# I need a Nazi! A grammar Nazi.... ;) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968 "2011-06-01T15:39:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lukeinva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lukeinva/32/17872_2.png) [@Lukeinva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lukeinva)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/41 "2011-06-02T19:20:53Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > Style is primarily punctuation. It has no effect on content or how words link together. The following two sentences are grammatically identical, but stylistically disparate: > > Walter finally returned my CDs, both of which had been scratched. Though he said, “I’m really sorry about that,” I knew he was lying. > > Walter finally returned my CD’s – both of which had been scratched. Though he said “I’m really sorry about that”, I knew he was lying. Walter is a cad. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/42 "2011-06-02T19:57:22Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > A similar case, although not one with plural confusion : Which is correct — GAASFET, GAAS FET, or GaAs FET? “GaAs FET”. Gallium-arsenide field-effect transistor. “Ga” and “As” are the chemical symbols for gallium and arsenic, respectively, not abbreviations. FET is a regular abbreviation for “field-effect transistor”. [sub]Not only am I a style stickler, I took electronics too![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/43 "2011-06-02T21:18:22Z")
> [@panamajack](#): > > A similar case, although not one with plural confusion : Which is correct — GAASFET, GAAS FET, or GaAs FET? GaAs FET is Boba Fett’s annoying little nephew. He messed with capitalization because he thinks it makes him look cool. His sister MOSFET just squished her whole name together. It was actually their father, who started the whole thing when he formally changed his name from Jay Fett to JFET (I think he was inspired by J-LO). He likes to call his wife CNTFET, but that usually gets him slapped. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/44 "2011-06-02T21:23:46Z")
> [@Polerius](#): > > Question for the grammar/style nazis: Where does grammar end and style begin? (since people have said that the question in the OP is a matter of style and not grammar) [Apostrophe Nazi] Grammar is style that I tell you is correct. [/Apostrophe Nazi] **Malacandra** I am so embarrassed. To atone for my mistake I will have to have you taken out and shot. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/45 "2011-06-02T22:41:39Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > [Apostrophe Nazi] Grammar is style that I tell you is correct. [/Apostrophe Nazi] > > **Malacandra** I am so embarrassed. To atone for my mistake I will have to have you taken out and shot. Unnecessary. I am a good Nazi and it will be enough for you to show me into a private room where there is a brandy snifter and a loaded Luger. Make sure it is good brandy, please. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/46 "2011-06-03T00:56:15Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > As an aside - “dos and don’ts” is correct in my world, but I think that throws some people into a tizzy. You must have got a lot of as in school. At least in English class. Maybe you got bs and cs in History and Science. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/47 "2011-06-03T06:29:21Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > You must have got a lot of as in school. > > At least in English class. Maybe you got bs and cs in History and Science. I’d write that as As Bs and Cs. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/48 "2011-06-03T10:48:24Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > I’d write that as As Bs and Cs. I got As in Science and BS in History. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/49 "2011-06-03T13:09:14Z")
I call BS! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2011, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/50 "2011-06-03T22:05:39Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > This also is a matter of style, and though unusual it’s perfectly valid to use _PMs’s_ and _prime ministers’s_, if you adopt that consistently. Many threads have discussed it; a summary can be found in the [Unofficial FAQ](http://www.seiglefamily.com/gqfaq.html#apostrophe). In my opinion, only if you say it that way, too. The reason for moving the apostrophe at the end is to show that you left out a sound. Also, it would be _a_s, _b_s, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/51 "2011-06-04T00:39:23Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Only on the Dope…! 😃 ¿Büt why woüld Ü not have any Ümlaúts for yoür Üs? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/52 "2011-06-04T00:56:38Z")
Üsüࣣ¥ th饒rê ࣣ iñ üsé ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/53 "2011-06-04T05:20:34Z")
Mÿ Ǚmlaǚts gṏ ṳp tṏ ëḮęvēň. ---
**Author:** ![wintertime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c68b51/32.png) [@wintertime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wintertime)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968/54 "2011-06-04T09:24:23Z")
An umlaut makes “u” smile and “o” laugh; who doesn’t like letters that look at you so friendly? Trivia: the term “Umlaut” was coined by [Jacob Grimm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Grimm) - one half of the brotherly team that collected the well-known fairy tales. It always looks weird to me to see the plural as umlaut **s** in English, but it makes sense, of course: “Umlaut **e** ” would add another irregular plural. And **Malacandra** , well played. > [@](#): > > “O the hoot! O the hoot! > How he trillups on his flute! > O the hoot of Tinfang Warble! > Dancing all alone, > Hopping on a stone, > Flitting like a fawn, > In the twilight on the lawn, > And his name is Tinfang Warble! > The first star has shown > And its lamp is blown > to a flame of flickering blue. > He pipes not to me, > He pipes not to thee, > He whistles for none of you. > His music is his own, > The tunes of Tinfang Warble!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-nazi-a-grammar-nazi/583968.md?page=2)