Cato's Grammar Grumble

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

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karlhenning

#1460
February 08, 2011, 04:07:14 AM
Quote from: DavidRoss on February 07, 2011, 11:50:27 AM
Hmmm...the exception I learned was for proper nouns, thus Doc Martin's gate, the Martins' gate, James's gate, and the Jameses' gate.

Patricia T. O'Conner covers that . . . I did not quote at length : )

karlhenning

#1461
February 08, 2011, 05:03:51 AM
Quote from: Cato on February 08, 2011, 03:55:14 AM
Hmm: I thought the Marines were pretty fast at everything, including the ladies!   :o

On the other hand, if you were surrounded by Double Entendres, then the bartender should not have let you drive home!   $:)

Especially through a Marine base!   0:)

It was the town of Scotrun which somehow caused me double-takes.

Cato

#1462
February 08, 2011, 05:55:57 AM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on February 08, 2011, 05:03:51 AM
It was the town of Scotrun which somehow caused me double-takes.

John of Glasgow would have something to say about that!   8)

Where did you see that town?  In the South, a "run" can be a small brook or stream.
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

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

karlhenning

#1463
February 08, 2011, 06:32:33 AM
Penn's woods.

snyprrr

#1464
February 08, 2011, 06:34:34 PM
Quote from: Cato on February 07, 2011, 11:00:28 AM
Karl's reference book is interesting on this point: why the exception for ancient and Biblical names?  And the example given could be debated: would you hear the extra "s" if you said "Hercules's biceps" or "Achilles's biceps" ?

Although I have never liked the look of such a possessive e.g. Xenakis's or James's,  for such names we do (usually?) say that extra "s," and since English already is a nightmare for spelling, why compound the problem?   $:)

You can also avoid the problem by using "of," e.g. The mystico-mathematical music of Xenakis intrigues me.  0:)

I had been doing that and just got fed up with my ignorance. Actually, the right way just looks wrong, that's why I couldn't figure it.

btw- I wooould consider Xenakis a Mythical Greek Character, so why can't I do it the other way?

karlhenning

#1465
February 09, 2011, 04:21:48 AM
Quote from: snyprrr on February 08, 2011, 06:34:34 PM
. . . Actually, the right way just looks wrong, that's why I couldn't figure it.

Then, too, I find this is often the case with English spelling . . . the right way just looking wrong, I mean

The Diner

#1466
February 17, 2011, 08:56:22 AM
I received an email yesterday with the word "disconsuming" in it.  ???

I think they meant "disconcerting."  ;D

MishaK

#1467
February 17, 2011, 09:15:35 AM
Quote from: mn dave on February 17, 2011, 08:56:22 AM
I received an email yesterday with the word "disconsuming" in it.  ???

I think they meant "disconcerting."  ;D

I am disappointed that I don't get more emails about "disconsuming". Most emails I get encourage consuming, rather than its opposite.

Cato

#1468
February 17, 2011, 02:10:22 PM
Quote from: Mensch on February 17, 2011, 09:15:35 AM
I am disappointed that I don't get more emails about "disconsuming". Most emails I get encourage consuming, rather than its opposite.

The best I can find on "disconsume" is from an economics text, where it is used as jargon to describe the sale of e.g. rental goods by a business.

In this case, "corporate disconsumption" would be the sale of rental cars by Hertz after a year or two of use.

It apparently does NOT mean stopping consumption.

Really, a disconcerting and downright unfun word!   $:)
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

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

mahler10th

#1469
February 18, 2011, 10:04:39 AM
Quote from: Mensch on February 17, 2011, 09:15:35 AM
I am disappointed that I don't get more emails about "disconsuming". Most emails I get encourage consuming, rather than its opposite.

Yes.  It is a badly distributed and disgusting digest.  Discounting that, such disparate emails directly disambiguate the disasterous and disinteretsed disarray dialectics of the matter.
It is most disconcerting.
???

Opus106

#1470
February 18, 2011, 10:12:04 AM
Quit dissing around, people!
Regards,
Navneeth

Cato

#1471
February 18, 2011, 10:54:38 AM
Quote from: Opus106 on February 18, 2011, 10:12:04 AM
Quit dissing around, people!

We need no dissing contests at the GMG!   0:)
"Meet Miss Ruth Sherwood, from Columbus, Ohio, the Middle of the Universe!"

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

Opus106

#1472
February 18, 2011, 11:03:55 AM
Quote from: Cato on February 18, 2011, 10:54:38 AM
We need no dissing contests at the GMG!   0:)

Now, dis I like.
Regards,
Navneeth

Kontrapunctus

#1473
February 19, 2011, 10:45:30 AM
I haven't had time to plow through all 74 pages, so perhaps this problem has already been addressed, but if I see the wrong its/it's, to/too, your/you're, there/their, etc. one more time, I'm just going to scream!

DavidRoss

#1474
February 19, 2011, 11:56:19 AM
Contrapunctus, izzat u?  How's GG doin'?  Good to see you back!
"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

Ten thumbs

#1475
February 19, 2011, 01:56:10 PM
Quote from: Kontrapunctus on February 19, 2011, 10:45:30 AM
I haven't had time to plow through all 74 pages, so perhaps this problem has already been addressed, but if I see the wrong its/it's, to/too, your/you're, there/their, etc. one more time, I'm just going to scream!

They're, they're! :)
A day may be a destiny; for life
Lives in but little—but that little teems
With some one chance, the balance of all time:
A look—a word—and we are wholly changed.

Kontrapunctus

#1476
February 19, 2011, 10:22:25 PM
Quote from: Sherman Peabody on February 19, 2011, 11:56:19 AM
Contrapunctus, izzat u?  How's GG doin'?  Good to see you back!
I don't think so! I haven't been gone--I just got here!

DavidRoss

#1477
February 20, 2011, 06:21:10 AM
Quote from: Kontrapunctus on February 19, 2011, 10:22:25 PM
I don't think so! I haven't been gone--I just got here!
OK, then welcome for the first time! 
"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

Szykneij

#1478
February 20, 2011, 10:48:41 AM Last Edit: February 20, 2011, 10:50:13 AM by Szykneij
Quote from: Kontrapunctus on February 19, 2011, 10:22:25 PM
I don't think so! I haven't been gone--I just got here!

There was another member called "Contrapunctus" from quite a while back. (You'd probably rather not be mistaken for him.)
Men profess to be lovers of music, but for the most part they give no evidence in their opinions and lives that they have heard it.  ~ Henry David Thoreau

Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines. ~ Satchel Paige

Kontrapunctus

#1479
February 20, 2011, 11:11:10 AM Last Edit: February 20, 2011, 12:13:26 PM by Toccata&Fugue
Quote from: Szykneij on February 20, 2011, 10:48:41 AM
There was another member called "Contrapunctus" from quite a while back. (You'd probably rather not be mistaken for him.)
Oh my...is it possible to change my screen name?

Another pet peeve: "then" instead of "than"--grrr... I'm a high school English teacher, so it's often pure torture to go online most of the time!  ;D

OK...my new name, as is plainly visible, is Toccata&Fugue!
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