View Full Version : I can't take it anymore: A Rant
Okay, it's too much. I can't take it anymore.
People everywhere are using an apostrophe, followed by an "s," for a simple plural word. It is POSSESSIVE!!! A word is missing like "is." It is not used to make a simple plural word!
How much of this have you seen lately?
A thread here is titled, "Do you have double or triple features dvd's?"
Huh? It's DVDs. Now, I'm not picking on that poster, because I see this type of thing everywhere!
I've seen "professional" bloggers use the 's inappropriately. I've seen it on signs in my school by supposedly educated people. I believe I even saw it in an advertisement one time.
Soon, it will somewhow descend into an appropriate use of the apostrophe. That idea makes me sorta nuts.
AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
To be honest, I was hoping to use some quotes to support my rant, but now that I'm talking about it, I can't find the specific quotes. But you've all seen them, haven't you?
I've wanted to scream about this for some time now. Thank you. :)
Iroquois
08-18-09, 01:51 PM
I know, it really annoy's me too.
Iroquois
08-18-09, 01:56 PM
Hehe, now you're doing it.
Congratulations on making 1,000 posts, by the way.
Wow, I didn't notice I made 1,000 posts. Thanks for noticing.
Ironic it included the apostrophe s. :laugh:
Caitlyn
08-18-09, 02:53 PM
Congrats on the 1000... but the subject of your rant doesn't bother me... I'm terrible with punctuation so am probably guilty of doing it myself...
It bothers me a lot more to see Los Cereales on my box of cereal...
1badgmc
08-18-09, 03:49 PM
Inappropriate apostrophes bug me too. It really gets me when a person or business pays a professional sign company good money to make their sign or banner, and the sign company goes and screws it all up with bad grammar.
Ah yes, that deserves its own rant. :)
EDIT: That was in response to Caitlyn's post.
But yea, 1badgmc, I agree. I see this all the time and I wonder why people don't understand grammar rules anymore. There's a reason they are there: so we can communicate in a clear manner with each other!
Same with spelling. Spelling matters. Why do people think it doesn't matter?
Caitlyn
08-18-09, 04:14 PM
Ah yes, that deserves its own rant. :)
EDIT: That was in response to Caitlyn's post.
Yeah, it deserves more than a rant in my book... my great grandparents weren't allowed to speak their own language and forced to learn English... and English is supposed to be the official language of America... so my cereal and everything else should only be in English... and if anyone doesn't understand it, then they need to get one of those little dictionaries and start learning the language... we shouldn't have to learn theirs unless we want to... and the same goes if I moved to a non English speaking country... it'd be my responsibility to learn their language... not them mine.
But yea, 1badgmc, I agree. I see this all the time and I wonder why people don't understand grammar rules anymore. There's a reason they are there: so we can communicate in a clear manner with each other!
Same with spelling. Spelling matters. Why do people think it doesn't matter?
Now spelling.... spelling does bother me... especially when someone has spell check red lining the word in question and they just ignore it...
1badgmc
08-18-09, 04:20 PM
But yea, 1badgmc, I agree. I see this all the time and I wonder why people don't understand grammar rules anymore. There's a reason they are there: so we can communicate in a clear manner with each other!
Same with spelling. Spelling matters. Why do people think it doesn't matter?
So true. I can forgive a simple misspelled word now and then from typing to fast or fat fingers or whatever, but blatant disregard for all rules of grammar and spelling does nothing other than make it harder for the person reading to understand and make the writer look uneducated.
Whenever I send a text message, it takes me longer than most people because I don't buy into all that chatspeak crap. Aside from "lol" and 2 or 3 others, I don't use any of it at all. I send my messages in fully spelled and punctuated sentences.
1badgmc
08-18-09, 04:22 PM
Yeah, it deserves more than a rant in my book... my great grandparents weren't allowed to speak their own language and forced to learn English... and English is supposed to be the official language of America... so my cereal and everything else should only be in English... and if anyone doesn't understand it, then they need to get one of those little dictionaries and start learning the language... we shouldn't have to learn theirs unless we want to... and the same goes if I moved to a non English speaking country... it'd be my responsibility to learn their language... not them mine.
I live in Texas and it just gets worse and worse. You wouldn't go to a non-English-speaking foreign country and expect them to cater to your language, so why should we have to cater to anyone else's.
So true. I can forgive a simple misspelled word now and then from typing to fast or fat fingers or whatever, but blatant disregard for all rules of grammar and spelling does nothing other than make it harder for the person reading to understand and make the writer look uneducated.
Whenever I send a text message, it takes me longer than most people because I don't buy into all that chatspeak crap. Aside from "lol" and 2 or 3 others, I don't use any of it at all. I send my messages in fully spelled and punctuated sentences.
OMG, I love you. ;)
I have this real problem with ignoring grammar and spelling, even in text messages! And I'm a teacher, lol. My students soon figure out that if I see a "u" or a "2" or anything of that sort, they get their paper thrown back at them without a grade!
They learn fast in my class. LOL!! ;)
As to the other rant, well, I teach in a school where I can't even converse with about half of my students' parents because they don't understand English. Meetings require translators. Kids lie to their parents because the parents don't understand the language. Parents turn over all the power to the kids.
And I often feel that people put a guilt trip on me for not learning Spanish. I'm supposed to "understand" why they aren't learning English. Why? If I went to France, I'd have to learn French, right???
And why with all the immigration in this country, is suddenly Spanish everywhere? On food, answering machines, instructions?
In a comment to Caitlyn, I said "don't get me started!" HA!
:eek:
Godoggo
08-18-09, 04:43 PM
Congrats on the 1000... but the subject of your rant doesn't bother me... I'm terrible with punctuation so am probably guilty of doing it myself...
Me, too. I, am especially, guilty of trying, to put comma's everywhere.
(The apostrophe was for you, Tramp. :D)
1badgmc
08-18-09, 04:43 PM
A funny language story:
We were in Chicago a few years ago. We went to McDonald's and my brother-in-law ordered some breakfast burritos. They gave him his order and he asked for some picante sauce. The Mexican kid behind the counter just looked completely dumbfounded..."What's that?" he asked. My brother-in-law said, "Hot sauce!" "OH!"...and he hands some packets to my b-i-l. We look at the packets and they say "Hot Picante Sauce" on them. :laugh:
Sir Toose
08-18-09, 04:44 PM
You know which ones chap my hindquarters?
The ones who don't know the difference between your and you're.
I guess that technically refers to a misplaced apostrophe.
1badgmc
08-18-09, 05:06 PM
You know which ones chap my hindquarters?
The ones who don't know the difference between your and you're.
I guess that technically refers to a misplaced apostrophe.
Don't forget to, too and two.
You speak the truth, Sir Toose. That is another annoying habit of writers.
The other one that gets me is not understanding "their" "there" and "they're."
And well.. It happened again. (http://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?p=559181#post559181)
:p
It matters, but we all mess up/make mistakes. I've seen a few people on this board correct others. I've seen those same people make mistakes. When that second part happens, it puts a little smile on my face. I mess up. I know I mess up. Just don't irritate me about it.
It's different when someone is purposely making mistakes, or wanting their posts to look bad. (You know who I mean, Harry, and you best stop plus repping him, just to piss me off! :p) Then there are those who won't take the time to put caps on anything in their posts. Do you have short pinkies? Stretch those damn things down there to hit shift.
As far as it being for something professional/something other than this board . . . If they're dumb enough to pay for a banner that is inaccurate, then their business deserve the attention it brings them. The only billboards I've seen with errors on them, are those that are posted on-line, as jokes. Those photos are altered for the internet.
especially when someone has spell check red lining the word in question and they just ignore it...
We have that option here? I don't have any red lines showing up under my words. How do I get that?
p.s. You don't want to get me started on that . . . "If you speak English, press one." ****!
I'm taking too long to post my reply, so I have to keep adding to it.
I'm one of the few people left who won't use "and" or "but" to start my sentences. To me, it's as if you're starting your sentence in the middle of a thought. "Conjunction Junction, what's your function?"
From an on-line site . . .
If you're anything like me, for years and years you avoided using "but," "and," or "yet" to start a sentence. This often resulted in run-on sentences or short, choppy ones. The good news is that the rules are changing and it is now considered acceptable to start a sentence with a conjunction.
I'm not a fan of this. I don't like that the rules are changing. The same goes for hyphens. Those rules are changing, as well.
If it "ain't" broke, don't fix it.
1badgmc, you just reminded me of something else that irritates me. Your b-i-l reminded me of when people shorten movie titles. The problem is, I usually won't know what movie they are talking about, so it irritates me. I've seen LOTR a million times, so of course I know what that movie title is. However, it's pretty much the only one I know of.
1badgmc
08-18-09, 05:55 PM
1badgmc, you just reminded me of something else that irritates me. Your b-i-l reminded me of when people shorten movie titles. The problem is, I usually won't know what movie they are talking about, so it irritates me. I've seen LOTR a million times, so of course I know what that movie title is. However, it's pretty much the only one I know of.
Yeah, I know the feeling there too. It's no big deal if the entire title has been written out completely once or twice in the post and then the abbreviation is used for following instances, but you can't start a post talking about IJATTOD and assume that everyone in the world knows you're talking about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
but you can't start a post talking about IJATTOD and assume that everyone in the world knows you're talking about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Exactly! However, it may make an interesting game, in the game section. :p
I already know I'd suck at it.
I really don't care :nope: but I did notice the other day I wrote something here in Capitals
e.g. DNA and when i posted it it came out Dna so sometimes this can happen :yup:
If you only post one word, it won't keep the caps. I'm not sure why, but I know it's true. I've typed OK before, and it changed to Ok.
Caitlyn
08-18-09, 07:40 PM
We have that option here? I don't have any red lines showing up under my words. How do I get that?
Yes we do... it tells me I've misspelled Caity all the time... :D I'm not sure if you have to set something for it to kick in... but it has helped me out a lot because I'm dyslexic and misspell words all the time...
And don't you dare mention Tom Cruise.... grrrr :p
Harry Lime
08-18-09, 07:42 PM
It's different when someone is purposely making mistakes, or wanting their posts to look bad. (You know who I mean, Harry, and you best stop plus repping him, just to piss me off! :p)
Hey, at least I told you about it (the one time), maybe I should go and look for one to rep right now, hmm? But that would just be a waste of time. Andfor the record I like starting sentences with "And", I do try to avoid "But" though. But we can't be expected to always be perfect, can we?
Yes we do... it tells me I've misspelled Caity all the time... :D I'm not sure if you have to set something for it to kick in... but it has helped me out a lot because I'm dyslexic and misspell words all the time...
And don't you dare mention Tom Cruise.... grrrr :p
Cool! I'll look into it. The only thing on my computer that underlines misspelled words in red, is the office work I do. It's open office dot org, though. I really have no idea what I'm talking about. :p
No worries on Tom Cruise. I'll make fun of him some other time. :D
I do try to avoid "Butt" though.
Are you more of a leg man?
Harry Lime
08-18-09, 08:12 PM
Are you more of a leg man?
A lot of dirty replies appeared instantly in my mind, better I just leave it alone.
Damn!
Feel free to PM them to me. :p
TheDOMINATOR
08-18-09, 08:22 PM
What irritates me more than anything regarding grammar/spelling is the common confusion of "its" versus "it's." I see them used incorrectly all the time, even in published works. For the longest time, I confused the two myself, but during my second year of college, my English professor finally pounded it into my head. And now, at least to my knowledge, I always use 'em correctly. In this case, the apostrophe is not possessive. :cool:
But yeah, the mistake with apostrophes bothers me, too. I catch myself saying "DVD's" every now and again, and when I do, I kick myself.
Harry Lime
08-18-09, 08:25 PM
Damn!
Feel free to PM them to me. :p
Be careful about what you ask for.
I catch myself saying "DVD's" every now and again, and when I do, I kick myself.
When you say it, do you literally say "I bought five new DVD apostrophe s today?"
TheDOMINATOR
08-18-09, 08:29 PM
When you say it, do you literally say "I bought five new DVD apostrophe s today?"
Harry, getting on someone whose user name is "TheDOMINATOR" 's bad side is not a good idea.
Ok I left a post to Lennon in The Expendables thread after he read my article I left. I was foolin around cause he didn't understand the article. It said Bruce Willis is confirmed for the movie yet Lennon just couldn't grasp it. Now remember...I was joking
What part of "it's official", he would be joining his fellow Planet Hollywood founders in the Stallone directed action film, his part will be a cameo and well, the whole freakin article did you not understand :rotfl:
Now, Lennon wrote back this and it was uncalled for. No matter if he doesn't like me or doesn't like what I wrote.. it still is NOT called for.
Don't call me stupid. I understood it completly, I just got confused when Willis said he hasn't united with any of the stars. I took that as he hadn't really talked to any of them, yet.
*******.
No I didn't call him stupid. I told him I wasnt laughing at him, i was just laughing at the fact he didnt understand the HUGE article I posted.
Being called an ******* for no reason isn't called for. no matter what I posted.
Powdered Water
08-18-09, 08:32 PM
I **** this up all the time. You all are just going to have to deal. I try but I'm not real language arts smart.
And Des I think it depends which browser you're using. I use Firefox and it has a built in spell checker. I think you said before you use IE right? I don't think it does.
Harry Lime
08-18-09, 08:33 PM
Harry, getting on someone whose user name is "TheDOMINATOR" 's bad side is not a good idea.
You still haven't seen The Third Man so you don't know how truly evil Harry Lime is. Besides, you're probably one of the nicest people here.
TheDOMINATOR
08-18-09, 08:35 PM
Is he more evil than Li'l Ze?
Heh, and thanks. I certainly try to be. :bashful:
Harry Lime
08-18-09, 08:37 PM
I'm surprised the word ******* isn't blocked.
"I drive real slow in the ultrafast lane
While people behind me are going insane"
Powdered Water
08-18-09, 08:40 PM
There's a lot of great swear words that aren't blocked you just have to be creative or whatever.
I'm surprised the word ******* isn't blocked.
Maybe because ******* really isn't that bad of a word compared to others. A donkey is an ass, and by adding the word hole just doesn't really do much to make it a bad word per say. I mean the crack of your butt is considered your ******* isn't it? lmao
Harry Lime
08-18-09, 08:46 PM
I find myself saying "shite" and "puta" lately. Trying to swear less and figure if I use alternate versions it's not so bad.
TheDOMINATOR
08-18-09, 08:47 PM
Maybe because ******* really isn't that bad of a word compared to others. A donkey is an ass, and by adding the word hole just doesn't really do much to make it a bad word per say. I mean the crack of your butt is considered your ******* isn't it? lmao
Yes, but calling someone an ******* is pretty much just as bad as calling them a *******, so I'd think it should be blocked.
Okay, it's too much. I can't take it anymore.
People everywhere are using an apostrophe, followed by an "s," for a simple plural word. It is POSSESSIVE!!! A word is missing like "is." It is not used to make a simple plural word!
How much of this have you seen lately?
A thread here is titled, "Do you have double or triple features dvd's?"
Huh? It's DVDs. Now, I'm not picking on that poster, because I see this type of thing everywhere!
I've seen "professional" bloggers use the 's inappropriately. I've seen it on signs in my school by supposedly educated people. I believe I even saw it in an advertisement one time.
Soon, it will somewhow descend into an appropriate use of the apostrophe. That idea makes me sorta nuts.
AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!
To be honest, I was hoping to use some quotes to support my rant, but now that I'm talking about it, I can't find the specific quotes. But you've all seen them, haven't you?
I've wanted to scream about this for some time now. Thank you. :)
I aint much for fancy book learnin'! Im sorry Tramp but my grammar sucks. The first forum I posted at I wrote in long block posts, no paragraph seperations just a big square on the monitor screen full of letters. Also had a tendency to " " everything needlessly. Oh there were some literary types that just detested me. LOL! Good times :cool:
I find myself saying "shite" and "puta" lately. Trying to swear less and figure if I use alternate versions it's not so bad.
"shite" is see is a way of saying sh*t, but isn't "puta" short for saying computer? haha
Miss Vicky
08-18-09, 08:53 PM
I totally agree with the original rant. Poor grammar and spelling annoy me, too. That's not to say that I'm never guilty of it, but when I recognize it, it bugs me.
It's not just on these boards that I see these kinds of mistakes, either. I see them constantly on other message boards and, most irritatingly, at work. I mean, I work at a veterinary office and I'm constantly having to correct the other employees (and the doctor, but I'll forgive his mistakes because English is not his first language). I've even posted spelling and grammar lessons on our staff bulletin board. It's really sad when a bunch of veterinary technicians have to be taught how to spell "neuter" and "diarrhea." A lesson on how to properly pluralize words has also been posted on the board.
The misuse of "your" in place of "you're" annoys me, too, as well as the misuse of "there," "their" and "they're."
Another mistake that I've seen (not here, but in many other places) is misuse of the word "seen." It drives me crazy when I hear someone say "I seen him the other day." No, you didn't seen him. Either you saw him the other day or you have seen him. Get it straight!
Some guy in the Untitled Dark Knight Sequel thread posted this
ridler..... 2 werdsz...... dane cook.... aka the new jim carey. he kan play the demented funnyness needed 2 b the ridler
I replied
Learn grammer please. Thank you.
I misspelled grammar and Pyro Tramp and Chris (a.k.a. Yoda) both told me that if I pick on someone for their spelling I'm fair game. lol I didn't even pick on the person for pete's sake... just told him to spell correctly.
Now come on...look at HeathsZjoKer's writing and I just mistype one stinkin word. Why would I be fair game for anything. Everyone mistypes once in a while.
Pyro Tramp
08-18-09, 09:13 PM
Oh boo ****ing hoo. If you're gonna take the higher ground and **** up, you ARE fair game. Look at that, i'm off my **** and still manage grammar and spelling.
If you're gonna take the higher ground and **** up, you ARE fair game.
No. That just goes to show me you have nothing better to do. I mistyped grammar big friggin whoop.
honeykid
08-18-09, 09:57 PM
That's right, and you should be shot for it. :D
Whilst I agree with much of what's been said, the irony of a bunch of Yanks complaining about other peoples use of the English language is highly amusing. :p :D
Besides, you don't speak English in America, you speak MS English. I know this because Mr. Gates lets us all know. :yup:
spudracer
08-18-09, 10:37 PM
I can't take, people who laugh at the end of every post. Whether it be a simple "lol" or "lmao" or even a ":laugh:." The Shoutbox is one thing, but in a post, not necessary.
As for grammer and speling, I use Firefox. It hellps me spel gud. :)
FILMFREAK087
08-18-09, 10:54 PM
I can't take, people who laugh at the end of every post. Whether it be a simple "lol" or "lmao" or even a ":laugh:." The Shoutbox is one thing, but in a post, not necessary.
As for grammer and speling, I use Firefox. It hellps me spel gud. :)
I never thought poor punctuation and grammar to evoke such a strong sentiment. Oh, and yes Firefox helps :rotfl: :) :rotfl:
Sir Toose
08-18-09, 11:30 PM
but isn't "puta" short for saying computer? haha
You better brush up on your espanol!
If you walked into a hispanic owned computer shop looking for puta you might get shot :D
Godoggo
08-18-09, 11:33 PM
You better brush up on your espanol!
If you walked into a hispanic owned computer shop looking for puta you might get shot :D
Or in a very awkward situation.;)
Sir Toose
08-18-09, 11:35 PM
I misspelled grammar and Pyro Tramp and Chris (a.k.a. Yoda) both told me that if I pick on someone for their spelling I'm fair game. lol I didn't even pick on the person for pete's sake... just told him to spell correctly.
Do you really not see how that could be read as condescending first and then hypocritical second?
Imagine someone typed that towards you... you wouldn't maybe feel someone was taking a shot at you?
Sir Toose
08-18-09, 11:36 PM
Or in a very awkward situation.;)
Or then again if one were to find it one might appreciate it more than a computer dependent on various circumstances. :D
Sexy Celebrity
08-18-09, 11:42 PM
Gimme a beat!
Well, this thread went off in many directions.
Good times. :)
If you only post one word, it won't keep the caps. I'm not sure why, but I know it's true. I've typed OK before, and it changed to Ok.
Oh OK ;D
Pyro Tramp
08-19-09, 07:25 AM
That's right, and you should be shot for it. :D
Whilst I agree with much of what's been said, the irony of a bunch of Yanks complaining about other peoples use of the English language is highly amusing. :p :D
Besides, you don't speak English in America, you speak MS English. I know this because Mr. Gates lets us all know. :yup:
Yanks? Excuuse me
Thursday Next
08-19-09, 08:25 AM
The misplaced apostrophe is my personal nemesis. I see them everywhere, menus, signs, internet posts and they never fail to annoy me. I'm glad I am not alone.
Misused homophones drive me mad as well. You're for your is bad enough. And just think how the atmosphere of a romantic scene can be ruined by confusing 'bare' and 'bear' or 'waist' and 'waste'...
Oh and 'should of' for 'should have'. There's at least one thread on mofo with 'of' where it doesn't belong.
downthesun
08-19-09, 08:28 AM
+rep, it annoys me too. A lot of thing's that annoy me too have been brought up in this thread.
Be careful about what you ask for.
You're not worried about my virgin mind, are you!?!
I **** this up all the time. You all are just going to have to deal. I try but I'm not real language arts smart.
No worries here. I'm not a big fan of those who complain about it. Again, in one way or another, everyone messes up.
And Des I think it depends which browser you're using. I use Firefox and it has a built in spell checker. I think you said before you use IE right? I don't think it does.
Thanks! I'll check that out.
Besides, you're probably one of the nicest people here.
Mr. Nator's a doll! :yup:
Yes, but calling someone an ******* is pretty much just as bad as calling them a *******, so I'd think it should be blocked.
As bad as calling them a what? You can PM what that is to me. Just don't string me along like Harry is. :p
I seem them constantly on other message boards and, most irritatingly, at work.
I seem them a lot, too. ;)
Again, the only things that bug me are when people make their posts look bad on purpose, refuse to ever hit the shift key, or watch movies like NH, L, NotC, etc . . .
p.s. If anyone can tell me what those three movies are, you'll get a cookie!
Sexy Celebrity
08-19-09, 04:52 PM
Gimme a beat!
I hope I'm never allowed near a computer again when I'm drunk. This is the second stupid drunk post in a thread I've found. I never meant to let the spirit of Janet Jackson take over my mind.
Mmm I use "'s" allot maybe I will change my way's...
Caitlyn
08-19-09, 05:06 PM
You better brush up on your espanol!
If you walked into a hispanic owned computer shop looking for puta you might get shot :D
And here I was having visions of Jrs asking for a puta for Christmas...
:p
Yeah, puter is short for computer. I can see why, too. I mean, why waste a second of your life typing out the com part of the word. :p
Mmm I use "'s" allot maybe I will change my way's...
Yes, please do.
Thanks. :D
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