Some common departures from STANDARD ENGLISH

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Why the hyphen in cross country?

The hyphen is used as a compound noun modifier. However, in picking nits' usage, the hyphen is not necessary. It's use would be debatable if used with 'cross-country runner", as cross could modify either "country" or describe the demeanor of the runner.

Picking nits,

Yes this thread has deteriorated and the battle has been lost.

This thread shows that you enjoy pontificating for days on end.

For those of you who may need to consult a dictionary: He is like my neighbor's dog - He likes to hear himself bark.

Sitting prick wrote:

This thread shows that you enjoy pontificating for days on end.

Hey, when you're right, you're right!

Fortunately, the title of this thread won't change, so you'll know to avoid it in the future.

Pamela Andersons Left Nipple wrote:

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

Why the hyphen in cross country?

The hyphen is used as a compound noun modifier. However, in picking nits' usage, the hyphen is not necessary.

Thanks to you both for the correction. For decades I had generalized from "cross-country running" (hyphenated words as a modifier) to "cross-country" as a noun. I stand corrected and will write it in standard form ("cross country is a sport") from now on.

A common one I hear is the incorrect pluralization of breakfast to breakfastsesss.

I bumped this thread as a refresher:

There is still no "a" in DEFINITELY. (You don't look up the "definAtion" of a word in the dictionary, do you? No, you look up the "definItion.")

There is no "c" in SUPERSEDE.

This thread makes my head hurt.

picking nits wrote:

I bumped this thread as a refresher:

Its a good thred, won of the bestest on letsrun.

I resolve to put more of (no, I didn't say "all") my spelling corrections in this thread, rather than in threads devoted to other topics.

I hope this will allow more of a focus on content in those other threads.

The following spelling is correct:

"minuscule"

picking nits 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..."

Believe me, I understand and accept your point. Perhaps I should have specified standard *American* English; it differs from British English in a number of ways.

However, *most* spellings are the same in the US and in the Commonwealth (please don't bother adducing the words that are spelled/spelt differently); yet the self-identified posters from the UK seem to spell just as badly, on average, as the Americans do.

Did I say only "just as badly"?

I rest my case.

Actually, what I enjoy about a Brit thread like the above is that the UK guys don't let their atrocious spelling/syntax keep them from having a lively discussion, and that they criticize each other's content, not their lapses from Standard [Commonwealth] English. This is part of what has motivated me to stop making most of my in-thread grammar corrections.

Except in this thread, of course, where no one should be surprised to see corrections appear.

Bvmping an oldie-but-goodie thread.

Pamela Andersons Left Nipple wrote:

The hyphen is used as a compound noun modifier. However, in picking nits' usage, the hyphen is not necessary. It's use would be debatable if used with 'cross-country runner", as cross could modify either "country" or describe the demeanor of the runner.

Your own grammar skills are debatable. Try to develop some understanding of the subject before correcting everyone else.

I haven't read through the whole thread, but I've noticed that "atheist" is frequently misspelled on this board.

6 Pages without a mention of split infinitives?

P.Whelan wrote:

6 Pages without a mention of split infinitives?

As near as I know, split infinitives are not non-standard in English. They can sound awkward sometimes, and you'd want to avoid them because of that; but sometimes UNsplit infinitives sound forced and awkward, too.

Latin infinitives are one word; English infinitives are two. Of course you wouldn't want to split a single word (in English--happens all the time with German verbs!), but that's not the problem when an English infinitive is split.

The whole "rule" against split infinitives was drawn from Latin and foisted on English. Sorry, doesn't apply.

Why the hell was this three-year-old thread revived?

And, LRC schoolmarms, feel free to bust my balls about the passive voice being used in the above sentence.

And to the person who mentioned split infinitives - "To boldly go where no one has gone before!"

Why do people always get upset about old threads being revived? All that it does is to make people preface their post with "Sorry to revive an old thread, but..."

(Hmm... where does the period go at the end of a sentence that has an ellipsis at the end of a quote?)

Anyway, I generally agree with many of the nitpickings; however, I can think of one example where using correct grammar really irritates me. When someone asks "How are you?" and the responder replies "I'm doing well" they come across as a pompous academic. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

NOT on line BUT online

"Ten items or less."

Items are measured in discrete units. When you have nine items, you have fewer than ten items, not less than ten items. I find it especially odd when huge corporations have these grammar issues. I completely understand some random person using the wrong word, but it's odd to think that no one within the entire Target corporation has enough of a grasp of basic grammar to correct this one.

Also, use of quotation marks for emphasis. This is a trend that seems to have died, but in old buildings I'll often see signs that say "no bouncing balls in hallway" or something like that in quotation marks.