Pedants' Paradise

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Pedants' Paradise, Spelling and Grammar Notes and Queries

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Czerny	Dec 29 2010, 11:46 AM Post #1
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4086 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	This may have been done before - if so, apologies - but I'm bored, so I'm going to do it again. I've noticed that there have been several language-related comments recently, so I simply thought we could put them all together in one place. The two intentions of this thread are that it should be a "safe haven" to post those little (or large) grammar and spelling niggles that really bug you, and it can also be somewhere you can come to ask advice about rules of which you are unsure (never end a sentence with a preposition). I hope Cyrilla won't mind me mentioning that "here, here" (rather than "hear, hear") and "definate" (rather than "definite") are two of her pet peeves, plus someone mentioned "should of". I'm going to add "alot" and the wrong use of practice / practise. Oh, and confusion between "I", "me" and "myself". One I'm less sure of is the precise usage of who / that / which, so if anyone has any handy hints for that one it would be appreciated.

maggiemay	Dec 29 2010, 11:50 AM Post #2
Maestro Group: Members Posts: 18088 Joined: 12-January 04 From: S E England Member No.: 413	hee-hee rubs hands in glee One of my pet peeves (yes, I have emailed on same) is the sloppy use of the word 'unique'. No, radio 3 presenter, it does not make sense to say 'very unique'.

Czerny	Dec 29 2010, 11:57 AM Post #3
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4086 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(maggiemay @ Dec 29 2010, 11:50 AM) hee-hee rubs hands in glee (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) That's the spirit!

miffy	Dec 29 2010, 12:07 PM Post #4
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2586 Joined: 27-October 08 Member No.: 43225	I'm glad you mentioned definate/definite - that's one of the words my phone corrects me on - wrongly..is one American or do they both exist? Practice - noun, practise - verb? The 'it's' from the other thread - I know it means 'it is', but how about when something is belonging to 'it'? is there an apostrophe then? My husband has a pet hate - the over use of the word prodigy - whether attached with child, or on its (apostrophe or not??) own. What makes someone a prodigy rather than a brilliant soloist, amazing musician, or whatever?

Czerny	Dec 29 2010, 12:14 PM Post #5
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4086 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(miffy @ Dec 29 2010, 12:07 PM) I'm glad you mentioned definate/definite - that's one of the words my phone corrects me on - wrongly..is one American or do they both exist? Practice - noun, practise - verb? The 'it's' from the other thread - I know it means 'it is', but how about when something is belonging to 'it'? is there an apostrophe then? My husband has a pet hate - the over use of the word prodigy - whether attached with child, or on its (apostrophe or not??) own. What makes someone a prodigy rather than a brilliant soloist, amazing musician, or whatever? Definitely is related to "definitive". I don't think "definately" exists in any context. Yes, you're right about practice / practise. If something belongs to it, use "its" - no apostrophe. Prodigy is simply from "prodigious" (meaning, basically, "a lot of") but is used (connotatively, rather than definitively, I think) for children showing a prodigious talent.

flobiano	Dec 29 2010, 12:20 PM Post #6
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1434 Joined: 27-August 09 Member No.: 73855	Yay - permission to be pedantic! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) Maybe we can also add tips that help us remember things! I remember my physics teacher writing on my work that sepArate has A RAT in it - and she drew a picture of a rat next to it! I've never spelt (er spelled) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) it wrong since! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Also stationEry has an E in it for Envelopes when referring to paper products. complEmentary has an E if it complEtes the things it refers to, rather than complImentary which could refer to me saying how lovely you all are. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) If something belongs to "it" it is (it's) "its" - I think it is the only excpetion to the possessive rule regarding apostrophes. I could be wrong though. Yes, practice is noun and practise is verb - I remember that by comparing with advice and advise. My own pet hate at the moment is the overuse of the word iconic - to the point where it has become completely meaningless! grrr So is it spelled or spelt? I am now completely unsure! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Czerny	Dec 29 2010, 12:25 PM Post #7
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4086 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(flobiano @ Dec 29 2010, 12:20 PM) So is it spelled or spelt? I am now completely unsure! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Thanks - they're all useful tips. As far as I'm aware you can use both "spelled" and "spelt", just like "spoiled" and "spoilt" and several others.

aesir22	Dec 29 2010, 12:29 PM Post #8
Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1002 Joined: 30-August 09 From: Darlington Member No.: 74120	Incidentally (sp?) they are considering changing the spelling of definite to definate, as it is spelt wrong on such an enormous scale they say it may warrant changing! I also hate the word 'tasty' I know it isn't really an issue here, just thought I would share (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

lucky045	Dec 29 2010, 12:29 PM Post #9
Unregistered	I get annoyed when people say less instead of fewer, or vice versa. Also, incorrect use of the term "literally" drives me crazy (metaphorically). I get so annoyed by people saying things like 'she is literally driving me up the wall!'. 'They're', 'there' and 'their' are all different words with distinct meanings. Likewise 'your' and 'you're'. Can anyone explain to me why something cannot be "so fun" though? Since Miranda started I've been saying "such fun" anyway, but I don't really understand why it's necessary...

Maizie	Dec 29 2010, 12:33 PM Post #10
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4862 Joined: 5-February 07 From: Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire Member No.: 9360	QUOTE(Czerny @ Dec 29 2010, 12:25 PM) As far as I'm aware you can use both "spelled" and "spelt", just like "spoiled" and "spoilt" and several others. Burned and burnt, too. In US English, they will only use the -ed version. Spelt, to them, is a grain (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) The way to remember how to spell permanent is that it has a man in it. My mother taught me this, along with the concept of irony.

corenfa	Dec 29 2010, 12:35 PM Post #11
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4222 Joined: 28-March 10 From: Here Member No.: 95861	I hate it when nouns are converted into verbs. This often happens in corporate jargon. The worst example I have come across is "end-of-lifed". eg. "That version of software has been end-of-lifed". NNNGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

Czerny	Dec 29 2010, 12:39 PM Post #12
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4086 Joined: 7-December 07 Member No.: 21097	QUOTE(Maizie @ Dec 29 2010, 12:33 PM) The way to remember how to spell permanent is that it has a man in it. My mother taught me this, along with the concept of irony. So true. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) QUOTE(corenfa @ Dec 29 2010, 12:35 PM) I hate it when nouns are converted into verbs. This often happens in corporate jargon. The worst example I have come across is "end-of-lifed". eg. "That version of software has been end-of-lifed". NNNGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH That's truly hideous. "Diarise" is another ghastly one. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ill.gif) I also hate "upcoming". We have a perfectly good word with exactly the same meaning: "forthcoming". Use it!

lucky045	Dec 29 2010, 12:41 PM Post #13
Unregistered	QUOTE(corenfa @ Dec 29 2010, 12:35 PM) I hate it when nouns are converted into verbs. This often happens in corporate jargon. The worst example I have come across is "end-of-lifed". eg. "That version of software has been end-of-lifed". NNNGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH I actually love that. It's one of my favourite things to do with language. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I'll be aware of it in future.

miffy	Dec 29 2010, 12:44 PM Post #14
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2586 Joined: 27-October 08 Member No.: 43225	"I say to you".. "At the end of the day"... "Step up to the plate"... AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHH (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

corenfa	Dec 29 2010, 12:46 PM Post #15
Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 4222 Joined: 28-March 10 From: Here Member No.: 95861	QUOTE(lucky045 @ Dec 29 2010, 12:41 PM) QUOTE(corenfa @ Dec 29 2010, 12:35 PM) I hate it when nouns are converted into verbs. This often happens in corporate jargon. The worst example I have come across is "end-of-lifed". eg. "That version of software has been end-of-lifed". NNNGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH I actually love that. It's one of my favourite things to do with language. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I'll be aware of it in future. It's different when it's in an informal setting like this, sorry, I should have said (after all i did use the word "woundupness" in another thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) ). What I can't stand about my example is that it is done to make it sound more official or important. It doesn't.

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