What are your pet peeves re English usage?

@OmSigDAVID,

Stony ground here, I'm afraid. The only De Quincey I know was one of the dogs' names in The Lady and the Tramp, as far as I remember.

Or maybe that was De Lacy.

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@McTag,

That 's probably who Spendius had in mind.

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@McTag,

If there's anything in that article that points up that you weren't mistaken in your latest prescriptive gaffe then it's incumbent upon you to bring it forward.

If there's anything else of interest, then by all means bring it forward.

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@McTag,

Quote:

The only De Quincey I know was one of the dogs' names in The Lady and the Tramp, as far as I remember.

A nice witticism if it was De Quincey.

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@JTT,

You can lead a horse to water....

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@McTag,

You mean horse's ass. Smile

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@McTag,

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/sep/30/10-grammar-rules-you-can-forget

Thoroughly enjoyable, particularly this excerpt from the first paragraph, (tut tut and egads the Guardian indeed) , what say you old bean?

Quote:

And none more so than the one that says the particle to and the infinitive form of the verb should not be separated, ... "to boldly go ... ".

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@Miss L Toad,

It's very good. Shame I couldn't get anyone else to read it.

If you-know-who read it, he would realise that no-one who promotes that could possibly be guilty of all the things he is fond of accusing me of.

See? Preposition at the end, even.

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@McTag,

It's a start, McTag, but that article again illustrates that folks like Marsh shouldn't be offering advice on language.

Quote:

To simplify things, here's my easy-to-remember formula:
Restrictive clauses: that (desirable), no comma (essential).
Non-restrictive clauses: which, comma (both essential).

You still have your 'may/can' to live down.

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@JTT,

Any comment of yours must be considered in light of the fact that you are off your chump.

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@McTag,

You post nonsense on language of your own or you post articles with nonsense on language in them. You can't defend or even discuss either.

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@JTT,

I certainly ignore questions which you dream up, because you are antisocial and off your chump. However well-educated.
Like I told you before, you need commonsense too.

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@McTag,

Ive found that English majors in US schools, unless they are able to convert their "Skills" into something usable, are a saad lot. Full of diagrams and advice on the "proper ways of saying this or that". More alcoholics reside in English Departments (IMHO).

Just as likely, Most technical writing is stilted and full of "inside" jargon. Its usually so unentertaining it even puts the intended audience to sleep. Fortunately, technical writing is just a delivery boy bringing you a pizza

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@farmerman,

farmerman wrote:

Ive found that English majors in US schools, unless they are able to convert their "Skills" into something usable, are a saad lot. Full of diagrams and advice on the "proper ways of saying this or that". More alcoholics reside in English Departments (IMHO).

disproportionately litigious

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@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

SPECTACULARLYdisproportionately litigious

You've gotta move on Dave , your days of making two sides out of every declarative statement are well past you.
RELAX

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@farmerman,

I 'm enjoying my golden years,
but I remember my experiences.
Litigation was FUN! Somewhat lucrative, too

David

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@OmSigDAVID,

I thought you got paid even if you lost.
I don't have that luxury, because my fortunes are based upon me being an instrument of production. (That's why I found teaching best suited for losers)

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@farmerman,

That depends on the deal u make
when the client retains u.

Qua plaintiffs counsel,
it can be a percentage of the recovery
or it can be payment by the hour.

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@OmSigDAVID,

I count 2 atty's as friends who represented plaintiffs in all the asbestos litigation. Neither of them has had to work for the rest of their lives based on that one batch of cases.

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@farmerman,

farmerman wrote:

I count 2 atty's as friends who represented plaintiffs in all the asbestos litigation.
Neither of them has had to work for the rest of their lives based on that one batch of cases.

That does not surprise me.

David

1 Reply

What are your pet peeves re English usage?

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