Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

[DickDalewood]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

I don't think correct grammar is "dying". The issue is that the internet provides an open forum for anyone to voice their opinion. Because of this, we are afforded the chance to see just how many people truly do not know correct grammar and/or English.

It honestly saddens me to see the number of people in life who can't speak properly, and just how many posters on these forums fail to put together a cohesive and coherent sentence.

Here is one of my least favorite speech mistakes... the misuse of the word "seen":

Ex: "I seen you at the movie last night."

It's SAW people, "I SAW you at the movie last night."

Sigh...

[Scottdau]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

I don't think correct grammar is "dying". The issue is that the internet provides an open forum for anyone to voice their opinion. Because of this, we are afforded the chance to see just how many people truly do not know correct grammar and/or English.

It honestly saddens me to see the number of people in life who can't speak properly, and just how many posters on these forums fail to put together a cohesive and coherent sentence.

Here is one of my least favorite speech mistakes... the misuse of the word "seen":

Ex: "I seen you at the movie last night."


It's SAW people, "I SAW you at the movie last night."

Sigh...

Here again is the rule changes I am talking about. Most people think seen is the past tense, so they used seen. Which in a way is right, but sounds wrong, so they change that. I think you use seen if you are talking about more then one thing. Like "I seen those two movies last night. But one once again this is what makes English hard to teach to EL Students.

[CMH]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

James's vs. James'

According to the Elements of Style you form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's whatever the final consonant. Thus:

Charles's friend.
Burns's poem.
the witch's malice.

Exceptions are the possessives of ancient proper names ending in -es and -is, the possessive Jesus', and such forms as for conscience' sake, for righteousness' sake. But such forms such as Moses' Laws, Isis' Temple are commonly replaced by

the laws of Moses
the temple of Isis

[CMH]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

I think 's and s' have become interchangeable today because both are commonly used. Unfortunately, Strunk Jr. never listed the ancient proper names (at least not to my knowledge) so it's difficult to know for sure what might qualify.

I would think that James is ancient English. But, I don't study the history of names so I don't know for sure.

[Blzer]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

I have a hard time taking anyone who doesn't use correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling seriously. Your opinions have to be expressed properly. Your point could be brilliant, but if you look like a moron in stating it then its all irrelevant.

So I'm jumping in late on making this post, but there was kind of a thread about this once before where I made my point about how writing format means a lot regarding a person's opinion and/or point of persuasion overall. I half-correlate a member's intellectuality with their professionalism. If they are too lazy to form properly structured sentences and use correct grammar and punctuation, then I feel that they either lack the maturity or necessary effort to form strong, readable opinions. Thus, I would more than likely pass on that post, giving it no chance.

I'm not complaining about it per se, but it certainly is easier on the eyes nonetheless. Capitalization means the difference between the sentences "I helped my uncle Jack off a horse" and "i helped my uncle jack off a horse."



Oh, and just for some giggles... Stewie pretty much sums up 50% of why I hate hip hop and rap garbage:



<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zgYDGMmndJ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zgYDGMmndJ8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

[TheMatrix31]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

So I'm jumping in late on making this post, but there was kind of a thread about this once before where I made my point about how writing format means a lot regarding a person's opinion and/or point of persuasion overall. I half-correlate a member's intellectuality with their professionalism. If they are too lazy to form properly structured sentences and use correct grammar and punctuation, then I feel that they either lack the maturity or necessary effort to form strong, readable opinions. Thus, I would more than likely pass on that post, giving it no chance.

I'm not complaining about it per se, but it certainly is easier on the eyes nonetheless. Capitalization means the difference between the sentences "I helped my uncle Jack off a horse" and "i helped my uncle jack off a horse."

I agree.

[Scottdau]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

Thanks Yankee. I agree with that post. Though it does seem like it is still a battle with the English experts. I laugh some at all the issues they have. Also you can never tell an English major they are wrong. I did that once with a English teacher and she damn near bit off my head!

[DickDalewood]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

Here again is the rule changes I am talking about. Most people think seen is the past tense, so they used seen. Which in a way is right, but sounds wrong, so they change that. I think you use seen if you are talking about more then one thing. Like "I seen those two movies last night. But one once again this is what makes English hard to teach to EL Students.

Nope. It would still be saw. "I saw those two movies last night."

"Seen" has to have a possessive in front of it, ie "I have seen that movie before" or "Have you seen this movie before".

I'm more than happy to answer any more questions though, as I was a journalism and English major, lol.

[DickDalewood]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

So I'm jumping in late on making this post, but there was kind of a thread about this once before where I made my point about how writing format means a lot regarding a person's opinion and/or point of persuasion overall. I half-correlate a member's intellectuality with their professionalism. If they are too lazy to form properly structured sentences and use correct grammar and punctuation, then I feel that they either lack the maturity or necessary effort to form strong, readable opinions. Thus, I would more than likely pass on that post, giving it no chance.

I'm not complaining about it per se, but it certainly is easier on the eyes nonetheless. Capitalization means the difference between the sentences "I helped my uncle Jack off a horse" and "i helped my uncle jack off a horse."

I agree. Although, just for the hell of it, let's get REAL technical with your sentence there. In actuality, you also need commas within the uncle Jack part, and here's why:

1) If you commonly refer to him as Uncle Jack, then the "uncle" also needs to be capitalized because in your usage, Uncle Jack is his name. In that case, the sentence would read, "I helped my Uncle Jack, off a horse."

2) If he is simply one of your uncles who happens to be named Jack, then Jack is separated from uncle, and the sentence would read, "I helped my uncle, Jack, off a horse."

However, to write it as you did, minus the commas, does nothing to prevent the inappropriate connotations of the sentence.

Punctuation is key

[lasthour]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

If someone is trying to get a serious reply on a message board they should use good grammar, so they are understood well.

However, calling someone lazy and then name calling them on a message board makes that person, in my opinion, look like the one that needs training on ethics and mannerisms.

Do you guys really believe that talking better English than someone else makes you a smarter individual? Well maybe in English, but......

In the end, you should use proper English, but come on fellas. You got Ebonics, street slang, internet talk, etc... Oh and poetry.

[Scottdau]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

Nope. It would still be saw. "I saw those two movies last night."

"Seen" has to have a possessive in front of it, ie "I have seen that movie before" or "Have you seen this movie before".

I'm more than happy to answer any more questions though, as I was a journalism and English major, lol.

That is right. I knew it is was something like that. Cool, but you would not say your were wrong even if you were!

[Scottdau]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

I agree. Although, just for the hell of it, let's get REAL technical with your sentence there. In actuality, you also need commas within the uncle Jack part, and here's why:

1) If you commonly refer to him as Uncle Jack, then the "uncle" also needs to be capitalized because in your usage, Uncle Jack is his name. In that case, the sentence would read, "I helped my Uncle Jack, off a horse."

2) If he is simply one of your uncles who happens to be named Jack, then Jack is separated from uncle, and the sentence would read, "I helped my uncle, Jack, off a horse."

However, to write it as you did, minus the commas, does nothing to prevent the inappropriate connotations of the sentence.

Punctuation is key

Even with a pause that still sounds bad. I think you have to restructure that whole sentence to make it not sound so perverted! That is a good old "When modifiers go bad!"

[DickDalewood]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

That is right. I knew it is was something like that. Cool, but you would not say your were wrong even if you were!

I'm never wrong

[Blzer]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

I agree. Although, just for the hell of it, let's get REAL technical with your sentence there.

Wouldn't it be "really technical"?

I shall thereby dismiss the remainder of your posted content...

[Scottdau]

Re: Why is proper grammar dying on the internet?

Wouldn't it be "really technical"?

I shall thereby dismiss the remainder of your posted content...

No, I think he is right Blzer.