Am I unreasonable?

[SirenSongWoman]

You guys are too funny... or is that TO funny -- LOL!!

I often do a Google search when I have a question about which word/spelling to use. For instance, you can use to or too for your search criteria and it will return a ton of grammar sites.

BTW, I'm aware that my grammar skills are lacking, but give me a break -- I'm a nurse and we were trained to abbreviate everything.

So go ahead, make fun of me -- see if I care!

It's not just you. Some of these posts had me laughing in agreement but others had me thinking 'That's wrong...?' I blame my crappy public school education in an overburdened school system. Fortunately, I read a lot so I've been able to squeak by, though the "to" vs. "too" and "their" vs. "they're" stuff I really relate to. But, again, the type of formal education people get makes all the difference and, as one poster pointed out, texting isn't helping.

As an aside, I love that I can come here to get advice on everything from fitness to grammar. How cool is that?

 

[darli ann]

I work in an investment firm where we work with CPAs and attorneys (not CPA's and Attorneys as is in sooo much of our literature!) I cannot tell you how many times I've gone through documents and marketing proofs to remove that dumb apostrophe and incorrect capitalization that even the boss himself (who is an attorney) always writes! I've pointed it out so many times and the professionals in this office just keep doing it. Makes me crazy.

 

[kathryn]

Mispronunciation of the word "often" is one of my pet peeves.
The T is silent. It is pronounced "awfen".

That may be regional. Some things are pronounced differently in different areas.
Like "strength" : some people don't pronounce the "g" ("strenth") , which drives me batty, but seems a regionalism.

Nancy,
I don't think you're being picky.
If the guy worked as a burger slinger at McDonald's, maybe those errors could pass. But I consider a paralegal more professional, and their language should show it. (If he ever wants to be more than just your paralegal, he might want to pay more attention).

 

[Miss Lee]

Nance, you should make him do an internship with AJock. That'll teach him!

 

[jonahnah]

I can do "language policing" with the best of them, but I believe that there are other more important measures of an employee's worth than whether they "axe" questions or misplace their apostrophes, hyphens, quotation marks or say "irregardless." Does he/she show up for work on time? Does he/she take the initiative to solve problems? Does he/she work late without complaining when deadlines arise? Does he/she try to learn more than just their job? Can you count on him/her to pitch in for the team when needed?

Grammar can be fixed easily. A poor work ethic is typically incurable. Look at the bigger picture, and overlook the small stuff. JMHO.

 

[cakebaker]

Not at all!

I just thanked my paralegal for something and he wrote back "your welcome". He also writes things like "their coming in tomorrow". It drives me nuts some days. Gosh, when I worked for bosses, I used to check and double check everything I gave them. Now I'm the boss, and frankly, I expect the same. Am I being unreasonable?

Basic grammar & spelling is not taught like it was when we (in our 50's) were growing up, I guess. Shameful, IMHO. You have every reason to expect better - maybe screen for that next time you want to hire a paralegal.

 

[Jasmin416]

I think we all just need two relax 'cause inn the grand scheme of things its really know big deal

 

[amyg]

Keep in mind that in the legal world grammar matters more than it does in most other professions. We're paid to be picky for a very good reason-- do you want the deed to your house having the wrong numbers or misspelled street name??

 

[nancy324]

Keep in mind that in the legal world grammar matters more than it does in most other professions. We're paid to be picky for a very good reason-- do you want the deed to your house having the wrong numbers or misspelled street name??

Jonahnah, I agree with Ame. In my office, I would much rather my paralegal come in late every day of the week than send a letter to a client containing an obvious grammatical error.

 

[coraldiver2000]

I am so embarrassed. I once corrected a note from my son's teacher and sent it back to her. The occasional mistake I can understand, but to see the same issue over and over makes me nuts. My DOH now has me proof reading all of his proposals for work. Calls me the Grammar Gestapo.

 

[carres1973]

I think we all just need two relax 'cause inn the grand scheme of things its really know big deal

Running screaming from all of the misused words in this message.

One that annoys me is my husband using the word off instead of the word of. His spelling is awful but that one drives me nuts...oh and where instead of were!!

Carrie

 

[LeanneM]

What a fun thread!

Another English teacher here, and it sometimes drives me NUTS to see all the errors in my students' papers. For a few years, I graded high school Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and some folks would copy some of the best errors from students' essays up onto butcher paper at the front of the grading rooms. I never copied any phrases since I would have felt bad doing so, but it certainly did help ease the stress of grading for seven hours a day!

Here's another one that bugs me: "congraDulations" instead of "congratulations."

Another one I worry about is this: when you use the plural form of an acronym, you are supposed to use an apostrophe, but no one ever does anymore. (For instance, it is correct to write "my IL's went home" instead of just "my ILs went home.") I always worry that I'll look foolish for doing so!

 

[LeanneM]

I work in an investment firm where we work with CPAs and attorneys (not CPA's and Attorneys as is in sooo much of our literature!) I cannot tell you how many times I've gone through documents and marketing proofs to remove that dumb apostrophe and incorrect capitalization that even the boss himself (who is an attorney) always writes! I've pointed it out so many times and the professionals in this office just keep doing it. Makes me crazy.

Darlene, I actually just posted something on this! It is actually correct to use an apostrophe when using the plural form of an acronym, so writing "CPA's" is correct. More recently, people have gotten out of the habit of using the apostrophe with acronyms, but most older grammar and style handbooks recommend it.

 

[darli ann]

Darlene, I actually just posted something on this! It is actually correct to use an apostrophe when using the plural form of an acronym, so writing "CPA's" is correct. More recently, people have gotten out of the habit of using the apostrophe with acronyms, but most older grammar and style handbooks recommend it.

Not according to GrammarPedia.com but who really cares? To me, the appostrophe is for showing possession.

 

[LeanneM]

Not according to GrammarPedia.com but who really cares? To me, the appostrophe is for showing possession.

. . . or for marking a letter that has been taken away.

Yes, the apostrophe rule for acronyms and abbreviations seems odd to me, too, but I think it depends on which style manual you follow. If I'm remembering correctly, I think that the MLA Style Manual says to include the apostrophe, whereas the Chicago Manual says not to use it.

I still think that we should bring back sentence diagramming!