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Bad English In Thread Titles

Discussion in 'Other Discussions' started by Rippon, Mar 15, 2009.

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  1. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    I agree, every third grader knows it should be (s)he... :laugh:
     
    #41 LeBuick, Mar 16, 2009
  2. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    Sorry about that. It is either that or incorrectly using "they" in a singular context. Or one could use "(s)he" (which I think is worse) or just use "he" and assume that everyone knows that you mean that in a gender neutral manner.
     
    #42 FriendofSpurgeon, Mar 16, 2009
  3. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    Good point Jim. But even when children are in the congregation, there's no need for a pastor to use incorrect grammar. Not to be a language snob, but ...
     
    #43 FriendofSpurgeon, Mar 16, 2009
  4. Amy.G

    Amy.G New Member

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    Anyone ever heerd of spell check? :laugh:
     
    #44 Amy.G, Mar 16, 2009
  5. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    It isn't necessarily incorrect to use "they" or "their" when actually referencing one person or thing. Written English has had a long and distinguised habit of doing just that.

    I just happen to have A History Of The English Language (by Baugh and Cable) at my desk.the following is from page 339.

    There is precedence, however, for the simplest solution to the problem of pronoun agreement in gender, and that is lack of agreement in number, as in the sentence with which we began: "Everybody should button their coat." English, which once distinguished between singular thou, thee, thy and plural ye, you, your in the second person, has had plural you, your as the standard form for the past four centuries. An extension of the plural they, their to certain singular contexts would cause no more disruption in syntax than the change in the second person, and of course it already shows up in informal usage, as in the sentence quoted.
     
    #45 Rippon, Mar 16, 2009
  6. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    But now, the second person plural is y'all.
     
    #46 Alcott, Mar 16, 2009
  7. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Y'all is getting to be kind of a standard at least in spoken form.

    But then come the variations : ya'll, yawl, yaw and you-all.
     
    #47 Rippon, Mar 16, 2009
  8. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    My authorities for the English language are:

    The Oxford Dictionary and The King's English by Fowler and Fowler, 1906, Oxford University Press.

    For Canadian English, I use Learning to Write by Ernest H. Winter, 1939, Macmillan Company of Canada.

    Perhaps a little aged, but then, so am I.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #48 Jim1999, Mar 17, 2009
  9. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    Making mistakes is one thing (I certainly make my share of them, but I correct them), but a whole long post of nothing BUT mistakes? Sorry, but I find that unreadable, and I see it quite often. I proofread before and after posting, and I often use the "Edit" feature.
     
    #49 Jon-Marc, Mar 17, 2009
  10. LeBuick

    LeBuick New Member

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    Just an FYI... My comment was sarcasm and wasn't directed at any one. As bad as me english is, I am the last to criticize someone elsess..
     
    #50 LeBuick, Mar 17, 2009
  11. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    Neither of those is correct. It's spelled "antenna". :tongue3:
     
    #51 Jon-Marc, Mar 17, 2009
  12. Jon-Marc

    Jon-Marc New Member

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    I use he/she.
     
    #52 Jon-Marc, Mar 17, 2009
  13. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Antenna is singular; antennae is plural... although one dictionary I consulted listed antennae and antennas as plural.
     
    #53 Alcott, Mar 17, 2009
  14. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
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    No one really cares. It has little to no value on a forum. Especially to those who do not take forums all that seriously. But feel free to maintain your anxiety over it all.:rolleyes:
     
    #54 Revmitchell, Mar 17, 2009
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 17, 2009
  15. Palatka51

    Palatka51 New Member

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    How about, "Butchered English in Thread Titles?":laugh:
     
    #55 Palatka51, Mar 17, 2009
  16. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    For those troubled with antenna, what is wrong with aerial?

    Proper English is never out of place whether we use two pence words or fifty pound words. Understanding is the key.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #56 Jim1999, Mar 17, 2009
  17. Rippon

    Rippon Well-Known Member
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    Hmm, so I take it that your political posts are not to be taken that seriously?
     
    #57 Rippon, Mar 17, 2009
  18. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    I use they! - even for the singular
     
    #58 Salty, Mar 17, 2009
  19. abcgrad94

    abcgrad94 Active Member

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    Jim, I am talking about the things that stick out of a bugs head, like feelers. I think an aerial is what Brits call antenna for the TV, am I right?
     
    #59 abcgrad94, Mar 17, 2009
  20. Alcott

    Alcott Well-Known Member
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    Yes, you're right. Jim, ain't you ever gonna learn English?
     
    #60 Alcott, Mar 17, 2009
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