# Grammar meta-rant: Ranting does not make you a Nazi **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 2, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195 "2003-06-02T19:25:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/1 "2003-06-02T19:25:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/2 "2003-06-02T21:24:17Z")
So, you rant against those who rant against those who rant against grammar mistakes? You Meta-meta-Nazi! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/3 "2003-06-02T21:29:44Z")
My Mom once meta-Nazi. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/4 "2003-06-02T21:36:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zenster \* > \*\*My Mom once meta-Nazi. \*\* \ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/5 "2003-06-02T21:47:16Z")
I agree with the OP. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/6 "2003-06-03T05:15:07Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/7 "2003-06-03T06:04:31Z")
Oh, for god’s sake, **matt** – I.G. Farben was totally consistent about one thing, at least: There’s no damned _hyphen_ in “Zyklon B.” I hate it when people do that. (Now, which bus do I take to go straight to hell?) ---
**Author:** ![Jaade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dfb087/32.png) [@Jaade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaade)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/8 "2003-06-03T07:02:12Z")
Who drank all the orange drink??!?! ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/9 "2003-06-03T19:04:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/10 "2003-06-05T04:01:36Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/11 "2003-06-05T14:41:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moriah \* > 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 You forgot to mention that there is a difference between a _non-Grammar Nazi_ and a _Grammar non-Nazi_. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/12 "2003-06-05T14:51:19Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/13 "2003-06-05T14:52:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moriah \* > \*\*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 \*\* If there’s anything worse than a grammar Nazi, it’s a grammar Nazi that gets it wrong. According to the _Oxford English Dictionary_ and _Merriam-Webster_, the adjective (or adjectival phrase) **stand-alone** should be hyphenated. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/14 "2003-06-05T14:53:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > > I started a general **apotrophe** rant, and I _am_ an Apostrophe Nazi. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@Dead\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/15 "2003-06-05T14:58:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Larry Mudd \* > **Oh, for god’s sake, matt– I.G. Farben was totally consistent about one thing, at least: There’s no damned _hyphen_ in "Zyklon B."** Does this make you a Nazi-Grammar-Nazi, or a Nazi-Grammar-non-Nazi? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/16 "2003-06-05T15:03:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mhendo \* > \*\*😃 \*\* Gott in Himmel. Ah but, ah but [scrabbles desperately for an excuse] um… Hitler liked people with blond hair, but _he_ had dark hair! Therefore, do as I say, not as I do!!! [Phew] ---
**Author:** ![Mac\_Guffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2bfe46/32.png) [@Mac\_Guffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac_Guffin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/17 "2003-06-05T15:07:37Z")
This thread makes the baby Adolph cry. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/18 "2003-06-05T16:04:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\*Gott in Himmel. \*\* Gott im Himmel A real German Grammar Nazi checking in.😃 ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/19 "2003-06-05T16:27:45Z")
Ach du lieber Gott. _shoots self in bunker_ ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2003, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195/20 "2003-06-05T18:58:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by moriah \* > \*\*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 \*\* Moriah, du bist ein Scheisskopf! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/grammar-meta-rant-ranting-does-not-make-you-a-nazi/179195.md?page=2)