Cato's Grammar Grumble

Started by Cato, February 08, 2009, 05:00:18 PM

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nut-job

Quote from: Cato on March 16, 2009, 10:24:26 AM
I can accept that!

Orwellian language alert: the Catholic diocese of Cleveland announced the closing of over 10% of its parishes, and called the event "an occasion for joy" because it would lead to a better diocese.   :o

The real reason for joy, 10% fewer child molesters.

karlhenning

Not a grammar grumble, per se, but . . .

One makes allowances for typos, no problem.  But when it's in the subject header, so that as the thread generates replies . . . and you see forty iterations of accesible and muscial . . . .

Cato

Quote from: nut-job on March 16, 2009, 10:25:39 AM
The real reason for joy, 10% fewer child molesters.


$:)  "Personal foul!  Unsportsmanlike conduct!"   $:)

Karl: I keep hoping one of the moderators will fix those problems!
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

bhodges

Quote from: Cato on March 16, 2009, 10:49:26 AM
Karl: I keep hoping one of the moderators will fix those problems!

*[waves magic wand]*

Voila!

0:)

--Bruce

karlhenning

O thrice-worthy waver of the wand!  ;D

Cato

Okay, I just saw an ad about some so-called "energy drink" (Orwellian Language Alert: Energy Drink = Sugar Water) with "Less Calories."

AARRGGGHHH!

If you cannot count it singly, you want "less."  e.g. This puddle has less mud than that one.

vs.

This drink has fewer calories than that one.  The drink therefore must have less energy than that one.

This distinction is mangled daily by all sorts of people, with politicians being the worst offenders: "Less taxes for the bottom 95%!"

(Believe that, and then see me for a great deal on land in Nova Scotia!)   8)

(Grumble (Morons!) grumble grumble!)
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Dr. Dread

Yeah, that's a tricky one sometimes.

karlhenning


knight66

Quote from: Cato on March 16, 2009, 04:54:13 PM
Okay, I just saw an ad about some so-called "energy drink" (Orwellian Language Alert: Energy Drink = Sugar Water) with "Less Calories."

AARRGGGHHH!

If you cannot count it singly, you want "less."  e.g. This puddle has less mud than that one.

vs.

This drink has fewer calories than that one.  The drink therefore must have less energy than that one.

This distinction is mangled daily by all sorts of people, with politicians being the worst offenders: "Less taxes for the bottom 95%!"
(Believe that, and then see me for a great deal on land in Nova Scotia!)   8)

(Grumble (Morons!) grumble grumble!)

Could you clarify here? I assume you mean the politician should say, 'Less tax...' rather than, 'Fewer taxes....' The latter has an altogether different meaning.

Mike
DavidW: Yeah Mike doesn't get angry, he gets even.
I wasted time: and time wasted me.

Cato

Quote from: knight on March 16, 2009, 11:18:08 PM
Could you clarify here? I assume you mean the politician should say, 'Less tax...' rather than, 'Fewer taxes....' The latter has an altogether different meaning.

Mike

It is the politician (a local one) who needs to clarify, because you are quite right!  Either he is guilty of incompetence, or deliberate obfuscation.

"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Florestan

Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind. — Rossini

Cato

Quote from: Florestan on March 17, 2009, 04:51:56 AM
dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1162384/EU-bans-use-Miss-Mrs-sportsmen-statesmen-claims-sexist

Our era is beyond satire!  We live in a satire!

Allow me to address a question on the other topic about English and double negatives.

Some are illiterate: "That won't do no good."   :o

But this is quite fine: "He is not inexperienced."  This allows one to say that the experience-level of the person is a slight step away from being "experienced."

"He is not unintelligent."   $:)
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

Florestan

Quote from: Cato on March 17, 2009, 05:11:21 AM
Our era is beyond satire!  We live in a satire!

That is nothing, actually! The EU has regulations for the curvature of bananas and the length of flowers' stalks...
Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind. — Rossini

DavidRoss

Quote from: Florestan on March 17, 2009, 04:51:56 AM
Newspeak alert!  :o
Neither the titles nor their use is sexist.  Sexism is an attitude, these days apparent in those who deny real differences between genders just as much as in those who imagine false differences, and the essence of which is prejudging individuals as embodiments of stereotypical attributes of various classes (in this case, gender) to which they may belong, i.e. female, blonde, tattooed, gum-chewing, high-heeled, bejeweled, Hispanic, attorney.
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Cato

Quote from: DavidRoss on March 17, 2009, 05:26:37 AM
Neither the titles nor their use is sexist.  Sexism is an attitude, these days apparent in those who deny real differences between genders just as much as in those who imagine false differences, and the essence of which is prejudging individuals as embodiments of stereotypical attributes of various classes (in this case, gender) to which they may belong, i.e. female, blonde, tattooed, gum-chewing, high-heeled, bejeweled, Hispanic, attorney.

Amen!   0:)

And speaking of saints...

Every day our 20-something principal   ???   reads a mini-biography of a saint over the P.A.  (I politely term many of these hagiographical exercises "pious fictions."   0:)  )

The man means well, but...

Today he reads the students a life of "Saint Sy Rule."

Sy might rule until his wife Esther comes back home.  Otherwise...

There is no such saint in Heaven or elsewhere, but listed among The Elect might be a certain Saint Cyril of Alexandria.

Oy!  More evidence why nobody under 35 should be allowed to become a principal.
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

DavidRoss

A twenty-something principal?  Good God!  He must have started teaching at puberty to have gained the classroom experience qualifying him for the position.  Or maybe he's effing brilliant (although Saint Sy Rule suggests otherwise)...?

Hmmm...young, inexperienced, not brilliant (but not un-intelligent, either), and has good intentions...what next?  President?  (Or would the almost-real-world administrative experience in his present job make him overqualified for the position?)
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Cato

Quote from: DavidRoss on March 18, 2009, 06:53:01 AM
A twenty-something principal?  Good God!  He must have started teaching at puberty to have gained the classroom experience qualifying him for the position.  Or maybe he's effing brilliant (although Saint Sy Rule suggests otherwise)...?

Hmmm...young, inexperienced, not brilliant (but not un-intelligent, either), and has good intentions...what next?  President?  (Or would the almost-real-world administrative experience in his present job make him overqualified for the position?)

The danger of a democracy is that it receives the government it deserves. 
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

- Brian Aherne introducing Rosalind Russell in  My Sister Eileen (1942)

DavidRoss

Quote from: Cato on March 18, 2009, 08:35:32 AM
The danger of a democracy is that it receives the government it deserves. 
A sense of humor is essential if we are not to go mad.  And a sense that life is about personal spiritual growth--rather than progressive secular perfection--is essential if we are not to be mad (as in red-faced perpetually pissed-off apoplectically angry!--which, of course, is a form of madness in both senses of the word).
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

sul G

Quote from: Florestan on March 17, 2009, 05:25:39 AM
That is nothing, actually! The EU has regulations for the curvature of bananas and the length of flowers' stalks...

Most of these infamous bonkers Euro-regulations are made up by the Eurosceptic press to scare/wind up a gullible public that likes nothing more than a good harrumph. The banana one is such a myth.  ::)

http://www.youtube.com/v/1_-jx5xTutU

Florestan

Quote from: Cato on March 18, 2009, 08:35:32 AM
The danger end of a democracy is that when it receives the government it deserves. 

Fixed.  ;D
Every kind of music is good, except the boring kind. — Rossini