Thread: Commonly used bad grammar

I worked with a girl who thought it was clever to say, "I have no ideal". It drove me nuts but I wouldn't let on because, for all intensive purposes, it would encourage her.

An English professor told me the grammar book Eats, Shoots & Leaves has numerous grammar mistakes. He thought the mistakes were intentional.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

I worked with a girl who thought it was clever to say, "I have no ideal". It drove me nuts but I wouldn't let on because, for all intensive purposes, it would encourage her.

An English professor told me the grammar book Eats, Shoots & Leaves has numerous grammar mistakes. He thought the mistakes were intentional.

I never read it, but I remember when it came out. Hearing the title might stimulate visions of a weekend in Chicago, but it actually refers to an animal, I forget what kind, a panda maybe, who 'eats shoots and leaves'.

Not a book on grammar, but a good read for lovers of philology, A Hog On Ice by Charles E. Funk (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary). Gives origins of expressions that were common in the 19th century, such as the title and 'once in a blue moon.' Stuff like that. He wrote a whole series of books on word origins that are entertaining for folks who enjoy that sort of thing.

That said, I take perverse pleasure in following reports about one presidential candidate's attempts at English. Very interesting (see above).

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

I worked with a girl who thought it was clever to say, "I have no ideal". It drove me nuts but I wouldn't let on because, for all intensive purposes, it would encourage her.

An English professor told me the grammar book Eats, Shoots & Leaves has numerous grammar mistakes. He thought the mistakes were intentional.

Ummmmmmm,

Was your mistake intentional?

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ummmmmmm,

Was your mistake intentional?

Yes. It was intentional. The second half of my post was a hint.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Yes. It was intentional. The second half of my post was a hint.

I assumed so, but wanted to make sure there was a joke in there.

The first grammar nazi.

He was also the 95,345th person to fly the English Channel

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ummmmmmm,

Was your mistake intentional?

I did notice that earlier but didn't have enough Ron-ness to point it out ☺

Originally Posted by Utopian

Ummmmmmm,

Was your mistake intentional?

However you have got me started now. I didn't think that your use of was required a capital w.