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You've got a degree in English? Come in and correct us!

Posted on 02/01/2005 11:45:09 AM PST by floridarolf

Do you have a degree in English or think you ought to have one? Please teach us the grammar. My postings here are grammar-wise mostly fired from the hip. If it would come to marks I'd do better.

Here are my two questions:

- When do I set a comma appart from an apposition? - Do I really have to use an apostrophe in the genetive? If not, (comma right?) please rant!


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: appart; english; whatdidyasay; whatsthat
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To: Inkie

> since it starts with "who"

OK :). At least my commata were right. Can you sum up on a few lines where a comma is due? No prob if some exotic thing is missing. Just write what you think a foreigner must at least get right.

Can you also say something to my "an hour"/"a hour" question, please?


21 posted on 02/01/2005 1:34:34 PM PST by floridarolf
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To: floridarolf
Do you have a degree in English or think you ought to have one? Please teach us the grammar. My postings here are grammar-wise mostly fired from the hip. If it would come to marks I'd do better.
 
Do you have a degree in English, or think you ought to have one? Please teach us the grammar. My postings here are, grammar-wise, mostly fired from the hip. If it would come to marks, I'd do better.

22 posted on 02/01/2005 1:46:46 PM PST by AnnaZ
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To: floridarolf

I tried setting a comma appart from an apposition once, dang near threw out my back.


23 posted on 02/01/2005 1:48:24 PM PST by ladtx ( "Remember your regiment and follow your officers." Captain Charles May, 2d Dragoons, 9 May 1846)
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To: floridarolf

24 posted on 02/01/2005 1:49:30 PM PST by AnnaZ
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To: floridarolf

Eye thaykink der is two macha mfasis playced ohn speling aht FReey Raypublick.


25 posted on 02/01/2005 1:51:06 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (French: old Europe word meaning surrender)
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To: ladtx
"I tried setting a comma appart from an apposition once, dang near threw out my back."

Was it the Spanish Appostiton?

26 posted on 02/01/2005 1:54:26 PM PST by Mad Dawgg (French: old Europe word meaning surrender)
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To: floridarolf

Use "an." This is because the h in "hour" is silent, so it is acting as a vowel, i.e. an apple, an editor, an item, an owl, an umbrella.


27 posted on 02/01/2005 1:58:23 PM PST by Inkie (Surround Fallujia and start shooting.)
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To: floridarolf

To the best of my knowledge the consonant "n" has been
added as a result of pronunciation customary. In French
it's called an "aspirate h" -- we follow the same in
English, e.g., it's simply easier and better cadence to
say "an historian" than "a historian." 99% of good grammar
comes from HABIT, i.e.,after we learn the rules we have
to repetitiously apply them in order for them to become
common usage. Therefore we often know that something is
grammatically correct but have forgotten WHY it is correct.
This is why it's important for people growing up to be
around others who practice correct grammer so that it's
reinforced. However, we all forget certain rules
and we all sometimes have questions about proper grammar.
I heartily recommend, "The Grammar Bible." It can be
purchased online at National Review Books.


28 posted on 02/01/2005 2:04:45 PM PST by T.L.Sink (stopew)
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To: AnnaZ

Could you translate that for me?


29 posted on 02/01/2005 2:11:19 PM PST by sausageseller (Look out for the jackbooted spelling police. There! Everywhere!(revised cause the "man" accosted me!)
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To: floridarolf

Not an English teacher. Just here to rubberneck. :-)


30 posted on 02/01/2005 2:16:44 PM PST by k2blader (It is neither compassionate nor conservative to support the expansion of socialism.)
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To: sausageseller

Could you translate that for me?

I'd love to, but that's a different department. I just add commas.
 
;^)

31 posted on 02/01/2005 2:29:46 PM PST by AnnaZ
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To: AnnaZ
Should there not been a comma after wise?
32 posted on 02/01/2005 3:54:23 PM PST by sausageseller (Look out for the jackbooted spelling police. There! Everywhere!(revised cause the "man" accosted me!)
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To: sausageseller
Correction:

Should there not have been a comma after wise?

33 posted on 02/01/2005 3:56:38 PM PST by sausageseller (Look out for the jackbooted spelling police. There! Everywhere!(revised cause the "man" accosted me!)
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To: floridarolf

u b right on, bro' 'bout the 'postrophe in the genetive (sick!).

but if yo don't use the 'postrophe, use an "of".

si.


34 posted on 02/01/2005 3:57:01 PM PST by ken21 (most news today is either stupid or evil.)
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To: floridarolf

Get Strunk and White.

An English degree doesn't mean one knows spit about grammer.


35 posted on 02/01/2005 3:58:26 PM PST by 1L
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To: sausageseller

I am thinking, that I would pretty much would rather have my testicles ripped from my body in one giant motion; than ever, ever try to remember, any grammar, or any other from high school.

Sadly, however, the written word and the elegance it can carry are being lost in an Email world. A well written phrase is kewl.

G


36 posted on 02/01/2005 3:59:20 PM PST by GRRRRR (Do your headlights rotate 15 degrees?)
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To: sausageseller

Should there not have been a comma after wise?

Uh huh. I added it. Two actually, in that sentence.

My pet peeve is the dropping of commas in a series -- example: red, white, and blue (as opposed to red, white and blue.)


37 posted on 02/01/2005 4:03:21 PM PST by AnnaZ
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To: GRRRRR
Well the great thing about FR is you can live in an almost vegetated state , because the is someone out there who does know.
38 posted on 02/01/2005 4:08:30 PM PST by sausageseller (Look out for the jackbooted spelling police. There! Everywhere!(revised cause the "man" accosted me!)
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To: AnnaZ

Yes. Upon further inspection you did add it.
I have to get these selective eyes fixed.


39 posted on 02/01/2005 4:11:02 PM PST by sausageseller (Look out for the jackbooted spelling police. There! Everywhere!(revised cause the "man" accosted me!)
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To: Inkie

"Ac centuate the Positive
E-liminate the Negative
Latch on to the Affirmative
and come out with Mister in between"


40 posted on 02/01/2005 4:21:20 PM PST by AntiBurr ("Those who cannot remember the past are destined to repeat it" Santayana)
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