Grammar and spelling tips

[Xequat]

I'd like to start a thread not to sound smarter than I am or anything, but just to compile some of the grammatical errors we see here and elsewhere for those who might not know better. Most of the times, the errors here don't detract from the message that's being posted, so maybe it's not a big deal, but it is something I kind of enjoy, so I'll start.

A lot - alot is not a word. It's two words as in "one lot."

It's and its - "It's" is a shortened form of two words - "it" and "is." The word "its" is the possessive. For example : It's great to be here, but my car blew its tire. I believe that "its" is the only possessive word that doesn't use an apostrophe.

I'll think of more, but I'm at work now. Feel free to add some or if you have questions, I can probably answer them.

 

[MisterMike]

Is it always i before e except after c ?

 

[Flatlander]

Is it always i before e except after c ?

Not always. Except when it sounds like A as in neighbor and weigh. There's another exception, but I cannot recall what it is right now.

 

[Flatlander]

Xequat, does this really need to be in the Study?

 

[MisterMike]

Good point. It could come off to some as racist or even class warfare.

 

[Flatlander]

Good point. It could come off to some as racist or even class warfare.

Are you saying you're better than me, or you just don't like my kind?

 

[Xequat]

Xequat, does this really need to be in the Study?

I don't know, I just scrolled through the choices and this one seemed the most appropriate. Especially now, since it's about race and class.

 

[Rynocerous]

Is it always i before e except after c ?

Actually I think it goes I before e except in Budweiser.

Ryan

 

[GAB]

I don't know, I just scrolled through the choices and this one seemed the most appropriate. Especially now, since it's about race and class.

Hi,

Since it is about race and class. I thought this would be appropriate.
Sensei (teacher), class over.

Regards, Gary

 

[MisterMike]

Are you saying you're better than me, or you just don't like my kind?

Let's just say I don't believe in the "King's English" :jedi1:

 

[RandomPhantom700]

Let me make this thread a lot shorter than it needs to be: if you're not sure about your grammer or spelling, and actually care, copy and paste your post into a word document, and check for any red or green squiggly lines. If none, you're good to go.

 

[TigerWoman]

You got me. I say alot really a whole lot, a lot of times and not just a few times but if it bugs anybody I will certainly change my lot to just a lot. TW

 

[BlackCatBonz]

well i must say.........most people are a product of a government approved education system, and they generally get the same kind of teaching....generally.
i dont think there is anything wrong with pointing out grammatical errors.
heck, whenever i type a contraction i never put in the apostrophe........some people cant even spell apostrophe.....and for the most part i never use upper case letters.
we live in a world that now dus a hole pyle of comunicashunn online. the leest we culd do iz tri 2 due sum juctise 2 de prynted wurd.

shawn

 

[Lisa]

hookt on foniks werkt for me

 

[hardheadjarhead]

A lot - alot is not a word. It's two words as in "one lot."

It's and its - "It's" is a shortened form of two words - "it" and "is." The word "its" is the possessive. For example : It's great to be here, but my car blew its tire. I believe that "its" is the only possessive word that doesn't use an apostrophe.

"It's" used to be used as a possessive about two hundred years ago. Thomas Jefferson, I believe, used to prefer its use.

This is one I still get messed up if I'm not paying attention. Its...er...it's difficult sometimes when you're typing fast to recall where the apostrophe goes.

"Alot" is certainly not a word. Thanks alot for posting that.


Regards,


Steve

 

[shesulsa]

Most of my errors occur because I'm in such a hurry to type it out, then flip the steak over, etcetera, and since the "Paste" function is not working in my Mozilla (dunno why, never figgered it owt), y'all are stuck with my bumblings until I do figger it owt.

Meahwhile, here's a pet peeve of mine.

"Then" is a word that answers the question "When?"

"Than" is a word used in comparisons.


Examples:

"Finish cleaning your room, then you can have some popcorn."

and

"I like beef better than I like chicken." or "My candidate is better than your candidate."



There; I hope we will all be better off than we were before, then.

 

[hardheadjarhead]

"Finish cleaning your room, then you can have some popcorn."

and

"I like beef better than I like chicken." or "My candidate is better than your candidate."



There; I hope we will all be better off than we were before, then.

Oh, great. You've got me all paranoid now (I just got back from the marijuana legalization thread, and I am SOOO hammered)...now I'm worried whether I've been doing this. Then I ought be more careful than I have been in the past.



Regards,

Steve

 

[MisterMike]

Someone mentioned using microsoft word to do a quick check and I think that is a good idea because sometimes I do not know where to put in periods and commas and use a lot of conjunctions in the wrong spot and then it is really really hard to read but usually nobody notices except one time in school I got a bad mark on my paper but it didn't affect (not effect) my grade too much because I still got a B for the semester and usually I got some sort of monetary reward from my parents.

 

[RandomPhantom700]

I can understand how these details, such as which form of "than/then" or of "its" to use, would be important on a term paper or an inter-office memo, but we're talking about anonymous internet forums. So long as we know what you're talking about, who cares?

 

[Feisty Mouse]

I *heart* this thread.

I am a self-professed grammar geek, even though I c**k it up as much as anyone who is typing as they think, and then immediately posting for all to see.

Its and it's is a good one.

Another fun one:

"affect" - verb, as in "Rising CO2 levels affect the Earth's atmospheric content."

"effect" - noun, as in "We are looking for the effects of global climate change in the Arctic."