Thursday, September 17, 2009

Poor Grammar is a Clue

If you want people to take you seriously, use correct grammar. This story comes from the Associated Press:

Police: W.Va. man impersonated gov to steal info

Thursday, September 17, 2009

(09-17) 12:36 PDT Hinton, W.Va. (AP) --

Bad grammar and spelling tripped up a man who was trying to steal Social Security numbers and other information from jobseekers by impersonating West Virginia's governor, police said.

Matthew Don Reed of Hinton is being held on $10,000 bond on charges of impersonating a public official, impersonating a state Division of Natural Resources officer and forgery of a public document. . . .


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/17/national/a083225D79.DTL

Thursday, September 10, 2009

National Punctuation Day

Life is good! Today is National Punctuation Day.

Read more at One Writer's Journey: http://networkedblogs.com/p11369492

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Don't confuse 'your,' 'you're'

More of Don Ferguson's Grammar Gremlins: Don't confuse 'your,' 'you're'


The misuse of "your" for "you're" is far too common.

I have seen this error several times recently, mainly in e-mail messages.

It is common enough that several handbooks make note of it. One says the two words are confused surprisingly often.

"Your" is the possessive of the pronoun "you."

"You're" is a contraction of "you are."

Here are examples from the Gregg Reference Manual that show both uses:

1. Your thinking is sound, but we lack the funds to underwrite your proposal.

2. You're thinking of applying for a transfer, I understand.


Don K. Ferguson's e-mail address is ferguson111@comcast.net.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

National Grammar Day

Cheers!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009 is National Grammar Day.

Thank you to Susan, who alerted me to today's festivities.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Bob the Angry Flower

From today's San Francisco Chronicle:

Comic artist Stephen Notley set up shop as his Bob the Angry Flower character at the WonderCon comic book convention at Moscone Center.


Full Story: WonderCon: Comic book subculture now mainstream.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Accept, Except

Accept means to receive or approve.
Except means an exclusion.