[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: Correct Grammar (Geoff in particular)

[Kathryn]

In message 26677 Storm wrote:
 
> LOL this is great. I want to join the TFS support group too!
 
> What about Annemehr's example of:
> "the students' bags where all in the hall way"
 
> Or does (horror) the CMS call for:
> "the students's bags where all in the hall way"
 
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
 

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