tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post2306371476826311949..comments2023-10-22T20:53:58.823-04:00Comments on String Too Short to Tie: You Don't Sayvanillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11978025976591113499noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-81961565841319535232014-10-05T19:34:16.819-04:002014-10-05T19:34:16.819-04:00Lin, ha ha! When I was a tadpole working in Wichit...Lin, ha ha! When I was a tadpole working in Wichita, I had an account at a Fifth Third Bank. I always thought it a strange name, but I did not know they had adopted the 5/3 logo. One and two-thirds; I would do the same thing you do.vanillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11978025976591113499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-811439125915552392014-10-05T19:16:30.956-04:002014-10-05T19:16:30.956-04:00When I see things like that, it drives me crazy. ...When I see things like that, it drives me crazy. They are paying a LOT of money to advertise, you'd think they would have an editor proof the material.<br /><br />We have a chain of banks here called "5/3 Bank." I like to refer to them as "1 2/3 Bank" instead.Linhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07042143254001890567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-67690752196979056532014-10-04T22:18:42.128-04:002014-10-04T22:18:42.128-04:00Grace, that seems perfectly reasonable to me.
Chu...Grace, that seems perfectly reasonable to me.<br /><br />Chuck, not getting grumpy; getting wiser.<br /><br />Sharkey, makes sense, but then I'd have to accept something "new" wouldn't I?vanillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11978025976591113499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-24384869579156309392014-10-04T15:36:25.571-04:002014-10-04T15:36:25.571-04:00What we need is a brand new word that is genderles...What we need is a brand new word that is genderless for the singular. Why not? There are new words made every day. Let's propose one. How about "vhe" has "he" and "v" could be for that v word that all the feminists want to proclaim loudly these days. Sharkbyteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10139935335209860357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-82914155084490391842014-10-04T12:07:54.171-04:002014-10-04T12:07:54.171-04:00"Inexplicable" is the operative word.
&..."Inexplicable" is the operative word.<br /><br />" . . . as they get older they tend to get more conservative. They tend to get more cynical about the direction of humanity." Yes, that explains a lot. Silly old man that I am, I thought I was just getting grumpy.Secondary Roadshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05116234285533139701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-40159021922181891552014-10-04T11:36:37.238-04:002014-10-04T11:36:37.238-04:00I am a little weary of all this gender nonsense - ...I am a little weary of all this gender nonsense - when speaking in the general then use the general, when speaking specifically then use the specific - and under no circumstances refer to me as Ms.Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02779872914493612101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-7274555441831462732014-10-04T10:28:10.907-04:002014-10-04T10:28:10.907-04:00Jim, "inelegant" is probably more charit...Jim, "inelegant" is probably more charitable than I have been. I do realize I am a stodgy old person stuck, perhaps, in the 50s. Thanks for the link; I find it interesting. Further comment in my response to Vee.<br /><br />Vee, I think it unlikely that I would correct someone's grammar in conversation; but you have seen my proclivity to taking to task public presentations. Perhaps Pinker's last statement in the article Jim cited says it best: "But there is a well-known phenomenon that people, because they confuse changes in themselves with changes in the times, as they get older they tend to get more conservative. They tend to get more cynical about the direction of humanity." Yet I am inclined to comment on that, as well. Perhaps the "well known phenomenon" can really be called "accumulation of higher wisdom and understanding."?vanillahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11978025976591113499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-52707683015808175922014-10-04T08:22:11.626-04:002014-10-04T08:22:11.626-04:00When a colleague in a university setting corrects ...When a colleague in a university setting corrects the grammar of others, he is avoided at all costs. Because I had a colleague who did that, I became aware that I did mental corrections while in conversations with people. (Maybe that's because I had a mom who stopped me mid-conversation and requested that I repeat sentences correctly.) I have since removed the red pen from my mind and now just enjoy conversing.<br /><br />I do think that someone with a million dollar budget for producing an advertisement should get it right. (Should that be get it correct? Write correctly? Write right?)<br /><br />Very good article Jim cited.Veehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12222653231278680963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-47249214033667648282014-10-04T05:28:03.278-04:002014-10-04T05:28:03.278-04:00Hunh. Next up in my reading list today:
http://ww...Hunh. Next up in my reading list today:<br /><br />http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119687/steven-pinker-language-interview-jesse-singalJim Greyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06941665968757241278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3535543883262225735.post-3322501222327285322014-10-04T05:26:01.309-04:002014-10-04T05:26:01.309-04:00As a former professional writer and editor, I woul...As a former professional writer and editor, I would not change a sentence that came to me for editing if it referred to a child as they. It is an inelegant, but increasingly accepted, way of handling the gender problem.Jim Greyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06941665968757241278noreply@blogger.com