Grammar Gripe, Part 2

Earlier today I read a blog post.  "Yeah, so what?," you're saying.  Well, it contained the error I complained about the other day: it's as a possessive.  The blogger in question is quite high up in the blogging world, but unlike his wife he allows comments to his posts.  A commenter pointed out his grammatical error and got slammed as a result. 

This bothers me. 

Not only did other commenters criticize the critic, the blogger himself threatened to ban the commenter's IP if s/he responded to the blogger's explanation that it was late after a stressful day and who had time for editing? 

I don't agree. 

There are standards which must be adhered to with our written language.  I'll cringe if you tell me there's three blogs you read regularly.  If you write it, I'll call you on it, and tell you you're wrong. 

A living language must evolve, but that doesn't mean we should be sloppy about it. 

Comments

[bhd]

*Frantically going back over blog to correct errors, particularly the "there's" thing.*

Frankly, the error you cite is too rampant for me to get upset about it anymore. Well, that's not true. I get very upset about it. But it has its own momentum, and it's too much for me. *grin*

Plus, I've been having problems with their, there, and they're lately. Early onset, I figure.

[Another Alison]

I'm with you! We should start a club. ;-)

[Jennnn]

This possessive always seems backwards. Its just so easy to forget it's correct usage!

Ooops... (heh heh)

[Margaret]

I was hoping it wasn't moi, but I am generally a decent grammarian. If not, send me a secret e-mail so that I can correct it.(I'm terrible with commas though--be warned!)

[jay]

Hope it wasn't me!I learn stuff on these blogs.I'm a dropout,and appreciate what I read and learn here.Really!
Of course it wouldn't be me.
jay

[Alison]

It wasn't any of you. :-)

[melanie]

i hate to think how many times you cringe reading my hasty blatherings. I am a grammatical nightmare in the real world.

hey, thats the breaks kid. feel free to correct and expose.

;-)

[Alison]

Mel, it wasn't the errors so much as the fact that the commenter got slammed for correcting the blogger's grammar.

Everyone makes mistakes, and I am no exception. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to the language, though, especially when it concerns my own writing.

I think I've given myself a reputation as a grammar whipcracker. I'm not. Really.

[bee]

Hee. I thought at first that maybe they actually read four or five blogs, and you knew about it! Which tells you what kind of a day it is shaping up to be.

I was a grammar nazi for years until I realised that I am likely the worst offender. It was a schock to see how many grammatical imperfections I committed. And I can't even fall back on the handy excuse of multilingualism and cultural confusion as I see that you are bi-cultural and bilingual!But I do understand the need for standards. One must speak out or no one will know the difference, whether or not they choose to act upon the information.

[Denise]

Unapologetic Grammar Bitches Unite!

[Alison]

Hmmm. UGBU. I like it.

[angel]

some people type incorrectly as a way to express their individual style. i do have to admit that i am a spell-checker. i always find spelling errors. my biggest pet peeve is the use of loose rather then lose. *bangs head on nearest wall* but i would never slam on anyone for spelling anything wrong or their incorrect usage of punctuation marks/grammar.

[Chris]

I certainly hope you don't pay too much attention to my blog...as I'm quite concerned about grammar but in too much of a hurry to proof what I write! :-)

[sprinkle4]

I am in total agreement with you on this issue! Perhaps it was because my mother was a teacher but I am almost anal about proper grammar and punctuation. So, some would call it just desserts that I married a man who ALWAYS uses it's for its and your' for you're. That'll teach me I suppose!:)

[Bonnie]

I will gladly serve on the board of UGBU. I could be your freakin' mascot. I cannot *stand* incorrect grammar, spelling and punctuation, even in IM, and I'm probably the only person on Earth who puts semicolons in text messages.

[West Coast Woman]

I know the blog you mean, and even though I have been a professional editor much of my life and I loathe those kinds of errors, I think you need to let go a little. Be a role model, not a critic; you will get much farther in life.

[Allan]

I know Alison as a wonderful role model to her children and her friends.

I very rarely ever hear her be critical of anthing or anyone.

She felt that this one instance of grammatical abuse deserved a comment from her.

[newwavegurly]

I want to be on the UGBU as well! My pet peeves are "to" vs. "too" and "your" vs. "you're"... ARGH!!!

[Thomas]

I realy hates me some gramaticaly incorrect writings that are incorrect; Why I see them alot on seperate blogs, on the internets blogs.

Subposebly sum are ment to be literarilly ment, but others, its seems, are done with ignorence.

[Heimo]

Was this satirical Thomas: "I realy hates me.."? - hmm I write so quick & am so inpatient anyway, that I post anything I write without correction immediately - well in my own diary - that's always an english language or grammar desaster - later on I try to correct these mistake loaden sentences with about 10 or 20 mistakes I usually find for the better or worse.. - but in German grammar & spelling I was quite perfect in my youth & couldn't stand wrong grammar ec. - but now they changed grammar rules & spelling of words 2 times within the last 20 years - that confuses a lot of people here around - older people never learn the new writing rules again & the youth gets confused by the 'other' writing of the old & even some states in Germany refuse to use the new language rules - hey that's babylonic language confusion..

[Alison]

Heimo: Yes, Thomas was being satirical. I never studied German but heard that the grammar was difficult. I can't imagine having rules change TWICE in such a short time! I'm all for gradual evolution when it comes to grammar. ;)