Cato's Grammar Grumble

[Karl Henning]

This is the environment which treats "catalogue" as a spelling error

[bwv 1080]

This is the environment which treats "catalogue" as a spelling error

it damn sure is - this is 'Merica

[Gurn Blanston]

I was taught the old-fashioned way, to use two spaces after a period or a colon.  But I don't know how many Web sites automatically subtract that second space when I use it!

I used 2 spaces back when I wrote with a typewriter. Somewhere early on in my computing days, I was informed it was unnecessary. I am pretty sure it had to do with proportional typefaces, although the exact reason eludes me. It was a long time ago... 

[Karl Henning]

There's a "he and me" in there.  Just saying . . . .

[Karl Henning]

I used 2 spaces back when I wrote with a typewriter. Somewhere early on in my computing days, I was informed it was unnecessary. I am pretty sure it had to do with proportional typefaces, although the exact reason eludes me. It was a long time ago... 

I'm damaged goods, typographically (or I feel a bit like it).  My habit (there, I did it again) when typing is double-space after periods/colons/semi-colons.  I rarely trouble to when "swyping" on either my Droid or Kindle.

Even at a keyboard, if I am composing a "tweet" (which is limited to 140 characters), I regretfully let go of that second space . . . .

[Jay F]

I didn't learn touch typing until the computer era, so I've never double-spaced.

[Mookalafalas]

I didn't learn touch typing until the computer era, so I've never double-spaced.

  I didn't know it had changed to single.  I always use double when typing formally.  I published an article in a book once where they wanted single space after periods. I think that is the only time I've ever done it that way.

[Ken B]

  I didn't know it had changed to single.  I always use double when typing formally.  I published an article in a book once where they wanted single space after periods. I think that is the only time I've ever done it that way.

Nice.

[The Six]

This is a new one.

We provide Credit Tracker for our select consumer credit card members' at no additional charge.

...the climate physics and recent observations tell me we will probably trigger the release of these vast carbon stores, dooming our kids' to a hothouse Earth.

Apostrophes can't really be this difficult to use properly, can they?

[Ken B]

Apostrophes can't really be this difficult to use properly, can they?

Yes'.

[Karl Henning]

I ca'nt believe this.

[Ten thumbs]

Apostrophes can't really be this difficult to use properly, can they?
[/quote]

They are perhaps too easy.

[The Six]

Do people go gluten-free, or glu'n-free?

[aquablob]

Do people go gluten-free, or glu'n-free?

They go gluon-free. Rather quarky if you ask me.

[Karl Henning]

Recent videos of Americans being beheaded and stolen images of nude celebrities call for Internet user to have better discernment on the easy choices in viewing such visuals.

At first, I found myself wishing simply that they had added the -s (call for Internet users to have).  Then I reached the end of the sentence, and the clunkiest use of visuals I've yet seen in a reputable periodical.

[Karl Henning]

It is an easy choice, though:  I don't look.

[aquablob]

It is an easy choice, though:  I don't look.

Yup.

[The Six]

What are your guys' friend codes?

This is another unfortunate quirk in the English language. The person meant "you guys' friend codes," asking for the codes of a bunch of people. The tendency to use the possessive "your' is incorrect here, but it somehow sounds more natural.

[Karl Henning]

Even sexier with a bad past participle:

Choosen by Empire Magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Movie Stars in the world (#70) 2007.

[kishnevi]

This is another unfortunate quirk in the English language. The person meant "you guys' friend codes," asking for the codes of a bunch of people. The tendency to use the possessive "your' is incorrect here, but it somehow sounds more natural.

Pedantic perhaps but...
" You guys" is itself a colloquial expression, so how can one be ungrammatical in changing it?