Quote:

You can always PM Jack (Ajax) for correct usage.


Oh no you don't! I may strive for excellence, but I miss the mark quite often. I do fairly well in the above 10 examples (though I think I blow the i.e/e.g thing a bunch), but I make numerous other gaffs.

Ironically, I didn't do all that well in my high school English classes. But, I do love the language, and am awed by, and greatly admire, those who can express a thought in a succinct way that virtually eliminates any misunderstanding ("succinct" is NOT my forte ).

My current pet peeve, which I've mentioned before, is the misuse, and unnecessary addition of the word "of."

No: That's not too bad of a weather forecast.
No: He's too good of a writer to make that error.

Yes: That's not too bad a weather forecast.
Yes: He's too good a writer to make that error.

This bothers me because it's not only incorrect, but by adding an unnecessary word it makes the language more cumbersome.

I don't mind, and even encourage, errors that, in fact, simplify the language, such as spelling "through," "thru." GREAT! Let's shorten that sucker up.

Likewise, I'm sure you've noticed my frequent use of the schwa "a" (sounds like the "a" in the word "ago," i.e "uh")

Examples: I'm gonna get new speakers. I shoulda kept my mouth shut, rather than I'm going to get new speakers and I should have kept my mouth shut.

Certainly not correct, but a lot simpler.

Also, use of slang, or a malapropism, or misuse of the language which creatively expresses a thought or idea often can be sheer joy.

Well I told you succinct isn't my forte.

Extra credit. The word forte, pronounced correctly when intended to mean a thing that a person does particularly well; a strong point, sounds like the thing you used to build in a tree, or where you took basic training in the Army, and not as if the word was spelled "fortay." Pronounced "fortay," the word means "loud" as in a direction to a musician. "Play that cadenza forte."

(Mrs. Kellam, my senior English teacher would be proud of me...................................and AMAZED! )

Jack

"People generally quarrel because they cannot argue." - G. K. Chesterton