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This is not a Hall of Shame thread.  Please do not copy posts with people's names.

This is a condensed thread to teach specific lessons to those who want to learn correct grammar and spelling.
We have many members whose mother tongue is not English.

Please title your post if you choose to add a lesson.  A font size of 12 pt in capitals will make that post easy to find.  The lesson posts will also be referenced in the wiki.

LESSONS

1.   there / their / they're
2.   a vs. an
3.   went vs. have gone
4.   It's vs. Its
5.   Affect vs. Effect
6.   Capital vs. Capitol
7.   Much vs. Many
8.   We're vs. Were
9.   Your vs. You're
10. Definitely vs. Defiantly
11. Manner vs. Manor
12. Exasperate vs. Exacerbate
13. Gorilla vs. Guerilla
14. Idle / Idol / Idyll
15. Precede vs. Proceed
16. Rouge vs. Rogue
17. Independence vs. Indpendents
18. Ordinance vs. Ordnance
19. Weather vs. Whether

  • Commas go before the space, like this, not like ,this.
  • Commas/periods go after the close parenthesis (like this), not before (like this.)   (Unless the entire sentence is enclosed.)
  • All punctuation goes inside the quotation, like "this." not like "this".

« Last edited by SSLPhD on September 24, 2024, 03:32:05 PM »

Author Topic: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101  (Read 68707 times)

Offline CountValentine

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #280 on: September 15, 2024, 09:52:40 PM »
PSA for school secretaries and admins: It's buses, not busses.
Is it bused or bussed?
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Offline mevinyavin

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #281 on: September 16, 2024, 03:11:34 PM »
Is it bused or bussed?
Yes.


But bused is MORE equal than bussed.
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Offline Something Fishy

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #282 on: September 17, 2024, 12:04:57 PM »
Why is "bake me a cake" grammatically correct, but "dig me a pit" wrong (or at least sounds wrong)?
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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #283 on: September 17, 2024, 12:12:51 PM »
Why is "bake me a cake" grammatically correct, but "dig me a pit" wrong (or at least sounds wrong)?
Maybe they are both wrong?
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Offline PaternalPrince

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #284 on: September 17, 2024, 08:01:15 PM »
Why is "bake me a cake" grammatically correct, but "dig me a pit" wrong (or at least sounds wrong)?
Huh?

Online shulem92

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #285 on: September 17, 2024, 08:50:59 PM »
Why is "bake me a cake" grammatically correct, but "dig me a pit" wrong (or at least sounds wrong)?
Quote from: ChatGPT
The difference between the phrases "bake me a cake" and "dig me a pit" comes down to verb patterns and the implied meaning of the action.

1. **Verb Pattern and Dative Shift**:
   "Bake me a cake" is an example of a **ditransitive verb** pattern. The verb "bake" allows for a **dative shift**, where the indirect object ("me") comes before the direct object ("a cake"). This structure implies that the person is baking a cake **for** someone, even though the word "for" is omitted. So the full meaning is "bake a cake for me."

   On the other hand, "dig" doesn't usually follow this pattern in the same way. When you say "dig me a pit," it sounds strange because "dig" does not typically imply an indirect object like "me" without additional context. You would normally say "dig a pit for me." Without that "for," the sentence lacks clarity, making it sound awkward.

2. **Action and Object Relationship**:
   The action "bake" naturally fits into a scenario where something (a cake) is being produced and then given to someone, so the indirect object is naturally implied. In contrast, the action "dig" is more about creating something (a hole or pit) but not inherently tied to giving or transferring it to someone, so the indirect object needs more explicit explanation, like "for me."

In short, some verbs, like "bake," work well with a dative shift, while others, like "dig," typically require more explicit wording to make sense.

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #286 on: September 19, 2024, 01:19:23 AM »
Why do we drive on parkways, but park in driveways?!  ???

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #287 on: September 19, 2024, 01:38:23 AM »
Why is "bake me a cake" grammatically correct, but "dig me a pit" wrong (or at least sounds wrong)?
My first thought after reading this was a guy asking someone to dig a grave for him. Maybe I'm the only one.
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Offline SSLPhD

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #288 on: September 24, 2024, 02:58:14 PM »
Weather vs. Whether

Weather:  the state of the atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm clearness or cloudiness
  E.g., The weather today will be hot and dry.
  (m-w.com)

Whether:  expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives
  E.g., He seemed undecided whether to go or stay.
  (Oxford Languages)
45/50, 46/63

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #289 on: September 24, 2024, 03:10:43 PM »
Weather vs. Whether

Weather:  the state of the atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm clearness or cloudiness
  E.g., The weather today will be hot and dry.
  (m-w.com)

Whether:  expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives
  E.g., He seemed undecided whether to go or stay.
  (Oxford Languages)
Whether or not the weather is nice people will still confuse weather and whether which can't be blamed on the weather.
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