It's about the usage.
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It's "its" damn it!
- Thread starter MoodyBlues
- Start date
Really?
I do all the time. I'll PM you one of the worst offenders. 
Yes, exactly--and then, when they claim it to be a typo, or having typed too fast, I just
You can't expect me to believe that someone who writes "your" instead of "you're" 100% of the time actually knows the difference. Regarding 'data' and similar plural words, I think about you every time I upload photos to my album. Why? Because its confirmation message says "your media HAS been saved."
But there are cultural differences for how certain words are handled; I'm thinking specifically of US vs UK. A word like 'band'--that refers to a group of people--is treated as singular here (US), but plural on your side of the pond. So, for example, if you and I are discussing Freddie Mercury and Queen, I'd say "Queen was one of the best bands ever," while you'd say, "Queen were one..."
It's very noticeable--and makes me chuckle--in a thread where Google, facebook, or other companies are being discussed. You're saying, "Google are responsible for...", while I'm saying, "Google is responsible for..." It's like dueling Googles!
There -is- logic to our way of doing it. Yes, Queen did consist of four people, but it was a single entity. Ditto for Google, et al.
You forgot "should of" and "could of."
I do believe he's being facetious.I guess it depends on which dictionary you use. According to both my Chambers dictionary and the Google on-line dictionary, prolly is there as a slang word but the other three are not recognised.
Xavier Black
Android Expert
You all should keep in mind that language is still in development..and its structure and roots aren't quite as firm as we would love them to be to or we pretend they are, in fact very cheeky structures just like the law and justice have their own gaps and cracks, same as the old buildings and bridges..eventually fall into the deep.
There's this one word(even it's widely accepted) but every single time I hear it, it really hurts my ears..
CHICKEN for singular.
*CHICKENS for plural..
I don't know who came up with the plural version..but definitely was some one that the only thing did in life was milk the cows and collect the eggs from the CHICKEN(NOT THE CHICKENS)..
it doesn't even sound right if you use your intelligence like I do..
Because you don't say "I caught three FISHES"..so it's the same damn thing..that's what my intelligence says..regardless if it has not being accepted by real academy of language.
So at the end, who was right or wrong by the right way they use their words??
There's this one word(even it's widely accepted) but every single time I hear it, it really hurts my ears..
CHICKEN for singular.
*CHICKENS for plural..
I don't know who came up with the plural version..but definitely was some one that the only thing did in life was milk the cows and collect the eggs from the CHICKEN(NOT THE CHICKENS)..
it doesn't even sound right if you use your intelligence like I do..
Because you don't say "I caught three FISHES"..so it's the same damn thing..that's what my intelligence says..regardless if it has not being accepted by real academy of language.
So at the end, who was right or wrong by the right way they use their words??
But that's what language rules are for--whether they make sense, or not. I mean, who came up with the way we spell the day after Tuesday?!
When I learned French, I started by learning its rules--which, in my opinion, make much more sense than those of my native English. I actually feel sorry for non-native English speakers who have to learn English. Unlike French, it's screwed up!
There's a really funny bit in an I Love Lucy episode, where Ricky--who is Cuban--complains to Lucy about English. The bit involves these words: bough, cough, trough, enough. Notice anything? *SMH*
This is a fun enough thread. It is interesting to hear what mistakes trip people's trigger. I'm likely one of the worst offenders. If I have bothered anyone, I do apologize. Please don't go out into the forums and try to save our slaughtered language by correcting someone. The last thing we want to do is make someone feel uncomfortable on these forums. I quote from the site rules:
"Also - do not take it upon yourself to play Grammar Nazi. If someone's post is literally so bad you cannot understand it, fine - ask them to rephrase."
With that said... I'll join in the fun. I see it all of the time in text but it bugs me to see B4 for before, U2 for you too, etc here. I do hope that our written language isn't going down that path to never return.
"Also - do not take it upon yourself to play Grammar Nazi. If someone's post is literally so bad you cannot understand it, fine - ask them to rephrase."
With that said... I'll join in the fun. I see it all of the time in text but it bugs me to see B4 for before, U2 for you too, etc here. I do hope that our written language isn't going down that path to never return.
I always make it a point to welcome new members so they feel comfortable, and acknowledged, right away. I don't think I've played grammar nazi...other than one recent post where I very politely pointed out that, this being a forum, there was no need for 'text-speak,' and suggested using full words and sentences for clarity.
Oh! I -do- harass Milo with my stock phrase: "Spell-check, Milo, spell-check." But we're on very good terms and we talk privately, and he knows it's good-natured ribbing--about his self-acknowledged atrocious spelling! If it bothered him, he'd tell me, and I'd stop.
If I have corrected and offended anyone...I'm certainly sorry.
Oh I don't think so Moody. I just wanted to make certain the masses didn't march forth with the mission to correct our fellow man.
My post wasn't directed at anyone. Just a friendly reminder....
My post wasn't directed at anyone. Just a friendly reminder....
Xavier Black
Android Expert
No sorrows, please..my first language is Spanish..and I came to usa with zero English..and I did what you mentioned(i first learned the rules of the English language)..so you are right again..when you learn a second language your mind and brains become a lot faster and smarter than they were before..and your comprehension even for something you know nothing of..becomes even more clear and easy for you to start wrapping your head around it..
That's why in giving my feed back about "chicken" and "chickens"..
That's why in giving my feed back about "chicken" and "chickens"..
I admire you for accomplishing another language. Something I never managed. I'm still working on my own language and haven't figure it out yet. 
The English language has so many inconsistencies I would think it would be very difficult to learn. Perhaps other languages share the same sort of problems... I wouldn't know.
The English language has so many inconsistencies I would think it would be very difficult to learn. Perhaps other languages share the same sort of problems... I wouldn't know.
Those are phrases. We are talking about words @MoodyBluesYou forgot "should of" and "could of."
My teachers always claimed that Latin was a very consistent and structured language. Unfortunately there's only one country where it is the official language these days.
^^^Rome?^^^
And then we have this problem.....
True, BUT...since the real spelling is "could've" and "would've"--which are words--it fits!
Oh, okay, good. You had me worried! I know I can come off like a pompous ass at times [like when I'm extolling the virtues of Linux...over window$], but I really do try to make people feel welcome here. Publicly insulting people isn't my typical style. On AF anyway.
You should've seen me, back in the day, posting on newsgroups for hot-button issues. My, my, how the f-word did fly!
The Vatican is my guess.
Xavier Black
Android Expert
Actually not even a city speaks or fluence on it..just the "pope"..no one else.
We have a winner
(The Vatican's full name is "The Vatican City State", to reflect the fact that it is an independent city state, though it's usually just referred to as Vatican City).
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The crazy, inconsistent, nonsensical rules!
In elementary school, we were required to learn Spanish, and then starting in junior high, at least one language. I picked French. In both cases, their language rules made sense! As Ricky Ricardo said, in Spanish, when you have a word/spelling, it's always the same. It's pronounced the same, the rules are the same, it's consistent. Unlike English.
My maternal grandparents and my father were native Armenian speakers. I admire them so much for having come here as adults, and learning our goofy English language. My father learned it well enough to go to university here to study civil engineering. My grandparents opened their first dry cleaning store while my grandfather was still learning English--he handled that by staying in the back and letting my grandmother handle all the customer interactions!
We have a winner
Xavier Black
Android Expert
I love the French..I'm currently learning it..with not rush..Armenian is a beautiful language..but the crown goes to the English language..the poetry in English gives me a spiritual orgasm when I listen to it..it's just perfect..
Latin is the official language (certainly of the Holy See), though Italian is the working language - unsurprising given that it's entirely surrounded by Rome.
Yes, I love French, too. It's so beautiful, and logical! Plus it's the language of ballet, which is one of my true, deep, lifelong passions.
Good, don't rush it if you don't have to. If you take the time now, while you're learning it, to really understand and absorb its rules, it will pay off later.
You know what's funny? My mom--who was born here--spoke Armenian quite fluently, although she could neither read nor write it, but after both of her parents died, she didn't have much chance to use it. In her later years, she could carry on a conversation if she really had to, but--for the most part--all she remembered were its cuss words! Now that she's been gone 7 years [yesterday
], I can't even recall those.Oh my!
I wish I could say the same, but for me French is #1. Its beautiful, melodic, logical language tops my list.