A Christmas Writing Challenge

Show us what you came up with as your answer, and we can discuss

I spot ten points at which a modification or insertion is required in the first sentence. Four instances in the second sentence. One in the last. Do you agree? How should that possessive plural in the first sentence be written?

You write it how you think it should be written and people here will probably be only too glad to help.

That's kind. I'm afraid I was not seeking help but offering something to challenge and amuse grammar enthusiasts.

I believe it's rather tricky. So far no one I know has even gotten the 'keeping up with the Joneses' part right.

What, you mean the 'es' part being added as an indicator of the plurality of a word of which the singular form ends in s?

Every good Welshman knows the plural of Jones.

Joneses.

And "even gotten" is not seen as very good grammar at all in the UK.

As far as I am aware, we never use the word gotten.

I even have an issue with "got". A redundant word if ever there was one.

I've got a dog.
I have a dog.

He's got to go.
He has to go.

What, there are no ill-gotten gains in Wales, my lord?

I totally agree with you on the redundant "have got." But we part on the issue of "gotten." It's the correct past participle of "get," e.g., "I have gotten more prone to defenestration."

It's more correct than your universal use of "got" across the pond. Of course, I'm assuming that your aversion to "gotten" is partially because it connotes the Americanization, which is read as "corruption," of your English, which you hold to be the original English language. But this is not so. Gotten predates the United States by several centuries and was prevalent on the Isles until the 18th century--when it was apparently forgotten. ;-)

J.

You seem to do a lot of assuming in order to build an argument, jx.

Were you a Sales Representative in an earlier life?


I'm guessing JTT, myself.

Am I? Doing a lot of assuming to build an argument, that is. Yikes! I certainly hope not. That is a sin in my profession. Where, pray tell, did I go astray in my understanding?

I'll refrain from embracing the feeling that I've been wronged by the salesman comparison until I know where from you speak.

And what is JTT? Google fails me.

J.

It's telling that keeping up with the Joneses' ostentatious Christmas displays has separated my community into three groups: the affluent in-crowd, the wannabes, and the non-Christians, such as my family. None of the three most prominent citizens, one from each of the factions, is pleased with the other two. On the drive home each evening, I observe the changing decorative displays reveal an evolving story.

Bingo!

Please insert a "that" when you read the last sentence: "I observed *that* the changing decorative displays revealed an evolving story."

Jxtampa , thank you very much indeed. Hello, good evening and welcome to A2K.



Rewrite the passage below to correct any errors.

Don't write 3 if you mean three. Unless you're doing sums.