Actually not really a rant at all, just a clarification.
There have been quite a few grammar and/or spelling rants here recently, and there is a distinction that I think needs to be pointed out: There is a big difference to me between starting a thread about a particular common grammar/spelling mistake that irks you, and posting to correct a particular person’s grammar/spelling mistake. The former is in keeping with the spirit of the BBQ Pit, where many of us like to blow off steam about life’s little annoyances. The latter is just plain rude.
In my opinion, a person who starts a thread saying: “I hate when people mix up its and it’s”, does NOT earn the title of Grammar Nazi. BUT, the person who posts a reply to someone else’s post, saying: “You mixed up its and it’s, you dumbass”, is a Grammar Nazi in the extreme.
But I’m noticing that a lot of people are responding to the former group as though they had committed a grave offense, and are failing to distinguish between a general rant and a personal insult. Some of us have used the title “Grammar Nazi” in a tongue-in-cheek way, the joke being that you’re not really being a “Nazi” unless you go around correcting specific people. However, I fear that a lot of you didn’t get that it was tongue-in-cheek, and are failing to see the distinction at all.
In summary:
A Grammar Nazi says: “You did xyz; you suck.”
A non Grammar Nazi says: “Don’t you hate when people do xyz?”
Thank you for your time. Remember to buy some orange drink in the lobby for the drive home.
I don’t think complaining about the etiquette of writing makes anyone a Nazi, unless they enforce their preferred etiquette with Zyklon-B. But that’s just me.
I agree. And tell the capitalization Fascist/Nazi/Barney Fife/Church Lady/Know it All’s to knock it off too.
I have the funny feeling that every possible subject has already been discussed and the SDMB is going to start imploding and everyone here will turn on everyone else until nothing is left.
Actually not really a rant at all, just a clarification.
sentence fragment
In my opinion, a person who starts a thread saying: "I hate when
use a comma rather than a colon, here and elsewhere
“You mixed up its and it’s, you dumbass”
while there is no definitive consensus on the spelling of dumb ass, the compounding of the words can be visually confusing because the silent b will look like it is pronounced as part of the incorrectly formed syllable bass
A non Grammar Nazi says: “Don’t you hate when people do xyz?” non is not a standalone word (except in Latin phrases), it should be attached with a hyphen
I disagree with the OP. I started a general apotrophe rant, and I am an Apostrophe Nazi. I just am too lazy to pit individuals, but you can bet I would if I could be both
