Comments on: Letting go of old grammar rules …

By: replicaswiss0a

replicaswiss0a — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 15:18:13 +0000

very good post from our team…

…

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:46:04 +0000

Things are obviously out of control if the Chicago Manual of Style is changing the rules just because we are too lazy and ignorant to FIX sentences to make them correct.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 05:35:53 +0000

I guess I’m old school as well because I hate sentences that end with of and I always have used the s’ not realizing that you didn’t have to anymore. Maybe more than being old school I’m just getting old! Say it ain’t so! LOL I though the 7month old, 4 and 7 yr olds were supposed to keep me young but I don’t think it’s working. And (lol) I constantly correct my dh’s grammar. For shame.

By: April

April — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:57:52 +0000

Sometimes the “correct” wording is humorously awkward, as in, “Mr. Hunter cursed his memory of the milkman, away with which his wife ran.”

How about:
Mr. Hunter cursed his memory of the milkman, with whom his wife had run away.

[Winston Churchill's] reply was allegedly this: “That’s the sort of pedantry up with which I will not put.”

How about:
That’s the sort of pedantry I won’t tolerate.

I’m old school. If the “correct” wording seems awkward, the writer probably hasn’t found the best way to construct the line. I’ll accept sentences that end in prepositions if the narrative voice is colloquial. Otherwise, I simply assume the writer doesn’t know his or her craft that well.

By: you know who

you know who — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 00:14:36 +0000

I’m glad i’m ok because it is something I am good at.

:evilha:

By: Jennie

Jennie — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:46:17 +0000

Have you heard of the book Grammer Snobs Are Great Big Meanies? I read it recently and it’s a riot! It’s a sort of grammer manual, but it’s very practical about letting you know which rules are passe and which you actually do need to follow. And does it while making you laugh, which is impressive in a book about grammer!

By: JAK

JAK — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:26:20 +0000

Informative post yet again, Ms. Evil Editor. Any word on splitting infinitives? Seems like a good candidate for upgrade sometimes.

To forever dwell in the Garden of Evil.
To dwell forever in the Garden of Evil.

The first has a more poetic ring to it, imo

By: Mel

Mel — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:45:57 +0000

A grammar lesson. Made me feel like I was in school again…almost.
Thanks Angie… muy interesting~

By: Sara

Sara — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 17:41:46 +0000

Angie, thanks for the great post! I like your Tuesday teaching posts.

By: Erin's Pater

Erin's Pater — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 15:17:00 +0000

Well done, Angie. . . And, I hereby relieve Erin of any duty (genetic or learned) to avoid ending sentences with prepositions. . . Even old dogs can learn to go with!