Author Topic: Humiliating Grammar Question  (Read 5083 times)

DannyBoy

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #15 on: May 12, 2008, 06:01:24 PM »
Right, so I think the bottom line here is that it should use logic and reasoning. Just follow what "feels right," like the 60's taught us.

Side note: I just got back from Ireland. Surprisingly, they have a completely different set of punctuation rules over there. It makes for very odd reading.

Chris L

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #16 on: May 12, 2008, 06:18:57 PM »
Side note: I just got back from Ireland. Surprisingly, they have a completely different set of punctuation rules over there. It makes for very odd reading.

They also make you use smileys when spelling Van M :) rris :) n

Sarah

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #17 on: May 13, 2008, 07:29:46 AM »
In the U.S., colons, semicolons, question marks, and exclamation points follow quotation marks unless the question mark or exclamation point is part of the quoted matter.  Period and commas precede closing quotation marks.  Thus:

Quote
Are you a big fan of "The Wire"?*

Who was it that said "I really like The Wire"?

*Note that the name of the series should actually be italicized rather than quoted here.



JonFromMaplewood

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #18 on: May 13, 2008, 10:20:48 AM »
All of this is kind of silly because the only incorrect speaking/writing is the kind that fails to convey its message sufficiently. If you write, "I want to thank my parents, Ayn Rand, and God", all is well. But if you write, "I want to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God," you may get some raised eyebrows.   But otherwise, if the reader/listener understood, then the task of communication was completed successfully.   So put the question mark wherever you want, Forrest.

P.S. I know, I know. There is a "right" way to speak/write for corporate and academic situations, but that is the case simply because of the stranglehold prescriptive linguistics has had on us for so long.  Hopefully, it will go away over time.
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TL

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #19 on: May 13, 2008, 10:24:10 AM »
All of this is kind of silly because the only incorrect speaking/writing is the kind that fails to convey its message sufficiently. If you write, "I want to thank my parents, Ayn Rand, and God", all is well. But if you write, "I want to thank my parents, Ayn Rand and God," you may get some raised eyebrows.   But otherwise, if the reader/listener understood, then the task of communication was completed successfully.   So put the question mark wherever you want, Forrest.

P.S. I know, I know. There is a "right" way to speak/write for corporate and academic situations, but that is the case simply because of the stranglehold prescriptive linguistics has had on us for so long.  Hopefully, it will go away over time.

Sister Mary Margaret McGillcuddy says you're going to Hell for such Satanic rebelliousness, JonFromMaplewood.
Now write me a receipt so I can tip on outta here...

bobby.

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #20 on: May 13, 2008, 10:48:32 AM »
Side note: I just got back from Ireland. Surprisingly, they have a completely different set of punctuation rules over there. It makes for very odd reading.

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JonFromMaplewood

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #21 on: May 13, 2008, 10:51:44 AM »


Sister Mary Margaret McGillcuddy says you're going to Hell for such Satanic rebelliousness, JonFromMaplewood.

Sister Mary Margaret McGillicuddy is gonna get a cock-punching.
"I'm riding the silence like John Cage up in this piece." -Tom Scharpling

TL

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #22 on: May 13, 2008, 10:59:43 AM »


Sister Mary Margaret McGillcuddy says you're going to Hell for such Satanic rebelliousness, JonFromMaplewood.

Sister Mary Margaret McGillicuddy is gonna get a cock-punching.

Hell.
Now write me a receipt so I can tip on outta here...

Laurie

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Re: Humiliating Grammar Question
« Reply #23 on: May 13, 2008, 11:02:58 AM »


Sister Mary Margaret McGillcuddy says you're going to Hell for such Satanic rebelliousness, JonFromMaplewood.

Sister Mary Margaret McGillicuddy is gonna get a cock-punching.

Hell is much more fun than boring ol' Heaven.

Agreed!