Cato's Grammar Grumble

[aquablob]

No, I'm afraid citation is needed for the claim that "It may rain" is subjunctive.

[Ken B]

No, I'm afraid citation is needed for the claim that "It may rain" is subjunctive.

I should say so.

[Karl Henning]

Congratulations Karl Henning. New credentials has been created for you.

[Cato]

Congratulations Karl Henning. New credentials has been created for you.

In the 1980's the abbreviation G.I.G.O. became popular among computer programmers, when people blamed the computer for mistakes rather than the humans behind the mistake.

Garbage In, Garbage Out.

i.e. if "garbage" is programmed into the computer, the computer will spit the garbage back out!

[kishnevi]

Found this image illustrating a Vox article.

[Cato]

Those apostrophe's is trubble!   

From Karl Henning's composing topic:

Recently my 8th-Grade students were on a field trip to a university laboratory on Lake Erie, where graduate students gave them mini-courses in fish dissection, testing water for pollution, etc.

One of the graduate students had a horrible habit of "emphasizing" comparatives: "more greater," more easier," etc.

One of my best students raised her hand and corrected him: "Don't you mean 'easier'?" 

He responded with some embarrassment: "Yeah, but I'm a Science major, not language." 

[Karl Henning]

It is hard to imagine any other actor but Nicholson being able to fit in this roll with such conviction and raw power.

(From a review of the Blu-Ray edition of The Shining.)

[North Star]

There goes my appetite..

[Cato]

There goes my appetite..

From a story about a possible flying car...

Could this be the mysterious "flying car" rumored to be being developed by Google co-found Larry Page?

Hmmm, how about this instead?

Could this be the mysterious "flying car" rumored to be in/under development by Google co-found Larry Page?   0:)

See:

http://www.montereyherald.com/article/NF/20161023/NEWS/161029863

[Karl Henning]

To be being . . . or not to be being . . . it ain't Shakespeare.

[Karl Henning]

I guess that, at this point, I do not greatly object to the neologism past tense for to forecast.  But—

48.4 percent

That's the expected share of the popular vote that Hillary Clinton is forecasted to win, based on the latest from the FiveThirtyEight model. Donald Trump is projected to get 45.3 percent, but there are a solid range of possibilities, so it's worth checking out the model every minute of every day until you feel certain of your place in the world.

Emphasis mine.

[Ken B]

I guess that, at this point, I do not greatly object to the neologism past tense for to forecast.  But—

I sometimes wonder if it's just me. Did I mislearn this when I was young? What other errors am I making? Should I say "I had my hair cutted" ?

[Karl Henning]

I don't like forecasted.  But I only object in select company . . . .


0:)

[Mister Sharpe]

Saw this comment on a national network site:  "My sentiments exactly, but I want to add that Trump's lack of personal disclosure leaves open the possibility that he is a complete financial fraud. I am a registered republican in a Democratic state. I voted against any republican candidate that openly supported Donald Trump. Vote your conscious."  I always do, vote my conscious, that is.  Though I've often wondered about Trump supporters...   

[Karl Henning]

(* chortle *)

[Karl Henning]

The outcome of the U.S. election is another example of the immense level of change . . . .

I may use language better, but this guy owns at least two very nice residences, and has no worries about affording health care.

[Karl Henning]

The Democratic Party has shockingly little to show for itself after a cycle that was supposed to coronate a new demographic majority

Good grief: coronate? Coronate??!!

[Cato]

Good grief: coronate? Coronate??!!

Who says Leo Gorcey and  The Bowery Boys are dead?

The outcome of the U.S. election is another example of the immense level of change . . . .

These remind me of scholarly journals, where all sorts of grammatical errors, atrocities, monstrosities, and preciosities can be found.  A general rule from one of my professors decades ago: the more specious the topic, the more heinous will be the crimes against language in the article.

[zamyrabyrd]

I don't like forecasted.  But I only object in select company . . . .

Would you prefer "predicted"?

[North Star]

Would you prefer "predicted"?

Forecast would do.