

"Decathlon" and "pentathlon" (and other words ending similarly) are often misspelled. My general advice has always been: "Don't say *decathalon* if you wouldn't say *athalete*."

Well, it turns out that some recent posters on this board DO say "athalete" (or "athelete"). The word is "athlete." Its related word is "athletic" and not "atheletic."
SamuelE2
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 3/25/2007 1:45PM - in reply to Fewer not Less Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Fewer not Less wrote:

I get so frustrated when people say LESS when they mean FEWER. It is grating to my ears but I don't know why. Maybe it is because it was drilled into me. When I see commercials like the one for Gardasil I feel like yelling at the TV, "Its fewer!"


It's true. These days many advertising copywriters have a poor grasp of English grammar. A week or two ago there was a large advertisement in a running magazine for Saucony's new "Cresent" spike range (it's meant to be "Crescent"). I hope the person responsible got a rocket up the arse.
picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 4:02PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Here we go with another update:

"Criterion" is the singular form of the noun (NOT "criteria"--the plural form).
pjb
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 4:49PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
picking nits wrote:

Here we go with another update:

"Criterion" is the singular form of the noun (NOT "criteria"--the plural form).

Similarly, "datum" is the singular form, while "data" is plural.
One should say, "The data are correct," not "The data is correct."
lmb
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 4:55PM - in reply to SamuelE2 Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Winston tastes good like a cigarette should.
That's as, not like.
Ahhhhh...
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 4:59PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Ebonics
monkey bread
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 5:38PM - in reply to Vermont gal Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Vegan

5'7", 122lbs

Toyota Camry

Never heard of Phish

Never smoked MaryJ

Strait
picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 6:00PM - in reply to monkey bread Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
monkey bread wrote:
Strait
Which, by a natural and easy transition, reminds me:

"Strait(s)" means narrow or difficult or confining or strict:
Straits of Gibraltar
straitened circumstances
straitjacket
straitlaced

Something that *is* straight (i.e. linear, roughly) is...a "straight"!
He gained ten yards in the homestraight, but couldn't quite catch the guy who had led (NOT "lead") the whole way.

Which also reminds me: cross-country has a finish *chute*--not "shoot").
txRUNNERgirl
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 8:46PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
Perhaps she was referring to George Strait. Why the hyphen in cross country?
picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/12/2007 11:14PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
picking nits wrote:
*chute*--not "shoot").
Okay:
*chute* (not "shoot").
Sorry for the typo. I told you I make plenty. Too bad we can't edit our posts.
picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 4/13/2007 9:02AM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
The front page reminds me:

The past tense of "to plead" is *pled* (NOT "plead").
picking nits
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 5/3/2007 9:40PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
One more (though I sense this battle is just about lost):

If you feel like you're going to throw up, you're nauseated. Something that makes you feel like throwing up is nauseous.

[But again, it's not really a "battle"! The language changes: "awful" and "terrific" certainly have meanings that are different from what they used to be, and "nauseous" may soon, as well--if it hasn't already.]
JEH
RE: Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH 5/3/2007 10:08PM - in reply to picking nits Reply | Return to Index | Report Post
100
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