OT: Grammar Police

[jcarter]

Oh, you got me, I am a bad speller, my brain was made before spell check. Gambol and gamble, whoops!
I also used prey instead of pray.  Lots of others too.
This is fun!
Lets do algebra next?
Jane

[kimmer]

QUOTE(jwboyd @ Dec 6 2006, 09:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

P.S. Does it really make all that much difference, so long as the meaning is clear?

It shouldn't matter here. It should matter to a newspaper. At least that's how kimmer the poor grammarian sees it.  

QUOTE(jcarter @ Dec 6 2006, 10:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Lets do algebra next?

Oh no, let's not go there. *nightmares of flunking algebra flood into my brain*

[Frances144]

Algebra......hyperventilating and beginning to get that hot sick feeling ........ more chocolate, more chocolate, more chocolate....... calming down now.  Got happy sick feeling from more chocolate.......

[Texas Mac Man]

In spite of having spell check on word processors, a human still needs to proof read text.

In yesterdays Dallas News, there was an article about a city council not having a Public Hearing, however, it was printed as Pubic Hearing. Good thing it didn't print as Pubic Viewing.

Years ago, I was a bit embarrassed at work, when I put out a memo about an upcoming Gold Tournament. Should have been a Golf Tournament.

[Mayo]

I would say "gives" because it "sounds" right.

When grammar indicates that it can be written more than one way go with the option that seems to roll off the tongue.  And even when a particular usage is questionable cadence usually wins-out over rule-perfect usage in my book.

Proof-reading aloud is a good way to make sure that something "sounds good."  Great writing has a nice rhythm to it and great writers tend toward the creative use of language and grammar.  "Correct" writing can read like a boring textbook...

[kbeartx]

QUOTE(jwboyd @ Dec 6 2006, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Does it really make all that much difference, so long as the meaning is clear?

There's the rub: in many cases, a typo or grammatical error obscures the meaning [except to the person who does the writing].  


I agree that proof-reading aloud [even if there's no-one else to hear it] is a great way to catch most errors.

[D76]

QUOTE(Texas Mac Man @ Dec 6 2006, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In yesterdays Dallas News, there was an article about a city council not having a Public Hearing, however, it was printed as Pubic Hearing. Good thing it didn't print as Pubic Viewing.

One of the worst for potential disaster is T-shirt, and it's strange because the obvious error hardly ever occurs when it's just plain shirt, without the T.

[tacit]

The word "couple" is singular. The plural is "couples," as in "one couple went to the store, and two other couples went to Disney World."

The correct form is "a couple gives," not "a couple give." This isn't a gray area; it's very well established. A singular noun, even when used to describe a group (for example, "couple," "group," "bunch," "pile") always takes a singular verb. The plurals of these nouns are couples, groups, bunches, and piles.

So: A group of people is sitting on the steps; three groups of people are in the library.

Grammar is something I care passionately about.

[jcarter]

HI Tacit,
Thanks for that one, I was wondering.
The one for this,
 "he gave one to you and me" "he gave one to you and I" Is one that I do know, and its always written bass ackwards.
My husband is so much better at this than I, yeah I didn't say better at this than ME.
I am or ME am. There is another one!

No, lets not get into algebra, even tho my husband is pushing me,,,,,,,,,
No, I prefer CHOCOLATE too. Its WAY better than algebra,,,,,eh?
Jane

[Texas Mac Man]

I pasted "Couple Give Family a New Beginning" and "Couple Gives Family a New Beginning" into Word & Word Perfect. Neither had a grammar problem.

It could be that if "Gives" was considered the correct word, it was shortened to "Give" to fit the column width.

[D76]

QUOTE(Texas Mac Man @ Dec 6 2006, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It could be that if "Gives" was considered the correct word, it was shortened to "Give" to fit the column width.

Is there enough room for an s?

In these days of rubber type sizes, the head likely could have been shrunk to accommodate the s, but it might have been shrunk, anyway. If so, the space under the head could become an issue, as could the sizes and placement of the competing heads on the same page.

Edit: Sorry. Gregg was the original poster. Should've checked first.

[Paddy]

Having worked at a newspaper doing pagination, I can assure you that an "s" would not be dropped because of space issues!!!!

A copy editor goofed. Rushing to meet deadlines or just inattention could be the culprit.

Most US newspapers use the AP (Associated Press) Style Guide, which has this to say about it:

QUOTE

When used in the sense of two people, the word takes plural verbs and pronouns: The couple were married Saturday and left Sunday on their honeymoon. They will return in two weeks. In the case of a single unit, use a singular verb: Each couple was asked to give $10.

After over two years of working part-time at the paper, I've become a bit of a stickler on some things. It drives me insane when people publish things like school newsletters etc. and seem oblivious to the fact that they've got three different ways of expressing dates on one page. I've tried to encourage the school Web masters (see: AP style - capitalize Web, and Web master is two words...) who I supervise to use consistent style, but there is only so much you can do with a bunch of volunteers.

[Gregg]

QUOTE(jcarter @ Dec 6 2006, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

HI Tacit,
Thanks for that one, I was wondering.
The one for this,
 "he gave one to you and me" "he gave one to you and I" Is one that I do know, and its always written bass ackwards.
My husband is so much better at this than I, yeah I didn't say better at this than ME.

Both of those are correct, although the first is poetic. It just leaves off the verb (am). If you take the other person out of it, then whatever sounds right (me or I) is correct when you put the other person back in.