Pedants' Corner

[Icey]

The one that always gets to me is the incorrect use of their, there or they're.

[ducasi]

When it means "as well/also", it's too

Yeah, that annoys me two.

[Clive Long]

When to capitalise?

Opinions anyone?

If I use the adjective (?) "european" when do I make the first letter a capital (upper-case) letter?

I'm feeling

the European Community

and

european car manufacturers


are correct, but I don't know, and I don't know how to choose between them? Except perhaps only capitalise Proper Nouns/Names and lower-case for all other uses.


Help anyone?


Thanks,

Clive

[David Bailey]

I'm feeling

the European Community

Yep. Or European Union, now of course.

european car manufacturers

Don't think so - "Europe" is capitalised, so "European" should be. It's the same as other location names - e.g. London.

[Baruch]

If I use the adjective (?) "european" when do I make the first letter a capital (upper-case) letter?

I believe you should use a capital letter for "European" on all occasions. You wouldn't use lower case letters for such examples as "british beef" or "english rose" or "welsh rugby" would you?

[ducasi]

I believe you should use a capital letter for "European" on all occasions. You wouldn't use lower case letters for such examples as "british beef" or "english rose" or "welsh rugby" would you?

I would.

In particular I tend to prefer "the english language" to "the English language", and keep the capitalised "English" when I'm actually talking about the people, rather than some (semi-)related concept.

[David Bailey]

In particular I tend to prefer "the english language" to "the English language", and keep the capitalised "English" when I'm actually talking about the people, rather than some (semi-)related concept.

Well, each to their own. And it being English, rather than say, French, there's no single Academy to tell you you're wrong. Creativity is inherent in the language.

But let's just say, you're in a small minority there...

[Alice]

I would.

In particular I tend to prefer "the english language" to "the English language", and keep the capitalised "English" when I'm actually talking about the people, rather than some (semi-)related concept.

Nah, that's for the French
In English I capitalise both the adjective and the name of the people who live there (English rose, the English).
In French I don't cos they don't- then again, they don't capitalise names of days/months either

[ducasi]

Nah, that's for the French
In English I capitalise both the adjective and the name of the people who live there (English rose, the English).
In French I don't cos they don't- then again, they don't capitalise names of days/months either

The French are clearly more advanced than the english.

[Alice]

The French are clearly more advanced than the english.

No comment

And no, I'm so not a French major

[Baruch]

And no, I'm so not a French major

Ah, a mere lieutenant, eh?

[Barry Shnikov]

Ah, a mere lieutenant, eh?

That's majorette, I think you'll find...

[Alice]

Ah, a mere lieutenant, eh?

[TA Guy]

Spelling ? Who cares. Life's too short, but I really hate posts written in (mobile phone) 'text' language. 'R u coming 2day' kind of stuff. Sometimes they are unreadable, at least by any known human lifeform.
I have yet to see a post on here like that, but I occasionally frequent the BBC's 606 football forum, and if you think the spelling and grammer could do with improvement here, that site will blow your cotton socks off.

[Barry Shnikov]

Spelling ? Who cares. Life's too short, but I really hate posts written in (mobile phone) 'text' language. 'R u coming 2day' kind of stuff. Sometimes they are unreadable, at least by any known human lifeform.
I have yet to see a post on here like that, but I occasionally frequent the BBC's 606 football forum, and if you think the spelling and grammer could do with improvement here, that site will blow your cotton socks off.

No!? Football fans can't write good english? Whatever next!!!!

[TheTramp]

but I really hate posts written in (mobile phone) 'text' language. 'R u coming 2day' kind of stuff. Sometimes they are unreadable, at least by any known human lifeform.

I have yet to see a post on here like that, but I occasionally frequent the BBC's 606 football forum, and if you think the spelling and grammer could do with improvement here, that site will blow your cotton socks off.

Keep looking. They happen. And there's also been several discussions about it too.

I sometimes go on the BBC's forums (mostly rugby and cricket though), and it's just sad.

[Dreadful Scathe]

Yes, that's the one. I hate it with a fiery passion. My wife, who is a classroom assistant, still has to use it at her school. She, needless to say, isn't impressed.

Maybe we should rename some of the Letterland letters: Empty Education, Konfused Kid, Fallible Fad or Pointless Prattle, anyone?

Arsehole Administrators are responsible. I hadn't heard of letter land letters, it sounds less than useful

Yeah, that annoys me to, though it's understandable in that they're really saying "would've" and "could've", with the "'ve" pronounced pretty much the same way as "of".

too..ahem

would've, could've etc.. are horrible contractions but it's down to ignorance if people use 'could of' instead.

[ducasi]

too..ahem

would've, could've etc.. are horrible contractions but it's down to ignorance if people use 'could of' instead.

So sue me!

[Baruch]

would've, could've etc.. are horrible contractions

Agreed, but surely forms that would be unacceptable in writing are normal and even acceptable in colloquial speech.

but it's down to ignorance if people use 'could of' instead.

On that we agree. It's annoying whatever the cause, though.

[Alice]

Spelling ? Who cares. <snip>

spelling and grammer

Oh, so you won't mind me picking you up on yours then