Posted by beardedlady on January 21, 2003, at 8:18:11
In reply to Re: Corrections » beardedLADY, posted by Mitchell on January 20, 2003, at 20:43:41
> Beardy, I feel somewhat put down, but I hope Bob doesn't block you for it.
I didn't mean to put you down. A strong argument that has mistakes can prejudice some against the argument.
>I don't know why I am any more a threat to the language than the Capitalist propaganda-makers on Madison Avenue...
Oh, you're not. Don't worry; they get letters from me too. Martha Stewart even changed her ads one month after I admonished the former journalist for spelling "every day" incorrectly! (She had "learn something new everyday.")
>But many a fool speaks in flawless grammar.
I do too. : )>
I make mistakes all the time. Correcting others is a sign of my love.
> I think I am right on this. When Jimmy Carter said eight percent of our forces are comprised of women, he spoke correctly. If he said our forces are comprised of 8 percent women, he would have erred.
Nope. He erred the first time, too. It's "composed of" or made up of women. The forces comprise--include, contain, consist of--women.
"The traditional rule states that the whole comprises the parts; the parts compose the whole. ...While this distinction is still maintained by many writers, comprise is increasingly used, especially in the passive, in place of compose. ...That use of comprise is considered unaccceptable by a majority of the Usage Panel." (American Heritage, 2nd College Edition)
Oddipus: No, grammar interests me more. And here's why: Football players know the rules before they sign up. Scrabble players learn the game and play. Clubs have rules, too; when you sign up, you agree to abide by them.
From then on, the argument is usually whether certain actions fall within the limits of what is acceptable. Sure, in some instances, we argue about whether certain rules are Constitutional (like the Boy Scouts). But we rarely change rules.
Here, too, we can challenge the moderator regarding his individual decisions, but why bother challenging the rules? If you didn't agree to them, you should not have pressed the "I agree" button.
What I should have said is that I agree with Dinah. : )>
I have said way too much for a person who isn't posting anymore. Back to my fluorescent rock.
beardy : )>
poster:beardedlady
thread:8860
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20021128/msgs/8921.html