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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 68725 times)

Offline Yehuda57

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #80 on: December 04, 2017, 10:53:08 AM »
This is known in marketing as over-branding. Once the the brand name takes the place of the product name, it makes no difference to the consumer if it's the brand name or not.

Examples:
Band-aids
Roller Blades
Vaseline
Q-tips

Here's one I didn't know of until recently - Onesie.



They are vigilant about it (at least on Amazon). If you use Velcro in a listing, they will try shut you down.

Offline username

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #81 on: December 04, 2017, 11:07:39 AM »



I have two comments on the above picture, which is an ad from the great series Gefen ran this year. I wonder what fellow DDFers think.

1. In the poem, shouldn't it have been, for poetic and rhyming reasons, "Adults, teens or tykes"? (with or without the Oxford comma)



1. This poem has no punctuation except at the end of the second and fourth lines. Putting in commas, would mess up the poem/rhyme.

^^^

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #82 on: December 04, 2017, 12:20:41 PM »
This is known in marketing as over-branding. Once the the brand name takes the place of the product name, it makes no difference to the consumer if it's the brand name or not.

Examples:
Band-aids
Roller Blades
Vaseline
Q-tips
The big difference is that you won't get fired (or get any complaints) if you buy any of those brands. But if you buy the actual "Tradition Soup" rather than the Geffen Tradition Soup, you might be scorned for buying an inferior product. Which is why I said it was their category to lose, and they did just that.
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
-- Dan

Offline shlonx

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #83 on: December 04, 2017, 12:26:02 PM »
What is "IT"? Turns out, "IT" is a Tradition soup. They should say so.

Am I missing something?

I don't chap where the whole Tradition soup comes into the mix (pun intended  ::))
Brevity may be the soul of wit, but floridity is its spirit.

Offline Yehuda57

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #84 on: December 04, 2017, 12:50:21 PM »
Am I missing something?

I don't chap where the whole Tradition soup comes into the mix (pun intended  ::))

I'm saying the whole thing doesn't make sense from beginning to end. What does the JFK quote have to do with instant soup? If you are going to riff on it, at least let there be some sort of compelling reason. And when using a memorable quote in an ad, why would you not at least use the product or brand in the quote? "Ask not where you can take Gefen/Instant Soup, but where Gefen/Instant Soup can take you."

I understand it is coming after the poem, but that in itself is unnecessary, lengthy and does nothing to make anyone want to buy soup, build a brand, or educate you about the product benefits. Or in short:

It's stupid. Back to the drawing board.

Offline Work-for-ur-muny

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #85 on: December 04, 2017, 02:58:24 PM »
This is known in marketing as over-branding. Once the the brand name takes the place of the product name, it makes no difference to the consumer if it's the brand name or not.

Examples:
Band-aids
Roller Blades
Vaseline
Q-tips
Tylenol

Offline srap

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #86 on: December 04, 2017, 03:18:58 PM »


I have two comments on the above picture, which is an ad from the great series Gefen ran this year. I wonder what fellow DDFers think.

1. In the poem, shouldn't it have been, for poetic and rhyming reasons, "Adults, teens or tykes"? (with or without the Oxford comma)

2. More importantly, I think that the final quote should be "Ask not where you can take it, but where it can take you", especially since it's based on JFK's famous line.
 
I actually sent these comments to the marketing company, but annoyingly enough, they didn't change it (for the calendar which they later produced), especially the second one.

What do you think, do I have a point (or two)?
Point #1: 
No and yes.  "A dults or teens or tykes" and "Cam ping and moun tain hikes" both have six syllables.  I agree with you, however, that it doesn't flow.  Rather " A'dults, 'teens or 'tykes" and " 'Cam ping and 'moun tain 'bikes"  both have three accented syllables.  Flows better IMHO (and more grammatically correct).

Point #2: 
Starting a sentence with "Ask..." means a question word is to follow ("where/can"), although they are missing the ',' before the ensuing question ("Ask not, 'where...").  If they are already going to use poetic license, however, then I agree, both phrases should be the same ("you/it can").

Offline shlonx

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #87 on: December 04, 2017, 07:33:24 PM »
@Yehuda57 Thanks for the explanation

@srap JFK's quote started with an "Ask" and it wasn't a question. What are you saying?
Brevity may be the soul of wit, but floridity is its spirit.

Offline srap

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #88 on: December 04, 2017, 07:49:19 PM »
@Yehuda57 Thanks for the explanation

@srap JFK's quote started with an "Ask" and it wasn't a question. What are you saying?
It was sort of an embedded question that was negated.  "Ask (not) what your country.....; ask what can..."

And here we have the source of the incorrect grammar in the ad: "Ask not what your country can do for you..." instead of "Ask not what can your country do for you..."

Offline good sam

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #89 on: December 05, 2017, 01:28:50 PM »


It was sort of an embedded question that was negated.  "Ask (not) what your country.....; ask what can..."

And here we have the source of the incorrect grammar in the ad: "Ask not what your country can do for you..." instead of "Ask not what can your country do for you..."
That's not correct. It doesn't have to be a quote.

"Ask Jack if he can attend the meeting."

"Ask Jack: 'Can you attend the meeting?'"

Both are correct but which is common usage?
If you don't care why would you comment?
HT: DMYD

Offline shlonx

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #90 on: December 05, 2017, 07:19:15 PM »
I'm a Brit now living in the US. Over here, you spell it "traveling", but in the UK we spell it "travelling".

What do you do about "rebel" -- is it "rebelling" or "rebeling"?

When do you do a double "L" and when not? In short, where do you draw the line? (I love puns! ::))
Brevity may be the soul of wit, but floridity is its spirit.

Offline etech0

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #91 on: December 05, 2017, 07:29:20 PM »
I'm a Brit now living in the US. Over here, you spell it "traveling", but in the UK we spell it "travelling".

What do you do about "rebel" -- is it "rebelling" or "rebeling"?

When do you do a double "L" and when not? In short, where do you draw the line? (I love puns! ::))
CMIIW but I believe it's the "short vowel sound" in "rebel" that indicates that we should double the "l" when adding the "ing" (or "ed" for that matter).  Travel does not have the "short e" sound.
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline TimT

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #92 on: December 05, 2017, 07:50:39 PM »
I'm a Brit now living in the US. Over here, you spell it "traveling", but in the UK we spell it "travelling".

What do you do about "rebel" -- is it "rebelling" or "rebeling"?

When do you do a double "L" and when not? In short, where do you draw the line? (I love puns! ::))
double L
You gotta explain when the Brits pronounce T’s & when they’re silent. :)

Offline srap

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #93 on: December 05, 2017, 07:52:10 PM »
I'm a Brit now living in the US. Over here, you spell it "traveling", but in the UK we spell it "travelling".

What do you do about "rebel" -- is it "rebelling" or "rebeling"?

When do you do a double "L" and when not? In short, where do you draw the line? (I love puns! ::) )
For the most part Americans do not double; Brits do.  Americans will sometimes double a final 'l' when the accent is not on the first syllable and the second syllable is a short vowel: (yes, @etech0)

'tra vel -   traveling    1st syll accent
'fuel     -   fueling
'can cel-   canceling

re 'bel  -   rebelling    2nd syll accent+short vowel
com 'pel - compelling

tra 'vail -  travailing   2nd syll accent+long vowel
con 'ceal - concealing

« Last Edit: December 05, 2017, 08:01:18 PM by srap »

Offline ExGingi

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #94 on: December 05, 2017, 08:23:43 PM »
double L
You gotta explain when the Brits pronounce T’s & when they’re silent. :)
Or how Americans (don't) pronounce the double T in Manhattan?
I've been waiting over 5 years with bated breath for someone to say that!
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Offline shlonx

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #95 on: December 05, 2017, 08:25:09 PM »
Thanks @etech0 and @srap. Makes sense.

@TimT I would if I could
Brevity may be the soul of wit, but floridity is its spirit.

Offline etech0

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #96 on: December 05, 2017, 08:31:47 PM »
double L
You gotta explain when the Brits pronounce T’s & when they’re silent. :)
Obligatory repost:
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline TimT

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #97 on: December 05, 2017, 08:43:47 PM »
Obligatory repost:

Thats where I got it from :)

Offline etech0

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #98 on: December 05, 2017, 08:45:20 PM »
Thats where I got it from :)
whatever!
Workflowy. You won't know what you're missing until you try it.

Offline shlonx

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Re: Grammar and Spelling Lessons 101
« Reply #99 on: December 05, 2017, 09:00:16 PM »
Well, my teeth are actually quite straight, thank you very much...

;D ;D ;D

Brevity may be the soul of wit, but floridity is its spirit.