The Grammar and Spelling Thread
 

Its 'maths' not 'math'.

You realise that this thread is the equivalent of a huge sign around your neck saying "Golf Sale" "Point out the least errors I may have made"? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

Judgment on the west of the Atlantic, judgement on the east.

b!tch not *****

Originally posted by Dauphin
Damn, no-one has complained about its and it's yet. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.gif Why should I? Both do exist and have their meaningful use. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/angel.gif

Originally posted by Dauphin
Damn, no-one has complained about its and it's yet. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.gif This one always surprises me. The sheer amount of native speakers making the its - it's mistake is amazing, given how it's a very simple rule. Certainly simple compared to the many other rules in English, but no - for some weird reason, you see people remembering the harder rules.

I've seen plenty of people who make the mistake consistently. Over many different posts, or sometimes several times in the same post.

What annoys me even more, though, is a variation of that same mistake - ending a word with 's to denote the plural form...

Originally posted by Brachy-Pride
Are then and than pronounced the same? I see many native speakers confusing them when writing. Yeah, that's annoying too, as is the "their" and "they're" and "there" thing.

Could of, should of, would of, might of etc.

Could've, should've, would've, might've damnit. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/doitnow.gif

Your to picky.

Originally posted by Dauphin
I put it in as a teaser in my first post, but no-one bit. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.gif It was way to obvious.

Would someone please enlighten me about the use of the word teh? I read it so freakently that I cannot believe in a simple typing error.

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.

Your winner!

My big 3 pet peeves:

Not knowing the difference between less vs. fewer.

Not using the subjunctive correctly ("if I were" not "if I was")

Using quotation marks for emphasis. Note to small business owners everywhere: a sign reading

Yes, We're "Open"

means you're not open, but trying to fool your customers for some reason.

"Math" (or maths) is an abbreviation of "mathematics". Are they rules for spelling of abbreviations?

So the rule for shorting words is first syllabe + last letter?

I'm trying to think of other examples that would test the point one way or the other.

The only two I can think of are actually both American. (1) In baseball, the Oakland Athletics are referred to as the Oakland A's, not the Oakland A; and (2) Americans in this part of the world -- especially military guys -- routinely refer to the Philippines as "the Phils."

So "maths" it is.

Edit: Though there is the question of whether "mathematics" is, in fact, a plural. Is there such a thing as a "mathematic"? If not -- if mathematics is either a singular that coincidently ends in "s" or is a collective noun -- then neither of my examples apply and "math," not "maths," would be the correct abbreviation.

Gymnastics isn't shortened to Gyms.

I say maths. You say math.
I say colour. You say color.

I say behind. Who says in-back?

Originally posted by TCO
I don't really know what a split infinitive is, so likely mess that up. "To boldy go" is surely the most famous split-infinitive in the world.

Or as Douglas Adams put it : "to bodly split infinitives that no man has split before".