My Grammar Issues, or Grammar's Issues with me.
Grammar has always been a focus for me. Not in terms of wanting to study it, but in terms of being nit-picky. I was always (and sometimes still am) called the “Grammar Nazi” by those who spent any amount of time around me because of my constant correction of a misplaced word or the use of a noun as a verb. However, regardless of the fact that I have gained the unflattering moniker, I do (albeit rarely, and I truly hate admitting this because I fancy myself an impeccable wordsmith) slip-up as well.
One of the mistakes I always make, no matter how many times it has been explained to me, is when and when not to use “whom.” I tend to over think the correct usage and the wrong word goes in its place, leaving me open to all sorts of jokes about my chosen field of study. This is one specific thing I would certainly love to clear up. Let the comedians think up their own material.
Another mistake that I tend to make more often than not is my use of the words “affect” and “effect.” While I do know that one is a noun and one is a verb, I also know that there are always exceptions. In the past, I’ve been asked by people to explain to them the difference between these two words and I never fail to sound incompetent in my attempts. I don’t know if that will ever go away, but I hope that through the course of this, well, course, I will finally be able to grasp it.
And, of course, lay versus lie. She lied and said she laid, but the lie was laid to rest. I have no idea. I know we touched on it in class, but it seems to be one topic that slips through my gray matter way too easily. It’s actually kind of funny, because I hadn’t realized it was something I didn’t know until it was brought up in class. I’d always just guessed correctly I suppose. If you asked me to explain it, however, you’d be shit out of luck.
I suppose that’s one of the main things I’d really like to get out of this course; the ability to explain why something is correct instead of just accepting the fact that it is. My grammatical abilities are pretty much up to par, but I can hardly tell you how I got there. I never studied grammar, I just read a lot. Ah, and we reach the point. Grammar isn’t taught, it’s learned, however nonsensical that sounds. I can take copious amounts of notes of dangling modifiers and prepositions on the end of a sentence and it will still not create the same understanding of the English language that a Sunday afternoon, a warm blanket, and a good book will.
So here’s to you, grammar. May our journey continue in peaceful cohabitation, but may we also learn to understand each other on a much deeper level.
One of the mistakes I always make, no matter how many times it has been explained to me, is when and when not to use “whom.” I tend to over think the correct usage and the wrong word goes in its place, leaving me open to all sorts of jokes about my chosen field of study. This is one specific thing I would certainly love to clear up. Let the comedians think up their own material.
Another mistake that I tend to make more often than not is my use of the words “affect” and “effect.” While I do know that one is a noun and one is a verb, I also know that there are always exceptions. In the past, I’ve been asked by people to explain to them the difference between these two words and I never fail to sound incompetent in my attempts. I don’t know if that will ever go away, but I hope that through the course of this, well, course, I will finally be able to grasp it.
And, of course, lay versus lie. She lied and said she laid, but the lie was laid to rest. I have no idea. I know we touched on it in class, but it seems to be one topic that slips through my gray matter way too easily. It’s actually kind of funny, because I hadn’t realized it was something I didn’t know until it was brought up in class. I’d always just guessed correctly I suppose. If you asked me to explain it, however, you’d be shit out of luck.
I suppose that’s one of the main things I’d really like to get out of this course; the ability to explain why something is correct instead of just accepting the fact that it is. My grammatical abilities are pretty much up to par, but I can hardly tell you how I got there. I never studied grammar, I just read a lot. Ah, and we reach the point. Grammar isn’t taught, it’s learned, however nonsensical that sounds. I can take copious amounts of notes of dangling modifiers and prepositions on the end of a sentence and it will still not create the same understanding of the English language that a Sunday afternoon, a warm blanket, and a good book will.
So here’s to you, grammar. May our journey continue in peaceful cohabitation, but may we also learn to understand each other on a much deeper level.