Deggesty Bruce Kelly L.O., I fully agree. Every day I come across misspellings and missing or misused words in the "professional" writing that's posted at news and feature outlets of every kind, including some of the largest players in the media business. Seems to happen less often in print, most likely because there's more time (and personnel?) allotted to properly proof and edit material that's going to be "etched in stone" (inked onto paper) within a matter of days or hours. It's a different story with web material, where it's all about getting the news up there and posted as quickly as possible, often within minutes. A couple of months ago, a young journalist reached out to me for some advice as he headed toward a new postion with a fairly popular magazine. Among the more than 4,000 words of worn-out wisdom I game him was my strong recommendation to always read through a finished piece multiple times, mostly with the eyes, but at least once or twice with the mouth and ears, in order to both SEE and HEAR potential flaws before committing the material to public consumption. Bruce, good advice! I have found that I need to read what I have written before I send it on, to catch the wrong keys that I pressed as well as making certain that what I wrote means what I intended. One thing that I have long noticed is that people tend to imitate the way their parents and others around them talked as they were growing up. I have a good friend here where I live who talks in a manner other than that which I heard at home as I was growing up; I understand what he says, and say nothing about his grammar or usage.
Bruce Kelly L.O., I fully agree. Every day I come across misspellings and missing or misused words in the "professional" writing that's posted at news and feature outlets of every kind, including some of the largest players in the media business. Seems to happen less often in print, most likely because there's more time (and personnel?) allotted to properly proof and edit material that's going to be "etched in stone" (inked onto paper) within a matter of days or hours. It's a different story with web material, where it's all about getting the news up there and posted as quickly as possible, often within minutes. A couple of months ago, a young journalist reached out to me for some advice as he headed toward a new postion with a fairly popular magazine. Among the more than 4,000 words of worn-out wisdom I game him was my strong recommendation to always read through a finished piece multiple times, mostly with the eyes, but at least once or twice with the mouth and ears, in order to both SEE and HEAR potential flaws before committing the material to public consumption.
L.O., I fully agree.
Every day I come across misspellings and missing or misused words in the "professional" writing that's posted at news and feature outlets of every kind, including some of the largest players in the media business. Seems to happen less often in print, most likely because there's more time (and personnel?) allotted to properly proof and edit material that's going to be "etched in stone" (inked onto paper) within a matter of days or hours. It's a different story with web material, where it's all about getting the news up there and posted as quickly as possible, often within minutes.
A couple of months ago, a young journalist reached out to me for some advice as he headed toward a new postion with a fairly popular magazine. Among the more than 4,000 words of worn-out wisdom I game him was my strong recommendation to always read through a finished piece multiple times, mostly with the eyes, but at least once or twice with the mouth and ears, in order to both SEE and HEAR potential flaws before committing the material to public consumption.
Bruce, good advice! I have found that I need to read what I have written before I send it on, to catch the wrong keys that I pressed as well as making certain that what I wrote means what I intended.
One thing that I have long noticed is that people tend to imitate the way their parents and others around them talked as they were growing up. I have a good friend here where I live who talks in a manner other than that which I heard at home as I was growing up; I understand what he says, and say nothing about his grammar or usage.
The other thing I will add - let time elapse between proof readings - when proofing soon after the initial writing your eyes and mind - being intimately engrossed in what you have written will tend to gloss over your 'detail' mistakes as you are concentrating on your lofty ideas. Time lets you look at it more critically and more objectively - both for content and detail.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Euclid selector 54light15 What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes. Oh..oh!! I got this one! "What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes." should have the apostrophe before the S in apostrophes. Right? While I'm here, what's wrong with my, "I got this one!" Overuse of exclamation point.
selector 54light15 What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes. Oh..oh!! I got this one! "What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes." should have the apostrophe before the S in apostrophes. Right? While I'm here, what's wrong with my, "I got this one!"
54light15 What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes.
What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes.
Oh..oh!! I got this one! "What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes." should have the apostrophe before the S in apostrophes. Right?
While I'm here, what's wrong with my, "I got this one!"
Overuse of exclamation point.
Well, yes, rather.
Also, the present tense of "to have" is "have", not "got". Further, it is no better stated as "I have got this one,' which is also often seen.
selector Euclid selector 54light15 What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes. Oh..oh!! I got this one! "What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes." should have the apostrophe before the S in apostrophes. Right? While I'm here, what's wrong with my, "I got this one!" Overuse of exclamation point. Well, yes, rather. Also, the present tense of "to have" is "have", not "got". Further, it is no better stated as "I have got this one,' which is also often seen.
Ain't I crabby?
Johnny
What Balt added is absolutely right. The phrase "sleep on it" comes to mind. I'll always find points in my writing to polish further when I come back to it with fresh eyes and brain a day or so later. When that luxury of time is available.
BaltACDThe other thing I will add - let time elapse between proof readings - when proofing soon after the initial writing your eyes and mind - being intimately engrossed in what you have written will tend to gloss over your 'detail' mistakes as you are concentrating on your lofty ideas. Time lets you look at it more critically and more objectively - both for content and detail.
It's also a good idea, if the writing is important, to have another person read what is written.
I have read over something several times, only to have someone else catch a mistake.
York1 John
The "have" in "I have got this one" seems bulky. Saying "I have this one" fails to convey the urgency of providing a snap answer. I would just go with "I got this one" and declare it to be an idiom, so it need not comply with grammar rules.
I could care less.
Lithonia Operator ~snip~ A few months ago (I wish I had saved the mag, because I meant to ask you folks about it.) in Trains, there was a run-on sentence that I spent about ten minutes simply trying to figure out what the heck it was saying. I never could. And neither could my wife. I have a degree in Journalism. She has two college degrees. But we were stumped. Free hall passes for all of you!
~snip~
A few months ago (I wish I had saved the mag, because I meant to ask you folks about it.) in Trains, there was a run-on sentence that I spent about ten minutes simply trying to figure out what the heck it was saying. I never could. And neither could my wife. I have a degree in Journalism. She has two college degrees. But we were stumped.
Free hall passes for all of you!
Most likely I still have that issue sitting on my floor right next to me, but it's one I possibly haven't read yet. Knowing myself though, I'll read it as if the puncuation is there when it really isn't.
As for listening to millenials speak, first you have to decide which language are they speaking, the Queens English(which I doubt any Americans speak) or American English. I know English isn't defined that way, but it should be because the two languages are far enough apart to warrant their own names.
Lithonia Operator Deggesty 54light15 What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes. Is it now taught in schools that if an "s" is added to a word it must be separated from the word by an apostrophe? And that the historical possessive of "it" ("its") must be changed to "it's" (which was the contraction of "it is"? No, Johnny, nothing has changed as far as what is correct. It's still just as you learned it. But the teaching of English is failing.
Deggesty 54light15 What drive's me nut's is misplaced apostrophes. Is it now taught in schools that if an "s" is added to a word it must be separated from the word by an apostrophe? And that the historical possessive of "it" ("its") must be changed to "it's" (which was the contraction of "it is"?
Is it now taught in schools that if an "s" is added to a word it must be separated from the word by an apostrophe? And that the historical possessive of "it" ("its") must be changed to "it's" (which was the contraction of "it is"?
No, Johnny, nothing has changed as far as what is correct. It's still just as you learned it. But the teaching of English is failing.
Well they say that America and England are two countries separated by a common language.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
GERALD L MCFARLANE JRAs for listening to millenials speak, first you have to decide which language are they speaking,...
If it is millennials, they use the word “literally” in literally every sentence.
Years ago I worked in the pressroom of a newspaper. At that time, there was a "proofing" room, with the people working there proofreading everything.
The article was written by a reporter, checked by an editor, typed by the linotype operators, and then approved by the proofreaders.
Even at that, the pressmen would still catch mistakes once the presses had begun. Nobody was happy when the presses had to be stopped to make a correction.
Euclid ...I could care less.
...I could care less.
Thank goodness.
Just a Thought.
Do Iguanas eat Potatoes in Idaho? or travel in Heated Reefers on the Head End behind UP F3s w plows on the SI so the cars are First Out and thereby be Iced in Canada forthwith??
Thank You.
NDGDo Iguanas eat Potatoes in Idaho? or travel in Heated Reefers on the Head End behind UP F3s w plows on the SI so the cars are First Out and thereby be Iced in Canada forthwith??
F7s. With Phase 3 winterization hatches, the later style of lifting rings, and double secret back transition relay logic probation.
It's sorta important: do those heated reefers have shackle mounting hardpoints? Very small reptile ones?
Overmod It's sorta important: do those heated reefers have shackle mounting hardpoints? Very small reptile ones?
For that service I don't think they will be heated.
And while this isn't a spelling error, the FEMA boxcar conspiracy theorists really need to learn what a boxcar is.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Euclid GERALD L MCFARLANE JR As for listening to millenials speak, first you have to decide which language are they speaking,... If it is millennials, they use the word “literally” in literally every sentence.
GERALD L MCFARLANE JR As for listening to millenials speak, first you have to decide which language are they speaking,...
ok boomer
like omg lol, ive LITERALLY never heard any of my bffs say literally like, at all!!!!!!!
SD70DudeFor that service I don't think they will be heated.
They have to be. Reptiles are poikilotherms.
And the white boxcars with shackles were FEMA 1.0, before they got the additional funding for the articulated trilevels with built-in brainwashing facilities.
They store the hundreds of thousands of rounds of AP ball and WP and fragmentation grenades on the bottom level, where it has less deleterious effect on curve wear and potential string lining. So it's really only two levels with the hardpoints. Not sure why foamers don't recognize that; it's right up the alley for rivet-counters.
And of course those cars don't need windows, the systems have run Linux for decades now, since giving up on the purpose-coded stuff in Ada.
SD70Dudeok boomer like omg lol, ive LITERALLY never heard any of my bffs say literally like, at all!!!!!!!
Boomer reply:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-LArv-sEQU
I could certainly picture her in a leather teddy! Totally!
Amazing that Moon Unit was only 14 when she recorded that.
And why am I not surprised that butchering the Queen's English is far from a new thing.
It's hard to choose the best Zappa song, but the long version of 'Yellow Snow' always has been my personal favourite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpNn1nht0_8
SD70DudeIt's hard to choose the best Zappa song, but the long version of 'Yellow Snow' always has been my personal favourite.
Mine was "Montana".
SD70DudeAnd why am I not surprised that butchering the Queen's English is far from a new thing.
The Brits butchered more than just the Queen's English from time to time.
BaltACD SD70Dude And why am I not surprised that butchering the Queen's English is far from a new thing. The Brits butchered more than just the Queen's English from time to time.
SD70Dude And why am I not surprised that butchering the Queen's English is far from a new thing.
You will surely recall a certain nearby city with a House that is now White.
You're welcome.
With everyone sheltering in place, it seems that this thread is proof that Trains posters have a lot of excess time on their hands to hagle over grammar rules that I studied 66 years ago. It has been fun to read. Thanks.
SD70DudeYou will surely recall a certain nearby city with a House that is now White.
A matter that, as I recall, was marked with a relative lack of butchery. And that at least nominally was provoked by American messing with Canada. (Specifically burning York, wasn't it?)
The butchery was elsewhere, for example that nasty Banastre Tarleton, or the death camps in New York during the early Revolutionary War.
Americans usually are unfamiliar with much of the wide range of ways the British butcher their part of the 'common language' -- the original '20s Fowler goes into many of these in some detail.
*
Banastre Tarleton! "Bloody Ban." "The Butcher of The Waxhaws." "Tarleton's Quarter." Hoo boy.
The most hated man in the American South, at least until a gent named Sherman came for a visit 80 years later.
Then Tarleton was forgotten until the Mel Gibson film "The Patriot" reminded everybody.
By the way, there was nothing in that movie that didn't happen somewhere, sometime, during the American Revolution. Trust me.
Old "Bloody Ban's" little bit of vandalism on the grand staircase in Carter's Grove Plantation near Williamsburg is still there to be seen and felt, or at least it was until the place went back into private ownership.
SD70Dude BaltACD SD70Dude And why am I not surprised that butchering the Queen's English is far from a new thing. The Brits butchered more than just the Queen's English from time to time. You will surely recall a certain nearby city with a House that is now White. You're welcome.
And I recall that same force thinking they would just sail up the Chesapeake Bay to capture Baltimore and ended up creating the National Anthem of the USA with their failue.
BaltACD SD70Dude BaltACD SD70Dude And why am I not surprised that butchering the Queen's English is far from a new thing. The Brits butchered more than just the Queen's English from time to time. You will surely recall a certain nearby city with a House that is now White. You're welcome. And I recall that same force thinking they would just sail up the Chesapeake Bay to capture Baltimore and ended up creating the National Anthem of the USA with their failue.
I have the impression that Congreve rockets were the model for the skyrockets that we shot off many years ago.
Overmod SD70Dude You will surely recall a certain nearby city with a House that is now White. A matter that, as I recall, was marked with a relative lack of butchery.
SD70Dude You will surely recall a certain nearby city with a House that is now White.
A matter that, as I recall, was marked with a relative lack of butchery.
We've always been too polite. Even after you guys burned Toronto (before it was called that, and well before it aspired to be American).
The British commander, George Cockburn, wanted to destroy the main D.C. newspaper, which had published a series of rude articles about him. In addition to demolishing its building, he had the troops remove and destroy every single letter "C" from the printing press, so that the American writers could not spell his name.
Again, you're welcome!
SD70DudeEven after you guys burned Toronto (before it was called that, and well before it aspired to be American).
You must really, really, really not like Toronto to write such a thing. That's been a more notoriously 'anti-Yankee' city than most anything in the world; in fact they still have special honors for Loyalist families who keep the old distinction alive.
And, indeed, why should they not? A very great many of the eggs broken to make the omelet of the United States belonged to people who supported the King and were dispossessed and summarily run out of town as a result. As with the Confederates mentioned in passing, old 'causes' can be carried many generations...
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