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#1 Nov 14 2008 at 10:34 AM Rating: Excellent
Nexa
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...and anyone else who hearts grammar and such. I just discovered that Bryan Garner has a "usage tip of the day" email service, haha. I love my "words of the day" from various sources, but this is funner.

Yeah, I said funner.

Maybe this is old hat to everyone else, but then, you should pretend since none of y'all told ME.

For example:
Quote:
Garner's Usage Tip of the Day


less (1).

Today: And "fewer."

Strictly, "less" applies to singular mass nouns {less water} and "fewer" applies to plural count nouns {fewer interruptions}. An exception occurs when the plural count nouns are divisible units of measurements that essentially function as mass nouns {less than $5 a day}. Only if the units of measure are clearly discrete is "fewer" called for {fewer sick days}.

Hence we say "less documentation" but "fewer documents"; "less of a burden" but "fewer burdens"; "less fattening" but "fewer calories." But loose usage crops up often -- e.g.: "You will have less [read 'fewer'] people to call and haunt about paying for their outfits and buying their accessories." "Advice for the Bride," Boston Herald (Mag.), 19 Oct. 1997, at 6.

But even with strict usage, it's sometimes a close call whether a thing is a mass noun or a count noun, and hence whether "less" or "fewer" is proper. Take, for example, a percentage: should it be "less than 10% of the homeowners were there" or "fewer than 10% of the homeowners were there"? One could argue that a percentage is something counted (i.e., 10 out of 100), and thus requires "fewer." One could also argue that a percentage is a collective mass noun (akin, e.g., to "money"), and thus requires "less." The latter is the better argument because most percentages aren't whole numbers anyway. And even if it were a toss-up between the two theories, it's sound to choose "less," which is less formal in tone than "fewer."


I don't know how anyone can consider me high maintenance when it takes so little to please me.

Nexa
____________________________
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
#2 Nov 14 2008 at 10:42 AM Rating: Good
Grammatical curmudgeonliness like this makes my nipples hard. Smiley: inlove
#3 Nov 14 2008 at 10:48 AM Rating: Excellent
Will swallow your soul
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One of my bookmarked sites.

I just browse it for fun.

I think Nexa and I share consciousness.

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In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

#4 Nov 14 2008 at 10:49 AM Rating: Excellent
Nexa
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Smash and I get in heated arguments about grammar. I've hung up on him over it before.

I'm not kidding.

Nexa
____________________________
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
#5 Nov 14 2008 at 10:50 AM Rating: Excellent
Nexa
*****
12,065 posts
Samira wrote:
One of my bookmarked sites.

I just browse it for fun.

I think Nexa and I share consciousness.



They have a daily calendar! I'm absurdly happy.

It's sad that thus far, that makes two things on my Christmas list, along with knee-socks.

Nexa
____________________________
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
#6 Nov 14 2008 at 10:53 AM Rating: Good
Nexa wrote:
Smash and I get in heated arguments about grammar. I've hung up on him over it before.

I'm not kidding.

Nexa


Smiley: lol My husband and I get into deep discussions about grammar as well. It almost came to blows over the Oxford Comma.

ETA: Speaking of which, Vampire Weekend has a new video for thier song Oxford Comma.

Edited, Nov 14th 2008 12:54pm by Belkira
#7 Nov 14 2008 at 11:02 AM Rating: Excellent
Nexa
*****
12,065 posts
For the record, I'm an Oxford comma girl. Maybe it's because of math equations, but I always feel like the absence of the "extra" comma makes it look like the last two items on the list are together as a unit. I hate that.

Nexa
____________________________
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
#8 Nov 14 2008 at 11:11 AM Rating: Excellent
Gurue
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16,299 posts
At one point, when Samira and I were in the same WoW guild (might have been the Asylum one), we got into a discussion over when it's correct to use "Bob and I" or "Bob and me". Sam and I were right, of course.

"* and I" gets waaaay overused.
#9 Nov 14 2008 at 11:19 AM Rating: Excellent
Will swallow your soul
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29,360 posts
Not much grates on my nerves like hearing/reading "Send it along to Bob and I for approval."

____________________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

#10 Nov 14 2008 at 11:26 AM Rating: Excellent
Nexa
*****
12,065 posts
One of the things that drives me nuts is the misuse of the word "nauseous." It takes all of my restraint to not correct coworkers, family members, etc. You don't need to tell me if you're nauseous darling, because I'd already know...right? It's one of those mistakes that's become so widespread, they've just @#%^ing added it to the dictionary, which drives me batsh*t.

Quote:
Usage Note: Traditional critics have insisted that nauseous is properly used only to mean "causing nausea" and that it is incorrect to use it to mean "affected with nausea," as in Roller coasters make me nauseous. In this example, nauseated is preferred by 72 percent of the Usage Panel. Curiously, though, 88 percent of the Panelists prefer using nauseating in the sentence The children looked a little green from too many candy apples and nauseating (not nauseous) rides. Since there is a lot of evidence to show that nauseous is widely used to mean "feeling sick," it appears that people use nauseous mainly in the sense in which it is considered incorrect. In its "correct" sense it is being supplanted by nauseating.


ETA: I only mention this one because I've heard it twice today, bah.

Nexa

Edited, Nov 14th 2008 2:26pm by Nexa
____________________________
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
#11 Nov 14 2008 at 11:34 AM Rating: Excellent
Will swallow your soul
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"Impact" as a verb still makes me cringe.

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In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

#12 Nov 14 2008 at 11:40 AM Rating: Excellent
Tracer Bullet
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^^^^
And then there's people who not only use "nauseous" in that manner, they also spell it "noxious."


#13 Nov 14 2008 at 11:42 AM Rating: Excellent
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Samira wrote:
Not much grates on my nerves like hearing/reading "Send it along to Bob and I for approval."



How about "Bob and myself"?
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#14 Nov 14 2008 at 11:45 AM Rating: Good
Nexa wrote:
For the record, I'm an Oxford comma girl. Maybe it's because of math equations, but I always feel like the absence of the "extra" comma makes it look like the last two items on the list are together as a unit. I hate that.

Nexa


I'm an Oxford comma girl, too, but more because I was always taught that a comma denoted a pause in speech, and when you list things like that you would naturally pause slightly before the last item.
#15 Nov 14 2008 at 11:45 AM Rating: Default
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color ...
#16 Nov 14 2008 at 11:53 AM Rating: Good
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"Irregardless." As if "regardless" wasn't enough, they need to add an "ir" to doubly make certain with suger and a cherry on top that something is understood not be regarded.

Totem
#17 Nov 14 2008 at 11:57 AM Rating: Excellent
Nexa
*****
12,065 posts
Totem wrote:
"Irregardless." As if "regardless" wasn't enough, they need to add an "ir" to doubly make certain with suger and a cherry on top that something is understood not be regarded.

Totem


Unthaw. /shudder

Nexa
____________________________
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.”
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
#18 Nov 14 2008 at 12:02 PM Rating: Good
Gurue
*****
16,299 posts
As a joke, the husband guy and I (haha) always say "I'd like to reiterate again". Most people think we're saying it right, too Smiley: frown
#19 Nov 14 2008 at 12:05 PM Rating: Decent
Skelly Poker Since 2008
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16,781 posts
Nexa wrote:


Unthaw. /shudder

Nexa
Wouldn't that be the same as refreeze?
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#20 Nov 14 2008 at 12:07 PM Rating: Good
Nexa wrote:
Totem wrote:
"Irregardless." As if "regardless" wasn't enough, they need to add an "ir" to doubly make certain with suger and a cherry on top that something is understood not be regarded.

Totem


Unthaw. /shudder

Nexa


I'm going to go home and put something in the freezer, and tell my husband I'm unthawing it.

Edit: Dammit, Elinda!! Smiley: mad Smiley: lol

Edited, Nov 14th 2008 2:08pm by Belkira
#21 Nov 14 2008 at 12:08 PM Rating: Excellent
Will swallow your soul
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29,360 posts
Mistress Nadenu wrote:
As a joke, the husband guy and I (haha)


Don't give me your sardonic laughter when you use it correctly, missy!

____________________________
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.

#22 Nov 14 2008 at 12:08 PM Rating: Good
YAY! Canaduhian
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10,293 posts
Nexa wrote:
Totem wrote:
"Irregardless." As if "regardless" wasn't enough, they need to add an "ir" to doubly make certain with suger and a cherry on top that something is understood not be regarded.

Totem


Unthaw. /shudder

Nexa


"I'm not adverse to _______."

Averse, people.Smiley: mad
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#23 Nov 14 2008 at 12:13 PM Rating: Excellent
Gurue
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16,299 posts
Samira wrote:
Mistress Nadenu wrote:
As a joke, the husband guy and I (haha)


Don't give me your sardonic laughter when you use it correctly, missy!



Sardonic. Another great word.
#24 Nov 14 2008 at 12:14 PM Rating: Excellent
Gurue
*****
16,299 posts
Oh, Oh!!!

"Intensive purposes"

Smiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: mad
#25 Nov 14 2008 at 12:16 PM Rating: Good
Mistress Nadenu wrote:
Oh, Oh!!!

"Intensive purposes"

Smiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: madSmiley: mad


Smiley: lol

I called the bank to get some check enclosure fees refunded on a savings account (we obviously don't need the service, there aren't any checks associated with the account). Our receptionist gave me a phone message today that the lady at the bank was going to take care of all of our "check and closure fees."
#26 Nov 14 2008 at 1:39 PM Rating: Decent
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Mistress Nadenu wrote:
As a joke, the husband guy and I (haha) always say "I'd like to reiterate again". Most people think we're saying it right, too Smiley: frown


Did you mean "... saying it correctly"?

My personal favorites are "would of, could of and should of". "Had went" is another one that seems to be popular and considered proper amongst the southern and mid-western set.
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