No wonder the English Language is going to hell [b]Astroboy[/b].

[matt_mcl]

*Originally posted by The Ryan *
**Matt, the fact that the second syllable is longer makes me think that more emphasis is being placed on it. Of course, that’s just my opinion. But I’m sure you’ll agree that they do in fact have distinct pronunciations. **

Oh, certainly, they have different pronunciations - the noun ends with a voiceless consonant, the verb with a voiced one. I’m just not certain that can really be described as emphasis, is all.

[Largo62]

*Originally posted by chula *
**Astroboy, this Pit thread should have been shut down when DesertGeezer started gushing about how wonderful you are. The Mods really ought to crack down on that sort of thing. **

Hey! I’m a geezer. Getting a little soft in my old age. What do you want from me?

The fact is, I probably rant about nearly everything at one time or another and I’m very often wrong. (Riboflavin, if you’re lurking in here, I never said that!:p) I have accepted Astroboy as a truly fine human being. Now I’m just enjoying the raging of all the rest of you. This pit stuff is really cool. Er…I mean…conversing intensely in what is commonly called the Barbecue Pit is highly agreeable. (Cough!)
“Hello, I must be going.” --Groucho Marx

[happyheathen]

*Originally posted by Dijon Warlock *
**I’m not as popular as Fenris.

Just thought I’d mention that. **

Thank you for sharing your (relatively insignificant) thoughts.

:rolleyes:

[Flamsterette_X]

*Originally posted by Merhouse *
**For extra credit:

Accept/Except

I accept the fact that I’m pretty good at word usage except for affect and effect (and thank you for not asking that :))
**

Hey, I’m another person checking in here with my knowledge of grammar and word usage. It’s not exactly stellar, but it’ll do for this thread.

According to my copy of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary,

Affect is a verb meaning “have an influence on:”: Alcohol affects drivers’ concentration. Effect is a noun meaning “result of influence”: *[Alcohol as a very bad effect on drivers./i] It is also a (formal) verb meaning “accomplish”: They effected their escape in the middle of the night.

Hope that helps! I am not a pedant, and there is a difference between formal English and colloquial English! Astroboy doesn’t need to use formal English in his posts at all! Just because he chooses to use colloquial English does NOT mean that he is mangling the English languge!

[Tansu]

*Originally posted by happyheathen *

Originally posted by matt_mcl**
And why should I take your word over that of the dictionaries?**

**Umm…

because I’m right, and they’re wrong? **

I laughed so hard I nearly shat.

[SPOOFE]

My Zen is running at 100% capacity, Mr. Heathen (actually, 110%… I had it overclocked). My Chi needs some fine-tuning, though.

But yer still a pretentious ass. (Note that “yer” is a slang way of writing “you are”. Now, what grammatical benefits can be had from using such colorful methods of writing?)

[Largo62]

*Originally posted by Tansu *
**I laughed so hard I nearly shat. **

I wonder if creating the past tense (shit/shat, spit/spat) could be extended to a sentense like this: "Ten years ago these trousers fit, but I’ve lost weight, and last night when I tried them on they fat.

Just wondering.

[happyheathen]

*Originally posted by SPOOFE *
**My Zen is running at 100% capacity, Mr. Heathen (actually, 110%… I had it overclocked). My Chi needs some fine-tuning, though.

But yer still a pretentious ass. (Note that “yer” is a slang way of writing “you are”. Now, what grammatical benefits can be had from using such colorful methods of writing?) **

As you are the one using them, I was hoping you could inform us.

and, Flamsterette_X - absolutely correct on affect/effect. Thank you - was beginning to worry about this group.
‘Overclocked Zen’ - a BRAND, SHINEY NEW oxymoron

[sub]just what we all need[/sub]

[Largo62]

Oops! Left off a final " in my last post. And I forgot to flame, so here goes…you’re all a bunch of ignorant morons (except Astroboy, I like him now, and happyheathenYou da man!..Or is it WOman? Your profile doesn’t say).

[Flamsterette_X]

*Originally posted by happyheathen *
and, Flamsterette_X - absolutely correct on affect/effect. Thank you - was beginning to worry about this group.

happyheathen, I did get it from the dictionary, and so far that method has never steered me TOO wrong! You’re welcome though… isn’t that what fighting ignorance is all about?

[heresiarch]

Flamsterette_X already gave us the dope on affect / effect, but I’m gonna get a little pedantic and add a footnote.

‘Effect’ has a verb homonym that means, “to cause to come into being.”
This aspirin should effect a cure for your headache.

And ‘affect’ has a noun homonym that has something to do with display of feelings.
One of the symptoms of schizoid personality disorder is lack of affect.

These homonyms aren’t commonly used, so they don’t cause many problems. I’m only bringing it up because I got burned on a test once by being to quick to apply the “affect=verb, effect=noun” rule.

Ain’t English great?

[Flamsterette_X]

*Originally posted by heresiarch *
**Flamsterette_X already gave us the dope on affect / effect, but I’m gonna get a little pedantic and add a footnote.

‘Effect’ has a verb homonym that means, “to cause to come into being.”
This aspirin should effect a cure for your headache.

And ‘affect’ has a noun homonym that has something to do with display of feelings.
One of the symptoms of schizoid personality disorder is lack of affect.

These homonyms aren’t commonly used, so they don’t cause many problems. I’m only bringing it up because I got burned on a test once by being to quick to apply the “affect=verb, effect=noun” rule.

Ain’t English great? **

I saw those in the dictionary too (and knew about them beforehand), but I figured that would be a little too much for this thread. Thanks for posting the additional uses of “affect/effect” up for our edification!