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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 28. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by beardedlady on April 25, 2002, at 19:40:13
A lot: two words.
Posted by Alii on April 25, 2002, at 20:05:09
In reply to Okay, I've held my tongue for long enough., posted by beardedlady on April 25, 2002, at 19:40:13
::scratched head::
Huh?
--an oh so tired Alii
Posted by CtrlAlt n Del on April 25, 2002, at 20:28:38
In reply to Okay, I've held my tongue for long enough., posted by beardedlady on April 25, 2002, at 19:40:13
You've no need to light a night-light
On a light night like tonight,
For a night-light's light's a slight light,
And tonight's a night that's light.
When a night's light, like tonight's light,
It is really not quite right
To light night-lights with their slight lights
On a light night like tonight.
Posted by Ron Hill on April 26, 2002, at 0:32:12
In reply to Okay, I've held my tongue for long enough., posted by beardedlady on April 25, 2002, at 19:40:13
Posted by beardedlady on April 26, 2002, at 5:47:04
In reply to Wrong Beardy. Two words is not alot, it's only two (nm) » beardedlady, posted by Ron Hill on April 26, 2002, at 0:32:12
Posted by Krazy Kat on April 26, 2002, at 10:31:07
In reply to Wrong Beardy. Two words is not alot, it's only two (nm) » beardedlady, posted by Ron Hill on April 26, 2002, at 0:32:12
i don't why, but that had me rolling with laughter... :)
Posted by Ron Hill on April 26, 2002, at 17:26:11
In reply to Eyes cross, ears steam. (Okay, laughs come, too.) (nm) » Ron Hill, posted by beardedlady on April 26, 2002, at 5:47:04
Posted by Shar on April 26, 2002, at 18:31:10
In reply to Eyes cross, ears steam. (Okay, laughs come, too.) (nm) » Ron Hill, posted by beardedlady on April 26, 2002, at 5:47:04
Posted by beardedlady on April 26, 2002, at 18:51:49
In reply to BL...I still don't get it. Could you splain? (nm) » beardedlady, posted by Shar on April 26, 2002, at 18:31:10
Posted by IsoM on April 26, 2002, at 19:29:28
In reply to BL...I still don't get it. Could you splain? (nm) » beardedlady, posted by Shar on April 26, 2002, at 18:31:10
Most people misspell "a lot" as one word [alot] but it's incorrect - it's two separate words: "a lot" - much like "a little" not "alittle". Beire-dei was an English teacher. Bad grammar gets to her.
Just like many get "its" mixed up with "it's".
"It's" is a contraction for "it is" - e.g. "It's" cold outside.
"Its" is a possesive pronoun - e.g The cat ate "its" food.English lesson for the day. My nerves are still bad & the bathroom calls.
Posted by Zo on April 26, 2002, at 21:37:52
In reply to Alot or A Lot? » Shar, posted by IsoM on April 26, 2002, at 19:29:28
Posted by IsoM on April 26, 2002, at 23:10:15
In reply to What is it calling? (nm) » IsoM, posted by Zo on April 26, 2002, at 21:37:52
Posted by Shar on April 27, 2002, at 1:06:51
In reply to Its [sic] alot [sic] of work. Too much. (nm) » Shar, posted by beardedlady on April 26, 2002, at 18:51:49
Ok....you were being a grammarian. I thought you had been holding your tongue about some big issue, and when I saw 'a lot' I thought maybe it was a joke and you were literally holding your tongue while saying "a lot" and that's when you crossed your eyes etc.
I get it now.
Well, maybe you can help me. Is it proper to say "I wish I was dead" or "I wish I WERE dead" from a grammarian point of view. I get was/were mixed up at times.
Also, is palette (like painters use) said pa-LETT or PAL-let ?
Many thanks.
Shar
Posted by Ron Hill on April 27, 2002, at 1:20:36
In reply to Alot or A Lot? » Shar, posted by IsoM on April 26, 2002, at 19:29:28
>My nerves are still bad & the bathroom calls.
--------------J. W. IsoM;
Why is it taking so long to get your medication? Since, you have already posted your e-mail address on this board in the past, please do so again if you want this care package (i.e. cookies, toothbrush, etc.) I have with your name on it.
-- Ron
Posted by Zo on April 27, 2002, at 3:04:43
In reply to Nerves are very bad - loosens everything up (nm) » Zo, posted by IsoM on April 26, 2002, at 23:10:15
Posted by beardedlady on April 27, 2002, at 6:35:13
In reply to Ohhhhhhhhhhhh » beardedlady, posted by Shar on April 27, 2002, at 1:06:51
Shar:
Yes, I'm anal when it comes to English, which doesn't mean I don't make a few mistakes. But I strangle myself for those mistakes, and I only berate others who make them!
WERE is the subjunctive mood, rather than past tense, which is WAS.
You know that patina you put on something to make it look like copper? It's PAT-in-uh. And when you say something's not your forte? It's FORT. (Many of these have been changed in the dictionary to reflect the mispronunciation.
That's all for today. See you next time on "The Anal Grammarian."
beardy : )>
Posted by colin wallace on April 27, 2002, at 8:00:06
In reply to I wish I WERE dead; PALlette » Shar, posted by beardedlady on April 27, 2002, at 6:35:13
<>That's all for today. See you next time on "The Anal Grammarian."
I'm sure I watched that film recently...*_-
Posted by IsoM on April 27, 2002, at 11:13:59
In reply to What's the hold up on the med delivery? » IsoM, posted by Ron Hill on April 27, 2002, at 1:20:36
Different company as my usual ran out of their supply due to heavy demand. I ordered from another but didn't know the other company would take forever to ship - just got a letter in the mail yesterday saying it's on the way - they ship from Belgium, of all places!
No cookies or toothbrush needed - just lots of toilet paper (sorry, but true) & the weird thing is, I'm hardly able to eat; so very little food is actually going in me!?! Nerves hit my stomach (among other things) - mine only bothers me when stress levels are high. Two of my poor sons inherited IBS (irritable bowel syndrome - the digestive equivalent of migraines) from me; another manifestation of screwed up neurotransmitters. All of us had severe colic as babies.
Thanks for the concern. The perception of fear & stress (& depression) is just as real (body- & mind-wise) as if there were really something serious happening. I don't wish I were dead so much as just didn't exist for now. I wish I could be deeply sedated until I felt normal again.
Crap, I hate this feeling!! The logical side of my mind knows exactly what's happening - it's calm & rational, while the emotional side is leaping wildly all other the place & then will shut down completely before repeating the leaps. As you can tell, the rational side is doing the typing while my stomach is cramping & my emotional side says 'get off the fricking computer!'.
Posted by Kar on April 28, 2002, at 6:20:59
In reply to I wish I WERE dead; PALlette » Shar, posted by beardedlady on April 27, 2002, at 6:35:13
This is interesting- and I would never challenge Beardy's word...I always use "were" and "was" that way too. Then I heard this woman- some noted grammarian who wrote "Woe is I" (a witty little book on grammatical rules and blunders but for the life of me I can't remember her name)talking on NPR. And SHE said that "were" should be used in cases where it is not likely or possible that you would find yourself in that state (as in I wish I were a cat") and "was" should be used for everything else. I don't like it and haven't changed my ways...but this would imply that the proper way would be, "I wish I was dead". I dunno.
I wish I was/were able to answer your question! :)
Kar
Posted by beardedlady on April 28, 2002, at 6:53:06
In reply to I wish I WAS sure... » beardedlady, posted by Kar on April 28, 2002, at 6:20:59
That's the trouble with every field; a handful of naysayers pop up every once in awhile.
I adhere to more of the old school of grammar, but I flip flop. I have pardoned a couple of split infinitives (to boldly go), as okay'd by William Saffire, but I never have allowed myself to say "different than," opting for "different from," even though Barbara Wallraff, the Atlantic's (itals there) grammar columnist and author of Word Court (itals there), says it's okay (and she's pretty smart!). And I love starting sentences with and. But is fine, too.
My daughter says, "I'm pretty smart, amn't I?" And I haven't corrected her. In fact, I prefer that. (Are I not? Am I not? You be the judge!) I looked it up one day and found out that many writers have used it (including James Joyce) and prefer it to the ungrammatical, illogical counterpart. So it's a keeper, and I'll begin using it myself when I remember!
Anyway, when in doubt, change the sentence. I wish I HAD the answers!
This ends another episode of "The Anal Grammarian." Thanks for watching. See you next week.
beardy : )>
Posted by Shar on April 28, 2002, at 12:06:34
In reply to Amn't I?, posted by beardedlady on April 28, 2002, at 6:53:06
One thing I do (that could be completely wrong!) is to substitute words in a sentence, or try the sentence in a different form. Such as, xxx and xxx went to the store.
I and He?
Me and him?
I and him?
Me and he?
I went to the store.
He went to the store.
He and I went to the store.that doesn't help in the was/were case, but it does in others.
Shar
Posted by beardedlady on April 28, 2002, at 15:11:31
In reply to How about the substitution trick? » beardedlady, posted by Shar on April 28, 2002, at 12:06:34
Shar,
I do that too. It's especially useful with pronoun/antecedent agreement. You know: Everybody should take out their pencil is an error that some people lapse into because they don't want to use language that's sexist (e.g. Everybody should take out HIS pencil). I have no problem with the grammatically correct one. I'd rather it say his than be wrong. But the best solution of all is to get rid of each, everybody, and everyone, replacing these with plurals, as in: All students should take out their pencils.
Next time: the apostrophe.
beardy : )>
Posted by IsoM on April 28, 2002, at 15:30:16
In reply to substitutions, posted by beardedlady on April 28, 2002, at 15:11:31
Posted by beardedlady on April 28, 2002, at 15:49:48
In reply to ...take out your pencil? (nm) » beardedlady, posted by IsoM on April 28, 2002, at 15:30:16
Posted by Shar on April 29, 2002, at 0:06:38
In reply to substitutions, posted by beardedlady on April 28, 2002, at 15:11:31
I thought it was delightful to see, one day, a post entitled "Is Shar Beardedlady?" and realize that this is one of the few places where that sentence would (1) make sense and, (2) be complete and correct.
(Names were changed to protect the insouciant.)
Next time: Run-on sentences.
S
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