depends what your definition of is, is

[musesfool]

I was just gonna run out to Dunkin Donuts for a doughnut and coffee, but then I spoke to fleurdeleo and now we're going to the diner for lunch. Mmm...diner... That's one of my favorite things about this neighborhood--there are five diners all in (short) walking distance, and I think all of them are open 24/7

Comments

[yasminke]

OMG. I have to have the same debate with every incoming student. One of my problems is, every department uses a different style guide. Or (grrr) they cut and paste from our library's on-line catalogue, which is as inconsistent as -- I have no analogy.

However, the larger, more serious problem: "Are you sure 'is' is a verb? It doesn't do anything."

[musesfool]

One of my problems is, every department uses a different style guide.

Well, yes. I think in non-fiction, f'rinstance, APA requires only the first word and then proper names to be capped, but MLA uses the standard I quoted above (though it's been many years since I looked at either one, so that may have changed).

However, the larger, more serious problem: "Are you sure 'is' is a verb? It doesn't do anything."

*weeps for the future*

[yasminke]

MLA's capitalisation is pretty much the same, but the rest ... ch-ch-changes. We, in my own little department, have people who use Chicago, MLA, and MHRA (or Cambridge). Geez, remember Turabian?

That is also why I tell students: use EndNotes. It will change your data base into the proper form for you. Even if you don't like the way it looks.

As for the weeping? We could solve our drought problem. That statement, I swear on stack of Gideons, is a direct quote. And the tip of the iceberg.

[musesfool]

We, in my own little department, have people who use Chicago, MLA, and MHRA (or Cambridge). Geez, remember Turabian?

I don't remember Turabian, but I do remember the annoyance of doing a psych bib according to MLA standards and having to redo it to APA etc. and arguing MLA (which I keep typing MAL) v. Chicago at one job. Now I'm lucky anything I work on is grammatical, as it's mostly all written by lawyers. *shudders*

As for the weeping? We could solve our drought problem. That statement, I swear on stack of Gideons, is a direct quote. And the tip of the iceberg.

You know, I don't have the best background in grammar - most of what I know I either know from having absorbed from reading so much as a kid, or from when I took Italian and had to learn English grammar then, but is is a verb! How do people not know this?

[yasminke]

See, I, the benevolent dictator I am, tell my students to choose from among one of the above and follow it -- religiously.

it's mostly all written by lawyers
ACK! Run for your life!

How do people not know this?
These same people cannot tell you what a "subject" is. And, honestly, I've had some who do not understand the general concept of "noun". If you can't get that, you can't get "verbs". (And not all of these are incoming students...)

[musesfool]

See, I, the benevolent dictator I am, tell my students to choose from among one of the above and follow it -- religiously.

*nod*

That's my feeling about a lot of things - if there's a choice, just pick one and stick to it consistently.

ACK! Run for your life!

You would not believe some of the things I've argued about and lost because "The lawyers vetted this and want it that way." *cries*

These same people cannot tell you what a "subject" is. And, honestly, I've had some who do not understand the general concept of "noun". If you can't get that, you can't get "verbs". (And not all of these are incoming students...)

*cries harder*

[yasminke]

Someone fetch a bucket! The drought's over. ;)

[jerel]

Are you sure 'is' is a verb

At this point you say "this is my fist and it is going to connect with your face in about five seconds."

Christ on a pogostick people! Why does everything leak our your brains the moment the test is over?

[yasminke]

Don't EVEN get me started with auxiliary verbs.

After the test?? This is BEFORE the test!