I just put an entry in my Live Journal about how I don’t really like where I work and that I actually hold the people with whom I work in contempt.
This is for several reasons - mostly just because I’m a depressive pessimistic douche-bag, but that’s neither here nor there. A valid reason for why I hold some people in contempt is that they try to sound either more important or more intelligent than they actually are. And, for the most part they exude insincerity.
But don’t let me get off on a rant – what I really wanted to share (and the above was just a preface) was something I just overheard from one of the assistants in my row of cubes –
She is on the phone and says, **“Yes, to whom am I speaking to?” **
Yep. Make sure you get the word “whom” in that sentence and everyone will think you’re smart.
[sub]Now I fully expect a torrent of responses pointing out my grammar and punctuation errors … bring it on[/sub]
Hey Batty, you used “whom” in your very first sentence, ya hypocrite! Also, I don’t think douchebag is hyphenated.
Seriously, though, I feel your pain. I have to bite my tongue at work all the time, lest I unleash a violent torrent of invective directed at the more grammatically-challenged among my peers (which would account for about 95% of my co-workers). Hope that didn’t sound too pretentious.
At first, I wrote “… I hold the people I work with …” then I figured I would get bagged ending a clause with a preposition. And we all know how painful that can be.
Oh, I know, I was just messin’ wit’ you.
Maybe you should give her the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps she meant “To whom am I speaking two”, like it was a sequel to her previous question or something. Yeah, that must be it.
So what is da big deal of what you are speakin’? Do you know what I’m sayin’ here? I mean, jeez. So dis chick is fond of preposterositions. I personally am fond of injunctives.
Old joke which I’ve posted before, but I like it enough to post it here…
Student: “Can you please tell me where the library is at?” Pompous Old Professor: “I will tell you, m’boy, when you learn not to end a sentence with a preposition.” Student: “Okay. Can you please tell me where the library is at, arsehole?”
I do the same thing, FUB. In fact, I’ll even sing along using the proper grammar. Unfortunatly, Sir Paul seems to have screwed the pooch on this one. Every lyrics search I’ve done have shown that he wrote them as “this ever-changing world in which we live in.”
I feel that. Ugh, it drives me insane to read posts at some message boards I’ve seen. Erk. I’m not much of a grammar freak (heck, I don’t think I’ve ever spoken “whom” aloud), but somebody’s keyboard must be broken. They’re making a paragraph into a single sentence.
Can I put “Jack Batty is a Picky Grammar Turd” in my sig?
Normally I’m nothing close to a picky grammar turd, especially as it relates to a message board. I tend to talk to myself in my head as I type, and just as often I get “Then” when I mean “Than”, “Your” when I mean “You’re”, and I throw apostrophies around like they’re candy at Mardi Gras.
But I have a chip on my shoulder for this person in particular. I just don’t like her, and the fact that she flaunts her ignorance at every turn just makes me want to hate her more.
However, what I really came back in here to say is this: Sui you may certainly put that in your sig if you wish, not only that, but I think I’ll do a little cross-reference and inclue Jack Batty and the Picky Grammar Turds over in the Band Name thread, once again assuring my title as biggest Attention Whore on the Boards.
Maybe I should start another thread, but here goes:
Is mispronunciation considered bad grammar? I was in a class during a lecture by an executive from a nuclear power plant, and he continually pronounced it as “nuke-yoo-lar”. We were all laughing.
Our receptionist is always “axing” us questions, as well as pronouncing by boss David’s name as “Davit”.
In the fall, I expect to hear people saying, “Look at all the beautiful folage!” There is an “I” in that word.
Also, “jool-er-ee”, “comf-ter-bull”, “ek-cetera”.
Maybe I’m a Picky Pronunciation Turd. Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
