How Many here have passed High School English!??

[AverageJoe]

Maybe I'm the only one, but does it annoy anyone else to constantly read posts on here asking to "Suggest me" this or "Suggest me" that?? Maybe it's just the times we're living in or maybe there really ARE that many people who didn't learn a thing in high school (or grade school) English or simply don't care!

If you really don't know proper basic English composition, there are plenty of books available.

I think it's sad because if you are on this forum, you must care at least a little bit about how you APPEAR. But if you are going around butchering the language, that kind of deflates any classy image you might portray by having a nice shave!

 

[SpyvSpy]

I didn't know I'd end up getting grammar lessons here.

Www.grammarbook.com

 

[Robxcarlson]

I have a BA in English and I am nearly through my MA... While I agree with you that "Suggest me" is grammatically wrong, I think it's just a turn of phrase. We say things all the time that aren't proper to the rules, but are accepted ways of speaking. All I know for sure is that it doesn't bother me to see it typed that way.

 

[paulboeck]

I agree wholeheartedly! My wife taught some college classes a few years ago and it was really depressing to read some of the papers written by college students who apparently did pass H.S. English. I'm willing to make an exception for non-native English speakers, but those who have spoken it all their lives should be more proficient. I think text messaging has done a lot to bring about the current decline.

As I said yesterday in a crotchety post about music videos:

Get off my lawn!

/boy, I really am getting old and crotchety.
/maybe I need a vacation

 

[SpyvSpy]

I think text messaging has done a lot to bring about the current decline.

+1 OMG, my BFF Jill. Seriously good point, I hear kids outside my house actually just say the letters instead of words quite funny IMO.

 

[chickpea]

You kids get off my lawn!!!! And TURN THAT MUSIC DOWN!

I have a degree in English and am an attorney, so I earn my bread from wordsmithing, but honestly online forums are just not formal enough to require proper grammar. The Queen's English, I'm afraid, does not have a home on the net.

It's of no consequence, however. Studies have shown that "text speak" has not harmed children's formal English ability.

 

[paulboeck]

... Studies have shown that "text speak" has not harmed children's formal English ability.

That's at least a little bit comforting.

 

[RichGem]

I have a BA in English and I am nearly through my MA... While I agree with you that "Suggest me" is grammatically wrong, I think it's just a turn of phrase. We say things all the time that aren't proper to the rules, but are accepted ways of speaking. All I know for sure is that it doesn't bother me to see it typed that way.

I can't stand to see/hear the language butchered by native speakers either. But, the "suggest me" phenomenon might be due to the idea that there are only so many characters allowed for the post title/subject line and not knowing how many characters that is. Therefore, there is a tendency to cut out seemingly non-critical words while still getting the message across. The result is not pretty, but still communicates.

 

[Bertilak]

Get off my lawn!

You kids get off my lawn!!!!

You guys didn't get the smileys right so I fixed it for you.

 

[bythbook]

I blame the Riddler.

 

[paulboeck]

You guys didn't get the smileys right so I fixed it for you.

Thanks Bob!

 

[slcsteve]

I blame the Riddler.

I blame.........

[youtube]nYSYipouABI[/youtube]

Not really. It seems we always have to blame someone or something.

 

[paulboeck]

...Not really but we always have to blame someone or something.

Well played.

 

[ClubmanRob]

 

[sparkchaser]

Me fail English? That's unpossible.

 

[paulboeck]

Technically, can that be called a lolcat?

 

[Confuzius]

Technically, can that be called a lolcat?

Laughing feline.

 

[RichGem]

I blame.........

[youtube]nYSYipouABI[/youtube]

Not really. It seems we always have to blame someone or something.

I seem to recall mentioning that to Chip once or twice.

 

[paulboeck]

Laughing feline.

Ah, yes, of course.

 

[mretzloff]

But if you are going around butchering the language, that kind of deflates any classy image you might portray by having a nice shave!

You are not supposed to start sentences with the word "but".