I got in a dispute with a Facebook friend. She posted a picture that read* “Grammar: The difference between feeling your nuts feeling you’re nuts”. I commented back snarkily, “that’s not grammar, it’s spelling”.
Now, I know it’s not so much a matter of spelling as using the right word, or maybe even using the right punctuation. But it got me thinking:
Is the particular example given here (“feeling your nuts” vs. “feeling you’re nuts”) an example of poor grammar, variation in grammar, or anything related to grammar?
Is spelling a subset of grammar, or something else entirely? (A google search returned lots of hits for “Spelling and grammar”, implying they’re different concepts. But you know how rigorous that experiment was.)
*Why O why do people post pictures of text?? As a network engineer, the wasted bandwidth is terrifying to me. Also, isn’t copying and pasting a lot easier than “sharing” or whatever? /rant
Yes, grammar includes parts of speech. The difference between your and you are would be included. However, grammar is far more than that. It encompasses the entirety of the structure of a language and how the various parts interrelate.
Spelling is not itself grammar. Neither is punctuation. Or usage.
In this case it’s what we call a “usage error.” In this case, the word “your” is spelled perfectly correctly, but the incorrect homophone was used. I have heard various opinions about whether or not “usage” is a subset of grammar or a different beast entirely, I’m not sure if there’s a consensus.
Dude, at least listen to yourself if to no one else. You say you’re self-banned. Act that way. Stop posting and take some time off. Get help if you need it. Do not self-flagellate.
Jragon, whatever issues you have, GQ is not the place to express them. If you can’t refrain from comments like this, it’s best you ask to be put on posting sabbatical. Please contact an administrator.
