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Grammar pedants - help please.

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Hoaxster Sep 2007 10:49am, 25 Sep 2007 9,918 posts	Quote Pin Hoaxster oh shit
Hoaxster Sep 2007 10:49am, 25 Sep 2007 9,919 posts	Quote Pin Hoaxster bends over and takes it like a man
Fat Dave Sep 2007 10:51am, 25 Sep 2007 1,084 posts	Quote Pin Fat Dave Mac - I'm not saying the "rules" aren't useful - they're a good place to start if you don't know your audience, to avoid that kind of misunderstanding. But language changes all the time, and the greater emphasis on grammar in the written form compared to speaking, is the main reason the two are diverging so quickly - thus, I would postulate, making written grammar more difficult to grasp for today's kids than it was for us (because it bears less of a resemblance to the language they hear/use every day when speaking). There. I started a sentence with 'but'. I often deviate slightly from the strict "rules" when writing professionally, but deliberately, and for effect. The problem, if you go too far, is that some pedants will assume it's merely because you don't KNOW the "rules", and think you/your client must be thick. So always one to do advisedly. And now, instead of talking about writing, I'd better go and do some.
Fat Dave Sep 2007 10:53am, 25 Sep 2007 1,085 posts	Quote Pin Fat Dave There are, of course, far, far too many commas in that post, but I can't edit it now.
Huge Sep 2007 11:55am, 25 Sep 2007 1,575 posts	Quote Pin Huge English has never really responded well to rules, has it? A lot of them are just artifical constructs, imposed by grammarians to try and make sense of our lingo. I do like the West Country" No, I not never' ad none of that" in reply to an accusation of thieving. Emphatic, not a self contradiction. You wouldn't write it mind!
Fat Dave Sep 2007 12:02pm, 25 Sep 2007 1,089 posts	Quote Pin Fat Dave Yes indeed. Multiple negatives are our heritage. You can find them in Anglo Saxon texts!
Hendo Sep 2007 3:25pm, 25 Sep 2007 10,293 posts	Quote Pin Hendo Come people, join my crusade! http://www.fetcheveryone.com/groups-view.php?id=70
Qwerty Sep 2007 3:33pm, 25 Sep 2007 576 posts	Quote Pin Qwerty Oh banana's. I'll join!
Lyra OK Sep 2007 3:39pm, 25 Sep 2007 1,939 posts	Quote Pin Lyra OK Hurrah! And might I say, Hendo, how very touched I am that you have linked my humble thread to the group. My life feels worthwhile. Thank you.
Hoaxster Sep 2007 3:42pm, 25 Sep 2007 9,926 posts	Quote Pin Hoaxster question mark (second sentence)