Grammar Gestapo

[naruki_oni]

I have learned from much painful experience not to be a total ass when someone shows a genuine inability to type correctly. But the occasional typo or grammar/spelling mistake is still fair game, when discussed amiably. And flagrant and unrepentant offenders deserve whatever crap they catch from me or others.

That said, here is a place to note things that tick you off, or at least make you go "Hmm..."

This post was inspired by the repeated misuse by one poster of "whom" where "who" would have been correct. I say that as one whom [sic] has occasionally been guilty of such mis-usage, but the glaring errors are painful to ignore. ;-)

Comments

Re: It's not an error, though.

[routermg.livejournal.com]

Ah, that settles it then...I think. I should have read the entry first!

If I was an editor or English teacher, I would still make students use "publicly," because it's less clunky.

I wouldn't.

[naruki-oni.livejournal.com]

"Clunky" stuff should be corrected. But a different, valid spelling is not clunky, IMO.

As a teacher, I would make sure they knew "publicly" was the more commonly accepted spelling.

As an editor, I would assume the already knew that (because they are professionals).

In either case, I'd let them decide which they preferred and allow it as a personal style issue. If I want to see my preferences, I'll just write it myself.

Re: I wouldn't.

[routermg.livejournal.com]

Well, perhaps if the writer could give me a reason she preferred "publically" over "publicly," I would let it stand. But I think it's clunky, because it alters the normal pattern of forming adverbs. You can take "ly" from "publicly" and easily see "public," but what in heck does "publical" mean?

With some words you don't have a choice about altering the root--e.g. "philosophically" instead of "philosophicly"--but when you do, I think it's better to keep it simple.

Also, if I was editing a book of essays or a magazine, I would make the writers use consistent spellings. Otherwise, the product looks poorly edited.

Philosophical, philosophic

[routermg.livejournal.com]

I realized I used a bad counterexample. "Philosophically" is the adverb from "philosophical," not "philosophic."

Ooh, not good.

[naruki-oni.livejournal.com]

If the writer is inconsistent within his own writing, I'd interfere. But I'd never want to make him conform to someone else's style! Style is very personal. Demanding a reason for someone to prefer one valid spelling over another valid spelling isn't a logical thing to do, and it will get those overwrought writers upset and make them miss their deadlines. Stupid writers.

You have a valid argument with the developmental validity of the alternate word (it was seemingly a deviation from the standard rule for forming adverbs). But that argument doesn't apply when the word is already an accepted form. You might as well complain that "gooder" should be a word.

Speaking of which...

Is validity binary?

[routermg.livejournal.com]

You've raised an interesting point about style. I really don't think any writer would insist on "publically" as a matter of style. We're talking about spelling, not word choice. Part of my job as an editor or teacher would be to raise the writer's awareness of technically correct usages which may sound or look incorrect. I wouldn't mark a student down for using this word, but I would want them to know that it's better to use the standard spelling of a word. Why would a writer want 90% of his readers thinking he made a mistake?

Bartleby.com quotes the _Columbia Guide to Standard American English_ as follows: "Publicly is the usual spelling; publically does occur, but rarely in Edited English."

Also, "publicly" is the way we all pronounce the word. I've never heard anyone give it all four syllables. Stylistically, I think we all should aspire to write sentences that sound right when read aloud.

I don't think "validity" in word choice is a binary issue of, "Is it in the dictionary or not?" Words can be valid but still sound awkward. If I'm just proofreading, I am screening for dictionary correctness. If I'm editing, that's a higher level of criticism. I can say, "This is correct, but it sounds like crap." Only I'd be nicer about it.

No, but situations are distinct.

[naruki-oni.livejournal.com]

Style is a combination of the words you use, the way you put them together, and any other choices you make that show a piece of writing came from you. Choice of valid spellings would most certainly be a part of that, IMO.

"Spelling", to my mind, begins and ends with forming the correct sequence of letters to create a word. If a given word has more than one correct sequence of letters, then the choice is a matter of personal style.

I'm not sure that 90% of the readers would agree with you, though you might possibly have a plurality. But plenty of good writers use plain old incorrect grammar or spelling consistently and haven't offended their readership yet. The main thing is to be consistent, I think.

We also say "typicly", so that argument gets defenestrated. ;-p

Basically, it comes down to you thinking there is something wrong with the word, despite the dictionary not supporting you. Thus, it is a matter of your personal style versus someone else's.

I don't think that my mislike of a particular word means that nobody should use it. Plenty of times I've found that I develop a tolerance, and sometimes even a liking, for a word or phrase that I initially disapproved of but see often in a good piece of writing.

The fact that this alternate spelling became acceptable only because it was frequently misspelled that way may be what's so jarring to you, and I must say I sympathize with the feeling. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that "It's me" is now a valid response when answering the phone.

Help, help, I'm being defenestrated!

[routermg.livejournal.com]

Point taken about pronunciation.

I think a lot depends on how much authorial "style" is appropriate to a particular piece of writing. It would be too jarring if all the different reporters at, say, the New York Times adopted their own pet spellings of words and proper names.

I'm not sure that the choice between valid spellings is simply a matter of personal style. But on this point, I'm willing to admit that you may be right and I may be wrong; I'm just too lazy to keep hashing it out publically. *g*

Woo hoo!

[naruki-oni.livejournal.com]

An unqualified victory for me! Yes! ;-P

Hey, who are you calling unqualified?

[routermg.livejournal.com]

I'll have you know I bought my degree fair and square.