Monday, June 16, 2008

Did you not take English classes?

I hate that people feel that it's ok to have incorrect spelling and grammar if they are writing on the Internet! My sister is particularly guilty of this, but I run into it everywhere - including places that should know better. Now, I know that I don't have perfect grammar ALL the time, and there are many occasions where my spell check catches a few words. Typing quickly, or being in a rush, can often lead to spelling and grammar mistakes. But seriously, people? Get with it. Because someday, your lack of grammar skills is going to catch up for you.

Biggest offender:
"I" instead of "me" when describing a photo. Ex: "This is Sarah and I at the zoo." NO. It's "Sarah and ME." You wouldn't say "This is I at the zoo," so what drives you to write "I"???

1st runner up:
"Your" instead of "you're." Ex: "Your beautiful." Your beautiful what?? It's YOU ARE beautiful! Get it right!

2nd runner up:
"There," "their," and "they're." Suggestion: Take the extra two seconds it takes to make sure you're using the correct version, so that you don't look like a complete and moronic asshole.

I shake my fist at bad grammar!

11 comments:

Sarah said...

Actually "alot" is the worst. I read a blog where she does that in every post and I cringe :(

For the record, most of my bad grammar is intentional. I am fully aware of every rule I break. It's the rogue linguist in me that likes to defy prescriptive rules. Yes, I am a nerd.

addy said...

I can't believe I left off "alot!" It bugs me EVERY time! I read a blog that does that too, and I sometimes have to look away, or skip that part. And I do the same thing - *most* times I have incorrect grammar it's intentional.

Rachel/The Sheriff said...

Your first two examples are my worst pet peeves - the "I" or "me" rule is SO EASY and it drives me crazy how often people screw it up!

And "your" vs. "you're" is the most abused one in the book, I think. It makes me nuts!!!

Granted, I have a journalism degree where I was taught some of this to a greater extent than the average person, but I also grew up in a house where proper grammer was stressed. And the examples we're giving are BASIC for ANY person who went to grammar school!

Nilsa S. said...

OMG - I hate that, too! And actually used to use it as a litmus test when I was in the online dating world. If they couldn't spell, they weren't for me. (Or is it I?)

Ha. I kid.

m. m. schnee said...

Aaron text messages me with correct usage of they're/there/their and your/you're, and every time it solidifies my love for him. Not because I am being patronizing, but because so many people KNOW grammar and are LAZY.....
and it pisses me right off, too!

I do have to say that your caption rules are open to debate... You cannot assume that "This is____" is the context. I know sensically, that could be the case; however, as a label vs. a complete sentence, a caption can simply list the subjects (in which case "I" is appropriate). In this regard, if you choos to formulate a sentence, the caption leaves the action open-ended: i.e. "Sarah and I...stand on a mountain, ride bikes, fold origami cranes, etc.)" The onlooker fills in the rest based off of viewing the details of the photo.

p.s. please overlook the fact that the grammar on my blog proves that I am a lazy American....but shouldn't that be creative license? I am a rogue linguist,too, dammit!

Gypsy Pie said...

I find my own mistakes frequently, just proof reading helps a good deal..." Because someday, you lack of grammar skills is going to catch up for you." (from your page)

addy said...

Exactly! Thanks for that... Maybe I need to change my pov since I've read this post numerous times and didn't catch that one!

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com said...

honey I am LOVING THIS!

I hate the 'alot' thing too

Their, They're and There sucks

And so does misspelling like "heals" for heels, and other stupid things.....

I am loving your blog :) totally adding you

Mary Ann said...

"Alot" has been my pet peeve for forever! It's part of all of my classroom rules. Of course, last summer my summer school students wrote me thank you cards and at least two of them wrote. "I learned alot from you." - They were not being intentionally ironic. :-(

Carley said...

The grammatical error that makes me cringe is using "is" instead of "are", "were", or "was." It seems to happen alarmingly often. Every time I hear it, deep down inside I lose my cool. WTF WTF WTF is wrong with these people???

Anonymous said...

The I and me thing is one of my biggest pet peeves. It drives me crazy!!! People think they are being smart by saying I instead of me. But genius, it doesn't make sense! Grr...