Jim Stillman
NevarAdmissions if not acceptance
January 7th 2012 20:45
:
Much as I dislike being labeled an old grumpy guy, I plead guilty.
Long, long ago, while in the ninth or tenth grade, I had an English teacher who drummed into our somewhat receptive ears, the fundamental rules of English grammar. (Yes, children, there used to be rules.) As a result of Mr. (cannot recall his name just another indicator of old age), the rules became second nature or, as my children would attest, an obsession.
Is anyone familiar with the subjunctive mood? It was defined as a condition contrary to fact[. Thus, If I were looking forward to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl in early 2012, then....And never, If I was.. Sometime in the past years, there must have been a memo repealing this and other rules just as sacrosanct. I never received it and would have ignored it in any event.
While I mumble at the radio or television at a failure by allegedly well educated people who are paid sums to host a show, read the news or appear on a political discussion to speak correct English, my more strident yells are reserved for those who misuse lesser and fewer, the latter when a number follows the term. This, fewer calories but less flavor.
Last night, one of the GOP candidates for their party's presidential nomination stated, ]Senator X, me and Senator Y voted in a certain way[ Actually I wouldn't have voted for this idiot even he spoke grammatically correctly, but that's another story.
When did quotation marks indicate emphasis? When one sees a professionally printed sign, NO SMOKING, it is indicating that smoking is permitted or even encouraged. By the same token, NO PARKING means just the opposite from that which the creator intended to convey.
Advertisements or commercials misuse or misspell words. Thus the copywriter the printer, the customer or anyone in the production of the material were all unknowing or uncaring. Where has pride in one's job vanished?
I feel better. Next time I'll go back to politics and discuss why none of the potential GOP nominees for president is qualified and weakens the party and why that is bad for our country.
Long, long ago, while in the ninth or tenth grade, I had an English teacher who drummed into our somewhat receptive ears, the fundamental rules of English grammar. (Yes, children, there used to be rules.) As a result of Mr. (cannot recall his name just another indicator of old age), the rules became second nature or, as my children would attest, an obsession.
Is anyone familiar with the subjunctive mood? It was defined as a condition contrary to fact[. Thus, If I were looking forward to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl in early 2012, then....And never, If I was.. Sometime in the past years, there must have been a memo repealing this and other rules just as sacrosanct. I never received it and would have ignored it in any event.
While I mumble at the radio or television at a failure by allegedly well educated people who are paid sums to host a show, read the news or appear on a political discussion to speak correct English, my more strident yells are reserved for those who misuse lesser and fewer, the latter when a number follows the term. This, fewer calories but less flavor.
Last night, one of the GOP candidates for their party's presidential nomination stated, ]Senator X, me and Senator Y voted in a certain way[ Actually I wouldn't have voted for this idiot even he spoke grammatically correctly, but that's another story.
When did quotation marks indicate emphasis? When one sees a professionally printed sign, NO SMOKING, it is indicating that smoking is permitted or even encouraged. By the same token, NO PARKING means just the opposite from that which the creator intended to convey.
Advertisements or commercials misuse or misspell words. Thus the copywriter the printer, the customer or anyone in the production of the material were all unknowing or uncaring. Where has pride in one's job vanished?
I feel better. Next time I'll go back to politics and discuss why none of the potential GOP nominees for president is qualified and weakens the party and why that is bad for our country.
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Comment by RickB_GA
Another pet peeve is high school graduates who cannot count change back correctly. For God's sake, don't add the penny after the $20 bill is already rung into the register,
Reading, writing, arithmetic and history are a lot more important in daily life than evolution verses creationism.
I am looking forward to your getting back to politics. Agreeing with you is not so stimulating. Glad you are feeling better.