'The word pedants' top 10 | It's specific, not Pacific...' blog discussion.

spandit

Flyboy152 wrote: »

How can you post accents and I can't?

Alt Gr + Vowel gives lower case (not allowed on here for some reason), Alt Gr + Shift + Vowel gives ÁÉÍÓÚ.

abby1234519

schiff wrote: »

I learned more about English grammar when I started French and German, than I ever did studying English language (as opposed to English Lit).

Thats where I've gone wrong then!

I have to say I wish they ran a class every couple of weeks at uni for us little folk to go improve our grammar etc.

I used to think mine was rather good, then I realised it is very bad

Beate

antonia1 wrote: »

I really don't like people who descibe the time 4:30 as 'half four'. It is 'half past four'. You wouldn't say 'quarter four', so why do you say 'half four'?! 'Half four' sounds like an instruction to carry out some mental arithmetic!

I am German and "half four" used to puzzle me for a long time because if you translate that back to German (halb vier), it's actually and without exception what we say for 3.30, maybe because it's already halfway towards 4pm? So I used to say 4.30 or half past 4 but because everyone else is saying it, I often now say "half four" as well and actually mean 4.30!

Beate

andelainedream wrote: »

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Would somebody please respond to the vexed question of text/texted for the past tense? I would have thought it should be 'texted' but I've heard people I'd consider to be reasonably articulate use 'text'. Do you think it's just that they watch Eastenders too often?

I mentioned that before as well, and it irritates me greatly because surely the verb "to text" is "texted" in the past tense? How can it not be?

Beate

gordikin wrote: »

I've just saw an advert in Morrisons small ad. board.

Surely it's either "I've just seen" or "I just saw"?

ViolaLass

Beate wrote: »

I mentioned that before as well, and it irritates me greatly because surely the verb "to text" is "texted" in the past tense? How can it not be?

I agree but I've seen the example given of 'to hit' and I can't argue with it.

Beate

Just seen somewhere: "How time fly's" + "I had a desert of strawberries". They must have been sandy!

Paulgonnabedebtfree

Beate wrote: »

I am German and "half four" used to puzzle me for a long time because if you translate that back to German (halb vier), it's actually and without exception what we say for 3.30, maybe because it's already halfway towards 4pm? So I used to say 4.30 or half past 4 but because everyone else is saying it, I often now say "half four" as well and actually mean 4.30!

That one confused me for a while when I was learning basic German language at school.

schiff

quoia wrote: »

You mean DÉJÀ VU

You show-off!

schiff

telboyo wrote: »

The worst case of errant apostrophe I have seen is still on a sign in Swansea for "Mac's Meat". It appears on the sign as "Mac,s Meat". It has been like that for at least 5 years.

Wales, being a Principality, doesn't like to be outdone by the English. So as we drop our aitches, they drop their apostrophes, not all the way, as that wouldn't be right. Just a little bit left showing to let us know they knew what they were doing.

My favourite sign is in Ireland and reads: 'Please do not throw stones at this sign'. Nothing else, just that. Beautiful grammar, fair makes your heart race, so it does.