I've Had It! The Grammar/Punctuation Hall of Shame Master Thread

[Yehuda57]

What’s your issue? And I certainly think it is. What’s your svara that it isn’t?

Are you talking about the suits?

I would agree with @aygart - a compound noun (without being merged into a single word or when using a hyphen) is something like "bus stop", where both words describe a singular noun. But spelling and grammar are both separate nouns, even if in your head you are combining them in the same category.

[S209]

I would agree with @aygart - a compound noun (without being merged into a single word or when using a hyphen) is something like "bus stop", where both words describe a singular noun. But spelling and grammar are both separate nouns, even if in your head you are combining them in the same category.

“Spelling and grammar” is a section in books, a course in college, and an option in software.

See the link I added to my original defense. In the example cited, “breaking and entering” is similar to my use of “spelling and grammar”- that is, separate nouns, that, by common use (or use in law), have come to be one compound unit.

Apologies in advance for the commas, all of which I found necessary.

[Yehuda57]

“Spelling and grammar” is a section in books, a course in college, and an option in software.

See the link I added to my original defense. In the example cited, “breaking and entering” is similar to my use of “spelling and grammar”- that is, separate nouns, that, by common use (or use in law), have come to be one compound unit.

Can we drive his into the ground? You betcha.

Breaking and entering is not analogous to spelling and grammar. Just because two separate (but equal?) nouns are often used together does not make them a singular compound. Breaking and entering is a compound of separate nouns to create a new singular noun. You need both to create the specific noun you are referring to. While spelling and grammar are often combined under one banner but remain separate, just as a library may combine books about "Penguins and Chassidim" under one category even though they remain entirely separate, or a college course could be about "Language and Pedantry".

Apologies in advance for the commas, all of which I found necessary.

Your apology came at the end of the post, not in advance. Granting you an Oxford Comma, I count four superfluous commas and one superfluous em dash.

[aygart]

“Spelling and grammar” is a section in books, a course in college, and an option in software.

See the link I added to my original defense. In the example cited, “breaking and entering” is similar to my use of “spelling and grammar”- that is, separate nouns, that, by common use (or use in law), have come to be one compound unit.

Apologies in advance for the commas, all of which I found necessary.

Breaking and Entering is a title of a single crime with the noun comprising of a few words. It is not that it has come to mean anything but rather that it is describing one item. That is a compound noun. Grammar and Spelling as a title of a subject would also be a compound noun. When correcting the spelling and grammar of a document one is doing two different actions since they can each be done independently. That would mean that it is not a compound noun since a compound noun describes one item using more than one word.

[ChaimMoskowitz]

This is making less sense than the political tread if that is even possible.

[greatluck]

punctuation goes a long way

can anyone tell me what's wrong here?

[aygart]

This is making less sense than the political tread if that is even possible.

So go learn simple english.....

[S209]

Can we drive this into the ground? You betcha.

Breaking and entering is not analogous to spelling and grammar. Just because two separate (but equal?) nouns are almost always used together does not make them a singular compound. Breaking and entering is a compound of separate nouns to create a new singular noun. You need both to create the specific noun you are referring to, while spelling and grammar are often combined under one banner but remain separate, just as a library may combine books about "Penguins and Chassidim" under one category even though they remain entirely separate, or a college course could be about "Language and Pedantry".

1) FTFY
2) You make a valid point, although I still think it's defensible. I'll advance one possibility: In the comment, I could have been referring to the "Spelling and Grammar" of the course offered by my college, although perhaps "spelling" and "grammar" should then have been capitalized 😂 . Additionally, I believe that spelling and grammar have been lumped together in common use often enough to become one unit.
3) For one with such command of the English language, this is surprising. The structure of your last sentence is both incorrect and incomprehensible, which could (ironically) have been remedied with an additional comma instead of a period following "referring to". Unless this was a "spell-check" moment? (Notice how the common usage of the word spell-check denotes checking both spelling AND grammar. Another point for me.)

Your apology came at the end of the post, not in advance. Granting you an Oxford Comma, I count four superfluous commas and one superfluous em dash.

1) I meant in advance of the accusations that were sure to fly, and you promptly proved my word prophetic.
2) Please name which commas were superfluous. You can reply by posting the sentence without the superfluous commas and we'll see if it's true. I'm withholding judgement for now.

[S209]

Breaking and Entering is a title of a single crime with the noun comprising of a few words. It is not that it has come to mean anything but rather that it is describing one item. That is a compound noun. Grammar and Spelling as a title of a subject would also be a compound noun. When correcting the spelling and grammar of a document one is doing two different actions since they can each be done independently. That would mean that it is not a compound noun since a compound noun describes one item using more than one word.

Perhaps, perhaps not. I propose that you can also check the "spelling and grammar" as one item, as in to "spell-check" something. Breaking and entering can be done independently of each other, together, or it can be done as one action. Who decides when it becomes a compound noun? Common use? Webster's? Does it need to be codified into U.S. law?

Also, why couldn't I have been referring to the course in my post? For lack of capitalization?

[S209]

This is making less sense than the political tread if that is even possible.

Ha. I actually find this argument stimulating and informative, as opposed to that thread..

ETA: Apologies in advance for making 3 separate posts.
ETA P.S. Apologies in advance for saying apologies in advance.
ETA P.P.S Apologies again.

[aygart]

2) You make a valid point, although I still think it's defensible. I'll advance one possibility: In the comment, I could have been referring to the "Spelling and Grammar" of the course offered by my college, although perhaps "spelling" and "grammar" should then have been capitalized 😂 . Additionally, I believe that spelling and grammar have been lumped together in common use often enough to become one unit.

What does your college course being atrocious have to do with the Chinese seller?

[Yehuda57]

2) Please name which commas were superfluous. You can reply by posting the sentence without the superfluous commas and we'll see if it's true. I'm withholding judgement for now.

In the example cited, “breaking and entering” is similar to my use of “spelling and grammar”- that is separate nouns that by common use (or use in law) have come to be one compound unit.

Or

In the example cited, “breaking and entering” is similar to my use of “spelling and grammar”; separate nouns that by common use (or use in law) have come to be one compound unit.

Or

In the example cited, “breaking and entering” is similar to my use of “spelling and grammar”. That is separate nouns that by common use (or use in law) have come to be one compound unit.

[S209]

What does your college course being atrocious have to do with the Chinese seller?

The subject matter of my course, as applied to this seller

[aygart]

OrOr

The teacher gave you an assignment?

[S209]

Examples 1 and 3 are not proper English. In Example 2 you omitted some of my original words. It would have been a nice way of conveying my point, but the words were not identical.

Still waiting.. 

[Yehuda57]

2) You make a valid point, although I still think it's defensible. I'll advance one possibility: In the comment, I could have been referring to the "Spelling and Grammar" of the course offered by my college, although perhaps "spelling" and "grammar" should then have been capitalized 😂 . Additionally, I believe that spelling and grammar have been lumped together in common use often enough to become one unit.

The context of your comment is clear. Trying to say you could have been referring to a college course makes the comment so incomprehensibly nonsensical, it would be worthy of a permanent ban on public communication. The context of your comment makes common use irrelevant. Even if they are lumped together often enough to become a compound noun at times, in your case they were clearly independent nouns.

3) For one with such command of the English language, this is surprising. The structure of your last sentence is both incorrect and incomprehensible, which could (ironically) have been remedied with an additional comma instead of a period following "referring to". Unless this was a "spell-check" moment? (Notice how the common usage of the word spell-check denotes checking both spelling AND grammar. Another point for me.)

To write a lengthy diatribe defending myself and trying to reclaim my reputation or acknowledge it was not well written?

[Boruch999]

To write a lengthy diatribe defending myself and trying to reclaim my reputation or acknowledge it was not well written?

Does this get a question mark?

[Yehuda57]

Examples 1 and 3 are not proper English.

{citation needed}

In Example 2 you omitted some of my original words. It would have been a nice way of conveying my point, but the words were not identical.

Of course I did. You did such a piss poor job writing the sentence I showed you a superior way. I wouldn't usually, but you acknowledged your sentence was comma heavy and clunky and practically begged to be corrected.

Still waiting.. 

I met a guy waiting for a train. Turns out we were both heading to Kingston Avenue. The 3 train came, and as I walked towards the doors I noticed he was standing still. "This is our train," I said, motioning for him to join me. "I'm waiting for a a 3 train with leather seats and green hand rails." He just invented his own criteria.

He's also still waiting.

[aygart]

The subject matter of my course, as applied to this seller

How exactly does that make any sense at all? You are digging your hole deeper.

I feel for them, although the grammar and spelling is ATROCIOUS

[as2]

Boo