Comments for The Grammar Block

Comment on Requiem for Whom by steve smart

steve smart — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:06:14 +0000

Nice pair of articles (especially if you’re an English major). I agree that “random” is not the correct analysis. Yes, we like to write as we speak. Adaptation is at work there. But some of the old phrases still have resonance, such as “To whom it may concern”. You really can’t say or type “To who it may concern” without grimacing as if your ears were being subjected to chalk screeching on a blackboard (which apparently is a biological reaction against horrible noise).

So “whom” will survive in a few forms. It will also be permanently a part of humor, of the antiquated P.G. Wodehouse kind, as in “To whom are you directing this jeremiad?” (You have to emphasize the “whom” in a fluty, upper-class-twit British way for this to even remotely work.)

Anyway, whomever…

Comment on Requiem for Whom by Chirigami

Chirigami — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:40:23 +0000

I’m not a native so I don’t really know :(

I’d be glad to know how to use it properly, in fact.

Comment on Adverbsaries (bad vs. badly) by Dave

Dave — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 15:30:52 +0000

“How BAD do you want to eat those noodles” is correct, inquiring as to the level of desire to eat the noodles. “How BADLY do yo want to eat those noodles” is inquiring as to how bad of a technique do you want to utilize while eating those noodles.

Comment on Netflix Confuses “Etymologist” with “Entomologist” by Chirigami

Chirigami — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:34:02 +0000

I can’t believe this actually happened…

Comment on Netflix Confuses “Etymologist” with “Entomologist” by Etymology (Not Entomology) | The Grammar Block

Etymology (Not Entomology) | The Grammar Block — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:22:14 +0000

[...] Netflix Confuses “Etymologist” with “Entomologist” Share this!FacebookRedditStumbleUponEmail Direct link for embedding: [...]

Comment on Etymology (Not Entomology) by Netflix Confuses “Etymologist” with “Entomologist” | The Grammar Block

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 02:17:15 +0000

[...] making a comic on the subject , I noticed Netflix got it wrong in their description of [...]

Comment on Alternate and Alternative by Tommy Gun

Tommy Gun — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:30:26 +0000

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

Warpcorps — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 17:19:26 +0000

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

Tommy Gun — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:40:20 +0000

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

Chirigami — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:59:40 +0000

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…