# Improving your English is both easy and fun! (mild rant at native English speakers) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161 "2003-08-19T07:21:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/1 "2003-08-19T07:21:45Z")
People! Either buy a dictionary or quit using words you don’t know how to spell. Sadly, this extends to the SDMB. In the past month, I’ve seen: 1)“bonified”. It’s **bona fide**. It comes from Latin. IANA Latin scholar, nor have I ever even taken a Latin class, but I know how to spell this simple phrase. 2)“for all intensive purposes”. What is this even supposed to mean? “Intensive purposes”? Perhaps if one paid attention to the actual words coming out of one’s mouth/pen/fingers, then one would realize how nonsensical it is. By the way, it’s **“for all intents and purposes”**. 3)“pre-Madonna”. This perhaps bugs me most of all. Reading the phrase makes it appear to be an adjective–“the pre-Madonna phase, when she was known as Baby Ciccone”. The actual phrase, **prima donna** , is a noun (well, a noun with a qualifying adjective), and people want to use “pre-Madonna” as a noun as well: “I told her that her uppity behavior made her look like a pre-Madonna”. What? Also, please don’t be angry with the person kind/brave enough to correct you. Weer abowt despelling ignor ants, yawl! By the way, I wrote this to sound angrier than I really am. This is my first pit thread, so I had to toughen up! Grrrrrr! Feel free to attack my spelling, grammar, personality, dumb posts, etc. Rawr! ---
**Author:** ![Icebrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecb155/32.png) [@Icebrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icebrand)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/2 "2003-08-19T07:38:20Z")
That wasn’t really angry enough… plus, I think all three of these have been bashed in this very forum on this very week. But I’m a noob, so it’s not like I’m right or anything. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/3 "2003-08-19T07:43:38Z")
Not angry enough, eh? I can’t believe these fucking asshats have already covered the fucking shit I was writing my goddamned post about! Fucking fucktards. How’s that, **Icebrand**? There’s a reason I don’t hang around too often in the Pit… ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/4 "2003-08-19T07:46:30Z")
You are absolutely correct, **Lisa**. Signed: a fellow language Nazi. (That _is_ what some people here will call you…that or “grammar Nazi”). But never mind _them_. They are merely jealous of your facility with the greatest of languages. You see, I am inviting a pitting of my own here by those who think I’m denegrating other languages. I know, of course that other languages, like, for example, Spanish and Italian, are more musical. But English has by far the largest vocabulary, ergo the widest means of expression. Be warned, however, that you will never win one of these arguments, either in the Pit or anywhere else. I’m just sayin’. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Icebrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecb155/32.png) [@Icebrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icebrand)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/5 "2003-08-19T07:47:05Z")
No, it’s still redundant, just on a different level. Plus, you forgot the word about the goats. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/6 "2003-08-19T07:51:31Z")
Welcome aboards, **Icebrand**. Bash away, **Lisa-go-Blind**. Those transgressions are enough to make Webster twirl in his grave. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/7 "2003-08-19T07:54:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertGeezer \* > \*\*Be warned, however, that you will never win one of these arguments, either in the Pit or anywhere else. I’m just sayin’. 😉 \*\* Yeah, I learned that from when I discovered snopes a couple of years ago. Cries of “that’s an untrue urban legend!” were met with confusion and bullishness. “No it’s not! My friend’s uncle knew Lemonjello!” or “My preacher said that the Disney Corporation is evil and is infecting the minds of children!”. And then I had no friends. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/8 "2003-08-19T07:54:04Z")
You forgot “should of”, “would of”, and “could of”. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/9 "2003-08-19T08:27:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aesiron \* > \*\*You forgot “should of”, “would of”, and “could of”. \*\* Oh, the PAIN! And I have to go to bed on that. Thanks a lot!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/10 "2003-08-19T11:14:20Z")
> [@](#): > > )“for all intensive purposes”. What is this even supposed to mean? “Intensive purposes”? Perhaps if one paid attention to the actual words coming out of one’s mouth/pen/fingers, then one would realize how nonsensical it is. By the way, it’s “for all intents and purposes”. Phrases like this MIGHT be the result of speaking software…though I’m not very familiar with it. Then again, it might be that you’re correct, and it’s just ignorance popping up. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/11 "2003-08-19T11:23:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DesertGeezer \* > **denegrating** **Gaudere** , take this man out and have him shot. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/12 "2003-08-19T11:42:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lisa-go-Blind \* > **3)“pre-Madonna”.** [curls in corner crying] People actually wrtie this? I wouldn’t have had the faintest idea what they were blathering about. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/13 "2003-08-19T11:43:14Z")
Oh yeah? Well, who aksed youse guys anyways? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/14 "2003-08-19T11:51:28Z")
Pre-Madonna? :eek: I’ve never seen that one before! ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/15 "2003-08-19T11:58:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > Pre-Madonna? :eek: I’ve never seen that one before! Me neither, and I hope I never do. But if I hear “fine toothcomb” one more time someone’s going to get their fine teeth punched down their throat. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/16 "2003-08-19T12:19:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\ ***Gaudere** , take this man out and have him shot. \*\* Damn! Beat me to it! On the other hand, maybe “denegrate” is derived from the Latin, and means “to remove a black mark or stain.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/17 "2003-08-19T12:26:24Z")
HEY!!! While we’re at it – It’s **ATHEIST**. A = “not” THE = “god” IST = “believer” There is no such thing as an “athiest” (which looks like some kind of superlative: athy, athier, athiest). I haven’t actually caught anyone who claims to BE one using this atrocious spelling, but the day will come. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/18 "2003-08-19T13:32:48Z")
How about “taking something for granite”? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/19 "2003-08-19T13:42:31Z")
Oralisms. People who have learned words and phrases from hearing instead of reading them. You might as well learn to enjoy them. Unless movies and television and radio go away they’ll never stop coming. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/20 "2003-08-19T13:45:37Z")
Oh thank god you started this thread, **Lisa**! There’s one I see often on the board, but didn’t want to either correct the person in the thread (because it had nothing to do with the topic), nor did I want to start a rant of my own. It’s a **moot** point. Not a _mute_ point! **MOOT!** Ahhh, I feel better now, thanks! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161.md?page=2)