All Members Of The Grammar Police Squad:

[turtlepins]

Here's a thought! Give examples of the mistakes you see and encourage others to try hard to communicate effectively. Since you've made me an honorary member of this squad I felt the necessity to inject a little pep talk about procedure. The trouble with being part of the grammar police is I always come off arrogant and pompous. >Shakes head!<

[curiositykilledthecat]

This thread already has "win" written all over it. The ironic thing about me is I can write reasonably well, however I am absolutely horrible when it comes to grammar and punctuation.

[diaperpt]

This thread already has "win" written all over it. The ironic thing about me is I can write reasonably well, however I am absolutely horrible when it comes to grammar and punctuation.

Turtlepins, I've never felt you to be arrogant or pompous!

Padded, where in the world did you learn grammar? I didn't think anyone under the age of 25 or 30 had been taught grammar! Good for you!

Curi, I have always prided myself on spelling and grammar, but I know I often make errors especially when in a rush and not proofing. I think this comes partly with the internet.

For all, I agree we ought to try to be helpful, but let's be sure to be nice in our comments too! We aren't always that way.

[RMS401]

I'm a professional writer and a bonafide grammar snob, I'll be the first to admit. It's a professional hazard and it's my job to edit and correct other peoples' mistakes. Which is not to say that I don't make mistakes myself.

I try not to let my personal biases interfere with my ability to communicate with others, from all walks of life, but it does get in the way for me.

But I have learned the hard way over and over again that there is no way to criticize people and offer corrections without coming off as superior, petty, and mean. No way.

-RMS

[TheMagicDragon]

DYSLEXICS UNTIE!

[WallaWalla]

It was the critic Alexander who put me on guard against unnecessary fault finding. People should not be sharply corrected for bad grammar, provincialisms, or mispronunciation; it is better to suggest the proper expression by tactfully introducing it oneself in, say, one's reply to a question or one's acquiescence in their sentiments, or in a friendly discussion of the topic itself(not of the diction), or by some other suitable form of reminder.

~Marcus Aurelius

Never call yourself a philosopher, nor talk a great deal among the unlearned about theorems, but act conformably to them. Thus, at an entertainment, don't talk how persons ought to eat, but eat as you ought.

~Epictetus

The best way to encourage good grammar is to use it oneself.

[BabyBadRat]

Haha, this is funny. I'm always picking on other people's grammar at work. I am also the one who always had to proofread my friends' papers in college. My friends make fun of me for being a grammar cop!

[Bettypooh]

DYSLEXICS UNTIE!

I'm a insomniac agnostic dyslexic I stay awake all night wondering if there really is a dog

Bettypooh

[Snugglebug]

Haha, I'm not trying to give you a hard time or be ironic, just partly being a jackass and partly trying to illustrate that we all overlook proper grammar from time to time; it's not a big deal.

That would've been a great compound sentence utilizing the semi-colon; however, the clause beginning with "just partly being a jackass..." really should have been provided with a subject and treated as independent.

[Snugglebug]

Nooooooo, the grammar wars are commencing!

Actually, everything before the semi-colon is one independent clause with a single subject "I", a single verb "am" and two adverbial clauses "not trying to give you a hard time or be ironic" and "partly being a jackass and partly trying to illustrate that we all overlook proper grammar from time to time." "Just" acts as a conjunction.

Anyway, I never claimed to always have perfect grammar! I actually prefer to use slightly imperfect grammar.

I don't constantly adhere to perfect grammar all the time, either; I was just giving you a hard time because it seemed like the thing to do. *chuckle*

[Horndog]

I'm not perfect, but I try to make sense when I can.

[sarah_ab]

I'm not perfect, but I try to make sense when I can.

i actually happen to be perfect, so if you ever want any tips or advice for how to achieve it.. please just let me know.

[Horndog]

i actually happen to be perfect, so if you ever want any tips or advice for how to achieve it.. please just let me know.

You are perfect? Oh my! So if I orsked you a question, I wouldn't have to Google, an answer as a second; opinion? This is wunderful!@

[Yvhuce]

Only robots use perfect grammar. And I ain't no robot... But there are those things that even grate on a redneck...

[*]"We're" is not "were". "We're" = "We are" or "we were". "Were" (pronounced wuhr) = plural of "was"/past tense of "are". "Were" (pronounced "wear") is usually only used to reference a werecritter (such as a werewolf).

[*]"Where" is not "We're" or "were". See above. Also, "where" = "in what place".

[*]"You're" = "You are". "Your" = or "belonging to you" (for the non-Southern American English speaking folk). If in doubt, just use "yer" (means both "you're" and "your"). "Yore" = "way back when" (not compatible with "yer")

[*]"Its" = "belonging to it". "It's" = "It is" or (more rarely) "it was".

[*]"'s" indicates that a word "is" or "was" or that something belongs to the word ("guy's" = "belonging to that guy") NOT that the word is plural ("guy's" = "belonging to that guy", NOT "guys"). See above for use with "it".

[Snugglebug]

Only robots use perfect grammar. And I ain't no robot... But there are those things that even grate on a redneck...

[*]"We're" is not "were". "We're" = "We are" or "we were". "Were" (pronounced wuhr) = plural of "was"/past tense of "are". "Were" (pronounced "wear") is usually only used to reference a werecritter (such as a werewolf).

[*]"Where" is not "We're" or "were". See above. Also, "where" = "in what place".

[*]"You're" = "You are". "Your" = or "belonging to you" (for the non-Southern American English speaking folk). If in doubt, just use "yer" (means both "you're" and "your"). "Yore" = "way back when" (not compatible with "yer")

[*]"Its" = "belonging to it". "It's" = "It is" or (more rarely) "it was".

[*]"'s" indicates that a word "is" or "was" or that something belongs to the word ("guy's" = "belonging to that guy") NOT that the word is plural ("guy's" = "belonging to that guy", NOT "guys"). See above for use with "it".

May I add 'lose vs. loose'?

Lose = going missing (pronounced 'looze')

Loose = not tight (rhymes with 'goose')

So, generally speaking, you cannot 'loose' your money.

[WallaWalla]

The age old battle between prescriptive and descriptive rages on.

[sdsddlr]

Where do I get my badge? And I want to play the bad cop to your good cop. I want to bust some heads.

[Bettypooh]

Nooooooo, the grammar wars are commencing!

Actually, everything before the semi-colon is one independent clause...

That's it? I thought it was Santa after the divorce

I'm not perfect, but I try to make sense when I can.

I try to make dollars when I can, but the FBI took my printing press again

Only robots use perfect grammar....

I used my perfect grammer, but she died back in 1985

OK, is we done; with the grammar, wars yet! Coz I are tarred of them thar fightin "werds' yew oll is say-n?

Now y'all have a good-un! (which is proper grammar here in the South)

Bettypooh

[freswith]

I am actually an Obergruppenfuhrer in the Grammar SS, and am about to loose whole tomes of armoured semicolons onto this site, backed up by waves of gerunds, in an attempt to cleanse the world of unnecessary commas.

Maybe next week, or when I am bored. Or when I want to offend almost everybody.

Please, please stop confusing:-

"There" meaning "not here".

"Their" meaning "They own it"

"They're" meaning "they are"

....or you will send an old frog completely over the top.

Thank you.

[diaperpt]

I am actually an Obergruppenfuhrer in the Grammar SS, and am about to loose whole tomes of armoured semicolons onto this site, backed up by waves of gerunds, in an attempt to cleanse the world of unnecessary commas.

Maybe next week, or when I am bored. Or when I want to offend almost everybody.

Please, please stop confusing:-

"There" meaning "not here".

"Their" meaning "They own it"

"They're" meaning "they are"

....or you will send an old frog completely over the top.

Thank you.

Can others take part-iciple (dangling or not) in this to/too/two???

[oznappy]

I actually think online chats are the wrong place for the grammar police. My grammar is extremely good but it is only in anything official or essays etc where I would worry about it.

Online we have a certain amount of poetic licence when it comes to correct use of punctuation, as well as abbreviations etc. In addition, I find I am an atrcious typist.

I have laughed at people in the past who have said they would not talk to me because my grammar/spelling are bad; people make assumptions forgetting this is not the real world.

[babyvr6]

Proper spacing, basic punctuation, and capitalization are the only things I care about. Without these, I can not understand your post.

How am I supposed to follow a wall of text, and be expected to make a helpful reply?

[Pudding]

I didn't think anyone under the age of 25 or 30 had been taught grammar!

This is possibly one of the most offensive things I've read on this site :X

[loopy]

Proper spacing, basic punctuation, and capitalization are the only things I care about. Without these, I can not understand your post.

How am I supposed to follow a wall of text, and be expected to make a helpful reply?

This! This is what us "grammar nazi's" are really trying to get at. I'm not willing to put the time and effort into decoding your massive wall o text. If you're too lazy to bother with basic punctuation, and basic paragraph structure, then hell I'm too lazy to read your post.

Grammar rules are there for a reason, they make the text easier/ quicker to read.....

[DailyDi]