Correct Grammar (Geoff in particular)

[Jill]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Kathryn" <kcawte at n...> wrote:
> 
> K
> 
> When in doubt go for the more elegant (or at least the least 
inelegant)
> option which would be students' imo. And on a related note (and 
hoping I don
> t upset the original typist here) are any of the other pedants on 
the list
> having the urge to ignore the worry about the apostrophe and 
correct 'where'
> to 'were' and 'hall way' to hallway'?
> 
> My real problems with people mangling their grammar (and spelling 
when
> written) are that firstly, English is, or can be when used 
correctly, a very
> beautiful and expressive language and  usually the most grammatical 
usage is
> the most elegant whereas a lot of the more common mistakes sound 
harsh and
> look ugly. Actually, I personally find that a good rule of thumb 
when I'm
> not sure what is the most correct way of saying something - read 
each option
> out loud, generally the one that sounds best is right. My second 
problem is
> when it happens in a piece of fiction, unless the fiction is very 
well
> written I find I can easily become distracted by mentally 
correcting the
> grammar and spelling and find I'm not paying attention to the 
actual plot.
> 
> Of course the real problem with a lot of fic writers, not just fic 
writers
> but I read a lot of fanfiction so that's where I see it most, is 
their over
> reliance on the spell checker - if I see one more example of 
someone hoping
> that Voldemort (or whoever) will loose a battle I'm not going to be 
held
> responsible for my actions! I'm not saying anyone can be perfect - 
but that
> s why you get someone else to proof read for you, checking your own 
stuff is
> almost impossible because you know what you meant to write and your 
brain
> tells you that's what you're seeing.
>  
>  K

Jill wants to play, too:
The word slip that I have noticed several times lately is the use 
of "defiantly" when the person obviously means "definitely."

My husband and I have an occasional spat (more of a "playful 
discussion") about grammar and/or word usage.  The one he uses that 
drives me crazy is "irregardless."  He definitely means "regardless," 
so I don't know why the "ir-" is necessary.

Jill
Who needs to sign up for TFS, too.