Speaking of Proper English Rants

[NashVegas]

My all-time favorite ...


It is too "a big deal." You don't have to know how to spell everything in the dictionary, and you don't have to have the serial-semicolon rule embroidered on a pillow, but if you have reached voting age in the United States, you need to know the basics of English usage, because if you don't, you look like an idiot. No, don't. Don't start with that "grammar Nazi" business. Don't get all "nobody gives a shit about that crap" and "it's so anal, who cares" and "well, you know what I mean." I give a shit about that crap. I know it's anal, but I care, and so do a lot of other people -- people who respect you, but might respect you less when you dash off an email to the effect of "I'll meet you their"; people in a position to give you a job, who won't because you didn't proofread your cover letter and they don't appreciate your addressing them as "Deer Ms. So-And-So." And no, in fact, I don't know what you mean when you write me a hate mail that reads, "You're site sucks," because that doesn't mean anything.


http://www.tomatonation.com/sincerely.shtml

[Midlodemocrat]

1. That is a great rant!!!!

As a former proofreader, I have to tell you that grammar no-nos completely drive me crazy.

[asjr]

3. I am also a former proofreader and copy-editor. It drives me

crazy at times, but I still make mistakes. I think grammar is not taught in schools any more.

[NashVegas]

5. Yes, But For Proofreaders

these mistakes keep you employed ...

[Midlodemocrat]

9. I agree

...when I was teaching high school, ten years ago, it was simply appalling to see what kids turned in as 'writing'. Now with spell check, etc., it is even worse. It just frosts me when it is an adult with an education, they should know better.

[NashVegas]

4. I Almost Lost A Crush on Someone

who used "there" in place of "they're." And this guy was over-educated, if anything.

Eventually I got over it for different reasons :D

[LynzM]

2. I love TN

Sars rocks, and her grammar rants are spot-on. She's got more, go check the archives! :)

[Left Is Write]

6. I love that!

[livinginphotographs]

7. I won't debate with anyone unless they can spell reasonably well.

An occasional typo or incident of "fat-fingers" is acceptable, but a true poorly-written freeperesque post where every other word is misspelled makes my head hurt to read.

[motely36]

8. I once applied for a copywriter/proofreader job

and when I went into the interview, she told me they received over 200 resumes. She said the first people cut were anyone with grammer or spelling errors on their resume or cover letters. This brought the total resumes they looked at down to about 20. I didn't get the job, but at least I knew I had no errors on my resume. :)

[Ms. Clio]

14. Perhaps you were also cut, for misspelling "grammar"

:evilgrin:

[motely36]

16. oops

[DS1]

10. Cill all grammar terrorists!

.

[giant_robot]

11. Thanks for the link.

That's a very gratifying rant for people who share the grammar/spelling peeve.

[DrWeird]

12. So basically he's saying, "don't call me anal, I already know I am."

"you need to know the basics of English usage, because if you don't, you look like an idiot."

I guess it takes one to know one.

[dean_dem]

13. This thread is teh stoopid.

:dunce:


*sarcasm alert*

[Phillycat]

15. I am in a position to hire people.

I will not even look at a resume or a cover letter if it has a spelling, grammar, or typographical error. It goes right into the shredder.

[trof]

17. Errors in thread subjects make my flesh crawl.

I used to tactfully suggest a correction.
Just trying to help and educate.
After some of the "grammar nanny" responses I gave up.
(journalism major and former newspaper editor)
:-(

[NashVegas]

18. Are You Referring to Sentence Fragments?

That's my favorite violation. In college, I got nailed for that one all the time. Couldn't stop myself from returning to it, though.