A real word challenge...
01-03-2016, 03:41 PM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Tallmadge, OH
Posts: 5,120
I also hate to see words used the wrong way. It's in newspapers, church bulletins, radio announcers. It's all over the place. I used to take English scholarship tests, so those things jump right out for me. However, since this is a quilting board, I bite my tongue and listen to their ideas.
01-03-2016, 07:31 PM
#54
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 141
01-03-2016, 10:43 PM
#57
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Pacific NW
Posts: 9,563
Some incorrect spellings bother me, because it takes time to figure out what the writer was trying to say. For instance, someone once asked how you cut your Muslim. Once I read the rest of the post, I figured out that she meant muslin, but throughout the conversation she repeatedly used the word Muslim, so I don't think it was a simple typo. However, if you ask about it, or try to clarify, no matter how gently or sweetly, there are some who will crucify you for being so "mean and critical". I guess it's more politically correct to allow people to make mistakes and appear uneducated? Honestly, I'd rather someone let me know.
How about the word "flimsy"? The first few times I heard that word, I used to bristle, thinking someone was calling my work cheap. But then I realized that it's simply a different term for an unquilted top, and now I chuckle about it.
On another note, someone brought up "advise" and "advice" as an example. In American English, these two words mean two different things: "Advise" is a verb, meaning to give someone direction. "Advice" is a noun, such as the actual directions given. But in "British" (and possibly Australian?) English, both words are spelled the same, and the meaning has to be drawn from the context. So it's not necessarily true that someone mixed up the words out of ignorance.
I have a nephew who has traveled extensively overseas, and he once joked about what he calls "the abuse of the U and neglect of the Z" in non-American English. We had to think about it, then we started laughing when we thought about "harbor" and "harbour", "color" and "colour", "realize" and "realise". You gotta love language.
How about the word "flimsy"? The first few times I heard that word, I used to bristle, thinking someone was calling my work cheap. But then I realized that it's simply a different term for an unquilted top, and now I chuckle about it.
On another note, someone brought up "advise" and "advice" as an example. In American English, these two words mean two different things: "Advise" is a verb, meaning to give someone direction. "Advice" is a noun, such as the actual directions given. But in "British" (and possibly Australian?) English, both words are spelled the same, and the meaning has to be drawn from the context. So it's not necessarily true that someone mixed up the words out of ignorance.
I have a nephew who has traveled extensively overseas, and he once joked about what he calls "the abuse of the U and neglect of the Z" in non-American English. We had to think about it, then we started laughing when we thought about "harbor" and "harbour", "color" and "colour", "realize" and "realise". You gotta love language.
01-04-2016, 12:11 AM
#58
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
I don't mind the word scrappy. I do agree that to some people it seems to make the quilt sound "cheap". I have no idea what to do about it except around "nonquilters" to not call it anything except a quilt.
As to the misspellings, etc. Sometimes it is easy to see they are spell checker changes. Sometimes they are funny. But constantly writing "boarder" (someone who pays to live in another person's building/home, etc) instead of "border" just looks uneducated. I can't help but wonder about that person's lack of observation skills. But some people just don't know notice spelling. I make plenty of mistakes. On this group, you can't change it after 20 minutes but on other forums, like FB, you can go back and change it.
My biggest problem when I see a lot of mistakes --it can quickly add to the perception that we are uneducated/unskilled, and that people who sew "only sew because they can't do real work" type of attitude.
That attitude exists among many people. We can help combat it by using the best grammar we know.
(It would help to be able to edit our posts more than 20 minutes later...as sometimes we may post and run and then come back later and see something we'd like to change. My opinion only here...)
As to the misspellings, etc. Sometimes it is easy to see they are spell checker changes. Sometimes they are funny. But constantly writing "boarder" (someone who pays to live in another person's building/home, etc) instead of "border" just looks uneducated. I can't help but wonder about that person's lack of observation skills. But some people just don't know notice spelling. I make plenty of mistakes. On this group, you can't change it after 20 minutes but on other forums, like FB, you can go back and change it.
My biggest problem when I see a lot of mistakes --it can quickly add to the perception that we are uneducated/unskilled, and that people who sew "only sew because they can't do real work" type of attitude.
That attitude exists among many people. We can help combat it by using the best grammar we know.
(It would help to be able to edit our posts more than 20 minutes later...as sometimes we may post and run and then come back later and see something we'd like to change. My opinion only here...)
01-04-2016, 01:26 AM
#59
Super Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: The Granite City, Scotland
Posts: 1,635
Some incorrect spellings bother me, because it takes time to figure out what the writer was trying to say. Honestly, I'd rather someone let me know.
On another note, someone brought up "advise" and "advice" as an example. In American English, these two words mean two different things: "Advise" is a verb, meaning to give someone direction. "Advice" is a noun, such as the actual directions given. But in "British" (and possibly Australian?) English, both words are spelled the same, and the meaning has to be drawn from the context. So it's not necessarily true that someone mixed up the words out of ignorance.
I have a nephew who has traveled extensively overseas, and he once joked about what he calls "the abuse of the U and neglect of the Z" in non-American English. We had to think about it, then we started laughing when we thought about "harbor" and "harbour", "color" and "colour", "realize" and "realise". You gotta love language.
On another note, someone brought up "advise" and "advice" as an example. In American English, these two words mean two different things: "Advise" is a verb, meaning to give someone direction. "Advice" is a noun, such as the actual directions given. But in "British" (and possibly Australian?) English, both words are spelled the same, and the meaning has to be drawn from the context. So it's not necessarily true that someone mixed up the words out of ignorance.
I have a nephew who has traveled extensively overseas, and he once joked about what he calls "the abuse of the U and neglect of the Z" in non-American English. We had to think about it, then we started laughing when we thought about "harbor" and "harbour", "color" and "colour", "realize" and "realise". You gotta love language.
In British English 'advise' is indeed a verb and 'advice' a noun - not sure if that's your nephew misinforming you (again).
With regard to your nephew's novel critique, the first English Language dictionary was published in 1755 (in England). It wasn't until nearly 100 years later the American Dictionary of the English Language was published...........
We also spell 'traveled' as 'travelled'. Next time your nephew is over this way ask him to call in and I can advise him him further and give him some advice
01-04-2016, 05:34 AM
#60
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Some where in way out West Texas
Posts: 3,041
I totally agree with you and as a retired teacher I also want to grab a red pencil, or give them a quick grammar lesson. I also cringe when I hear many of the "educated" news people or public speakers using incorrect grammar .
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