By the time my ears have processed those two words they’re indistinguishable: “uh fekt”. But when reading or writing, I use the appropriate one unless a synapse misfires.
I have rented lips,fumble tongue and creaking fingers ! Spell check helps sometimes, I don’t mind being corrected unless it gets all grammar police on me !
You can blame COMMON CORE for inadequate educations! First they stop teaching CURSIVE, THEN the curriculum is scaled down to just skimming the surface of any subject…there’s no delving into facts, etc. Betsy Dah- Vos has done NOTHING for education, this was implemented by Bill Gates, the governors in America, (except for about 5-6 states who refused it) and Obama! According to nationwide test scores, America is toward the bottom of the list compared to other countries….we used to be at the top of the list! That no one has taken the reigns to fix the problem, we now have two generations with inadequate educations. Dumbing down America
The ones that bother me are 1) there, they’re,and their 2) two, to, and too and 3) your and you’re. But I’m wondering if some of it is from using speech to text.
“There even are places where English completely disappears / Well, in America they haven’t used it for years!” Apologies to “Why Can’t The English Learn To Speak” from My Fair Lady; book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe (1956).
I think kids have the most trouble with “I” and “me”. How many times have you heard a child say “Me and Bill went to the store”? Take Bill out of the story; did Me go to the store alone, or did I go to the store?
I once remarked that so-and-so had given a whatziz to “Hubby and me” and granddaughter corrected me that it should be “Hubby and I”. I explained that it was given to me, not I. She mulled that over for a few seconds, and the light went on.
I worked in a mortgage servicing company 30 years ago. I received a letter that I couldn’t understand until I was reading it aloud to someone to see if they could help me. It was just that they used all the wrong words that sounded alike: there for their etc.
I grew up with a father who instilled in me a love of words, and the use of proper grammar. Now, I’m actually surprised when I read something that isn’t full of grammatical errors.
I am very particular about spelling. What is surprising is the number of times that a word is flagged as none existent and yet it was spelled correctly according to the Merriam Webster site. I always enjoy how often people talk about someone being ‘Prostated’ rather than Prostrated.
No, they don’t teach reading and writing any more. They sort of teach reading and printing. They cannot read the Declaration of Independence because it was written. My own child says “Me and my friends,” and I stop her and say, “My friends and I,” and she will then repeat it correctly and go on. Well, I used to do that. Now I grit my teeth. I taught her to speak American. She has a master’s degree. I did my best and it seems to be accepted these days to do as she does. I see it all over the news articles I read. It’s very sad. I was not a teacher. My parents were strict about grammar and spelling and it stuck with me. I remember arguing with her teachers that giving her 5 math problems for homework to learn arithmetic and mathematics wasn’t enough. we used to get at least 5 times that. I gave her extra homework. She learned, and I even took the time to explain why math is useful in every day life. So now kids grow up with 5-6 digit education loans and can’t write a sentence. Obviously this is a pet peeve!
One of my favorite gaffs of Ignorance are the pinhead traffic reporters who say “As you transition from one lane or highway to another”…Transition is a noun not a verb – it is a thing- not an action.
Ignorance is simply the lack of knowledge and easily fixed, provided one is willing to be educated. Now, Ignorance is often mistaken for Stupidity and visa versa.
I had a laugh when a shelter-in-place order went out over the radio because of a “silicon dioxide” leak. It was supposed to be “sulfur dioxide”; “silicon dioxide” is basically sand.
I am appalled at the way kids talk today. I have noticed that the conversations are shortcuts to regular speech. Do the teachers just ignore the student’s ability to speak properly or do they care? English should be top- notch on the corriculum?
allen@home about 4 years ago
Earl ( In Clint Eastwood’s voice ) A man’s got to know his limitations.
eromlig about 4 years ago
But ignorace has a lasting affect…
Concretionist about 4 years ago
By the time my ears have processed those two words they’re indistinguishable: “uh fekt”. But when reading or writing, I use the appropriate one unless a synapse misfires.
Lucy Rudy about 4 years ago
Sadly, spell check has prevented kids from learning spelling and grammar. They don’t know a qwerty keyboard and only type with their thumbs.
OshkoshJohn about 4 years ago
I was a temp, working as a proofreader for a year a long time ago. It was fun busting people at first…eventually I got really sick of it.
bobbie24601 about 4 years ago
The problem is it is easier for standards to fall than it is to maintain them. Once fallen it is very unlikely that they will rise again.
Breadboard about 4 years ago
Earl has a point . Sometimes ignorance is bliss ;-)
iggyman about 4 years ago
Ignorance IS bliss they say!
scote1379 Premium Member about 4 years ago
I have rented lips,fumble tongue and creaking fingers ! Spell check helps sometimes, I don’t mind being corrected unless it gets all grammar police on me !
jpayne4040 about 4 years ago
People should still make an effort to use the right words and spell them correctly. Miscommunications can be a huge problem!
jagedlo about 4 years ago
So you’re more concerned about how the news story was delivered than in the content, Opal?
ForrestOverin about 4 years ago
‘Affect’ and ‘effect’ sound identical when spoken, do they not?
ForrestOverin about 4 years ago
Send out the Calvary!
V45mikky about 4 years ago
Too many happy voters out there.
Zebrastripes about 4 years ago
You can blame COMMON CORE for inadequate educations! First they stop teaching CURSIVE, THEN the curriculum is scaled down to just skimming the surface of any subject…there’s no delving into facts, etc. Betsy Dah- Vos has done NOTHING for education, this was implemented by Bill Gates, the governors in America, (except for about 5-6 states who refused it) and Obama! According to nationwide test scores, America is toward the bottom of the list compared to other countries….we used to be at the top of the list! That no one has taken the reigns to fix the problem, we now have two generations with inadequate educations. Dumbing down America
Beaker about 4 years ago
The ones that bother me are 1) there, they’re,and their 2) two, to, and too and 3) your and you’re. But I’m wondering if some of it is from using speech to text.
Redd Panda about 4 years ago
I’d like to find the first guy who used “impact” as a verb and neuter him.
ARRRGH!
ERBEN2 about 4 years ago
This one is bad and I’m happy that Roscoe was not in it . Sorry Brian : (
Bookworm about 4 years ago
“There even are places where English completely disappears / Well, in America they haven’t used it for years!” Apologies to “Why Can’t The English Learn To Speak” from My Fair Lady; book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe (1956).
WaitingMan about 4 years ago
My pet peeve? I cant stand people who dont use apostrophe’s correctly.
chick485 about 4 years ago
Ain’t y’all got nothin else ta fuss about? I ain’t got no problem wit how stuff is speled.
Dani Rice about 4 years ago
I think kids have the most trouble with “I” and “me”. How many times have you heard a child say “Me and Bill went to the store”? Take Bill out of the story; did Me go to the store alone, or did I go to the store?
I once remarked that so-and-so had given a whatziz to “Hubby and me” and granddaughter corrected me that it should be “Hubby and I”. I explained that it was given to me, not I. She mulled that over for a few seconds, and the light went on.
kab2rb about 4 years ago
I know of being criticized on my writing and my thoughts, so Earl I feel for you.
DaveQuinn about 4 years ago
If you worry about “affect” and “effect”, you need to get out more often and get a life.
prabbit237 about 4 years ago
Q: How many grammar police does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Too.
Mayor Snorkum about 4 years ago
Well, Opal, in actual speech “effect” and “affect” sound almost identical, so I don’t believe you were really able to tell the difference here.
zeexenon about 4 years ago
Well, some like anagrams like “Miss Hester Mofet.” Anamorphs are great too.
WDemBlk Premium Member about 4 years ago
I worked in a mortgage servicing company 30 years ago. I received a letter that I couldn’t understand until I was reading it aloud to someone to see if they could help me. It was just that they used all the wrong words that sounded alike: there for their etc.
Lola85 Premium Member about 4 years ago
I grew up with a father who instilled in me a love of words, and the use of proper grammar. Now, I’m actually surprised when I read something that isn’t full of grammatical errors.
Treedodger about 4 years ago
You mean like, “I seen that car run the light”.
martynhappyone about 4 years ago
I am very particular about spelling. What is surprising is the number of times that a word is flagged as none existent and yet it was spelled correctly according to the Merriam Webster site. I always enjoy how often people talk about someone being ‘Prostated’ rather than Prostrated.
Jan C about 4 years ago
Sounds like Brian is tired of the grammar police.
kathleenhicks62 about 4 years ago
IS ignorance bliss? Or just plain ignorance?
Ukko wilko about 4 years ago
In some cases ignorance is bliss. It’s just hard to decide when wisely.
sbwertz about 4 years ago
I had a PhD recently use “anecdote” when she meant “antidote”
Moonkey Premium Member about 4 years ago
No, they don’t teach reading and writing any more. They sort of teach reading and printing. They cannot read the Declaration of Independence because it was written. My own child says “Me and my friends,” and I stop her and say, “My friends and I,” and she will then repeat it correctly and go on. Well, I used to do that. Now I grit my teeth. I taught her to speak American. She has a master’s degree. I did my best and it seems to be accepted these days to do as she does. I see it all over the news articles I read. It’s very sad. I was not a teacher. My parents were strict about grammar and spelling and it stuck with me. I remember arguing with her teachers that giving her 5 math problems for homework to learn arithmetic and mathematics wasn’t enough. we used to get at least 5 times that. I gave her extra homework. She learned, and I even took the time to explain why math is useful in every day life. So now kids grow up with 5-6 digit education loans and can’t write a sentence. Obviously this is a pet peeve!
chain gang charlie about 4 years ago
One of my favorite gaffs of Ignorance are the pinhead traffic reporters who say “As you transition from one lane or highway to another”…Transition is a noun not a verb – it is a thing- not an action.
trolbix about 4 years ago
She should have just said “impact”.
ANIMAL about 4 years ago
Bliss
Sailor46 USN 65-95 about 4 years ago
Ignorance is simply the lack of knowledge and easily fixed, provided one is willing to be educated. Now, Ignorance is often mistaken for Stupidity and visa versa.
mistercatworks about 4 years ago
I had a laugh when a shelter-in-place order went out over the radio because of a “silicon dioxide” leak. It was supposed to be “sulfur dioxide”; “silicon dioxide” is basically sand.
Homerville Premium Member about 4 years ago
On internet we take shortcuts. Dont you no.? (know)
vick53 about 4 years ago
Anyone else notice that instead of saying “important” more and more people are saying “impor’ant”? Just a tad annoying like biting on tin foil.
HopeDuchaine about 4 years ago
I am appalled at the way kids talk today. I have noticed that the conversations are shortcuts to regular speech. Do the teachers just ignore the student’s ability to speak properly or do they care? English should be top- notch on the corriculum?
Rodeo Boy about 4 years ago
Ever tried closed captioning? Ouch!
tg464 about 4 years ago
I remember when you take was used, now it’s bring. "Bring this to your