Old Fart Rant

[WalterTrull]

OK, I couldn't find the pedantism forum so I'll just have to post here.
Why can't members of the English speaking world distinguish between lie and lay?
My dander has been up for years. Maybe this post will grant me an emotional release and I'll be able to sleep nights again.
Any other old farts want to discuss things like the double and triple negative, etc. etc.?
Fragrance commercials? Aaargh!
Well, maybe the over use of onomatopoeia? Echomimetics?
Punctuating phrases or words as if they are sentences?

 

[Revoltingest]

Punctuating phrases or words as if they are sentences?

I like doing this to indicate the end of something, even if it isn't a proper sentence.

 

[Augustus]

I have a deep and abiding hatred for anyone who pluralises octopus as octopi.

Bring back hanging.

 

[WalterTrull]

I like doing this to indicate the end of something, even if it isn't a proper sentence.

I guess all of us (you know if you're one of us) do that, unfortunately. As long as you know how to spell the possessive of it.

 

[WalterTrull]

I have a deep and abiding hatred for anyone who pluralises octopus as octopi.

Bring back hanging.

Agreed, everyone knows the plural is octopodes.

 

[Revoltingest]

I guess all of us (you know if you're one of us) do that, unfortunately. As long as you know how to spell the possessive of it.

I sometimes catch myself messing that one up upon a proofread.
Tis an unacceptable error.
IMO, playing with the rules of language works best if one observes
them generally, & one's deviation appears both intentional & useful.

 

[Revoltingest]

I have a deep and abiding hatred for anyone who pluralises octopus as octopi.

Bring back hanging.

And they must be hanged...not "hung".


Thank you for providing relevant context for airing to air this pet peeve.

 

[Revoltingest]

Agreed, everyone knows the plural is octopodes.

And not "octomom".

 

[Rival]

I have a deep and abiding hatred for anyone who pluralises octopus as octopi.

Bring back hanging.

Yes but then they'd be saying they are about to be hung instead of hanged

 

[Revoltingest]

I have a deep and abiding hatred for anyone who pluralises octopus as octopi.

Bring back hanging.

I prefer a harsher punishment...
Make'm take a remedial English grammar course....a long one requiring
essays...& with math story problems.
(OK, the last one isn't relevant, but it will learn'm to behave themselves.)

 

[Augustus]

Yes but then they'd be saying they are about to be hung instead of hanged

If there wasn't such a distinction, when one announced that the villain was very well hung, this could be mistaken for a crude sexual innuendo rather than a compliment to the executioner on doing a jolly good job of dispensing the Queen's justice.

 

[Revoltingest]

If there wasn't weren't such a distinction, when one announced that the villain was very well hung, this could be mistaken for a crude sexual innuendo rather than a compliment to the executioner on doing a jolly good job of dispensing the Queen's justice.

I fixed your post to comport with the subjunctive case.
(No need to thank me.)

 

[Willamena]

I mourn the demise of "that." Such a useful word, gone astray.

 

[Revoltingest]

I mourn the demise of "that." Such a useful word, gone astray.

True dat.

 

[WalterTrull]

If there wasn't such a distinction, when one announced that the villain was very well hung, this could be mistaken for a crude sexual innuendo rather than a compliment to the executioner on doing a jolly good job of dispensing the Queen's justice.

Here in pedantville, innuendo is frowned upon, along with confusing subjunctive with indicative moods.

 

[Revoltingest]

Here in pedantville, innuendo is frowned upon, along with confusing subjunctive with indicative moods.
Cognition requires several reads of missives from the wet ones' camp.

Did you know that the word, "innuendo", is a word borrowed from Italian?
It means "suppository".

 

[Augustus]

People who say "I could care less" as an expression of apathy. How did that even become a thing?

Maybe they don't deserve hanging like the octopi folk, but life imprisonment would be fair. As long as life means life.

 

[oldbadger]

I have a deep and abiding hatred for anyone who pluralises octopus as octopi.

Bring back hanging.

OK, I'll take care not to annoy you with that one. Of course, octopuseses have more arms than platipi, but don't weigh as much as hippopotami.

In the Arctic there are a lot of Walri, but not many octopussies.

 

[Augustus]

OK, I'll take care not to annoy you with that one. Of course, octopuseses have more arms than platipi, but don't weigh as much as hippopotami.

In the Arctic there are a lot of Walri, but not many octopussies.

 

[oldbadger]

I prefer a harsher punishment...
Make'm take a remedial English grammar course....a long one requiring
essays...& with math story problems.
(OK, the last one isn't relevant, but it will learn'm to behave themselves.)

'Ello Revolting. Or is that 'allo?
Meself Oi likes yer grammer 'n all..... innit.