Re: Grammer

1

What's funny is that he's been so quiet on that front of late that I'm a little worried. I think the big decisions have got him down. (Note that Weiner previously noted the quiescense.)


Also, since Kriston land-grabbed "Grammer Police," can we appropriate "Grammer Thug" for Wolfson?

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2

I like facing off with the Grammar God. He's bizarrely charming. And it's a challenge. It makes me want to take out all my grammar and usage books. And as I was saying the other day, I feel I can justify even the most egregious of my mistakes with a style defense.

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3

Is it true? Is it true? Is the Pope Catholic? Does a bear—well, I know you do, Vern.

By which I mean both, is it really the case, ogged, that several people have so emailed you, and is it really the case, several people, that I'm preventing you from commenting? Please, let it not be so!

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4

I found the shift from lurker to commenter to be smooth, and I've made more errors in my comments than I care to khancidair.

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5

I don't know where I read email into the post. I suppose another of the several people is pjs. Ogged's right, anyway, and I've slowed because, well, it's getting kind of old, innit?

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6

Anyone who's afraid of commenting because of Wolfson is just a total looser.

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7

Can we have Sunday evening confessional at Unfogged? I have been repressing the urgent desire to tell several people at The Weblog that "irregardless" is not a word. "Regardless" is what they mean. Ben Wolfson will be glad to know that I ever repress anything. He's been running the catechism on me about what is and what is not helpful commenting. But, thanks. I needed that. Oh g_d, do I feel better now!

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8

Wolfson -

Don't give up on it, man. People come to Unfogged.com at least half for the grammar beat-down. Don't screw your fans. (Or rather don't metaphorically screw your fans.)

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9

It's only because I hold you in such high esteem, Ralph.

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10

Ben, I think I've heard it at least twice in the comments and once in a chat.

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11

The 'ir-' prefix is redundant, and the word is poorly formed because the prefix is redundant and may have been originally created by people who didn't realize that regardless means what they wanted irregardless to mean, but the OED thinks that irregardless is a word.

Does creating links to the OED work?

Wait, people actually use the chat?

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12

people actually use the chat?

I think they did once or twice; it's usually empty.

Does creating links to the OED work?

Only if the person clicking already has access, but I think Wolfson (who else?) has a pirated copy that he can link to.

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13

I too have seen it twice now in comments, ogged.

WD, links to the OED will only work for people who either have subscriptions to it, or who are connecting through institutions that have subscriptions. (I have a sneaky backdoor, but the last time I included a link via it here, ogged told me to keep my ill-gotten gains to myself.)

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14

When I said I was afraid to comment because of the Grammar God I was joking.

Should there be a comma in there? Perhaps a semicolon?

Is semicolon hyphenated?

Oh dear.

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15

ogged told me to keep my ill-gotten gains to myself

Ben, I was kidding, I think; maybe because you used it to prove me wrong about something?

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16

Well I'll just take 12 as permission.

It's worth noting, however, that I do not have a copy; in fact, I save none of the dictionary data locally. It's more like, I have a beautiful view through my north-facing window, and if you like, I'll open up my southern window too, so you can see.

Anyway, irregardless. Note that it's in "non-standard and humorous use"; not exactly the ringingest endorsement.

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17

Yup, the latter.

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18

I too was joking. That's what I'm supposed to say, right? Right? Just trying to fit in here guys.

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19

We do insist that jokes be funny, pjs.

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20

That is, either the joke must be funny, or when no one laughs, you say something like "a mind so fine ...".

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21

What Ben is trying to say, in his way, is that when you make a joke, he won't get it, so you'll have to ask someone else if it was funny.

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22

We all lub the b-dub, who alone can tell us if there is a hyphen in anal-retentive.

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23

My anus retains em dashes.

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24

B. Wolfson: "I have a sneaky back door." Indeed.

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25

Fuck to oboe, Abu. More posting; more angry posting.

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26

Tim, on the other hand, just speaks a different language.

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27

Ya know, I look at those mistakes as found art. I mean seriously, what could I possibly have been thinking to drop "the" and add "to"? I cannot construct the sentence or paragraph that gets me there. But I've had the same experience several times.

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28

Fuck to oboe, with explicit double reed action.

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29

Herr Kyle would be pleased.

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30

Double reed action?

You, sir, are a bassoon!

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31

No one here defends mine good honor? I'd defend myself myself but I know it would only result in irony.

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32

I'd defend myself myself but I know it would only result in irony.

I say strike while the irony's hot

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33

We do insist that jokes be funny, pjs.

And the comments fall silent.

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34

FWIW and late as ever (been away with the kids visiting grandparents for a week), engaging the Wolfson on his terms was one of the factors that made moving from lurking to commenting worthwhile.

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35

Its a good thing he had your name circled in the phone book I would play black-jack Behind him a duffel bag packed with clothes swung from a tree as a .

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