Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Yes, this coming from the guy who started the drunk thread. Go figure.

I wanted to start this thread because I sometimes struggle with how to say things or the correct grammar usage a times.

So for those of you who have no shame, I figured we could come here to form some kind of consensus on the rules of grammar (and punctuation) that tend to stump us.

For example, if I'm saying I could care less about Tony Romo. Should it be, "[I]I couldn't care less" or "I could care less"[/I]?


In the now famous words of a fellow Warpather, what saith the mob?

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

...and of course I misspelled Warpath. Off to a great start.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

I prefer "I couldn't care less" because saying "I could care less" implies that you already care more than the minimum one could care about a given situation. Basically, that don't make no damn sense no how.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=12thMan;615397]...and of course I misspelled Warpath. Off to a great start.[/quote]

I think we're going to keep it that way...just for irony's sake

When is it affect? When is it effect?

Why do commas suck?

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Could we merge this and the drunk thread. Now that would be priceless!

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

I usually check my grammar guide that I've from college. I do get lazy though. You can enter a phrase in a search engine or on a word doc, and see if it comes through correctly. Also, many of the things we say are shorter versions of the whole.

I could not care less about Tony Romo. That's a step [U]further[/U] than, I could care less. They're both correct.

Don't take it from me because I've forgotten so much. This is just a general understanding.

Sayeth Me.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

I've seen it written and spoken both ways, that's why I've been sort of confused.

Okay, I'll go with the former.

I couldn't care less about Tony Romo.


If I may establish one sort of informal rule. In each example, let's try to use the Cowboys in a negative light, if possible.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=SmootSmack;615406]I think we're going to keep it that way...just for irony's sake

When is it affect? When is it effect?

Why do commas suck?[/quote]

Cool.

Affect and effect trip me up too.

I was taught that commas should be used in pairs, although I don't always apply that rule.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Both are perfectly valid though I prefer "could care less" because it's more efficient.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=12thMan;615397]...and of course I misspelled Warpath. Off to a great start.[/quote]
NO DOUBT......it's a Skins thread....it's just that kind of year?

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=SmootSmack;615406]I think we're going to keep it that way...just for irony's sake

When is it affect? When is it effect?

Why do commas suck?[/quote]

I hope this helps because I am now more confused than I was before I read it.

[url=http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/affect.html]affect/effect[/url]

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Thanks Angry,

By the way, judging by your recent sigs, I have two questions: 1) When is your Redskins romance novel coming out, and 2) Will Fabio be on the cover?

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

It's like this:

Dan Snyder would affect the Skins best if he sold the them.

or The effect of Dan Snyder selling the Skins today would be some fans saving 8000 dollars

hope that helps.

Sadly I can't think of a good Cowboy bashing example :(

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;615427]It's like this:

Dan Snyder would affect the Skins best if he sold the them.

or The effect of Dan Snyder selling the Skins today would be some fans saving 8000 dollars

hope that helps.

Sadly I can't think of a good Cowboy bashing example :([/quote]

Dude, you could have totally come up with a Cowboy example:)

Thanks for the example though.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=12thMan;615396]Yes, this coming from the guy who started the drunk thread. Go figure.

I wanted to start this thread because I sometimes struggle with how to say things or the correct grammar usage a times.

So for those of you who have no shame, I figured we could come here to form some kind of consensus on the rules of grammar (and punctuation) that tend to stump us.

For example, if I'm saying I could care less about Tony Romo. Should it be, "[I]I couldn't care less" or "I could care less"[/I]?


In the now famous words of a fellow Warpather, what saith the mob?[/quote]
Both are wrong it should be "F@#$ Tony Romo".

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Grammar is not something you "arrive at a consensus about" - especially with this bunch. It's either correct or it isn't. There are many fine K-6 level books that can help you. Most will be out of print because, as you obviously know, grammar is one of the many subjects no longer taught in our shameful excuse for a public school system.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=70Chip;615437]Grammar is not something you "arrive at a consensus about" - especially with this bunch. It's either correct or it isn't. There are many fine K-6 level books that can help you. Most will be out of print because, as you obviously know, grammar is one of the many subjects no longer taught in our shameful excuse for a public school system.[/quote]

Well they did not have a very good affect (or should that be effect) on me.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=70Chip;615437]Grammar is not something you "arrive at a consensus about" - especially with this bunch. It's either correct or it isn't. There are many fine K-6 level books that can help you. Most will be out of print because, as you obviously know, grammar is one of the many subjects no longer taught in our shameful excuse for a public school system.[/quote]

Maybe we should publish a Warpath Grammar For Dummies?

Seriously, I recently purchased a copy of Strunk and White, [I]The[/I] [I]Elements of Style[/I]. Tried and true.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

I have some like new grammer books from 4th, 5th and 6th grade that we could sell.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=SmootSmack;615426]Thanks Angry,

By the way, judging by your recent sigs, I have two questions: 1) When is your Redskins romance novel coming out, and 2) Will Fabio be on the cover?[/quote]


It is actually going to be a short story and it will possibly at the end of the season. I have writers block because there isn't enough new info to add to it yet. As far as Fabio is concerned if I am going to falsify my appearance on a book cover it would be somebody younger and better looking.

I just got an idea, we can have a contest for someone to come up with the cover illustration for the story. we can pick a winner via warpath poll. That would be more fun...don't you think?

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=firstdown;615445]I have some like new grammer books from 4th, 5th and 6th grade that we could sell.[/quote]

We could merge them together and market them as one book.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

When in doubt, Google it. Never mind the grammar how about some basic spelling?? Seems to be getting pretty bad lately.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=12thMan;615442]Maybe we should publish a Warpath Grammar For Dummies?

Seriously, I recently purchased a copy of Strunk and White, [I]The[/I] [I]Elements of Style[/I]. Tried and true.[/quote]

One of the best books ever.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=12thMan;615396]Yes, this coming from the guy who started the drunk thread. Go figure.

I wanted to start this thread because I sometimes struggle with how to say things or the correct grammar usage a times.

So for those of you who have no shame, I figured we could come here to form some kind of consensus on the rules of grammar (and punctuation) that tend to stump us.

[B]For example, if I'm saying I could care less about Tony Romo. Should it be, "[I]I couldn't care less" or "I could care less"[/I]?[/B]

In the now famous words of a fellow Warpather, what saith the mob?[/quote]

To express an extreme lack of care for Tony Romo, you should say, "I couldn't care less about Tony Romo."

Also, I'm not sure that this is a question that falls into the "rules of grammar" category.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;615455][B]One of the best books ever[/B].[/quote]

You've read it, Trample?!

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=BringBackJoeT;615470]You've read it, Trample?![/quote]

It's a grey book right? It's been awhile but yes, I've read it.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;615472]It's a grey book right? It's been awhile but yes, I've read it.[/quote]

Just giving you a hard time . . .

(Alert: sentence fragment)

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

I would recommend [U]A Writer's Reference [/U] by Diana Hacker.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;615472]It's a grey book right? It's been awhile but yes, I've read it.[/quote]


You don't have to lie to us, we know you don't read.

If you were joking about having read it I apologize.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

I cannot stand the whole Gibb's fiasco that happens every now and then.

[url=http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_possessive_case_for_words_ending_in_s]WikiAnswers - What is the possessive case for words ending in s[/url]
[quote]
Form the singular possessive of nouns ending in s with 's: Mr. Jones's dog, Maris's foibles, James's dissertation. The only exceptions are ancient proper nouns: Jesus' disciples.

However, you form the plural possessive of nouns by adding an apostrophe after the "s": the dogs' bones, the balloons' strings, the lollipops' centers.

In the case of the plural possessive of nouns ending in s -- as in, say, the family Jones and their collective beach house -- you add an es and an apostrophe at the end: the Joneses' beach house, the Moraleses' car.
[/quote]

So it is Joe Gibbs. Joe Gibbs's teams won the game. The Gibbses' are currently running a Nascar team.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Affect = verb
Effect = noun

99% of the time. That always made it pretty obvious to me about which one to use.

Here's another important one:

It's = always a contraction (it is, it has, etc)
Its = if it's not a contraction

It's tricky, because in the case of most possessives you use an apostrophe, but not with "it".

So:

It's putting the lotion on its skin.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=drew54;616901]I cannot stand the whole Gibb's fiasco that happens every now and then.

[URL="http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_possessive_case_for_words_ending_in_s"]WikiAnswers - What is the possessive case for words ending in s[/URL]


So it is Joe Gibbs. Joe Gibbs's teams won the game. The Gibbses' are currently running a Nascar team.[/quote]

This is an interesting one. It was pointed out in The Elements of Style. But I noticed that you "team" is plural in your example.

So would it still be Joe Gibbs' team in this case?

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=saden1;616599]You don't have to lie to us, we know you don't read.

If you were joking about having read it I apologize.[/quote]

I had to read it to get my degree.

[url=http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/bedhandbook7enew/Player/Pages/Main.aspx]The Bedford Handbook by Diana Hacker[/url]

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Elements-Style-4th-William-Strunk/dp/0205313426]Amazon.com: The Elements of Style (4th Edition) (9780205313426): William Strunk, E. B. White: Books[/ame]

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

My much younger 15 year old cousin was talking about "Old Yeller" on Sunday and talking about how he cried when the dog got rabies or whatever. I said "You know I have still never seen that movie." He replied snidely "I was talking about the book." I then added "Well if we are talking about the book, then I can guarantee you that I haven't seen it!" He shook his head as if he was embarrassed for me.

Yes, I got PWNED by a 15 year old.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

My only real gripe are those who spell ridiculous "rediculous". I am not the world's best speller, and I am certainly not always correct with grammar. However, that is my one pet peeve. Well, maybe "rediculous" and posting as if you are texting someone. "wazup wit da 'skins!"

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Oh, just remembered another one that I hate. When someone uses the word "loose" for "lose". Loose is to describe things like, "His jeans are loose fit jeans." Lose is for, "Looks like the Redskins are going to lose another game."

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=12thMan;617024]This is an interesting one. It was pointed out in The Elements of Style. But I noticed that you "team" is plural in your example.

So would it still be Joe Gibbs' team in this case?[/quote]

I may have had a typo in my rant on typos.

Joe Gibbs's team won the game. Isn't this correct.

Joe Gibbs' teams won the game. That looks wrong to me. But I am not an english major. The main think that irkes me is when the do the Gibb's. His name is not Gibb, it is Gibbs. So all punctuation should come after his name.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=drew54;617186]I may have had a typo in my rant on typos.

[B]Joe Gibbs's team won the game. Isn't this correct[/B].

Joe Gibbs' teams won the game. That looks wrong to me. But I am not an english major. The main think that irkes me is when the do the Gibb's. His name is not Gibb, it is Gibbs. So all punctuation should come after his name.[/quote]

Yes it is. The latter is accepted by many, even though it's improper.

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

[quote=Trample the Elderly;617191]Yes it is. The latter is accepted by many, even though it's improper.[/quote]

Are you sure it's not, "Joes Gibbss'es teams won's the games?"

;)

Re: Warthpath Correct Grammar Thread
 

Ok, one thing I hate. "A lot" is two words. Not one word, but two. Alot is the firstdown version of allot.

As in "Tony Romo ends up crying on the goal line at the end of games a lot."