15 Grammar Goofs That Make You Look Silly

[flapeyre]

School of Fail: English 101: Listen Up, Internet.

Shout it from the rooftops!

-- Francis
There are laws to protect the freedom of the press's speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the people from the press.
--Mark Twain

 

[mscallisto]

I guess I'm guilty of saying "would've" "could've" "should've" but spell check (in Tek-Tips) doesn't mind.

Sam

 

[flapeyre]

Spell check? Chrome does my spell checking; it's not forum-based, as far as I know.

-- Francis
There are laws to protect the freedom of the press's speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the people from the press.
--Mark Twain

 

[SkipVought]

I've seen a poster used "I should of..."

Skip,
[sub]
Just traded in my old subtlety...
for a NUANCE![/sub]

 

[tcsbiz]

One of my kids had a high school math teacher who wrote, "The principle reason he has a low grade are his study habits. He should of studied harder for the exam".

When I pointed out the teacher's mistakes he explained that he was a math teacher, not an English teacher.

It made me cringe. I was shocked.

I keep trying to do something about my procrastination but I keep putting it off until tomorrow.

 

[flapeyre]

One of my kids had a high school math teacher who wrote, "The principle reason he has a low grade are his study habits. He should of studied harder for the exam".

That teacher should of been reported to the principle's office [sic].

I work with an accounts-receivable application, which constantly refers to "principle balance" rather than the correct "principal balance". Unfortunately, that's a low-priority fix.

And don't get me started on "working capitol".

-- Francis
There are laws to protect the freedom of the press's speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the people from the press.
--Mark Twain

 

[Annihilannic]

I guess I'm guilty of saying "would've" "could've" "should've" but spell check (in Tek-Tips) doesn't mind.

There's nothing wrong with those.

Annihilannic
[small]tgmlify - code syntax highlighting for your tek-tips posts[/small]

 

[CajunCenturion]

Annihilannic is right. There is nothing wrong with would've, could've, or should've. Would've is a contraction of "would have", not "would of". The problem is using "of" instead of "have" when not using the contraction.


--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[mscallisto]

I knew I should've gone into teaching, I'm a natural!!

Sam

 

[mintjulep]

How did they manage to leave out advice/advise?

 

[gbaughma]

Hehe... fellow failblogger.


Just my 2¢

"What the captain doesn't realize is that we've secretly replaced his Dilithium Crystals with new Folger's Crystals."

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[tcsbiz]

And don't get me started on "working capitol".

Are any capitols working these days?



I keep trying to do something about my procrastination but I keep putting it off until tomorrow.

 

[CajunCenturion]

==> Are any capitols working these days?
No, the capitol is not working at all.

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[flapeyre]

And nobody within the Capitol seems to be working, either.



-- Francis
There are laws to protect the freedom of the press's speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the people from the press.
--Mark Twain

 

[ChrisHirst]

Someone should tell them that their use of "fail" is gramatically incorrect.

Surely it should be School of failure

The use of "fail" when people actually mean 'failure' or 'failed' such as "you're a fail" or "that attempt was a fail" crap really does grate on my sensibilities!!



AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH </rant>


Chris.

Indifference will be the downfall of mankind, but who cares?
Time flies like an arrow, however, fruit flies like a banana.
Webmaster Forum

 

[KenCunningham]

That's a fail Chris!

The internet - allowing those who don't know what they're talking about to have their say.

 

[ponoodle]

What about who and whom? This irks me even though I get it wrong all the time.

 

[Welshbird]

My sister and I still use the words 'Who Toom?' for just that reason...

Fee

"The cure for anything is salt water – sweat, tears, or the sea." Isak Dinesen

 

[CajunCenturion]

Mute <> Moot.

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read
FAQ181-2886
Wise men speak because they have something to say, fools because they have to say something. - Plato

 

[mscallisto]

I must agree with CajunCenturion since the synonyms for moot include:
arguable, controvertible, disputable, doubtable, doubtful, issuable, negotiable and questionable all which invite debate.

sam