English, grammar, usage....arghhhhh!

[CubsFan]

I am a 50-year-old man with a six grade education it’s a long story about why but there’s no need to get into that. I find this thread so offensive I already feel bad about not having a good education.I sure didn’t expect to come on R2R and be ridiculed.I do realize this thread isn’t directed at me but it is very hurtful to people like me.I am not trying to pick a fight with anybody in anyway just had to get it off my chest. Hope everybody has a great day.

I worked with a guy who has trouble with reading and writing. His learning disability is pretty obvious. He knows that it holds him back in a lot of ways including advancement at work. He takes classes at the local community college. He’s in his mid forties. I think he sets a heck of an example for his kid. That kid is at the top of his class in academics. It’s not too late unless you’ve decided to do nothing about it.

 

[PirateDan]

I worked with a guy who has trouble with reading and writing. His learning disability is pretty obvious. He knows that it holds him back in a lot of ways including advancement at work. He takes classes at the local community college. He’s in his mid forties. I think he sets a heck of an example for his kid. That kid is at the top of his class in academics. It’s not too late unless you’ve decided to do nothing about it.

I have laid hardwood floors for 30 years. The company I’ve been with for the last 20 gave me a promotion 4 months ago. Lots of emails all day long so I’m getting better. The people I work with are very kind because they know I’m trying. My brain hurts.

 

[Keepswiming]

I am a 50-year-old man with a six grade education it’s a long story about why but there’s no need to get into that. I find this thread so offensive I already feel bad about not having a good education.I sure didn’t expect to come on R2R and be ridiculed.I do realize this thread isn’t directed at me but it is very hurtful to people like me.I am not trying to pick a fight with anybody in anyway just had to get it off my chest. Hope everybody has a great day.

I am sorry that this thread offends you, I understand where you are coming from. Language is a learned skill that is perfected through practice, just like any other learned skill in our lives. This thread is a product of a personal complex, and the need to correct others without considering the entire picture... Don't stress it, it's just them expressing their opinions, which means NOTHING in the grand scheme of things. Obviously you are going to read a thread that is addressing something that you are already insecure about.

I work in the medical field. We have our own language that "non-medical" people often don't understand. This doesn't mean they are not educated and stupid. It only proves that they don't have the experience. In medicine we refer to the brain as "plastic" for this exact reason. The more exposure to something, the stronger the connection in your brain which makes you better at it. Medical professional can point out "non-medical" people's flaws by stating they cannot articulate our language because we too have a difficult form of written communication. Don't worry about it, ignorance can produce nasty people.

 

[mich2599]

I have laid hardwood floors for 30 years. The company I’ve been with for the last 20 gave me a promotion 4 months ago. Lots of emails all day long so I’m getting better. The people I work with are very kind because they know I’m trying. My brain hurts.

Congrats on promotion!! :) Don’t be ashamed. English is my second language and sometimes I screw up too speaking/grammar wise. I’d rather speak broken English any day and know more languages than only speak perfect English.

 

[Hemmdog]

I feel personally attacked by the onomatopoeia example with repeating letters. I’m with you @PirateDan; this thread is largely offensive.

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm torn on this subject.

Some usage drives me crazy, and I think because it was drilled into me...to mention a few:

irregardless
me and I misuse
Can instead of May


That said, I'm also a very strong believer of S.I. Hayakawa, a linguist and professor of English (and Senator for Cali), who taught that as long as the words are understood, the correct use is secondary. It reminds me of the movies/shows of The Bowery Boys, and Slip Mahoney, the gang leader, who always wanted to show how smart he was by using large words......albeit incorrectly, but understood. As an example, "You better bring an umbrella because it looks like we're going to get a little participation."

 

[Jon Fishman]

Ok, so I consider myself a grammar/English/usage policeman. I correct my kids all the time. They typically ignore me. But, there’s. There’re or there are a few things that bug the poop out of me. Anemones host clowns. Clowns do not host anemones. So if you say “what clowns will host this anemone?” you should be saying “will this anemone host this clown?”

Also, “I done went” is a huge pet peeve of mine. There are teachers around here that use phrases like that. I don’t get it.

I do understand what a pain it is to text and work on a tablet and still spell and punctuate properly. I abbreviate often and I can forgive much. I do, however, see stuff that makes my skin crawl.

So what English/grammar/usage errors do find most offensive?

Had to..... All in fun! I type “conversationally” also....

 

[tdlawdo]

I have laid hardwood floors for 30 years. The company I’ve been with for the last 20 gave me a promotion 4 months ago. Lots of emails all day long so I’m getting better. The people I work with are very kind because they know I’m trying. My brain hurts.

Seems like you are doing just fine to me. Actually it doesn’t really matter because what makes this site, this hobby and this works so wonderful is the diversity.

 

[Keepswiming]

I have laid hardwood floors for 30 years. The company I’ve been with for the last 20 gave me a promotion 4 months ago. Lots of emails all day long so I’m getting better. The people I work with are very kind because they know I’m trying. My brain hurts.

Soon enough your worries will be a thing of the past, don't dwell! All medical students experience this "brain pain" from learning as well, you are not alone, just a different flavor!

 

[WVNed]

@PirateDan
A 6th grade education 50 years ago is like 2 years of college now. Maybe 4 years in some cases.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I can usually over look the majority of grammatical errors (a learned behavior since being a teacher - because there are some subcultures in the US that just don't care) but I hate when I have to read a sentence multiple times to figure out what someone is trying to say.

There are only a few phrases that really irritate me:
"I've done did that..."
"What had happened was..."
"I seen..."

 

[Joey Mig]

 

[redfishbluefish]

One more grip from me, punctuation! If I open a thread and there are no comas, periods, and better yet, not a single capital letter, I immediately leave that post.

 

[tdlawdo]

Random comedic quip of the day...

Why is it we can’t spell “a comma date” yet it is what many of us does in our own personal relationships!

 

[CubsFan]

@PirateDan
A 6th grade education 50 years ago is like 2 years of college now. Maybe 4 years in some cases.

It’s not. Unfortunately, it’s perceived value might be. Crazy times.

 

[cmcoker]

Anybody listen to A Way with Words on NPR?

 

[Signalhead]

Hook on phonics failed me...

 

[KrisReef]

I'm with the OP, I hate when folks say they "learnt" something. what the heck? It's LEARNED you imbecile.

Yup, learned is correct English, but if the learner feels like they were say; “an imbecile” before they learned something, the use of “learnt” would be a clever use of poetic language like Bill Shakespeare was famous for doing.
Failure to gather this may indicate a lack of appreciation of these finer linguistic nuisances perhaps?

That aside, I got an education on the streets and in the school district of Los Angeles way back when. It did not help that I have dyslexia and as I get older I can’t see what I wrote much less what autocorrect changed for me.

Going forward:
If I ever get on your nerves with my bad spelling and strange grammar I hope you’ll take comfort in the fact that from where you sit you can’t and don’t have to smell my unwashed carcass or the full skimmer cup on my reef.
I’ll bathe and empty the cup tonight in your honor, and hope you will be able to withstand my English offensives when they happen.

CA peach? Shalom!
:)

 

[BestMomEver]

I am a 50-year-old man with a six grade education it’s a long story about why but there’s no need to get into that. I find this thread so offensive I already feel bad about not having a good education.I sure didn’t expect to come on R2R and be ridiculed.I do realize this thread isn’t directed at me but it is very hurtful to people like me.I am not trying to pick a fight with anybody in anyway just had to get it off my chest. Hope everybody has a great day.

I’m so sorry. I certainly didn’t mean to offend you or anyone else. It was kind of a joke/rant and not directed toward anyone. FWIW, you speak clearly and concisely. It’s apparent that it’s important to you. Again, I’m truly sorry. Hey.... @revhtree .... will you remove this thread please.

 

[BestMomEver]

Yup, learned is correct English, but if the learner feels like they were say; “an imbecile” before they learned something, the use of “learnt” would be a clever use of poetic language like Bill Shakespeare was famous for doing.
Failure to gather this may indicate a lack of appreciation of these finer linguistic nuisances perhaps?

That aside, I got an education on the streets and in the school district of Los Angeles way back when. It did not help that I have dyslexia and as I get older I can’t see what I wrote much less what autocorrect changed for me.

Going forward:
If I ever get on your nerves with my bad spelling and strange grammar I hope you’ll take comfort in the fact that from where you sit you can’t and don’t have to smell my unwashed carcass or the full skimmer cup on my reef.
I’ll bathe and empty the cup tonight in your honor, and hope you will be able to withstand my English offensives when they happen.

CA peach? Shalom!
:)

I’m sincerely sorry if I’ve offended you. I’ve asked that this thread be removed. I hope you get a chance to read my reply before that happens.