You are wron about my not having looked in the Oxford. I don't have it here (all twenty= volumns), but you also haven't looked at the Third International.
OK? That's it.
The 20-odd volume dictionary you are referring to is no doubt the Oxford English Dictionary, which is usually abbreviated "OED." The OED is an historical dictionary, which means that it tells you when words enter the language and how they were used in specific periods. Usually, it provides a date and the word in context (usually some kind of literary reference). It does not focus on grammar and usage.
And yes, I do have copies of both the compact OED and the Shorter 2-volume here with me. I have access to the 20+ volume at the office.
And "it's" means "it is."
"Its" is a possessive pronoun.
There are no exceptions. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either wrong or intentionally lying.
And I hope you didn't mean to write this in a discussion of the proper use of the apostrophe:
Quote:
There are several way's of expressing , er, it.
If you did, you're misusing the 's in "way's" [sic]
It's like the word regardless. That's accepted. Irregardless is used as well. It isn't wrong. But it's isn't preferred. Many dictionaries won't have it. Some do, and they say to use respective.
First of all, creditals: I copy edit college textbooks.
Second, it's is never possessive.
Third, "irregardless" is a redundancy at best--ir- and -less both meaning "without." It is "regardless."
Right and wrong, correct and incorrect don't matter.
What matters is this:
1) Can people understand you?
2) Will they think you're a moron for using certain nonstandard lexigraphical or dialectal items?
Other than that, nobody should worry about this shite at all. Spelling and punctuation rules are, quite frankly, annoying and stupid. As such, they didn't even exist 300 years ago.
And don't get me started on prescriptivist grammar "rules."
(For what it's worth...which is admittedly not much...I say this as an English teacher, a former editor, and someone who's studied the English language for close to 20 years.)
Right and wrong, correct and incorrect don't matter.
What matters is this:
1) Can people understand you?
2) Will they think you're a moron for using certain nonstandard lexigraphical or dialectal items?
Other than that, nobody should worry about this shite at all. Spelling and punctuation rules are, quite frankly, annoying and stupid. As such, they didn't even exist 300 years ago.
And don't get me started on prescriptivist grammar "rules."
(For what it's worth...which is admittedly not much...I say this as an English teacher, a former editor, and someone who's studied the English language for close to 20 years.)
I'm no prescriptivist either. Frankly, they creep me out. But the alternative is not necessarily simply to throw up the hands and say "To hell with it! Let's just not bother with spelling or grammar. Hell, let's just not bother with proper usage of letters, either."
Yes, the language changes. And yes, some people need to get over it. But to throw the baby out with the bathwater (and the tub) is a bit extreme.
And 300 years ago English still hadn't worked out the difference between "C" and "K."
My English 102 professor used "their" when he should have used "they're" on the chalkboard the first day of class. And I'm positive it wasn't an accident. I'll never forget it.
I've even found myself using the wrong form of 'their', 'they're,' or 'there' at times. I KNOW how to use them properly, but for some reason I type the wrong one. Usually I'll accidentally use 'their' for 'they're.' Go figure.
To stay on topic, I occasionally even type the wrong version of "it's" or "its."
Maybe I'll just stop using contractions and the problem will solve itself! \
Comments
Originally posted by melgross
You are wron about my not having looked in the Oxford. I don't have it here (all twenty= volumns), but you also haven't looked at the Third International.
OK? That's it.
The 20-odd volume dictionary you are referring to is no doubt the Oxford English Dictionary, which is usually abbreviated "OED." The OED is an historical dictionary, which means that it tells you when words enter the language and how they were used in specific periods. Usually, it provides a date and the word in context (usually some kind of literary reference). It does not focus on grammar and usage.
And yes, I do have copies of both the compact OED and the Shorter 2-volume here with me. I have access to the 20+ volume at the office.
And "it's" means "it is."
"Its" is a possessive pronoun.
There are no exceptions. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either wrong or intentionally lying.
And I hope you didn't mean to write this in a discussion of the proper use of the apostrophe:
There are several way's of expressing , er, it.
If you did, you're misusing the 's in "way's" [sic]
Cheers
Originally posted by melgross
...
It's like the word regardless. That's accepted. Irregardless is used as well. It isn't wrong. But it's isn't preferred. Many dictionaries won't have it. Some do, and they say to use respective.
First of all, creditals: I copy edit college textbooks.
Second, it's is never possessive.
Third, "irregardless" is a redundancy at best--ir- and -less both meaning "without." It is "regardless."
Originally posted by Fangorn
First of all, creditals: I copy edit college textbooks.
I teach them. In college. In English classes.
Do I have enough street cred?
What matters is this:
1) Can people understand you?
2) Will they think you're a moron for using certain nonstandard lexigraphical or dialectal items?
Other than that, nobody should worry about this shite at all. Spelling and punctuation rules are, quite frankly, annoying and stupid. As such, they didn't even exist 300 years ago.
And don't get me started on prescriptivist grammar "rules."
(For what it's worth...which is admittedly not much...I say this as an English teacher, a former editor, and someone who's studied the English language for close to 20 years.)
I can't believe there is actually debate about this, even if one side consists of only one individual.
But thanks for the chuckle.
Originally posted by DCQ
Right and wrong, correct and incorrect don't matter.
What matters is this:
1) Can people understand you?
2) Will they think you're a moron for using certain nonstandard lexigraphical or dialectal items?
Other than that, nobody should worry about this shite at all. Spelling and punctuation rules are, quite frankly, annoying and stupid. As such, they didn't even exist 300 years ago.
And don't get me started on prescriptivist grammar "rules."
(For what it's worth...which is admittedly not much...I say this as an English teacher, a former editor, and someone who's studied the English language for close to 20 years.)
I'm no prescriptivist either. Frankly, they creep me out. But the alternative is not necessarily simply to throw up the hands and say "To hell with it! Let's just not bother with spelling or grammar. Hell, let's just not bother with proper usage of letters, either."
Yes, the language changes. And yes, some people need to get over it. But to throw the baby out with the bathwater (and the tub) is a bit extreme.
And 300 years ago English still hadn't worked out the difference between "C" and "K."
Originally posted by Anders
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING!!!!!!!
I can't believe I read this whole thread.
It's is never possessive. Its is possessive.
Please respect the pocket protectors a little better or everyone is disqualified!!
Originally posted by CosmoNut
I'm still trying to decide whether this thread is incredibly funny or incredibly pathetic.
Nerds gotta fight too.
Originally posted by aplnub
Nerds gotta fight too.
You're posting in a grammar thread on a forum devoted to rumors about a computer company.
My English 102 professor used "their" when he should have used "they're" on the chalkboard the first day of class. And I'm positive it wasn't an accident. I'll never forget it.
btw, what a great thread.
guess i shouldn't be so quick to judge.
To stay on topic, I occasionally even type the wrong version of "it's" or "its."
Maybe I'll just stop using contractions and the problem will solve itself!
Originally posted by Fangorn
First of all, creditals: I copy edit college textbooks.
Credentials.
Originally posted by midwinter
You're posting in a grammar thread on a forum devoted to rumors about a computer company.
I was being funny nerd brother.