Grammar annoyances

by **swishnicholson** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 01:54:41

Choosing which of that or which to use when a situation which is ambiguous comes up. That is the grammar problem which most ties me up in knots. Is there a rule that quickly indicates which is correct? (Or a rule which quickly indicates that one is preferred? )

by **TenuredVulture** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 09:47:02

swishnicholson wrote:Choosing which of that or which to use when a situation which is ambiguous comes up. That is the grammar problem which most ties me up in knots. Is there a rule that quickly indicates which is correct? (Or a rule which quickly indicates that one is preferred? )

Thurber FTW!

by **Monkeyboy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 14:13:26

TenuredVulture wrote:
swishnicholson wrote:Choosing which of that or which to use when a situation which is ambiguous comes up. That is the grammar problem which most ties me up in knots. Is there a rule that quickly indicates which is correct? (Or a rule which quickly indicates that one is preferred? )

Thurber FTW!

That's pretty awesome.

To add to this, here is this is from Strunk & White's Elements of Style:

"
That is the defining, or restrictive, pronoun, which the nondefining, or nonrestrictive.

The lawn mower that is broken is in the garage. (Tells which one.)

The lawn mower, which is broken, is in the garage. (Adds a fact about the only mower in question.

The use of which for that is common in written and spoken language ("Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass."). Occasionally which seems preferable to that, as in the sentence from the Bible. But it would be a convenience to all if these two pronouns were used with precision. Careful writers, watchful for small inconveniences, go which-hunting, remove the defining whiches, and by so doing improve their work."

Get rid of the whiches!!

by **TenuredVulture** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 14:40:18

Strunk and White are fucking awesome. Fowler, on the other hand, while useful, is unwieldy.

by **Houshphandzadeh** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 14:43:29

Strunk and White are dead

by **Monkeyboy** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 15:41:19

Houshphandzadeh wrote:Strunk and White are dead

by **phatj** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 08:01:06

Infer != imply

by **jerseyhoya** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 13:20:16

phatj wrote:Infer != imply

Are you saying I used the word implying incorrectly?

by **phatj** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 13:26:48

jerseyhoya wrote:
phatj wrote:Infer != imply

Are you saying I used the word implying incorrectly?

I don't remember whose post it was that prompted this, but it wasn't yours. I think somebody used "inferring" when he should have used "implying" but he was hardly the first to mix them up.

by **phatj** » Thu Feb 18, 2010 22:55:50

Bump for Mr. Tupay

by **drsmooth** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 00:56:59

lethal wrote:
Any tips for a shortcut on how to remember when to use "too?" I just know in my head when to use it, so I can't figure out a way to teach it.

and let us weep for that sliver of the population which has embraced the redundancy "also too", using it where they mean simply "also". As in 'also too, let us weep for that sliver of the population which has embraced', etc

by **TenuredVulture** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:31:45

To be safe, use inference only when making a point about the logic of a conclusion.

by **CalvinBall** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:54:30

in one of my classes early today one student literally used the word "literally" 20 plus times in a 15 minute conversation with another student.

by **SK790** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 15:29:46

I really can't stand when people say "I could care less". That irritates me to no end because 90% of the population finds that to be acceptable.

by 1 » Fri Feb 19, 2010 15:38:21

SK790 wrote:I really can't stand when people say "I could care less". That irritates me to no end because 90% of the population finds that to be acceptable.

Yet, they probably could care less.

by **SK790** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 15:53:34

Yeah, but what's the point of stating that you could care less? That'd be like me stating that while I like hamburgers, I like other foods more.

by **phatj** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 16:01:23

I'm going to start saying "I could care more."

by **Houshphandzadeh** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 16:04:39

ooc, does it still annoy you if people say, "I couldn't care less?"

by **Grotewold** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 16:10:41

For some reason the "or not" after whether annoys me. "Whether or not I go or not" is the grandaddy there.

by **Phan In Phlorida** » Fri Feb 19, 2010 16:15:09

But what if the amount they care is like 1%? Then technically, they could care less. Literally.

Sometimes I like to say "throw kosh into the wind" instead of "throw caution to the wind" cuz people look at you funny, wondering "what the !@#$ is kosh?"

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