Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Bad Grammar and Spelling

I have to say, it bugs me that people do not take the time to learn how to spell, to punctuate their sentences, and to use proper grammar.

I'm not the only one with this problem.  Other old ladies have it, too. Judy Rose has a website devoted to writing proper English.  She calls her work "Writing Repair".

When I was at the Outdoor Farm Show last week, I noticed a banner with a glaring spelling error, and every time I walked by the tent I shuddered.  Oh, for a great big permanent marker to use on offending banners at farm shows!

I know that anyone can make a typing error, and I am willing to extend grace.  Even I, the Grammar Nazi, have  been known to make a typo.

I was looking at my own blog today, and saw this:

The words He speaks are spirit and life too those who live in Him. 

Yikes!  I had to edit the post immediately.

What bugs me about all of this is that anyone can learn the difference between to, too, and two.  A little research and study will teach you that there is no word such as "walla", and there is a difference between there, their and they're.  Don't get me started on possessives - some people can't (or won't) learn how to use an apostrophe properly.

That bugs me.

5 comments:

  1. I was JUST talking to a friend of mine about viola/voila/wallah!!

    Arg!

    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yes, Rachel, I see that.

    In your sentence "Apostrophe's" does not need an apostrophe, because you are saying that more than one apostrophe (apostrophes) confuse you.

    You need an apostrophe to indicate possessives. For example, Rachel's bike. The bike belongs to Rachel, so it's Rachel's bike. Notice I also used an apostrophe for the word "it's". That is because that contraction means "it is" and it has been shortened to it's. The possessive form "its" NEVER needs an apostrophe. The cat licked its fur. If there is an apostrophe in it's, it's because you can substitute "it is".

    Clear as mud?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can remember several bank account number's off by heart, but to remember this? Arg.

    (Was that right?)

    ReplyDelete
  4. No. Sorry. The apostrophe is not necessary for more than one. You remember more than one bank account number, so you remember numbers. Plural. Not possessive.

    You would use an apostrophe if the word were a possessive. The bank's tellers are all very pretty. The tellers belong to the bank. Also, the bank's going to be open on Saturday. That is short for "bank is".

    Does that help?

    ReplyDelete