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Odin2005

(53,521 posts)

14. In my experience most English teachers are quite linguistically ignorant.

Reply to ashling (Original post)

Wed Apr 25, 2012, 10:08 PM

Apr 2012

The "no split infinitives", "no ending sentences with a preposition", and "no double negatives" rules are complete fabrications of 18th Century grammarians who thought English should be more like Latin. Other shibboleths, like "ain't" are classist in origin.

I also find it hilarious how so many rant against the passive voice without knowing what the passive voice actually is, thinking it simply means "weak writing". The Passive voice is for emphasizing the object and/or obscuring the subject. "The glass was broken by Bill" puts the emphasis on the glass rather than on Bill.

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Grammar Nazis beware - 7 commonly corrected grammar errors that arent mistakes [View all] ashling Apr 2012 OP

I can go with all of them except that last one CBGLuthier Apr 2012 #1

Today's incorrect spelling "correction" : cancelation v. cancellation; canceled v cancelled hlthe2b Apr 2012 #2

"seem" BlancheSplanchnik Apr 2012 #19

You just couldn't help yourself, could you?... hlthe2b Apr 2012 #20

I just read the rule re these words last year: pink-o Apr 2012 #28

Arbitrary, indeed. Merriam Webster opted to include Bush*'s bastardized pronunciation of "nuclear" hlthe2b Apr 2012 #29

they may be arbitrary ashling Apr 2012 #31

As a former copy editor, whenever I saw "they" used RebelOne Apr 2012 #3

A favorite quote from my PoliSci professor: lastlib Apr 2012 #4

The problem is, when the gender of a third-person singular subject was unknown, Art_from_Ark Apr 2012 #18

Saying "he or she" discriminates against hermaphrodites. Bruce Wayne Apr 2012 #22

I think I'll just stick with "they" Art_from_Ark Apr 2012 #27

Strange how all the reasons are based on frequency and duration of use. dmallind Apr 2012 #5

Language is based on use. quakerboy Apr 2012 #8

And incorrect use renders language useless dmallind Apr 2012 #16

Exactly right. jobycom Apr 2012 #17

The split infinitives rule was a fabrication of 18th Centiry grammarians. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #15

You made an error on arent edbermac Apr 2012 #6

That's one interpretation ashling Apr 2012 #25

I once called out a smart, ballsy writer for using the passive voice KamaAina Apr 2012 #7

Heh! Try calling him out on the "24 business hours" things. madinmaryland Apr 2012 #11

Words fail me. KamaAina Apr 2012 #12

It are? Swede Apr 2012 #9

BZZT! It should be "aren't" not "arent" madinmaryland Apr 2012 #10

"A slowly descending pair of testicles obstructed his vision." pokerfan Apr 2012 #13

In my experience most English teachers are quite linguistically ignorant. Odin2005 Apr 2012 #14

Is that a worse crime than hyperbolic subject lines? Bruce Wayne Apr 2012 #23

Grammar Nazis suck pipi_k Apr 2012 #21

Of course. One should cut a little slack on discussion boards. Bruce Wayne Apr 2012 #24

I cut a lot of slack on discussion boards because I see RebelOne Apr 2012 #26

I've been a professional word nerd for close to 40 years and know all the rules. Still Blue in PDX Apr 2012 #30

A smart person knows the rules ashling Apr 2012 #32