# Me Being A Picky Grammar Turd. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 2, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664 "2001-08-02T16:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/1 "2001-08-02T16:52:45Z")
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] ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/2 "2001-08-02T17:00:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/3 "2001-08-02T17:04:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by woodstockbirdybird \* > \*\*Hey **Batty** , you used “whom” in your very first sentence, ya hypocrite! \*\* Yes – but I used it correctly. 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. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/4 "2001-08-02T17:10:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/5 "2001-08-02T17:54:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > > She is on the phone and says, \*\*“Yes, to whom am I speaking to?” \*\* The correct grammar is “Yes, to whom am I speaking at?” Of course, it could have been a conference call, and she was really saying “Yes, to whom am I speaking, too?” ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/6 "2001-08-02T17:59:07Z")
As a grammar turd, you would have enjoyed the conversation I overheard a couple years ago, which concerned the defecation of the American flag. ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/7 "2001-08-02T18:12:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > She is on the phone and says, “Yes, **to** whom am I speaking **to**?” Does she, by any chance, work in the Department of Redundancy Department? 😃 [sup]IMO, the proper phrase would have been “Yes, to whom am I speaking?”[/sup] ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/8 "2001-08-02T20:40:00Z")
\ Yes, is this the party to whom I am speaking? \ ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/9 "2001-08-02T20:46:13Z")
In the Paul McCartney (or is it Wings?) song, “Live and Let Die,” I think Paul sings something along the lines of: _And in this crazy world in which we live in…_ I keep hoping that’s not it and he’s really singing, “And in this crazy world in which we’re living.” Can anyone clear this up for me? ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/10 "2001-08-02T20:51:32Z")
Then there are those people who talk about going to the ATM _machine_ at 8 AM _in the morning_… ---
**Author:** ![sk8rixtx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@sk8rixtx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sk8rixtx)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/11 "2001-08-02T20:53:05Z")
I’ll agree with you Jack. I also hate it when people use the word “basically” to try to sound intelligent. Me: So if I press this button, it wont void the last item I rang up? CDH: Um… basically, no. Which is it, “basically” or “no”? And I love the “um” that really helps to sound smart. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/12 "2001-08-02T21:02:58Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2001, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/13 "2001-08-02T23:55:37Z")
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?” ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/14 "2001-08-03T00:03:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FireUnderpantsBoobs \* > \*\*In the Paul McCartney (or is it Wings?) song, “Live and Let Die,” I think Paul sings something along the lines of: > > _And in this crazy world in which we live in…_ > > I keep hoping that’s not it and he’s really singing, “And in this crazy world in which we’re living.” > > Can anyone clear this up for me? \*\* 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.” ---
**Author:** ![Sui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Sui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sui)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/15 "2001-08-03T00:09:33Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/16 "2001-08-03T01:34:15Z")
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](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=80275) thread, once again assuring my title as biggest Attention Whore on the Boards. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/17 "2001-08-03T01:54:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\*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 made the mistake of asking chatting with an english major once. She mentioned her major, and how she loved it so much, so my dumb ass asked: “Oh? Where do you go to school at?” Her reply: “Behind the at.” I didn’t get it. I asked what the “at” was, thinking it was an abbreviation of some building or center of some kind. _slaps himself in the head_ Needless to say, she treated me like an idiot from then on out. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/18 "2001-08-03T02:54:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*…I think I’ll do a little cross-reference and inclue Jack Batty and the Picky Grammar Turds over in the [Band Name](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=80275) thread, once again assuring my title as biggest Attention Whore on the Boards. \*\* One of these days you and I are going to have to have a showdown and settle this once and for all. ---
**Author:** ![nineiron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e56c9b/32.png) [@nineiron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nineiron)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/19 "2001-08-03T04:07:37Z")
If we **really** wanted to be picky, we could point out that the title of the thread should read “ **My** Being a Picky Grammar Turd,” but we wouldn’t do that. 😉 I love it when my students (when we study grammar) say things like, “‘Whom’ doesn’t sound right.” ---
**Author:** ![Syzygy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Syzygy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syzygy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2001, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664/20 "2001-08-03T15:05:39Z")
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. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/me-being-a-picky-grammar-turd/74664.md?page=2)