Comments for The Grammar Block http://www.grammarcomic.com A Comic About Grammar and Words and Stuff! Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:30:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Alternate and Alternative by Tommy Gun http://www.grammarcomic.com/alternate-and-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Tommy Gun Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:30:26 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=128#comment-172 The comic does refer to "al-ter-NAYt," but my edit/quote mentions the difference between "al-ter-nit" and alternative. In the comic usage, alternative is correct because there are two viable options. The comic does refer to “al-ter-NAYt,” but my edit/quote mentions the difference between “al-ter-nit” and alternative. In the comic usage, alternative is correct because there are two viable options.

]]> Comment on Alternate and Alternative by Warpcorps http://www.grammarcomic.com/alternate-and-alternative/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Warpcorps Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:19:26 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=128#comment-161 I think you're leaving out the fact that there are two pronunciations of the word "alternate" which have differing meanings from each other. "al-ter-nit" is the pronunciation used by people that you are saying are incorrect. I think you’re leaving out the fact that there are two pronunciations of the word “alternate” which have differing meanings from each other. “al-ter-nit” is the pronunciation used by people that you are saying are incorrect.

]]> Comment on Etymology (Not Entomology) by Tommy Gun http://www.grammarcomic.com/etymology-not-entomology/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Tommy Gun Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:40:20 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=202#comment-112 I saw the first xkcd, but not the second. :) Yes, the professor's line should have had a comma, but I intentionally left it out because it's funnier that way. He has to say it so much he just shouts it quickly. Thanks for subscribing! I saw the first xkcd, but not the second. :)

Yes, the professor’s line should have had a comma, but I intentionally left it out because it’s funnier that way. He has to say it so much he just shouts it quickly. Thanks for subscribing!

]]> Comment on Etymology (Not Entomology) by Chirigami http://www.grammarcomic.com/etymology-not-entomology/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Chirigami Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:59:40 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=202#comment-110 I'm guessing you did see these, right? http://xkcd.com/1010/ http://xkcd.com/1012/ Also, shouldn't it have been "WORDS, NOT BUGS!" with a comma? :O Not that it matters so much, though. Just saying. :P Cool comic, I subscribed and liked it on Facebook. :) Oh, by the way, here in Argentina nobody mistakes "etimología" for "entomología". Although most people don't even know the words to begin with... I’m guessing you did see these, right?

http://xkcd.com/1010/
http://xkcd.com/1012/

Also, shouldn’t it have been “WORDS, NOT BUGS!” with a comma? :O Not that it matters so much, though. Just saying. :P

Cool comic, I subscribed and liked it on Facebook. :)

Oh, by the way, here in Argentina nobody mistakes “etimología” for “entomología”. Although most people don’t even know the words to begin with…

]]> Comment on Errors in “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White by Tommy Gun http://www.grammarcomic.com/errors-in-the-elements-of-style-by-strunk-and-white/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Tommy Gun Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:21:47 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=133#comment-104 Right, that's why the section is so misleading---the sentence immediately preceding those examples is: "Many a tame sentence of description or exposition can be made lively and emphatic by substituting a transitive in the active voice for some such perfunctory expression as <em>there is</em> or <em>could be heard</em>." So now they're talking about transitive verbs, I guess, not passive voice. Regarding the final point: Pullum was suggesting that we simply do a CTRL-F to search through old books, regardless of context (at least that's how it sounded). Using that logic I could conclude that "ain't" is perfectly acceptable because it appears in <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em>, or "weesa" and "deesa" are fine because they're in <em>Star Wars: Episode 1</em>. Right, that’s why the section is so misleading—the sentence immediately preceding those examples is: “Many a tame sentence of description or exposition can be made lively and emphatic by substituting a transitive in the active voice for some such perfunctory expression as there is or could be heard.” So now they’re talking about transitive verbs, I guess, not passive voice.

Regarding the final point: Pullum was suggesting that we simply do a CTRL-F to search through old books, regardless of context (at least that’s how it sounded). Using that logic I could conclude that “ain’t” is perfectly acceptable because it appears in To Kill a Mockingbird, or “weesa” and “deesa” are fine because they’re in Star Wars: Episode 1.

]]> Comment on Errors in “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White by Rory http://www.grammarcomic.com/errors-in-the-elements-of-style-by-strunk-and-white/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Rory Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:29:39 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=133#comment-97 The only possible alternative to the active voice is the passive. Strunk and White's implication is that these sentences are passive. (Some languages, like Ancient Greek, have a middle voice in addition to the active and passive, but English only has the two.) Secondly, I'm confused by your last point. Pullum is talking about looking to old books to see how people wrote - mainly to establish that things have been done this way for a long time (i.e. it's not a recent innovation). How are the rules of grammar divined, if not through examining usage? The only possible alternative to the active voice is the passive. Strunk and White’s implication is that these sentences are passive. (Some languages, like Ancient Greek, have a middle voice in addition to the active and passive, but English only has the two.)

Secondly, I’m confused by your last point. Pullum is talking about looking to old books to see how people wrote – mainly to establish that things have been done this way for a long time (i.e. it’s not a recent innovation). How are the rules of grammar divined, if not through examining usage?

]]> Comment on Apposition Wanted by Ben http://www.grammarcomic.com/apposition-wanted/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Ben Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:51:04 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=188#comment-49 Excellent use of a Bill & Ted quote! Excellent use of a Bill & Ted quote!

]]> Comment on A Unique Joke by JohnnyW http://www.grammarcomic.com/a-unique-joke/comment-page-1/#comment-48 JohnnyW Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:57:03 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=71#comment-48 Like how this is progressing. This is the best one by far, so far... On to number 4! Like how this is progressing. This is the best one by far, so far… On to number 4!

]]> Comment on Errors in “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White by Active Alex (active vs. passive voice) | The Grammar Block http://www.grammarcomic.com/errors-in-the-elements-of-style-by-strunk-and-white/comment-page-1/#comment-39 Active Alex (active vs. passive voice) | The Grammar Block Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:59:37 +0000 http://www.grammarcomic.com/?p=133#comment-39 [...] FAQ Errors in “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White [...] [...] FAQ Errors in “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White [...]

]]> Comment on Adverbsaries (bad vs. badly) by Bonnie http://www.grammarcomic.com/adverbsaries-bad-vs-badly/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Bonnie Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:37:36 +0000 http://grammarcomic.com/?p=30#comment-34 Gosh, now I feel poorly, too, even though my health is once again excellent! Gosh, now I feel poorly, too, even though my health is once again excellent!

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