pedants eBay grammar thread

pulliptears

wendym wrote: »

And you really would not believe what is submitted in essays by A level students.

And the same with degree students...

In my 2nd year of study for my BA we were tasked with an end of year 'group' project. I must state at this point I was a mature student so in my 30's was much older than the majority of the late teens/early twenties on the course.
It was decided between the group to publish a book, each student had a small section and to make it a little more interesting each student was asked to write a small 'about me' type segment.

I had a bit of a reputation for being a pedant when it came to spelling and grammar (I did on one occasion correct half the white board because my lecturer couldn't spell something) so it was decided that I would be the one to oversee the written statements.

For 20 people who were on a BA Honours course I was stunned. Half couldn't spell, stringing a sentence together seemed a physical impossibility and paragraphs were a thing of the past. Out of the 20 students I think I read around 5 statements that were coherent and correct.

It amazed me completely, and to be honest, it was exceptionally worrying that we have an up and coming generation with no literary skills whatsoever.

baffcat

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Quote:
hi,wtz its capacity,iz it 1 litre or more den dat.
kind rgdz

Reply in your email program or through My Messages

How tempted was I to say....

Quote:
Madam, to calculate the capacity please use the measurements for radius and height as they appear on the listing, with the mathematical equation for volume as per Pythagoras theorem.
I wouldn't mind so much but the capacity is on the listing at 0.75 litre, perhaps that is what threw them?

So obviously it's 3/4 of a litre, which is less than a litre. Decimal points, hey? They're slippery little beggers, especially when wet.

Innit?

theonlywayisup

baffcat wrote: »

So obviously it's 3/4 of a litre, which is less than a litre. Decimal points, hey? They're slippery little beggers, especially when wet.

Innit?

I used to have 3/4 but I had messages asking me if it was 3 or 4 litres as it couldn't be both!

I also tried 'three quarters of a litre' but I think because it was in the written form, those scanning for figures missed it.

Pembroke

pulliptears wrote: »

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Light-Walnut-Draw-Unit-Chester-3-Drawer-/110644845418?pt=UK_BOI_Office_Equipment_Supplies_Office_Furniture_ET&hash=item19c2f25b6a

One of my all time favourites

I think you might have missed the point about keywords on eBay, by putting the word 'draw' as well as 'drawers' in the title it captures all those people who also can't do grammar or spelling, so although it may not be proper English it isn't actually incorrect in the context of the way eBay works. As for 'chester' well it's the design of the particular type of drawer unit and not an attempt to write chest of drawers.

Damp Squid, have I missed something? The phrase is actually 'Damp SquiB'. A squib is a small type of explosive device used in the mining industry, and although you may want your squid to be damp you certainly don't want your squib damp.

Anyway the English language is constantly evolving, it's not stuck in a rut, I live in Wales and the Welsh language spoken today is broadly similar to that spoken several hundred years ago. That's why if you listen to a Welsh speaker you will hear English words as they simply don't exist in the Welsh language. If you tried to read Shakespeare in the original text you would have great difficulty.

It's also the reason why although we and the Americans speak essentially the same language there are differences. This has always been explained as their version is based on the Elizabethan version of English. So spelling words without the 'our' on the end like colour or flavour or calling it fall instead of autumn is because that was how our language was used when the founding fathers left this country.

pulliptears

Pembroke wrote: »

I think you might have missed the point about keywords on eBay, by putting the word 'draw' as well as 'drawers' in the title it captures all those people who also can't do grammar or spelling, so although it may not be proper English it isn't actually incorrect in the context of the way eBay works. As for 'chester' well it's the design of the particular type of drawer unit and not an attempt to write chest of drawers.

Not missed the point at all, I realise that was why it was in that particular auction. I am guilty of searching quickly more to make a point than anything else.

Damp Squid, have I missed something? The phrase is actually 'Damp SquiB'. A squib is a small type of explosive device used in the mining industry, and although you may want your squid to be damp you certainly don't want your squib damp.

Yes, we established this a page or two ago.

Anyway the English language is constantly evolving, it's not stuck in a rut, I live in Wales and the Welsh language spoken today is broadly similar to that spoken several hundred years ago. That's why if you listen to a Welsh speaker you will hear English words as they simply don't exist in the Welsh language. If you tried to read Shakespeare in the original text you would have great difficulty.

It's also the reason why although we and the Americans speak essentially the same language there are differences. This has always been explained as their version is based on the Elizabethan version of English. So spelling words without the 'our' on the end like colour or flavour or calling it fall instead of autumn is because that was how our language was used when the founding fathers left this country.

I think you miss the point of the thread to be honest. It's a light hearted poke of some of the stranger things folk say, I don't think anyone who has contributed thus far would claim to be master and historian of the English language.

And, just for you:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Wardrobe-chester-draws-n-two-three-drawed-bed-drawer-/290551149884?pt=UK_Bedroom_Furniture&hash=item43a632b53c

Pembroke

Oh I'm sorry I thought it was an actual pedants thread, not a pretend one :beer: Can you have degrees of pedantry?

(Online sarcasm however is even more difficult to convey, so I'm not having a go or anything).

Thanks for the link, yet another interesting way of spelling drawers (drawes) and there's an Adress as well. :rotfl:

pulliptears

Pembroke wrote: »

Oh I'm sorry I thought it was an actual pedants thread, not a pretend one :beer: Can you have degrees of pedantry?

(Online sarcasm however is even more difficult to convey, so I'm not having a go or anything).

Thanks for the link, yet another interesting way of spelling drawers (drawes) and there's an Adress as well. :rotfl:

I don't think you can have degree's in pedantry, but I don't think any of us here would describe ourselves as infallible.

For instance, I've spent many years believing the expression was "Tow the line" only to discover yesterday that it is actually "Toe the line".

wendym

"Damp Squid, have I missed something?"

If you want to be accurate, I think you'll find that it's Dank Squid. I now can't ever use the expression Damp Squib seriously. Dank Squid is such an improvement, anyway.

Frogletina

pulliptears wrote: »

I don't think you can have degree's in pedantry

Or even degrees!

pulliptears

Frogletina wrote: »

Or even degrees!