I miss the Oxford comma, I occasionally use it but editors will berate you. I had a young editor completely unfamiliar with the usage, she go t back to me and just said, "oh that's old." So, I was thrilled to find this: http://literaryman.com/2012/06/22/this- ... ord-comma/
I never knew about the Oxford comma before I've always used commas that way and didn't know it was even in question. Misspelled words, incorrect grammar, and using the wrong homophone are some of my biggest pet peeves. (Note the commas in that sentence - LOL.) My 2 oldest sons (8 and 6) are both reading and writing at above level and you can be sure that I am constantly checking and correcting their errors. I've even pointed out errors in papers sent home by the school and other printed material. It just smacks of laziness and disregard of our language.
I apologize that often do not write properly, do not know very well your language, but I try,,, I am near because your forum is among the best, as well as all people of the forum
Teodoros, please don't apologize! We are speaking of English-as-first-language users who misuse the language. I speak and write Spanish, but never as well as anyone who has Spanish as a first language. Your English is fine, and better than many English speakers' efforts! Your posts, your pictures--we wouldn't miss them for the world. I agree that the Stew is among the best forums, and has the best people, you among them!
Theo, I agree completely with Jane...YOU are so welcome here. I am sure your language is Greek to me and I would do much worse than you in return.
Just like to point out that in some cases Spelling was taught in School and at home, but despite that our younger son still cannot spell his own name correctly every time. He has an IQ well in excess of the norm too. At School the placed him in a Remedial Unit because he was failing so badly. They kept him there until they did some tests and discovered that he was probably the most intelligent child in the place (even better than his brother who was the 'Star' pupil). To write things now he uses an automatic Spell checker, though on occasions that fails to help him. I do not understand why people do not use these things.
Oh my goodness, thank you for this post!!! Now i can rant...the words i hate the most: lemon to now lemon(s), lime to lime(s). Everytime I hear either one of the two...I cringe and get awful Goosebumps!!! What the heck has happened to the English language? Oh and the grammar: i hear it all the time: I think that you are funner than the next person....funner really!!!! What happened to the word MORE being used to accentuate the word or funnier..."ER" will be the death of us. FUNNER - Really And this came from grown people who did a campaign AD.... Spelling is right out the window. And to ask these kids the difference between coma and comma, they would probably say that there is no difference....LOL Amazingly Sad and it's funny how the grown ups go right along with them without correcting the child or another grownup. Too much accepting of bad grammar in this country...
Spelling Bee When it comes to plants, I'll give you an accurate name. For me. The rest is pure abstraction.
Oh, how about the phrases, not just spelling....Oh, don't worry about it, "I could care less" REALLY???!!!! how about " I couldn't care less"? I corrected my son just last night and he is almost 18....he thought "I could care less" was the correct phrase. I'm like "think about it!" the phrase implies that, yes, you could care even less than you do. Say it correctly!
Does anyone think that lack of reading is a contributor to the inability to write and spell correctly? People, especially younger folks, simply do not read books and magazines, or it seems so to me.
Lynn, I agree about the lack of reading leading to lack of spelling skills (also speaking, but that's another rant for another time!). When I go to the library, the patrons over 40 are browsing the books. The younger patrons are lining up to use the computers.
I just saw this on twitter from @GrammarGirl -to be fair, she isn't @SpellingGirl: "Hale" Versus "Hail": The hale farmer, who hails from Scottland, haled the bag up the hill.
