Grammar for Gunnies

[atk]

How about noting that the Internet is supposed to be capitalized (as there is only one of them), but corporate intranets are not.

Nope. Only proper nouns and those that start sentences are initial-capitalized. The word "internet" is like "television," "radio," and "telegraph:" dazzlingly exciting when it first appeared, and so given a spurious initial capital. Trademarked names are, indeed, proper nouns, but uniqueness has nothing to do with it.

Actually, "Internet," and "internet" are two separate words. "Internet" (with capitalization) is a proper noun, referring specifically to the global network of computers. "internet" (without capitalization) is just a regular noun, referring to any computer network (which could be the Internet) .

 

[3fgburner]

May I add: Please do not substitute then for than. Ie. I would rather have a root canal than a Hi-Point. NOT I would rather have a root canal then a Hi-Point. (just kidding about the root canal)

Well, suppose someone asked if you enjoy shopping for a Kimber with the mother of all toothaches. The response might be,

"I'd rather have a root canal, then a Hi-Point.".

Note that there's something worse than a root canal. That's looking forward to a root canal.

 

[highorder]

For what it's worth, I just had a root canal.

It was a wonderful experience! Between the gas and the movie I was watching, (Forrest Gump) I forgot why I was there!

 

[La Pistoletta]

I prefer not to use spelling or grammar checkers. Not only do I find them annoying but I think learning how to do it right myself is better than relying on an automatic script.

I always try to use perfect grammar and spelling, and I welcome any corrections anyone might have to my writing. Unfortunately, my spoken English is marred by a relatively thick Swedish accent due to lack of practice. That's nothing that can't be solved if I ever decide to move to the US though.

Spelling errors on my part will almost invariably be typos since I use a dictionary addon to check any words I'm not sure how to spell properly.


Something I've noticed is that a lot of Americans tend to use "were" with I, it, she and he, as in "if it were me, I would've gotten hollow points". I was always taught "I was, you were, he/she/it was, we/you/they were". Is it a part of American English, or optional or simply a mistake to use were in first and third person singular?

 

[jgh4445]

Is "disrespected" a word? I know "irregardless" isn't and I see it used often. I also cringe when I see a sentence like,"I know a guy that....." instead of, "I know a guy who." That sentence is probably full of errors.

 

[Mike OTDP]

It is not. Popular usage by the semi-literate does not constitute proper English grammar, nor define the vocabulary of an educated person.

Seriously, I find the wretched grammar and spelling that plagues the Internet annoying. And for gun owners, damaging. We need to set a higher standard.

 

[torpid]

It seems "rediculous" and "ammendment" are the particular gunny misspelling favorites when writing to elected officials and news services.

Remember, spell checkers are free.

 

[GearHead_1]

Is "disrespected" a word? I know "irregardless" isn't and I see it used often.

This one used to drive me crazy too.

According to Webster:

Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.



Main Entry: 1 dis·re·spect
Pronunciation: \ˌdis-ri-ˈspekt\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1614

1 : to have disrespect for
2 : to show or express disrespect or contempt for : insult, dis <disrespected the officer>

 

[devildog66]

Thank You

A well composed and much-needed post.

 

[OregonJohnny]

I get annoyed when I hear someone say, "It's just a little further up the road." NO, NO, NO. It's a little farther up the road. Further, I believe, is a verb. To further your education, or your shooting skills. Farther is used when discussing physical distance.

 

[Blakenzy]

How does one pronounce "Dickens' "?

Is it just Dickens or Dickens-es?

Main Entry: 1 dis·re·spect
Pronunciation: \ˌdis-ri-ˈspekt\
Function: transitive verb
Date: 1614

1 : to have disrespect for
2 : to show or express disrespect or contempt for : insult, dis <disrespected the officer>

<dissed the po-po> I didn't know that dis was recognized by Webster

 

[Walkalong]

You sound like my mom.

Thank goodness she stayed on my A** and I can speak and write properly when I try. I do pretty well when I try. Sometimes I get careless, and sometimes I use words like Y'all and cuz.

 

[MT GUNNY]

I thought this was a firearms forum?
Not a grammer school!

I consider this thread Locked.

 

[esmith]

God! This thread reminds me of last years english teacher, who i hated by the way. I don't care if someone makes a few mistakes in a response, just so long as i don't need a damned interpreter to understand the post.

I get annoyed when I hear someone say, "It's just a little further up the road." NO, NO, NO. It's a little farther up the road. Further, I believe, is a verb. To further your education, or your shooting skills. Farther is used when discussing physical distance.

Do you not understand anyone when they say "further" instead of "farther"? If not, you shouldn't be annoyed. Speaking perfect english is a waste of time, as long as you know what i mean when i say something then the concept of a language has been satisfied. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[LWGN]

La Pistoletta,

The construction "If I were..." is in the subjunctive mood.

Here is the Wikipedia link if you want to know more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjunctive

 

[Chuck Dye]

MT GUNNY,

In the event you return to this "Locked" thread, please reread the original post. We do ourselves and the whole RKBA community a disservice when we come off as knuckle draggers.

Chuck

 

[Brian Dale]

In case some of you haven't ever noticed, gun owners are portrayed from time to time by gun prohibitionists as ignorant, stupid, ignorant, bloodthirsty, ignorant, cousin-marrying, ignorant, spouse-abusing, ignorant, paranoid morons. We'll do well to refute those notions when we write in public. Posting our comments at THR is writing in public.

This topic comes up a couple of times per year. Unfortunately, it still needs to be posted occasionally. If you can't be bothered to look over what you've written in order to catch typos, sloppy writing or omitted thoughts, please reconsider your stance. You have every right to type a quick note and post it for the world to read, whenever you want to do that. Please ask yourself whether it's a good idea or not.

Thanks for this thread, Phil; it matters how we appear in print.

La Pistoletta, we often use the subjunctive here for "what-if?" discussions. If I were you, I'd get the hollow points, too.

 

[BEARMAN]

www.iespell.com is a "FREE" SPELL CHECK download that works well on FORUMS.

 

[wuluf]

Like it or not, the way we speak and write says a great deal about the way others perceive us. Misspellings, poor grammar and misused punctuation are easy targets for members of the press and general public to use against us happy gun folk. We have a tough enough argument trying to convince the general public and the media that we’re responsible, intelligent citizens. So why give them more ammo in the form of bad grammar and spelling?

I agree completely..but then, I'm 52 years old. I also think that gentlemen should remove their hats indoors and that no one should talk in a movie theater. For a younger generation of gunnies, these are dinosaur concerns. Not only is the world changing, but the pace of change itself is accelerating. Soon, misspellings and incorrect grammar will no longer be seen as lack of education or care. It will be the norm, and I'm glad i won't be around to see it! Shot placement will still matter, however..

 

[Leanwolf]

WULUF - "I also think that gentlemen should remove their hats indoors and that no one should talk in a movie theater."

Huh?? If you can't talk in a movie theater, how are you going to answer your cell phone, yaak with your buds and find out what's happening?

L.W.

 

[Poper]

Huh?? If you can't talk in a movie theater, how are you going to answer your cell phone, yaak with your buds and find out what's happening?

Which is exactly why my 53 year old butt hasn't been to a movie theater in almost 10 years.
My Honey and I would rather buy the DVD when it comes out. It's cheaper and the beer and bathroom are a whole lot closer, too.


Poper

 

[.38 Special]

God! This thread reminds me of last years english teacher, who i hated by the way. I don't care if someone makes a few mistakes in a response, just so long as i don't need a damned interpreter to understand the post.

Do you not understand anyone when they say "further" instead of "farther"? If not, you shouldn't be annoyed. Speaking perfect english is a waste of time, as long as you know what i mean when i say something then the concept of a language has been satisfied. Don't sweat the small stuff.

There are quite a few people who will dismiss a badly spelled, incorrectly punctuated, poorly constructed post as the product of an obvious fool. This may or may not be fair, but there it is.

Speaking only for myself, if a person cannot be bothered to put any time and effort into a post, I cannot be bothered to put any time and effort into reading it. Doubtless that results in the occasional missed gem, but on the whole I find that poor spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure go hand-in-hand with poor thinking.

Okay listen. Barack sucks. So does Hilary Clinton. Want to know why? Look below.

Ever hear the story of how the rebel force mainly comprised of victims of the Halocaust had stormed the German Nazi SS Headquarters and assassinated Heinrich Himmler? No, you didn't. Want to know why? Because it didn't happen. Want to know why? Because guns were deprived of German citizens.

So next time you see Hil Dawg shake her head or wretch her face in contact with the word "Gun" or "Firearm", give it a little thought.

These lines are on display for everyone to read, every time you post. I assume they are meant to represent a little bit of you. You misspelled "Hillary", "Halocaust" sounds like an Xbox game, "Guns being deprived of German citizens" is exactly backwards unless you're trying to be clever, and I can pretty much guarantee that "wretch her face" is not what you're trying to say.

Is this really the way you want to portray yourself in public?

 

[ZeSpectre]

Don't sweat the small stuff.

I've found that real life tends to lean more towards "the Devil is in the details". For example, that mars probe that plowed into the planet was the result of someone not "sweating the small stuff". Same for the space shuttle Columbia and Challenger.

 

[catfish101]

Sorry guys, my formal education ended after the 8th grade. I am not a typist I am a mechanic.

I can't see beating somebody because they can't type or spell well.

I don't beat up on English teachers that can't put a synchronizer in an 18 speed Eaton Transmission.

 

[v35]

Good post. I especially like the "big seven"

If you want to write something worth reading, make it intelligible. Attempting to infer someone's meaning from an ill-composed post takes effort that usually isn't worth it. You could be the smartest guy on Earth, but if your writing is sloppy, you'll seem like an idiot. This advice applies to whatever you write whether it's a birthday card, a business letter, an interoffice memorandum, or a pro-gun Internet forum like this one.

If you want to write something not worth reading, then don't write it.

It seems to me the ease with which we can communicate these days has contributed to overall sloppiness in American English usage. That doesn't mean it ought be accepted. To fully appreciate how bad much of it has become, read some letters written by common foot soldiers to their loved ones during the Civil War. Most of these men were uneducated by today's standards, but some examples of their writing were so beautiful they'd bring tears to your eyes. It's a sad testament to the legacy of compulsory public education.

Strunk and White's The Elements of Style is a timeless classic. My copy is well-worn. There's even an online version:

http://www.bartleby.com/141/

Here's another online reference I'm fond of using. Read the author's bio and determine his qualifications for yourself:

http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/

By the way no one has a copyright on the use of the name Webster. Many dictionaries lay claim to Webster's name. Many of them are not good. Anyone can publish a dictionary filled with inaccurate garbage and call it Webster's. The publication that truly descended from Noah Webster's original work (Merriam-Webster) isn't my favorite either. Later editions have been criticized as having contributed to the degradation of English for decades, a criticism with which I agree.