Top 10 grammatical errors that make you look stupid

**idb** · 16th April 2007, 15:13

I dismantled my bike in January.
I think that it had been mantled incorrectly at the factory in the first place.
I finished remantling it last week.

**Big Dave** · 16th April 2007, 15:15

Originally Posted by idb

I dismantled my bike in January.
I think that it had been mantled incorrectly at the factory in the first place.
I finished remantling it last week.

Are you gruntled?

Change that:

feckin' ducatis - told ya.

**Sniper** · 16th April 2007, 15:16

Originally Posted by Big Dave

At any stage were you gruntled?

If they may fun of you whilst you were gruntled, would they dis-gruntle you?

**Hitcher** · 16th April 2007, 15:21

I am whelmed.

**Sniper** · 16th April 2007, 15:23

Originally Posted by Hitcher

I am whelmed.

Con tent leigh whelmed?

**idb** · 16th April 2007, 15:32

Originally Posted by Big Dave

Are you gruntled?

I was disgusted for a while but after I calmed down I managed to get regusted again.

**Big Dave** · 16th April 2007, 15:55

Originally Posted by idb

I was disgusted for a while but after I calmed down I managed to get regusted again.

Custard, what custard - are you a trifle deaf?

**Hitcher** · 16th April 2007, 16:04

On a more serious note: led and lead.

When pronounced the same way, the latter is the heavy metal, Pb.

There is there for a big difference in what's meant by saying that somebody is easily lead versus easily led.

Lead is also pronounced "leed", as in "where you lead I will follow". It may pay to seek clarification if somebody slips you a note asking you to "Please take the lead".

**judecatmad** · 16th April 2007, 16:14

Originally Posted by Fairlie

That is just laziness. People should aspire to something more than the everyday and mundane

Where I work, we have all been sent on a 'plain English course' in recent months. It's to help make our customers feel comfortable and in familiar territiory when they receive a letter from us. The fact that we are aiming at the lowest common denominator really rankles, but who am I to doubt the mighty at the top?

So...we are to use first names in our letter headings (that pisses me off no end - we're an insurance company for goodness' sake. There should be no familiarity in formal correspondence, IMHO), we are to use short, sharp sentences to avoid confusion (hell, if you can't understand a letter we're sending you, you don't have much hope understanding your Life/Trauma/Income Protection policy) and we are to avoid using unfamiliar terms and words (unfamiliar to who? Unless we establish the level of education of each and every client to avoid confusing some and insulting the rest, we're on to a loser right from the off).

One of the comments the lady taking the course made was that we were to avoid the use of 'adjacent' as many people are under the impression that it means 'opposite'. And that is my problem, why?

*sigh*

I'm no egg-head but the dumbing-down of the English language, in order to make those who have been through a sub-standard education system feel like geniuses, is just plain insulting to the rest of us.

**idb** · 16th April 2007, 16:35

Originally Posted by judecatmad

Where I work, we have all been sent on a 'plain English course' in recent months. It's to help make our customers feel comfortable and in familiar territiory when they receive a letter from us. The fact that we are aiming at the lowest common denominator really rankles, but who am I to doubt the mighty at the top?

So...we are to use first names in our letter headings (that pisses me off no end - we're an insurance company for goodness' sake. There should be no familiarity in formal correspondence, IMHO), we are to use short, sharp sentences to avoid confusion (hell, if you can't understand a letter we're sending you, you don't have much hope understanding your Life/Trauma/Income Protection policy) and we are to avoid using unfamiliar terms and words (unfamiliar to who? Unless we establish the level of education of each and every client to avoid confusing some and insulting the rest, we're on to a loser right from the off).

One of the comments the lady taking the course made was that we were to avoid the use of 'adjacent' as many people are under the impression that it means 'opposite'. And that is my problem, why?

*sigh*

I'm no egg-head but the dumbing-down of the English language, in order to make those who have been through a sub-standard education system feel like geniuses, is just plain insulting to the rest of us.

Top rant!
What's the point of teaching kids the other stuff if they can't communicate?

**ManDownUnder** · 16th April 2007, 17:06

Yes - My theory is that communication is is subject to a type of Darwinism - ideas will live or die by their ability to be successfully transmitted from source to destination.

The use of English (written or spoken) is simply one of the many potential roadblocks.

I'm not going to dumb down the language I use for the sake of others. I'm me and (according the SWMBO) I speak like a dictionary. I think like one too but I don't tell her that.

Sometimes I have to be aware of my audience and simplify the language used to ensure what I say is received intact - albeit with 25 extra words in the sentence. If someone doesn't understand then... FFS ASK!

My typing is ATROCIOUS (don't tell me you didn't notice) and my spelling's not too flash either. Shame, but then I can't really be arsed doing anything different on KB. You guys know and love/hate me for who I am. No biggy.
JCM I have no doubt the Marketing/Psyche types in house have concluded that using first names etc will personalise the correspondence and endear you and the company (read "Brand") to the punters. It'll piss a few off (like you and I by the sound of it) but there's an overall nett gain.

Kind of.

Anyway - I'm off track - it's the Darwin side of things I wanted to throw into the thread. Without the ability to accurately convey complex concepts, there is only so much progress humanity will make. And sticking to the lowest common denominator doesn't really help... sometimes.

**Big Dave** · 16th April 2007, 17:43

Originally Posted by judecatmad

but who am I to doubt the mighty at the top?

None of us are as stupid as all of us.
Look for another gig.

**mstriumph** · 16th April 2007, 17:55

I'm English by birth, antecedents, upbringing and schooling.

And, verily, mes Bros., i say unto you lot .......... English is a means of communication, a living, changing, EVOLVING thing and NOT the set-in-concrete, exclusive, "there's only ONE way to make a bed" iconic nonsense that some people try to make it.

No, i don't say that there are no 'rules' - but the major, OVERRIDING rule, the 'biggie of all biggies' is "communicate" - groups of people use english differently to do that - f'rinstance i don't understand one phrase in ten of 'gansta rap' but obviously they do ....... and PART of what they are communicating anyway is that they differ from people like me ........... and they communicate THAT very well - i understand that message perfectly.

i love language - the taste, texture and flavour of words ....... but, although i say that the rules are anything i need to make them at any given instance to get my point across, one thing i DON'T do is think i have any exclusive right to dictate to others what they can and cannot do in their OWN communications.

here endeth my 2centsworth ...... or twopenceworth if you will
[not allowing for variations in rates of exchange, goods and services tax or any other 'fact' that may get in the way of a good saying]

**MisterD** · 16th April 2007, 17:56

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

Yes - My theory is that communication is is subject to a type of Darwinism - ideas will live or die by their ability to be successfully transmitted from source to destination.

Have you read "The Selfish Gene"? Dawkins suggests an entity he calls a "meme" (prn meem) analogous to a gene, but the basic unit of an idea who's success is measured by their transmission from mind to mind, just as you say....sorry MDU, you were beaten to it.