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  3. Having Cleared Up The Apostrophe...

Having Cleared Up The Apostrophe...

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  • R Russell Jones

    As in Got any veras - sorted?

    L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #19

    As in Brit: "There is a problem with this machine. We need it sorted." Me: "No, you don't need it sorted. You need it adjusted, repaired or replaced. Sorting it would merely arrange it in a specific order in relation to other machines."

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    • D Dalek Dave

      The American Listing Comma. Commas are used to seperate clauses and to itemise listed items in a sentence. Commas are never to be used directly before a conjunction unless the conjunction is used as an indicative clause. Between the penultimate and ultimate items in a list the correct form to be used is the 'And'. Examples 1) I would often use a comma here, especially when writing to Americans, as this is the correct place. 2a) It is wrong to use a comma here, and here, because it looks awful. 2b) It is correct to use a comma here, and this can be proved, because it is an indicative clause. 3) In listing I would have Item 1, Item 2 and Item 3. American Media Comma: In American media it is oft seen that a comma seperates a two item list. Example "Obama asks for Money, Time, for Military" WRONG!!!! "Obama asks for Money and Time for military" The American Media Comma is an Evil, Ugly and Awkward thing and should be stamped out! It is up there with the Grocers Apostrophe and the European Dashed 7! Thankyou for your time.

      ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

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      TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
      wrote on last edited by
      #20

      As an American, I totally, like, agree, man!

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      • D Dalek Dave

        The American Listing Comma. Commas are used to seperate clauses and to itemise listed items in a sentence. Commas are never to be used directly before a conjunction unless the conjunction is used as an indicative clause. Between the penultimate and ultimate items in a list the correct form to be used is the 'And'. Examples 1) I would often use a comma here, especially when writing to Americans, as this is the correct place. 2a) It is wrong to use a comma here, and here, because it looks awful. 2b) It is correct to use a comma here, and this can be proved, because it is an indicative clause. 3) In listing I would have Item 1, Item 2 and Item 3. American Media Comma: In American media it is oft seen that a comma seperates a two item list. Example "Obama asks for Money, Time, for Military" WRONG!!!! "Obama asks for Money and Time for military" The American Media Comma is an Evil, Ugly and Awkward thing and should be stamped out! It is up there with the Grocers Apostrophe and the European Dashed 7! Thankyou for your time.

        ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

        S Offline
        S Offline
        Steve Thresher
        wrote on last edited by
        #21

        Seeing as you're in the mood, how about sorting out the use of there and their? Brady was today's offender.

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        • D Dalek Dave

          Proved is poast participle, proven is present imperfect (I think). Thus... The case has not been Proved. The case is not Proven. Actually I need to think about this one.

          ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

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          T Offline
          TheGreatAndPowerfulOz
          wrote on last edited by
          #22

          Dalek Dave wrote:

          The case has not been Proved. The case is not Proven.

          actually, it's the exact opposite. The case has not been proven. The case is not proved.

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          • D Dalek Dave

            Zee? ZEE? Don't get me started on Zee! At least Canadians know it is a Zed!

            ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #23

            According to Wikipedia[^] "In American English, its name is zee /ˈziː/, deriving from a late 17th century English dialectal form." So ultimately... the Brits are to blame. :doh:

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            • L Lost User

              As in Brit: "There is a problem with this machine. We need it sorted." Me: "No, you don't need it sorted. You need it adjusted, repaired or replaced. Sorting it would merely arrange it in a specific order in relation to other machines."

              L Offline
              L Offline
              Lost User
              wrote on last edited by
              #24

              Mike Mullikin wrote:

              Sorting it would merely arrange it in a specific order in relation to other machines.

              Maybe that's what he wanted :confused:

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              • L Lost User

                As in Brit: "There is a problem with this machine. We need it sorted." Me: "No, you don't need it sorted. You need it adjusted, repaired or replaced. Sorting it would merely arrange it in a specific order in relation to other machines."

                D Offline
                D Offline
                Dalek Dave
                wrote on last edited by
                #25

                How about this... American walks into a bar in London. He says to the barman,"Hi Bud, can I get a large Scotch on the rocks?" The barman replies, "No, but I will get you one and you can pay for it!" Isn't idiom wonderful?

                ------------------------------------ "I'm going to walk around a field dangling my keys on a bit of string until I hear whistling noise. " Steve Harris 2009

                L 1 Reply Last reply
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                • D Dalek Dave

                  The American Listing Comma. Commas are used to seperate clauses and to itemise listed items in a sentence. Commas are never to be used directly before a conjunction unless the conjunction is used as an indicative clause. Between the penultimate and ultimate items in a list the correct form to be used is the 'And'. Examples 1) I would often use a comma here, especially when writing to Americans, as this is the correct place. 2a) It is wrong to use a comma here, and here, because it looks awful. 2b) It is correct to use a comma here, and this can be proved, because it is an indicative clause. 3) In listing I would have Item 1, Item 2 and Item 3. American Media Comma: In American media it is oft seen that a comma seperates a two item list. Example "Obama asks for Money, Time, for Military" WRONG!!!! "Obama asks for Money and Time for military" The American Media Comma is an Evil, Ugly and Awkward thing and should be stamped out! It is up there with the Grocers Apostrophe and the European Dashed 7! Thankyou for your time.

                  ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #26

                  I think editors suspend pretty much any grammatical rule to make headlines as short as possible. If you really want some chuckles, check out the Chicago Tribune web site sometime. It's probably the worst I've seen.

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                  • L Lost User

                    According to Wikipedia[^] "In American English, its name is zee /ˈziː/, deriving from a late 17th century English dialectal form." So ultimately... the Brits are to blame. :doh:

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    Lost User
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #27

                    Mike Mullikin wrote:

                    So ultimately... the Brits are to blame.

                    Whaddya mean, the Brits are to blame? It's our language so we say what the rules are! Sorted!

                    D 1 Reply Last reply
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                    • L Lost User

                      As in Brit: "There is a problem with this machine. We need it sorted." Me: "No, you don't need it sorted. You need it adjusted, repaired or replaced. Sorting it would merely arrange it in a specific order in relation to other machines."

                      R Offline
                      R Offline
                      Russell Jones
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #28

                      That seems a perfectly normal use to me. I guess if the machine was out of sorts before it was adjusted then it would be sorted after the adjustments had been made.

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • L Lost User

                        According to Wikipedia[^] "In American English, its name is zee /ˈziː/, deriving from a late 17th century English dialectal form." So ultimately... the Brits are to blame. :doh:

                        D Offline
                        D Offline
                        Dalek Dave
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #29

                        Remember that the Early Brits what went to the New World were Carrot Crunching Plymouth Brethren who lived in the Cider Forests of the South West and they can barely speak English to this day! (I sense someone is going to reply to this!!!) :)

                        ------------------------------------ "I'm going to walk around a field dangling my keys on a bit of string until I hear whistling noise. " Steve Harris 2009

                        L S H 3 Replies Last reply
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                        • L Lost User

                          Mike Mullikin wrote:

                          So ultimately... the Brits are to blame.

                          Whaddya mean, the Brits are to blame? It's our language so we say what the rules are! Sorted!

                          D Offline
                          D Offline
                          Dalek Dave
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #30

                          The Clue is in the Name!

                          ------------------------------------ "I'm going to walk around a field dangling my keys on a bit of string until I hear whistling noise. " Steve Harris 2009

                          1 Reply Last reply
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                          • L Lost User

                            As in Brit: "There is a problem with this machine. We need it sorted." Me: "No, you don't need it sorted. You need it adjusted, repaired or replaced. Sorting it would merely arrange it in a specific order in relation to other machines."

                            O Offline
                            O Offline
                            originSH
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #31

                            Sort - To put in order. Order - This ship is in working order. These documents are in order. Is the ship in working order? Yep, it's sorted :P

                            M 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • D Dalek Dave

                              Proved is poast participle, proven is present imperfect (I think). Thus... The case has not been Proved. The case is not Proven. Actually I need to think about this one.

                              ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

                              R Offline
                              R Offline
                              Russell Jones
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #32

                              I believe that the only appropriate use of the word proven is in Scottish law where a case may be found not proven. As you say proved is the poast[sic] participle

                              1 Reply Last reply
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                              • S Steve Thresher

                                Seeing as you're in the mood, how about sorting out the use of there and their? Brady was today's offender.

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                Lost User
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #33

                                Steve Thresher wrote:

                                Brady was todays offender.

                                Shouldn't that be 'today's offender'? :-D

                                S 1 Reply Last reply
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                                • D Dalek Dave

                                  Proved is poast participle, proven is present imperfect (I think). Thus... The case has not been Proved. The case is not Proven. Actually I need to think about this one.

                                  ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

                                  R Offline
                                  R Offline
                                  Russell Jones
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #34

                                  I believe that the only appropriate use of the word proven is in Scottish law where a case may be found not proven. As you say, proved is the poast[sic] participle

                                  H 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • D Dalek Dave

                                    The American Listing Comma. Commas are used to seperate clauses and to itemise listed items in a sentence. Commas are never to be used directly before a conjunction unless the conjunction is used as an indicative clause. Between the penultimate and ultimate items in a list the correct form to be used is the 'And'. Examples 1) I would often use a comma here, especially when writing to Americans, as this is the correct place. 2a) It is wrong to use a comma here, and here, because it looks awful. 2b) It is correct to use a comma here, and this can be proved, because it is an indicative clause. 3) In listing I would have Item 1, Item 2 and Item 3. American Media Comma: In American media it is oft seen that a comma seperates a two item list. Example "Obama asks for Money, Time, for Military" WRONG!!!! "Obama asks for Money and Time for military" The American Media Comma is an Evil, Ugly and Awkward thing and should be stamped out! It is up there with the Grocers Apostrophe and the European Dashed 7! Thankyou for your time.

                                    ------------------------------------ "Men may make bad decisions, immoral decisions or just plain wrong decisions, but at least they make decisions. Women on the other hand..." Patrick Kielty 2006

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    Mark_Wallace
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #35

                                    Dalek Dave wrote:

                                    1. I would often use a comma here, especially when writing to Americans, as this is the correct place.

                                    That's a parenthetic use.

                                    Dalek Dave wrote:

                                    2a) It is wrong to use a comma here, and here, because it looks awful.

                                    The first comma is in error, the second comma is correct, because it separates a dependent clause.

                                    Dalek Dave wrote:

                                    2b) It is correct to use a comma here, and this can be proved, because it is an indicative clause.

                                    I'm afraid that whether a clause is indicative, interrogative, or negative has no bearing on comma use. I'm tempted to google your quote about conjunctions and indicative clauses, but I know I will only get annoyed at what I find.

                                    Dalek Dave wrote:

                                    1. In listing I would have Item 1, Item 2 and Item 3.

                                    That would be incorrect, as a comma is also required before the 'and', or "item 2 and item 3" can be taken as a single item (e.g. "steak and onion, fish and chips, and bread and butter"), which makes your sentence read as "nicely" as your "American-media comma" (note the hyphenation) example. Anyway, never mind American-media commas; what do you intend to do about the God-awful American double subjunctive?

                                    I wanna be a eunuchs developer! Pass me a bread knife!

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                                    0
                                    • D Dalek Dave

                                      How about this... American walks into a bar in London. He says to the barman,"Hi Bud, can I get a large Scotch on the rocks?" The barman replies, "No, but I will get you one and you can pay for it!" Isn't idiom wonderful?

                                      ------------------------------------ "I'm going to walk around a field dangling my keys on a bit of string until I hear whistling noise. " Steve Harris 2009

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #36

                                      How about this... The same British barman vacationing in Chicago walks into a bar. He says to the bartender "Where can I buy a fag?" The bartender replies "Not at this bar, pal. Maybe over on the north side."

                                      D 1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • O originSH

                                        Sort - To put in order. Order - This ship is in working order. These documents are in order. Is the ship in working order? Yep, it's sorted :P

                                        M Offline
                                        M Offline
                                        merridus
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #37

                                        Another issue sorted :D

                                        - Rob

                                        1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • D Dalek Dave

                                          Remember that the Early Brits what went to the New World were Carrot Crunching Plymouth Brethren who lived in the Cider Forests of the South West and they can barely speak English to this day! (I sense someone is going to reply to this!!!) :)

                                          ------------------------------------ "I'm going to walk around a field dangling my keys on a bit of string until I hear whistling noise. " Steve Harris 2009

                                          L Offline
                                          L Offline
                                          Lost User
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #38

                                          You are 100% correct :)

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