Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community  

Go Back   Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community > Chatter > General Discussion


 
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 09-24-2007, 02:35 AM   #1 (permalink)
Une petite chou
 
noodle's Avatar
 
Location: With All Your Base
Happy National Punctuation Day.

I can't help it.
I'm obsessed with grammar.
Sometimes, hypocritically, I'll admit.
Especially the use and misuse of punctuation.
It drives me insane.
I get so caught up in the possessive "fajita's" at work that I can't even appreciate the menu.
Apparently, I'm not the only one... am I?

I'm going to celebrate as suggested...
Quote:
Here’s a game plan for your celebration of National Punctuation Day®. A few words of caution: Don’t overdo it.

Sleep late.
Take a long shower or bath.
Go out for coffee and a bagel (or two).
Read a newspaper and circle all of the punctuation errors you find (or think you find but aren’t sure) with a red pen.
Take a leisurely stroll, paying close attention to store signs with incorrectly punctuated words.
Stop in those stores to correct the owners.
If the owners are not there, leave notes.
Visit a bookstore and purchase a copy of Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style.
Look up all the words you circled.
Congratulate yourself on becoming a better written communicator.
Go home.
Sit down.
Write an error-free letter to a friend.
Take a nap. It has been a long day.

So, Happy National Punctuation Day!

xoxo,
Fred-noodle.
The Speech Ninja
__________________
Here's how life works: you either get to ask for an apology or you get to shoot people. Not both. House

Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Just realize that you're armed with smart but heavily outnumbered.
The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. Ayn Rand
noodle is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 03:04 AM   #2 (permalink)
comfortably numb...
 
uncle phil's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: upstate
let's hear it for ellipses...
__________________
"We were wrong, terribly wrong. (We) should not have tried to fight a guerrilla war with conventional military tactics against a foe willing to absorb enormous casualties...in a country lacking the fundamental political stability necessary to conduct effective military and pacification operations. It could not be done and it was not done."
- Robert S. McNamara
-----------------------------------------
"We will take our napalm and flame throwers out of the land that scarcely knows the use of matches...
We will leave you your small joys and smaller troubles."
- Eugene McCarthy in "Vietnam Message"
-----------------------------------------
never wrestle with a pig.
you both get dirty;
the pig likes it.
uncle phil is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 03:49 AM   #3 (permalink)
peekaboo
 
ngdawg's Avatar
 
Location: on the back, bitch
In honor of National Punctuation Day I am giving all punctuation the day off It deserves it afterall for all its done for us
ngdawg is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 04:04 AM   #4 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Uh...you misused a comma in the third line of your post....
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 04:16 AM   #5 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Moderator Emeritus
Location: Chicago
Quote:
Visit a bookstore and purchase a copy of Strunk & White’s The Elements of Style.
I still have my copy from high school. I should really check out the new version to see if anything has changed in punctuation over the years.
__________________
Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.
maleficent is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 04:36 AM   #6 (permalink)
Asshole
 
The_Jazz's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Chicago
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Uh...you misused a comma in the third line of your post....
Thank god I'm not the only one that was grammar nerd enough to catch it. I'm glad to be in such good company, Baraka.
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo
The_Jazz is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 07:39 AM   #7 (permalink)
Devoted
 
Redlemon's Avatar
 
Donor
Location: New England
It is always a good time for Bob the Angry Flower.

__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.
Redlemon is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 07:55 AM   #8 (permalink)
Fancy
 
shesus's Avatar
 
Location: Chicago
In honor...just one of the many incorrect signs I've seen on the many road trips we've taken.... It's a combination of punctuation/grammar mistake.



Yes, I'm sure I made an error up there. My obsessive use of '...' is the worst. I am a teacher, but I'm not perfect dammit.
__________________
Whatever did happen to your soul?
I heard you sold it


Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company

Last edited by shesus; 09-24-2007 at 07:57 AM..
shesus is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 08:33 AM   #9 (permalink)
Falling Angel
 
Sultana's Avatar
 
Location: L.A. L.A. land
Anyone with an interest in punctuation should read, "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation". It's hilarious and informative!

Being an editor, I notice errors but don't allow them to get under my skin (if not in a work environment). I loathe pedantic tendancies.
__________________
"Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath.
At night, the ice weasels come." -

Matt Groening


My goal? To fulfill my potential.
Sultana is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 09:01 AM   #10 (permalink)
Devoted
 
Redlemon's Avatar
 
Donor
Location: New England
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sultana
Anyone with an interest in punctuation should read, "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation". It's hilarious and informative!

Being an editor, I notice errors but don't allow them to get under my skin (if not in a work environment). I loathe pedantic tendancies.
If we're plugging our favorite books, I want to add Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English. Very well written, and the examples are well-chosen to make the rules stick in your head.
__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.
Redlemon is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 03:00 PM   #11 (permalink)
Une petite chou
 
noodle's Avatar
 
Location: With All Your Base
I put the two commas around the word "hypocritically" on purpose.
I had about four other errors in it but I couldn't stand it.
I'm glad you guys caught it... that means I'm NOT the only one.
__________________
Here's how life works: you either get to ask for an apology or you get to shoot people. Not both. House

Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Just realize that you're armed with smart but heavily outnumbered.
The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. Ayn Rand
noodle is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 03:29 PM   #12 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz
Thank god I'm not the only one that was grammar nerd enough to catch it. I'm glad to be in such good company, Baraka.
Heh, no problem. When I read the OP, I purposely looked for something. No, I'm not guilty. It was all in good fun.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sultana
Anyone with an interest in punctuation should read, "Eats, Shoots, and Leaves - The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation". It's hilarious and informative!

Being an editor, I notice errors but don't allow them to get under my skin (if not in a work environment). I loathe pedantic tendancies.
The editor who taught me copy editing showed me an article pointing out that Eats, Shoots, and Leaves is riddled with punctuation errors. I haven't confirmed this myself yet. Of course, I suspect it to be primarily related to comma use, which is an age-old debate amongst editors.

Tell me, Sultana, where do you stand on the serial comma?
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot

Last edited by Baraka_Guru; 09-24-2007 at 03:32 PM..
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 03:51 PM   #13 (permalink)
Asshole
 
The_Jazz's Avatar
 
Administrator
Location: Chicago
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Tell me, Sultana, where do you stand on the serial comma?
Now THAT'S a pickup line if I ever heard one. Watch yourself around this one, Sultana....
__________________
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo
The_Jazz is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 03:59 PM   #14 (permalink)
Falling Angel
 
Sultana's Avatar
 
Location: L.A. L.A. land
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
Tell me, Sultana, where do you stand on the serial comma?
I favor the Oxford comma.

You got a problem wit dat?
__________________
"Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath.
At night, the ice weasels come." -

Matt Groening


My goal? To fulfill my potential.
Sultana is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 04:43 PM   #15 (permalink)
Artist of Life
 
Ch'i's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by fredweena
So, Happy National Punctuation Day!
WHAT?!
Ch'i is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 05:08 PM   #16 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Jazz
Now THAT'S a pickup line if I ever heard one. Watch yourself around this one, Sultana....
You have no idea how much mileage I've gotten of of that one!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sultana
I favor the Oxford comma.

You got a problem wit dat?
Pffft. Next you'll be telling me you leave your punctuation outside of the quotation marks....

I use the serial comma, and I have a few reasons why. I won't bore you with the details.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 05:51 PM   #17 (permalink)
I Confess a Shiver
 
Plan9's Avatar
 
Wait...

Baraka_Guru has a holiday?
__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."
Plan9 is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 05:53 PM   #18 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
No, no, no.... the holiday in my honour is Sentence Syntax Awareness Week. Or SSAW! for short.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 06:02 PM   #19 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Location: Chicago
How come, if we all love grammar so much, do we hate grammar nazis? And why don't we proofread our shit if we love grammar so much?
__________________
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses
JumpinJesus is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 06:13 PM   #20 (permalink)
Junkie
 
filtherton's Avatar
 
Location: In the land of ice and snow.
..,.,.,.,?.?,?.,!!!..;:;;"'':'';;:,,.!!!!'"'':';:!!!!
filtherton is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 06:14 PM   #21 (permalink)
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
There are varying levels of acceptable grammar. I would apply a different standard to TFP than I would a dissertation, for instance.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 06:33 PM   #22 (permalink)
Black Belt in Slacking Off
 
Location: Portland Or-ah-gun
I'm glad you posted this, their are some good points. Thanks for you're time.

Tee hee.
__________________
Slacking off with style since 1981.
Sensei is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 06:43 PM   #23 (permalink)
I Confess a Shiver
 
Plan9's Avatar
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Baraka_Guru
There are varying levels of acceptable grammar. I would apply a different standard to TFP than I would a dissertation, for instance.
You're aiming this at me... I can feel it.

(cowers in the corner)

...

Sure, my grammar sucks... but at least I try.

And I use the ellipsis more than allowed by law.
__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."
Plan9 is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 07:23 PM   #24 (permalink)
Junkie
 
Location: Chicago
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crompsin
You're aiming this at me... I can feel it.

(cowers in the corner)

...

Sure, my grammar sucks... but at least I try.

And I use the ellipsis more than allowed by law.
My new law states that all statements must do end with the ellipsis....

or does it...
__________________
"I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses
JumpinJesus is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 07:26 PM   #25 (permalink)
I Confess a Shiver
 
Plan9's Avatar
 
I love me some grammar.

...ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US!
__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."
Plan9 is offline  
Old 09-24-2007, 10:35 PM   #26 (permalink)
Getting it.
 
Charlatan's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: Lion City
I am a big fan of the ellipsis...

'tis true!

And while I am sure that I make an effort to exhibit excellent grammar and usage, I don't get bent out of shape about it unless the meaning of a post is completely lost.
__________________
"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke
Charlatan is offline  
Old 09-25-2007, 02:41 AM   #27 (permalink)
Une petite chou
 
noodle's Avatar
 
Location: With All Your Base
I don't freak out quite as much outside of work as I do when I'm reading legal documents, medical records, and the like when there are things misspelled, incorrectly punctuated, etc. And signage. That's just asking for my red pen. That was my day where I was allowed to get annoyed and tell the person. Sorta. I don't usually say anything, but it does drive me nuts when the person is represented by their documents or signs. It just tells me a little more about them...
__________________
Here's how life works: you either get to ask for an apology or you get to shoot people. Not both. House

Quote:
Originally Posted by Plan9
Just realize that you're armed with smart but heavily outnumbered.
The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me. Ayn Rand
noodle is offline  
Old 09-25-2007, 02:44 AM   #28 (permalink)
I Confess a Shiver
 
Plan9's Avatar
 
s'like!
__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."
Plan9 is offline  
Old 09-25-2007, 03:59 AM   #29 (permalink)
Banned
 
Fast Forward's Avatar
 
Location: Tramtária
"National Punctuation Day"?

?, !, &
Fast Forward is offline  
Old 09-25-2007, 05:08 AM   #30 (permalink)
Devoted
 
Redlemon's Avatar
 
Donor
Location: New England


I once found a punctuation error on a Heinz ketchup bottle. The ingredients read "...high fructose, corn syrup, corn syrup..." One of my proudest moments.
__________________
I can't read your signature. Sorry.
Redlemon is offline  
 

Tags
day, happy, national, punctuation

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 09:22 AM.

Tilted Forum Project

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0 PL2
© 2002-2012 Tilted Forum Project

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360