English grammar, anyone?

[GulfportDoc]

Here are 3 typical types of sentences one hears. Do any of them contain incorrect grammar?


1. Well, I could of been better if I’d practiced more.


2. Ted and Greg are scheduled to play a chess match. May the best man win.


3. Both Paula and me attended the class.


Do any of you have other examples?

[Austruck]

1 and 3 have obvious errors. I'm not sure where you were headed with 2.

[Citizen Rules]

Here are 3 typical types of sentences one hears. Do any of them contain incorrect grammar?


1. Well, I could of been better if I’d practiced more.


2. Ted and Greg are scheduled to play a chess match. May the best man win.


3. Both Paula and me attended the class.


Do any of you have other examples?
I didn't read any of the other post yet. Honestly. I'm not that great with grammar but...
1. Well, I could of been better if I’d practiced more.
To my ear that sounds wrong.

2. Ted and Greg are scheduled to play a chess match. May the best man win.
Probably an improper use of a personal pro noun by today's standards;) Though grammarly it sounded OK to me. *Pretty sure grammarly isn't a word.

3. Both Paula and me attended the class.
Isn't it suppose to be Paula and I?

There, how did I do?

[Captain Steel]

Obviously, #1 should have "have" instead of "of". (See what I did there? Preceded each word in question with itself?) ;)

#3's been corrected by CR.

I don't see anything wrong with #2. (The two sentences could be separated by a comma or a hyphen, but either way they still seem correct even as separate sentences.)

[Captain Steel]

My pet peeve these days is how so many people begin sentences with the word "so".

"So" is a synonym for "thus" or "therefore" - yet people who haven't been speaking start out their sentence as if they've already built a preface adding up to a conclusion.

Traditionally, "so" is also used when you've been interrupted and try to continue as in "so, as I was saying".

And then of course there's the usage as in "It's raining so hard outside!" Here it's used as an intensifier.

To me, starting out a sentence with "so" sounds rude, even in answer to a question because it sounds as if you are saying you've been interrupted and are now trying to continue to speak.

[John McClane]

Grammar is just the rich man’s way of saying “no, no dear sir/madam. you do not belong to our cohort”

ain’t it the truth!?

[Citizen Rules]

My pet peeve these days is how so many people begin sentences with the word "so".

"So" is a synonym for "thus" or "therefore" - yet people who haven't been speaking start out their sentence as if they've already built a preface adding up to a conclusion.

Traditionally, "so" is also used when you've been interrupted and try to continue as in "so, as I was saying".

And then of course there's the usage as in "It's raining so hard outside!" Here it's used as an intensifier.

To me, starting out a sentence with "so" sounds rude, even in answer to a question because it sounds as if you are saying you've been interrupted and are now trying to continue to speak.Guilty. To me starting a sentence with 'so' is like starting to speak by saying 'uhm'. By that I mean, its like a pause before you say what you want to say. I liked to use 'so' in post as it sounds more like informal talk. Same with starting a sentence with 'And'. It just seems to me like a naturally sounding segue to two connecting thoughts. But bare in mind I no nutin bout grammar, including which form of bear-bare to use in this sentence? It must be bare?

[ScarletLion]

I could of been better

Eugh. I hate that.

I also hate the misuse of 'worse'.

I.e. - "Batman Begins is the worse film in the trilogy"

[honeykid]

But bare in mind I no nutin bout grammar, including which form of bear-bare to use in this sentence? It must be bare?

It's bear. Bare is naked. Unless you mean naked, always go bear. :)

[GulfportDoc]

I didn't read any of the other post yet. Honestly. I'm not that great with grammar but...
1. Well, I could of been better if I’d practiced more.
To my ear that sounds wrong.

2. Ted and Greg are scheduled to play a chess match. May the best man win.
Probably an improper use of a personal pro noun by today's standards;) Though grammarly it sounded OK to me. *Pretty sure grammarly isn't a word.

3. Both Paula and me attended the class.
Isn't it suppose to be Paula and I?

There, how did I do?


Not bad, bro! #1 sounds wrong because it is wrong. Correct usage is, "...I could have been better", or ..."I could've been better". My guess is that folks who don't visualize words tend to use "could of" because it sounds like "could've".

#2 is incorrect usage because when there are only two, one may be better than the other, not best of the other. It should read, "May the better man win." If there are 3 or more, one can say "May the best man win".
[I think the word you're looking for is "grammatically".

#3 You're right. It should read "Paula and I". But one sees me/I and he/him (or she/her) and they/them goofs all the time...;)

[GulfportDoc]

My pet peeve these days is how so many people begin sentences with the word "so".

"So" is a synonym for "thus" or "therefore" - yet people who haven't been speaking start out their sentence as if they've already built a preface adding up to a conclusion.

Traditionally, "so" is also used when you've been interrupted and try to continue as in "so, as I was saying".

And then of course there's the usage as in "It's raining so hard outside!" Here it's used as an intensifier.

To me, starting out a sentence with "so" sounds rude, even in answer to a question because it sounds as if you are saying you've been interrupted and are now trying to continue to speak.
I agree. I don't recall hearing it much from the common man, but more from people trying to connote that they have a higher understanding. But to me it sounds pretentious or imperious.

I listen to a lot of interviews of doctors and intellectuals, where the use of "So..." to start every answer is ubiquitous. IMO it sounds affected or pompous. In actuality it could simply be replacing, "Well...".

It reminds me of "artsy" people who use the expression "sort of" (sounding like "sort-uv") in nearly every sentence-- probably the type who wear scarves placed just so around their necks, like a uniform in order to designate themselves as artists...:rolleyes:

[Captain Steel]

I agree. I don't recall hearing it much from the common man, but more from people trying to connote that they have a higher understanding. But to me it sounds pretentious or imperious.

I listen to a lot of interviews of doctors and intellectuals, where the use of "So..." to start every answer is ubiquitous. IMO it sounds affected or pompous. In actuality it could simply be replacing, "Well...".

It reminds me of "artsy" people who use the expression "sort of" (sounding like "sort-uv") in nearly every sentence-- probably the type who wear scarves placed just so around their necks, like a uniform in order to designate themselves as artists...:rolleyes:

What especially bugs me is when Jeopardy has it's Teachers' Tournament and 90% of the English teachers start off answering their interview questions with "So..." (as if they'd been in the middle of telling a story but then Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik rudely interrupted them)!

[jiraffejustin]

I weren't never any good at grammar, but sometimes I get it right.

[cricket]

Here are 3 typical types of sentences one hears. Do any of them contain incorrect grammar?


1. Well, I could of been better if I’d practiced more.


2. Ted and Greg are scheduled to play a chess match. May the best man win.


3. Both Paula and me attended the class.


Do any of you have other examples?

I noticed all 3 errors immediately. #1 in particular is a pet peeve of mine.

[cricket]

Another common error I notice is people saying loose, rather than lose.

[Yoda]

Most of these kinds of errors are typos and not grammatical errors.

Not sure I agree with the best/better distinction. Best is still relative to context, it doesn't imply universality. If it did you'd almost never be able to use it. I guess you might say it's a little superfluous, but that'd be a stylistic complaint and not a grammatical one.

[Citizen Rules]

I know one thing, I can't spell grammar. Every time I've typed it in this thread I've typed grammer. If it wasn't for spell check, well you know.

[Captain Steel]

I noticed all 3 errors immediately. #1 in particular is a pet peeve of mine.

What's the problem with #2?

[Captain Steel]

I know one thing, I can't spell grammar. Every time I've typed it in this thread I've typed grammer. If it wasn't for spell check, well you know.

Kelsey Grammer appreciates you, Citizen Rules! ;)
(And he says another re-watch of Down Periscope is in order!)

[cricket]

What's the problem with #2?

Best vs better, although I'm not sure if it's incorrect rather than preferred, but there's nothing else in the sentence that it could be.

[Captain Steel]

Best vs better, although I'm not sure if it's incorrect rather than preferred, but there's nothing else in the sentence that it could be.

Hmm? I write that one off to colloquialism: "May the best man win" has been an established & traditional saying for a long time. I don't see it as incorrect in any way as it is saying may the best (of those competing in a particular contest) win - and we infer it's directly referring to the skills involved in the contest (not to things like a person's overall character).

[cricket]

I was driving so just to touch on #2, it's always better to use er vs est when comparing 2 of anything. I'm not sure est is wrong, but it implies that there is more than 2, which is misleading. My dogs are the cutest dogs in the complex (true). If I'm only comparing them to 1 other dog or even no other dogs, I'm not lying obviously but I am misleading the listener.

[cricket]

Hmm? I write that one off to colloquialism: "May the best man win" has been an established & traditional saying for a long time. I don't see it as incorrect in any way as it is saying may the best (of those competing in a particular contest) win - and we infer it's directly referring to the skills involved in the contest (not to things like a person's overall character).

In that case I completely agree, but as a general rule when using those types of words it isn't the preferred choice.

[Captain Steel]

In that case I completely agree, but as a general rule when using those types of words it isn't the preferred choice.

All I know is Daniel LaRusso is the "best" around! ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oomCIXGzsR0

[cricket]

My pet peeve these days is how so many people begin sentences with the word "so".

"So" is a synonym for "thus" or "therefore" - yet people who haven't been speaking start out their sentence as if they've already built a preface adding up to a conclusion.

Traditionally, "so" is also used when you've been interrupted and try to continue as in "so, as I was saying".

And then of course there's the usage as in "It's raining so hard outside!" Here it's used as an intensifier.

To me, starting out a sentence with "so" sounds rude, even in answer to a question because it sounds as if you are saying you've been interrupted and are now trying to continue to speak.

So you know what's funny about this? My pet peeve is when people end sentences with so, usually because either they don't know what to say next, or they are coaxing you to say something.

[cricket]

I constantly misspell guard somehow by typing gaurd.

[gbgoodies]

I constantly misspell guard somehow by typing gaurd.


If you know that you're misspelling it, then it's just a typo. Type slower and proofread.

[cricket]

If you know that you're misspelling it, then it's just a typo. Type slower and proofread.

No I don't realize I'm misspelling it until it's autocorrected. I'll probably stop now that I'm putting a spotlight on it.

[gbgoodies]

No I don't realize I'm misspelling it until it's autocorrected. I'll probably stop now that I'm putting a spotlight on it.


When I do that, it's usually because my fingers type faster than my brain processes, so I try to slow down, and I proofread everything whenever possible.

[cricket]

When I do that, it's usually because my fingers type faster than my brain processes, so I try to slow down, and I proofread everything whenever possible.

Not me, I really have a mental block with that word.

[gbgoodies]

Not me, I really have a mental block with that word.


I usually mix up the letters "n" and "m" while typing. Those two keys really shouldn't be right next to each other. :rolleyes:

[GulfportDoc]

What especially bugs me is when Jeopardy has it's Teachers' Tournament and 90% of the English teachers start off answering their interview questions with "So..." (as if they'd been in the middle of telling a story but then Ken Jennings or Mayim Bialik rudely interrupted them)!
Perhaps those teachers were union members...:D
What's the problem with #2See post #10

[GulfportDoc]

Here's another classic:

Most women appear to be attracted to men who are taller than them.

Is there any incorrect grammar in that sentence?

[Citizen Rules]

Here's another classic:

Most women appear to be attracted to men who are taller than them.

Is there any incorrect grammar in that sentence?It's probably suppose to be:
Most women appear to be attracted to men who are taller than they are.

But remember I suck and grammar.:eek:

[GulfportDoc]

It's probably suppose to be:
Most women appear to be attracted to men who are taller than they are.

But remember I suck and grammar.:eek:
Well, you hit the nail on the head for this one. "...who are taller than they."

And one doesn't need to add the "are" at the end, although putting it there makes clear which pronoun to use.

I think the improper use of "them" has become so common that the correct word sounds wrong...:)

[Captain Steel]

As a once-proofreader (I proofed & edited 2 books that have been published) I've come to realize in modern times that readability often trumps old rules of grammar. (Many "rules" are now considered outdated.)

This idea, of course, should only be carried out to a certain extent - grammar is also the first foundation of "readability" - without caps, commas, periods, quotation marks, etc., we wouldn't be able to easily understand anything that is written.

But I have found that there are often times where restructuring a sentence to make it more "comfortable" to the eyes and the voice-in-the-head that translates what the eyes have seen is more helpful than just sticking to hard rules of grammar. The optimum goal is to have sentences that are both grammatically correct and which have a "flow" of readability.

I think what made me a decent proofreader was the fact that I am NOT a grammar expert - I focus more on what looks right, what sounds right and what reads easily than I am on all the rules (most of which I don't fully understand).

[Stirchley]

Here are 3 typical types of sentences one hears. Do any of them contain incorrect grammar?


1. Well, I could of been better if I’d practiced more.


2. Ted and Greg are scheduled to play a chess match. May the best man win.


3. Both Paula and me attended the class.


Do any of you have other examples?

Each sentence is incorrect.

“could HAVE been better”…

May the BETTER man win…

Both Paula and I…

[GulfportDoc]

Today I read the following in a movie industry web magazine:

"This past weekend the film only grossed a little over $4 million domestically. It also played in 455 less theaters."

Is there anything ungrammatical in this quote?

[Austruck]

Today I read the following in a movie industry web magazine:

"This past weekend the film only grossed a little over $4 million domestically. It also played in 455 less theaters."

Is there anything ungrammatical in this quote?
FEWER! FEWER!!!!

Even "Weird Al" knows this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGWiTvYZR_w

[Austruck]

Today I read the following in a movie industry web magazine:

"This past weekend the film only grossed a little over $4 million domestically. It also played in 455 less theaters."

Is there anything ungrammatical in this quote?

ALSO... It should read: "This past weekend the film GROSSED ONLY..." The positioning of the word "only" in just about any sentence can change the meaning.

[Captain Steel]

This is a new one and a real one - I clicked on a link to an article (which I believe someone posted not too long ago on a thread on this site).. it was about actor Ezra Miller.

As I'm reading I came across references to "they" and "their" - I had to stop and go back through the paragraph to see who else the reference was to in addition to the individual Ezra Miller. (Had I missed something about his other cast members in the Justice League or Flash movies?)

I couldn't find out who else the article was talking about by using plural pronouns.

It took me a while to realize I now live in woke world and the plural "they, them, their" was the "new speak" referring to the individual Ezra Miller (I'm assuming by his request for "preferred pronouns").

A big problem with this new woke-speak is that it is grammatically incorrect as it utilizes plurals (or worse, completely made up words) as pronouns for individuals which can be quite confusing to people versed in the standard rules of grammar for the English language.

P.S. And,,, as always... my preferred pronouns are he, him, his... or... if you're slightly more daring... O Captain My Captain! ;)

[Austruck]

This is a new one and a real one - I clicked on a link to an article (which I believe someone posted not too long ago on a thread on this site).. it was about actor Ezra Miller.

As I'm reading I came across references to "they" and "their" - I had to stop and go back through the paragraph to see who else the reference was to in addition to the individual Ezra Miller. (Had I missed something about his other cast members in the Justice League or Flash movies?)

I couldn't find out who else the article was talking about by using plural pronouns.

It took me a while to realize I now live in woke world and the plural "they, them, their" was the "new speak" referring to the individual Ezra Miller (I'm assuming by his request for "preferred pronouns").

A big problem with this new woke-speak is that it is grammatically incorrect as it utilizes plurals (or worse, completely made up words) as pronouns for individuals which can be quite confusing to people versed in the standard rules of grammar for the English language.

P.S. And,,, as always... my preferred pronouns are he, him, his... or... if you're slightly more daring... O Captain My Captain! ;)

There are contexts in which this isn't a "woke" thing, though your example might not qualify. The "singular they" has been a real thing for centuries. For some reason, we're no longer used to it. It's a way to get around having to use "he or she" or "his or hers," etc., when trying to write without committing to one sex. (You'll see this in nonfiction quite often as a way around the cumbersome constructions with "he/she.")

The Brits are more comfortable with the singular they than we Americans are (for usages such as I list above). The whole "woke" gender-pronoun thing is likely piggybacking off this earlier use of "they."

[GulfportDoc]

FEWER! FEWER!!!!

Even "Weird Al" knows this!
Right you are, my man. It's good to see you posting. I thought maybe you'd left the site...:)

[Austruck]

Right you are, my man. It's good to see you posting. I thought maybe you'd left the site...:)
That's "my ma'am," to you, buddy! I'm Yoda's mom! :D :D (I think I am not allowed, by law, to leave this site, ever.) :D

[GulfportDoc]

That's "my ma'am," to you, buddy! I'm Yoda's mom! :D :D (I think I am not allowed, by law, to leave this site, ever.) :D
Ah geez, I didn't know that!..:tsk: Apologies, ma'am. I think I conflated your avatar with one of our Indian friend's.

If it serves to soften my faux pas, I'm likely old enough to be your father..;)

[Austruck]

Ah geez, I didn't know that!..:tsk: Apologies, ma'am. I think I conflated your avatar with one of our Indian friend's.

If it serves to soften my faux pas, I'm likely old enough to be your father..;)

:D :D :D

I'm gonna be 62 in a little over a month. You can do your own math privately. :D (Yoda started this site when he was a teen, but even he is staring at the high end of his thirties!)

[Stirchley]

1 and 3 have obvious errors. I'm not sure where you were headed with 2.

It should be “may the BETTER man win” since there’s only two of them.

[Stirchley]

Another common error I notice is people saying loose, rather than lose.

I worked with a very nice lady who could never get a handle on past vs passed.

Amazing how many people confuse your & you’re.

[honeykid]

The Brits are more comfortable with the singular they than we Americans are (for usages such as I list above). The whole "woke" gender-pronoun thing is likely piggybacking off this earlier use of "they."

As a Brit I agree that they/their was/is fairly commonly used over here as a general term to mean anyone (among my friends and age group at least) and it's only in the last 5 years or so that people have started to question me when I say "they" when I could've said him/her/he/she. For what it's worth, I get the feeling it isn't used as much by those under 25-30, but I only know a couple of people in that age group, so I could be well off.

[Captain Steel]

I worked with a very nice lady who could never get a handle on past vs passed.

Amazing how many people confuse your & you’re.

I always get mixed up between its and it's.
I always think "apostrophe s" for possessive, but in this case "it's" is short for "it is" while the possessive tense does not have the apostrophe.

[Stirchley]

I always get mixed up between its and it's.
I always think "apostrophe s" for possessive, but in this case "it's" is short for "it is" while the possessive tense does not have the apostrophe.

English can be very confusing though, personally, I never mix up these two.

[GulfportDoc]

:D :D :D

I'm gonna be 62 in a little over a month. You can do your own math privately. :D (Yoda started this site when he was a teen, but even he is staring at the high end of his thirties!)
Heh, heh. So you're still middle aged! Well, I'm 78, so I'd have been 16 when You were born. Hell, that's marryin' age in my state...:D

[algold]

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[GulfportDoc]

I use online services to check grammar.
For the people who bother to check, that's probably a common method..:) I used to consult a dictionary to check spelling, e.g., but now it's just easier to do it online.

Have you noticed that some of the automatic spell checkers on various websites don't recognize the correct spelling for various words? Maybe they haven't paid for the full dictionary...:D