PEZ! (Was: Grammar patrole)

#1 06-11-2001, 08:45 PM

Here's a job for the grammar patrole.

A while back, someone sent me a note calling me on my use of the word "it's" to mean "it has". While one part of me was just happy that they didn't also call me on using "what's" to mean, "what has", another part of me whined plaintively, "but EVERYONE talks that way!" I even have teacher friends that say that.

So how bad of a grammar sin is this?

» Edited to change thread title (oops, didn't work). Original posted unaltered. » t-þoo 1930

**slick4591**[$] · #2 06-11-2001, 09:53 PM

Glad I ain't part of that there grammar patrol, Grace. If'n I was, I might have ta answer ya.

jo.com · #3 06-12-2001, 08:31 AM

Grace, after college, since I majored in Sociology, I really had no skills! I took a course at what was then called Katherine Gibbs School for Women (changed to Gibbs School, duh). They had a 1-year course for women who had completed college to give us some skills so we could get a job. Now this was 1974 - the skills were shorthand, typing and Engish. That is how I learned the English language and am thankful I took that course for that reason and because I learned to type (who knew how much $$ I would be making with that skill

In any case (I have much too much time on my hands) it's does mean it is and what's - what is. That is the contraction for those words. It has doesn't have a contraction nor does what has. I must admit I don't think I would have picked up on that so this person must have been looking for something about which to complain. (or I could have said which technically would have been incorrect -something to complain about.)

Workingmomof2 · #4 06-13-2001, 12:34 PM

I actually covered this in one of my rare substitute teacher posting moments -- but I don' t know where that thread went (Bridgette?). Anyway, here's what I can dig up:

Webgrammar says.... "Its or It's? Its: The possessive form of the pronoun it is never written with an apostrophe, e.g., . . . read the book. "Its title is . . ." or, "What is its value?" It's: contractions of it is and it has. It's time to go. It's been great. (AHD3)
and
GASP says "It's is a contraction meaning 'it is' or 'it has.'"

I have seen people use "it's" as a contraction for "it was" or "it does" -- both are (I'm afraid) incorrect. I've also seen people slapped for using "it's" for "it has" -- which *is* a correct usage of the contraction.

jo.com · #5 06-13-2001, 06:39 PM

I stand corrected. I will have to write to Katherine Gibbs and tell them that!

jo.com · #6 06-14-2001, 11:05 AM

Not only do I stand corrected but after reading this I was driving to a meeting and was thinking about it and don't know what I was thinking!! One of the most common contractions is it's been (a nice day) it has been!! sorry for any confusion I may have caused. I'm usually on top of English - one subject in school I could manage (you can imagine what math was like for me!)

wovengold · #7 06-17-2001, 07:18 PM

As an English major, student of literature and writer/editor, perhaps the one thing I do know about grammar is that the rules evolve over time. I straddle a line between being one of those dyed-in-the-wool, strict, "this is the only right way, dammit" school marms

and being completely relaxed about the whole thing if the person is entertaining or informing me. After all, I grew up in a not-very-educated environment and then went to a fairly prestigious liberal arts college. No wonder I'm a little schizoid.

I never criticize a person's grammar. I might make a suggestion in a private email, but even that would be rare.

And I ain't above writing "ain't," either, when it suits.

sibhreach · #8 06-22-2001, 05:19 PM

Eeek! I tend to cringe a wee bit whenever I see a word mis-spelt.

However, if I get the gist of what's being said - and 80% of the piece is bad grammar and spelling, I won't mind it.

I might zoom an Email to the author, but just as long as it makes some sense, it's cool.

Cairli

rich2003dm · #9 06-24-2001, 10:17 PM

Grace,

Sorry I can't help you.

Both of my grammars been dead for nigh on 25 years.

Rich

**amykhar** · #10 06-24-2001, 10:20 PM

Rich, do you know how SCARED I was when I saw your name listed as the last poster in this forum?

Amy

rich2003dm · #11 06-25-2001, 10:43 PM

Fear not, still almost young (but not quite) Amy,

I am no longer a danger to anyone.

I'm too old, infirm, and dim of wit to be a threat in any way.

Gotta go. Time for my medication.

Rich

**amykhar** · #12 06-25-2001, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rich2003dm

Gotta go. Time for my medication.

Does your wife know that you're popping viagra like they were candy again?

Amy (waiting for the voodoo pins to strike again)

rich2003dm · #13 06-25-2001, 11:08 PM

I think she's been switching my viagra with something else.

Does viagra really have a little M on it?

Tastes good though. Stuff just melts in my mouth.

Rich

wovengold · #14 06-26-2001, 06:35 AM

Hey, Rich: I do think they have a little M on them, and they're green. Is that what you're getting?

rich2003dm · #15 06-27-2001, 09:33 PM

I get green, red, blue...all kinds of nice colors. All of 'em taste great. Kind of chocolaty.

Don't work though.

Rich

**amykhar** · #16 06-27-2001, 10:41 PM

Hmm, that's weird. Chocolate works wonders for women.

Maybe you should try pez instead?

Amy

sibhreach · #17 06-27-2001, 11:13 PM

Mmmmmmmmmmmm.....Strawberry flavoured PEZ.....

magenta321 · #18 06-28-2001, 01:04 AM

I used to like Pez, until I moved into the town next to the factory where they make it.

The popular thing for the kiddies to do in this town was to sneak onto the pez factory grounds, go into the dumpsters, and take all the mis-died, mis-shapen candies. And then

they ate them!

Ever since then I can't eat Pez. It's just the dumpster to mouth image that gets me.

rich2003dm · #19 06-30-2001, 02:00 PM

PEZ?

Instead of women?

Never considered it before.

Could work.

Some of those dispensers are really cute.

But do the tops of those dispensers still snap shut abruptly like they used to?

Rich

P.S.

How in the world did grace's legitimate post evolve into this madness? Who's responsible? Can't anyone in this place ever be serious? Am I the only serious person left here? Must I always be the one to turn these absurd threads back to sanity? STAY ON TOPIC PEOPLE!

Workingmomof2 · #20 07-03-2001, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rich2003dm

How in the world did grace's legitimate post evolve into this madness? Who's responsible? Can't anyone in this place ever be serious? Am I the only serious person left here? Must I always be the one to turn these absurd threads back to sanity? STAY ON TOPIC PEOPLE!

Yes it's shocking, isn't it? I come to visit our nice quiet Writer's Help forum and discover a lurid tale of pornographic uses of Pez dispensers.

You know THAT image is gonna be with me all day.

(ps - Rich - you could always tape the mouth open.... yikes did I actually say that?)

rich2003dm · #21 07-03-2001, 08:37 PM

Oh!

You mean just like on a real date?

Works for me.

Thanks for the advice. I'm off to Tape r Us.

Rich