Proper use of "They're, there, and their"

[JeffKeryk]

You guys got it easy. My father, the son of poor immigrants from Ukraine, studied English at Yale University courtesy of the ROTC in WWII. If I said, "Ain't" I got cracked across the face.

But I was better at Math and Science, which are the same thing. And then Computer Science, so there's that.

 

[SC Maintenance]

To a point. I get it.

That said, the corruption of the English language needs no further assistance. Write and speak correctly. Accuracy and precision are a good thing. In writing, learning just a few things, makes posts more clear and does not take extra time.

And yes I know my posts are filled with typographical/keyboard errors (most likely Pablo error = missing words!)

Meh, I work with people all over the world with English not there first language. Going from Jinglish to the Kings English seems like a waste of effort. Their English is way better than my whatever.

Besides we beat the King in 1783 so he can kick rocks. There is a reason the US does not have an official language - because we originated from everywhere.

My Wife's undergrad is in English and she has 2 masters and as a teacher she still only makes 1/3 what I make - maybe less. So the world has spoken with their (I think thats correct?) wallet.

 

[slo town]

Double negatives make me quickly categorize a person as either uneducated or not very bright.

Scott

 

[slo town]

You guys got it easy. My father, the son of poor immigrants from Ukraine, studied English at Yale University courtesy of the ROTC in WWII. If I said, "Ain't" I got cracked across the face.

But I was better at Math and Science, which are the same thing. And then Computer Science, so there's that.

"Ain't", in my world at least, is more of a modern day figure of speech, or maybe slang. Hearing that word always makes me think of the movie "Deliverance".

Scott

 

[BHopkins]

Words and grammar matter. It shouldn't be up to me, as the reader, to have to try and interpret your meaning, when you use the wrong word, or don't use any punctuation.

This is a little off topic of what Jeff brought up, but if your post is a single paragraph, with about 10-15 sentences, I will never read your post. It is all but impossible for me to follow.

Breaks and Brakes.

(mic drop and walks off stage)

Yup. It is beyond my comprehension how a bunch of car nuts on a car site don't know the difference. We fix things that break down. And we brake at the traffic light. Come on. It's not that hard.

 

[Tdbo]

What about the people with Chevrolets, for instance, that have problems with their "Cadillac converters?"
If there were such a thing, they wouldn't be driving a Chevy.

 

[dogememe]

I'm VERY picky about this. BUT sometimes autocorrect on my iPhone changes it from the right one to the wrong one and I don't notice until after I submit. I hate that!

 

[SC Maintenance]

Double negatives make me quickly categorize a person as either uneducated or not very bright.

Scott

(-1) x (-1) = (+1)

Stop being so negative

 

[thastinger]

Double negatives make me quickly categorize a person as either uneducated or not very bright.

Scott

That is not uncommon.

 

[slo town]

That is not uncommon.

Perhaps, but that's unfortunate - and certainly not in the areas I've lived. In my line of work someone using double negatives would literally end their career.

"I don't have no money". If people think about those words, it means they actually have money. Right?

Scott

 

[Pablo]

Meh, I work with people all over the world with English not there first language. Going from Jinglish to the Kings English seems like a waste of effort. Their English is way better than my whatever.

Besides we beat the King in 1783 so he can kick rocks. There is a reason the US does not have an official language - because we originated from everywhere.

My Wife's undergrad is in English and she has 2 masters and as a teacher she still only makes 1/3 what I make - maybe less. So the world has spoken with their (I think thats correct?) wallet.

Their first language? I've been corrected by people from the Philippines and Italy and Brazil and India who actually seem to have a better grip of the language than most North Americans! One thing I will never forget. My first job around 22 years old I was a lab tech, there were 5 of us. One gal from the Philippines who spoke with a Tagalog accent/emphasis - roundly corrected my use of to/too in something I had written. Never made that mistake again!

I will say this, I THINK USA English has now become more correct than most spoken (at least) than Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, etc....

With dying and died, the language has been dyed red. But I am dying to know how some people got by at work. My career with oil dyes would have died long ago. Adding more dye will not make it more blue, adding more base will. Your die has been cast.

 

[CKN]

I really miss the days when guys could buy a beater for $5000.00 and then come on here and brag about it.....

 

[JeffKeryk]

Living and working in Silicon Valley is amazing! Watching two highly educated people, neither with English as their native language, in a heated argument is the best!

I coded an application that was named, "Fort Knox" by our executive president because, "That's where the gold is." The app was our corporate forecast and more. I gave numerous talks when teams came from all over the world. A gentleman from China asked me, "Why do you call it that?" I shook my head and said, "Everyone knows what Fort Knox is." My friend leaned over and whispered, "He's from China. He doesn't know what Fort Knox is." I felt so stupid and profusely apologized.

 

[thastinger]

Perhaps, but that's unfortunate - and certainly not in the areas I've lived. In my line of work someone using double negatives would literally end their career.

"I don't have no money". If people think about those words, it means they actually have money. Right?

Scott

Was a joke.

 

[BHopkins]

Perhaps, but that's unfortunate - and certainly not in the areas I've lived. In my line of work someone using double negatives would literally end their career.

"I don't have no money". If people think about those words, it means they actually have money. Right?

Scott

Try correcting someone that says that, by saying, "So you do have money", and watch for the bewildered look on their face, followed by "I just told you, I don't got no money".

 

[Leo99]

Are we going to tackle "it's" and "its" or this enough for one day?

 

[dogememe]

Are we going to tackle "it's" and "its" or this enough for one day?

Now I want ice cream…

 

[thastinger]

Are we going to tackle "it's" and "its" or this enough for one day?

I need this.

 

[jmo42]

Double negatives make me quickly categorize a person as either uneducated or not very bright.

Scott

I don’t disagree with this statement.

 

[PWMDMD]

I take pride in my writing and will scrutinize my writing when it counts, but to be honest, here or on other online forums, fast typing and autocorrect are the culprits 99% of the time, so I don't get too worked up about it. Even when I proof posts, my brain is guilty of reading what I intended to say and not what is actually written some times.

I'm much more likely to judge speech since I know what came out of your mouth is what you intended to come out of your mouth.