I keep seeing plurals (puppy's when they mean puppies) and it's when they mean its (it's only ever means it is, never 'belonging to it', which is 'its') all over the place. The best one was "try our cake's and gateau'x". Does this annoy anyone else as much as it does me?
2006-10-25 05:00:55 · 38 answers · asked by Hilary Y 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Yes, it annoys me as much as it annoys you.
There are two reasons why people get it wrong:
1. They were never taught (or they weren't listening when they were).
2. They can't be bothered to think about it.
It's getting worse too. Even educated people who should know how and when to use apostrophes don't bother (just look anywhere on the internet).
Personally if I see an advert in the Yellow Pages or similar with bad grammar, it makes me much less likely to choose that company. I simply don't trust anyone who can't get basic grammar right.
2006-10-25 05:12:28 · answer #1 · answered by Steve-Bob 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Thank God I'm not alone in this! (It's one of my soap-box things lol).
I once went into a shop where there was a sign saying "no dog's allowed". When I asked the assistant "no dog's WHAT allowed?" she just looked at me like I had 3 green heads! No bloody idea!
The people who are saying things like "get a life - it doesn't matter" seem to have no idea that it DOES make a difference. The wrong punctuation can change the entire meaning of a sentence, as "Eats Shoots and Leaves" explains in a brilliant way. One of the best books I've ever read - a must for grammar freaks!
2006-10-26 03:27:50 · answer #2 · answered by Scoob 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am partly with you on the issue of peoples abuse of the english language. I suggest you read the following:
"Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Lynne Truss is about appauling use of Grammer. She wrote a second book on a similar subject.
"Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary", Cant remember the name of the author, but is about bad spelling
It provides some relief in your tension of bad english use.
The reason I am not all the way with you is that I am more ticked by peoples appauling maths skills. ie, the total of 7, 3 and 8 (18), or 10% off of a jacket originally at £60 (£6); It is shocking.
2006-10-25 05:17:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a teacher and I must admit it drives me crazy when I see people have actually paid money to have a sign printed with the incorrect punctuation. However, I would not say education in this country is bog standard, far from it. We have one of the best education systems. Some people just don't think that kind of thing is important, others just don't care and some are just stupid.
2006-10-25 05:18:39 · answer #4 · answered by tricia3uk 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it does annoy me as much as people not understanding the collective noun. How many times do you see "The government are going to do something"instead of "The government is ~~~
One of the worst places for this bad English is in the Guide to the Law for School Governors and on the BBC
2006-10-25 10:55:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The purpose of correct punctuation is to aid the reader understand your intended meaning in a text. A writer does this because... well, he is polite, has good manners if you like, to discretely help the reader read. Bad punctuation translates to bad manners - by wrong use of apostrophe etc. you are making it difficult for the reader and you show them you haven't really bothered. This attitude comes across the same whether you intended to cause offence or not. That is why you are annoyed, as I am, by people who do not bother - they are saying "I have something important to say to you, but you are not important enough for me to bother putting it across eloquently."
2006-10-25 05:32:38 · answer #6 · answered by Ivy 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Improper plurals drive me crazy, as does the incorrect use of apostrophes in contractions. My favorite (or least favorite) is "your" when "you're" is correct. I see these mistakes even from educated people. My guess is, if they had had Miss Hale as their third grade teacher and Mr. Gilbert for high school English, they wouldn't be making these mistakes!
2006-10-25 06:32:36 · answer #7 · answered by Beth M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I'll come for the ride with you on that one. Personally I don't have any trouble with the possessive "its" or 'it is', and certainly never with plurals, but I confess I can never remember the rules with all the other possessives dot com (as the saying goes!) - like, if it belongs to Charles, is it Charles's, Charles', or with John, is it John's (yes I Know that's John is!) or Johns' - although I can't think of any of my real disasters off hand!!!
2006-10-25 05:31:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it does annoy me as does bad spelling.I understand that some people cannot help it as they have learning problems/difficulties but for those who have no problems it's terrible. I once had to correct a store who had made a mistake with an apostrophe on a massive advertising billboard. Pretty shocking if you ask me!!
2006-10-25 05:13:18 · answer #9 · answered by Inky Pinky Ponky 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh my god, you HAVE to read "Eats, Shoots and Leaves." You'd LOVE it!! This woman goes on an absolute tyrade about this. I laughed my as's off ;) hehehe
quote:
"I don't care if you have a PhD and have read all of King James twice. If you insist on writing, 'Good food at it's best,' you deserve to be struck by lightning, hacked up on the spot, and buried in an unmarked grave."
Seriously, it really bothers me as well. Yay for grammar sticklers!
2006-10-25 06:09:43 · answer #10 · answered by Eve 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋