# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/21 "2003-08-19T13:48:32Z")
_Bias_ is a noun, not an adjective. The adjective is _biased_. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/22 "2003-08-19T14:30:58Z")
But ‘has’ much ‘has’ you think so, not all native English speakers are this stupid about grammar and spelling. Now, I can cut loose with some Pittsburghese when I’m just goofing around, and that makes a lot of the ‘mistakes’ look just beautiful by comparison, but did you really need to lump all native English speakers into your rant? Why not specify that you meant to rant at people who speak English poorly and have no excuse? ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/23 "2003-08-19T14:44:31Z")
When you rise at dawn, choose your weapon etc. you’re taking part in a duel. NOT dual. They’re rather ignorant about their grammar over there. Innocuous means harmless not harmful. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/24 "2003-08-19T14:50:07Z")
Much like Shade, I didn’t need to know that somewhere, someone has actually typed the words ‘pre-Madonna’ in lieu of prima donna. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/25 "2003-08-19T14:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Libertarian \* > \*\*Pre-Madonna? :eek: I’ve never seen that one before! \*\* Really? I’ve seen it a hundred times on this board alone. Take a look at a few random threads and Walla! you’ll see it, even if your butt naked. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/26 "2003-08-19T15:02:55Z")
It’s “its” not “it’s” if one writes of something belonging to “it”. Only an utter MORON could fail to know this. Likewise, plurals in English are usually formed WITHOUT using an apostrophe. Egregious apostrophism ought to be grounds for mandatory sterilization with a rusty spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/27 "2003-08-19T15:38:15Z")
I am not a native speaker and I still fail to see how somebody can’t understand the difference between it’s and its, where and were, there and their. I keep correcting my British friend all the time. I am starting to feel bad, as if I had no right to do so. So much for the Queen’s English. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/28 "2003-08-19T15:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lisa-go-Blind \* > **3)"pre-Madonna"** Has NO ONE seen _Phantom_?! _~Prima donna / first lady of the stage / your devotees / are on their knees to implore you…~_ ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/29 "2003-08-19T16:42:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BiblioCat \* > How about “taking something for granite”? I marble at those who make this error, but I take comfort in the knowledge that they shale regret it eventually. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/30 "2003-08-19T16:46:46Z")
Pre-Madonna–when Jesus was just a twinkle in his Father’s eye. ---
**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, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/31 "2003-08-19T16:58:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balance \* > \*\*I marble at those who make this error, but I take comfort in the knowledge that they shale regret it eventually. 😉 \*\* You’ve certainly left no limestone unturned. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/32 "2003-08-19T17:15:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aesiron \* > \*\*You forgot “should of”, “would of”, and “could of”. \*\* \ No one ever explains this gripe. Would “would have,” “could have,” and “should have” be acceptable to the complainers, or is there some sort of deeper problem? ---
**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, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/33 "2003-08-19T17:15:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by catsix \* > \*\*But ‘has’ much ‘has’ you think so, not all native English speakers are this stupid about grammar and spelling. > > Now, I can cut loose with some Pittsburghese when I’m just goofing around, and that makes a lot of the ‘mistakes’ look just beautiful by comparison, but did you really need to lump all native English speakers into your rant? > > Why not specify that you meant to rant at people who speak English poorly and have no excuse? \*\* I didn’t mean to pick on all native English speakers. I meant to pick on all native English speakers who make these mistakes, as opposed to those who make these mistakes but learned English as a foreign language. Although, as **Mighty\_Girl** proves, some non-native speakers have a better grasp on the English language than those born speaking it. On a similar note, writing (sp?) after a word grates on my nerves. If you’re uncertain about the spelling, either take the ten seconds to look it up or leave it misspelled and just not draw attention to it! You can say it was just a typo! Unless it’s something that cannot be verified quickly (such as the spelling of a friend’s unusual last name), it looks lazy and weakens your argument. ---
**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, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/34 "2003-08-19T17:21:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elfkin477 \* > \*\*\ > No one ever explains this gripe. Would “would have,” “could have,” and “should have” be acceptable to the complainers, or is there some sort of deeper problem? \*\* \ “Should of” is not correct. The correct forms are “should have” and “should’ve”. “Should of” is similar to my three mistakes mentioned in the OP in that it sounds similar to the correct term–“should’ve” (short for “should have”)–but itself is not a correct term. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/35 "2003-08-19T17:37:22Z")
Pre-Madonna? Bwhaahaa… a preemptive strike on making the baby Jesus cry. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/36 "2003-08-19T17:45:58Z")
“pre-Madonna”??!! The world can be divided into two epochs: P.M. (pre-Madonna) and A.D. (anno dominatricis.) The dividing line is the release of “Like a Virgin” on video. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/37 "2003-08-19T18:00:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tdn \* > **Take a look at a few random threads and Walla! you’ll see it.** **tdn** beat me to this one that really bugs me! Either “walla” or “viola”, both drive me batty. Another one I see a lot is to “segway” between topics. Ugh. And last but not least…over the last month or so, I’ve seen a remarkable rise in an endless string of variations of ludicrous. Among the more popular are “ludachris”, “ludacris” (been watching too much MTV?), and “ludacrist”. Whew, thanks for the opportunity to vent, **Lisa**! Now I can go back to my non-SDMB boards without snapping. 🆒 ---
**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, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/38 "2003-08-19T18:11:41Z")
* * * ## Originally posted by DesertGeezer **denegrating** > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jjimm \* > \*\ ***Gaudere** , take this man out and have him shot. \*\* Aaaaargh! :smack: I _ **knew** _ I would make a spelling misteak! It always happens when I am preaching linguistic perfection to others. I hate myself! No. No blindfold, sir. Just let me finish my cigarette (the first in over eighteen years) and I’ll be ready to take the blunt of your righteous rage. After all, when your right, your right. There’s nothing left for me. BE WITH YA IN A MINUTE, MOMMY! ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/39 "2003-08-19T18:27:31Z")
And let’s not forget the ignorant morons who write that they “loose” their minds, “loose” an argument, etc. I have to admit, though, that, while I am perfectly aware of the difference between “its” and “it’s,” I have been known to get them confused when typing too fast. Ditto with “their” and “they’re.” But I really do know the correct usage, I swear… Barry ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161/40 "2003-08-19T18:37:05Z")
People, people, people, It’s very simple. **Lead** , pronounced with a short e sound, is a soft metal. Now, repeat after me: Today I lead, yesterday I **led** , I have **led**. And if it shows up wrong in my newspaper again this week, I’m going to circle it with a big red pen and send it back to them. COD if possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/improving-your-english-is-both-easy-and-fun-mild-rant-at-native-english-speakers/196161.md?page=3)