Tag: grammar

  • On language: The unfortunate nominalization of spend and ask

    On language: The unfortunate nominalization of spend and ask

    A pet peeve of the English language.

  • Defending good grammar, sort of

    Defending good grammar, sort of

    When you write, do it only as well as the situation demands.

  • On language: The unfortunate nominalization of spend and ask

    James Kilpatrick may have been best known for his syndicated political newespaper column, but I preferred his weekly column about writing and English called “The Writer’s Art.” I loved it when in his column he’d put on his virtual judicial robes and open the Court of Peeves, Crotchets, and Irks, for what followed would be a humorous, incisive invective on foibles of…

  • Defending good grammar, sort of

    This post first appeared three years ago today. WordPress.com included it among that day’s Freshly Pressed posts, which led to the most views ever in one day on this blog: 5,189. That was a tenth of all the views I got all that year! It was a turning point for my little blog, bringing me…

  • Seeking injunctive relief from the misuse of “amazing”

    I’m rerunning this 2011 post because it didn’t solve the problem the first time. Try, try again. IN THE COURT OF PEEVES, CROTCHETS, AND IRKS CAUSE NO.  _________________________ JIM GREYPetitioner v. ALL ENGLISH-SPEAKING PEOPLE EVERYWHERERespondent PETITION FOR INJUNCTION PROHIBITING MISUSE OF THE WORD “AMAZING” The Petitioner alleges against the Respondent and states as follows: That…

  • Defending good grammar, sort of

    Blogger Penelope Trunk wrote last year in defense of poor grammar. And then recently she did it again. She claims that it’s better to judge people by their ideas, creativity, and enthusiasm than by how well they write. The implication is that as long as they can get their ideas across, the grammar (and, by extension, punctuation and…