Domain: drgrammar.org
Stories and comments across the archive that link to drgrammar.org.
Comments · 9
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Re:Great... How much longer till 1984?
The grammar nazi in me urges a link to: http://www.drgrammar.org/faqs/#44
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Re:No beggingYes, that would be right... if it wasn't completely wrong.
It should be "I bought a soda for my wife and me" as per the original correction.
Using the word 'myself' like that is incorrect. See here.
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Re:To compare with GNOME...
Mac OS X does it good enough.
That should be "Mac OS X does it well enough". Please learn to speak English properly. See here:Good and well are often misused. According to The Grammar Bible, "good is an adjective. It can only modify nouns and pronouns. Well is an adverb. It can only modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Too many people use good, the adjective, when they need well, the adverb. I scored good on my spelling test.(incorrect) The new car runs good. (incorrect) In each example, the adjective good modifies a verb, scored and runs, respectively. Only adverbs modify verbs. These situations call for the adverb well. I scored well on my spelling test.(correct) The new car runs well.(correct) A frequently used expression, 'to feel well,' in American parlance, implies that one's touching ability is in excellent condition" (141-142).
Brian's Common Errors in English, see Writing Resources, provides further explanation: "'Good' is the adjective, 'well' is the adverb. You do something well, but you give someone something good. The exception is verbs of sensation in phrases such as 'the pie smells good,' or 'I feel good'[emphasis added]. Despite the arguments of nigglers, this is standard usage. Saying 'the pie smells well' would imply that the pastry in question had a nose. ' I feel well' is also generally acceptable; but it is not the only correct usage." I hope the exception above helps to explain the rule. -
Re:To compare with GNOME...
Mac OS X does it good enough.
That should be "Mac OS X does it well enough". Please learn to speak English properly. See here:Good and well are often misused. According to The Grammar Bible, "good is an adjective. It can only modify nouns and pronouns. Well is an adverb. It can only modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Too many people use good, the adjective, when they need well, the adverb. I scored good on my spelling test.(incorrect) The new car runs good. (incorrect) In each example, the adjective good modifies a verb, scored and runs, respectively. Only adverbs modify verbs. These situations call for the adverb well. I scored well on my spelling test.(correct) The new car runs well.(correct) A frequently used expression, 'to feel well,' in American parlance, implies that one's touching ability is in excellent condition" (141-142).
Brian's Common Errors in English, see Writing Resources, provides further explanation: "'Good' is the adjective, 'well' is the adverb. You do something well, but you give someone something good. The exception is verbs of sensation in phrases such as 'the pie smells good,' or 'I feel good'[emphasis added]. Despite the arguments of nigglers, this is standard usage. Saying 'the pie smells well' would imply that the pastry in question had a nose. ' I feel well' is also generally acceptable; but it is not the only correct usage." I hope the exception above helps to explain the rule. -
Re:It's like razorblades
Even the grammar police haven't decided on a rule.
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Re:US grammar rotting?From http://www.drgrammar.org/faqs/#82
Bring and take? According to Theodore Bernstein, author of Dos, Dont's, & Maybes of the English Language. "Bring and take both involve direction when they denote physical movement: bring means movement in the direction of the speaker or writer, take means movement away from the speaker or writer.... When no physical movement is involved, bring may properly be used in the sense of produce as a result: 'The President's message is expected to bring the whole issue to a climax'" (32). Patricia O'Connor, author of Woe Is I, asks, "Which way is the merchandise moving? Is it coming or going? If it's coming here, someone's bringing it. If it's going there, someone's taking it. ( 'Bring me my slippers,' said Rhoda, 'and take away those stiletto heels!' ) That much is pretty straightforward, but there are gray areas where the bringing and the taking aren't so clear. Say you're a dinner guest and you decide to tote a bottle of wine along with you. Do you bring it or do you take it? The answer depends on your perspective--on which end of the journey you're talking about, the origin or the destination. 'What shall I bring, white or red?' you ask the host. 'Bring red,' he replies. ( Both you and he are speaking of the wine from the point of view of its destination--the host. ) Ten minutes later, you're asking the wine merchant, 'What should I take, a Burgundy or a Bordeaux?' 'Take this one' she says. ( Both you and she are speaking of the wine from the point of view of its origin. ) Clear? If not, pour yourself a glass, take it easy, and say what sounds most natural. You'll probably be right" (93).
If both people are upstairs and one wants the other to get the table downstairs, yeah it probably is take. However in both people's mind, the center of action is probably downsairs at the big party they're having. Thus the table is going to the center of action which is the prespective used. As someone else pointed out. The distinction isn't big enough of a deal for anyone to get worked up over. It's kinda like the folks who say you shouldn't end a sentence with a prepresition. However no one in their right mind would say "At where is it?" you only will hear "Where is it at?" Big deal. Get over it. Let the language evolve. -
Dr. Grammar FAQ
Well with the frequently asked questions (I'd hate to see the infrequently asked ones!) on Dr. Grammar, I'd say that it is a monstrous task to make a good checker. Grammaticians don't even agree on what is grammatically correct.
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Re:Goodness...
Sloppyjoes7, you are right.
/. is a community of nerds. We are supposed to be the intellectual superiors, and we can't even use commas right. And for those who previously argued against me, I suggest you double check your proper grammar rules.
Reference 1
Reference 2
Reference 3
Point being. I am a nerd, and therefore I am Intellectually Superior. Therefore I will obey the rules of C++, Grammar, and Mathematics (in that order). -
Re:Beware of cheap FM transmitters
As a military research civilian, I am frequently faced with this problem. >8)
I was always told to use a/an in writing as if the acronym was spelled out instead of pronounced; however upon doing a quick google search, it would appear that one Doctor Grammar disagrees.