Comment

Comment by Sarah Byrne on June 18, 2012 at 1:46pm

"Affect" and "Effect" brings out a similar reaction in me. However, I don't really feel I can complain to much as my writing technique seems to consist on bunging everything down onto paper (or screen) as fast as I can grammer be damned! editing, as you can imagine, is a nightmare.

Comment by Zoe Brooks on June 17, 2012 at 2:49pm

I was only a few minutes ago writing a comment on another website about British versus American words and grammar. One area of difference is that Americans are reluctant to use plural verbs and pronouns with such words as audience in situations where we Brits readily do so. It's a real problem for British writers of e-books who get bad reviews from American reviewers for their "bad" grammar.

Comment by Nancy Miller on June 17, 2012 at 1:34pm

Very good distinction, Sharon, and duly noted!

Comment by Sharon D. Dillon on June 17, 2012 at 1:20pm

I can agree with all of those grammar pet peeves. While I understand Nancy's use of "talk to" and "talk with," I would like to respectfully disagree. To me, and this is my personal issue, "talk to" seems to be a one-way conversation, giving direction. "Talk with" implies discussion.

Comment by Karoline Barrett on June 17, 2012 at 6:50am

So many grammar pet peeves and so little time. Great article.

Comment by Nancy Miller on June 15, 2012 at 9:40am

Oh, God, the "theres" drive me nuts too: there (as in "over there" refers (not refurrs) to geographical placement); they're is your contraction for "they are," and "their" is the possessive form, as in "Their house is on fire." Or, you can say, "They're going over there to see their new car." Then you get to use all three!

I think too, "to discuss" is a verb that is acceptable, and to have a discussion is the noun. A comparison is: He's going to talk to her." Rather than "he's going to have a talk with her." To talk is the infinitive, and the verb; to have a talk is the noun. I hope I'm not rambling here today...

Comment by Ava Bleu on June 15, 2012 at 9:30am

Thanks, Nancy.  It's nice to have a professional in the house.

Virginia, it just registered what you said.   You only found one wrong "there"? I'm in the wrong crowd--I get my "there's" mixed up at least twice a day like I take my vitamins.

Comment by Nancy Miller on June 15, 2012 at 9:04am

I have a lit emphasis, too, Ava, but this could be fun to research further. I believe it's appropriate to say "let's discuss Billy's bullying behavior in class," but now you've got me going and I'll check this out. After I read the 34 papers in front of me today! (Ugh.)

Comment by Ava Bleu on June 15, 2012 at 7:56am

LOL--I never even noticed and now I'll pay attention everytime someone uses "refer" or "recommend". 

My difficulty is "discuss".  Let's preface this by saying I'm a English Lit major, not an English writing major so excuse me if this is elementary, but it always bothers me.  You don't discuss something, you have a discussion related to an issue--am I wrong?  You wouldn't say: "Let's discuss Bobbie's behaviour", you'd say "Let's have a discussion about Bobbie's behaviour", right?  (OMG--did I just spell "behaviour like a British person, or is that how we spell it, too)? 

This is why I try not to think about what I write too much ... I'd never get anything writ ;-). 

(P.S.--that was intentional.)

Comment by Virginia Llorca on June 14, 2012 at 9:13pm

I use "gonna" and "cuz" all the time.  "Cos" for because irritates me. I guess it depends on what kind of image you want to/wanna get across to the reader. Most of this stuff doesn't bother me.  I found a wrong "there" in a read of a draft and I liked to die.  We call my daughter "Gertie the Grammarian" and she is a nurse, not a teacher or linguist.

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