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NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 01:58 PM
Original message
Speaking of Proper English Rants
My all-time favorite ...


It is too "a big deal." You don't have to know how to spell everything in the dictionary, and you don't have to have the serial-semicolon rule embroidered on a pillow, but if you have reached voting age in the United States, you need to know the basics of English usage, because if you don't, you look like an idiot. No, don't. Don't start with that "grammar Nazi" business. Don't get all "nobody gives a shit about that crap" and "it's so anal, who cares" and "well, you know what I mean." I give a shit about that crap. I know it's anal, but I care, and so do a lot of other people -- people who respect you, but might respect you less when you dash off an email to the effect of "I'll meet you their"; people in a position to give you a job, who won't because you didn't proofread your cover letter and they don't appreciate your addressing them as "Deer Ms. So-And-So." And no, in fact, I don't know what you mean when you write me a hate mail that reads, "You're site sucks," because that doesn't mean anything.


http://www.tomatonation.com/sincerely.shtml
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Midlodemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 02:04 PM
Response to Original message
1. That is a great rant!!!!
As a former proofreader, I have to tell you that grammar no-nos completely drive me crazy.
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asjr Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 02:28 PM
Response to Reply #1
3. I am also a former proofreader and copy-editor. It drives me
crazy at times, but I still make mistakes. I think grammar is not taught in schools any more.
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NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:06 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Yes, But For Proofreaders
these mistakes keep you employed ...
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Midlodemocrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:17 PM
Response to Reply #3
9. I agree
...when I was teaching high school, ten years ago, it was simply appalling to see what kids turned in as 'writing'. Now with spell check, etc., it is even worse. It just frosts me when it is an adult with an education, they should know better.
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NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:05 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. I Almost Lost A Crush on Someone
who used "there" in place of "they're." And this guy was over-educated, if anything.

Eventually I got over it for different reasons :D
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LynzM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 02:14 PM
Response to Original message
2. I love TN
Sars rocks, and her grammar rants are spot-on. She's got more, go check the archives! :)
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Left Is Write Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:07 PM
Response to Original message
6. I love that!
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livinginphotographs Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:10 PM
Response to Original message
7. I won't debate with anyone unless they can spell reasonably well.
An occasional typo or incident of "fat-fingers" is acceptable, but a true poorly-written freeperesque post where every other word is misspelled makes my head hurt to read.
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motely36 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:15 PM
Response to Original message
8. I once applied for a copywriter/proofreader job
and when I went into the interview, she told me they received over 200 resumes. She said the first people cut were anyone with grammer or spelling errors on their resume or cover letters. This brought the total resumes they looked at down to about 20. I didn't get the job, but at least I knew I had no errors on my resume. :)
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Ms. Clio Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 06:12 PM
Response to Reply #8
14. Perhaps you were also cut, for misspelling "grammar"
:evilgrin:
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motely36 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #14
16. oops
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DS1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:25 PM
Response to Original message
10. Cill all grammar terrorists!
.
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giant_robot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:37 PM
Response to Original message
11. Thanks for the link.
That's a very gratifying rant for people who share the grammar/spelling peeve.
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DrWeird Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 03:39 PM
Response to Original message
12. So basically he's saying, "don't call me anal, I already know I am."
"you need to know the basics of English usage, because if you don't, you look like an idiot."

I guess it takes one to know one.
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dean_dem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 04:11 PM
Response to Original message
13. This thread is teh stoopid.
Edited on Tue Dec-14-04 04:11 PM by dean_dem
:dunce:


*sarcasm alert*
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Phillycat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 06:14 PM
Response to Original message
15. I am in a position to hire people.
I will not even look at a resume or a cover letter if it has a spelling, grammar, or typographical error. It goes right into the shredder.
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trof Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 07:01 PM
Response to Original message
17. Errors in thread subjects make my flesh crawl.
I used to tactfully suggest a correction.
Just trying to help and educate.
After some of the "grammar nanny" responses I gave up.
(journalism major and former newspaper editor)
:-(
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NashVegas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Dec-14-04 07:14 PM
Response to Reply #17
18. Are You Referring to Sentence Fragments?
That's my favorite violation. In college, I got nailed for that one all the time. Couldn't stop myself from returning to it, though.
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