aknitwit (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} aknitwit) wrote,@ 2008-11-12 16:17:00 |
|
Grammar Rant
There was a box on my MSN home page today explaining the difference between lie and lay. The improper use of these words has always made me crazed. In essence, if you recline you lie, and if you place something you lay. You lay things on the table. A hen lays an egg. You lie down for a nap. You lie in the sun. So, it should be Lie Lady Lie, Mr. Dylan. I am probably preaching to the choir here, as you all are educated, but some people near and dear to me are educated too, but a little casual grammatically. Which leads me to "irregardless".
The "ir" in irrelevant, irregular, etc., means 'not' or 'un'. Therefore, irregardless means "not regardless", which is opposite of the intent. There is no such word. Use of this word in my presence makes my teeth hurt. I think I have passed this prejudice on to my daughter. My own mother used to correct my grammar relentlessly, until there was no need to do so anymore. I have been guilty (blush) of correcting others, even those not related, but I getting better, more mellow, I think. I am almost OK with the current, improper, use of the word "hopefully", since it is in such common usage that it almost becomes proper.
Thus ends The Grammar Hour. Next we will rant on your/you're and its/it's. Then maybe we'll do were/was.
PS Here is the link to the Encarta article, for those of you interested.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/C
There was a box on my MSN home page today explaining the difference between lie and lay. The improper use of these words has always made me crazed. In essence, if you recline you lie, and if you place something you lay. You lay things on the table. A hen lays an egg. You lie down for a nap. You lie in the sun. So, it should be Lie Lady Lie, Mr. Dylan. I am probably preaching to the choir here, as you all are educated, but some people near and dear to me are educated too, but a little casual grammatically. Which leads me to "irregardless".
The "ir" in irrelevant, irregular, etc., means 'not' or 'un'. Therefore, irregardless means "not regardless", which is opposite of the intent. There is no such word. Use of this word in my presence makes my teeth hurt. I think I have passed this prejudice on to my daughter. My own mother used to correct my grammar relentlessly, until there was no need to do so anymore. I have been guilty (blush) of correcting others, even those not related, but I getting better, more mellow, I think. I am almost OK with the current, improper, use of the word "hopefully", since it is in such common usage that it almost becomes proper.
Thus ends The Grammar Hour. Next we will rant on your/you're and its/it's. Then maybe we'll do were/was.
PS Here is the link to the Encarta article, for those of you interested.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Features/C
