This game is for WORD people

I'm playing Lexulous online (It's facebook scrabble) when this unfortunate message jumps out at me.

Says: "Some of your friend's do not have Lexulous : ("

That sad face should apply to more than just not having lexulous.

Should say: Some of your friends do not have Lexulous..."

Rule: 's shows possession. We don't need possession here. There are simply more than one friend- just add a simple s and you're golden.

Could, Woulda, Shoulda

Overheard on The Real Housewives of New York (yes, I was watching it)

Said: "Well, I woulda gone to the party, but..."

Should Have Said: "Well, I would have gone to the party..."

Rule: Coulda, woulda, shoulda. We all say these words sometimes, but we have to say them out. Could have, should have, would have. 

:

Duin pg 9, fall 2008 issue

Reads: Essentially they are the same thing to me; two groups...

Should read: same thing to me: two groups...

Rule: We need a colon here. Colons lead to expectations of what to follow, and with 'two groups' that is what we want here. 

Then vs. than

Duin, fall 2008 issue, page 7

Reads: ...but if you take up 10 minutes making a point than I'm basically paying $22 to listen to you.

Should read:...but if you take up 10 minutes making a point then I'm...

Rule: then vs. than. Working with words, page 45.

It's pretty self-explanatory

Duin, page 4. Fall 2008 issue.

( I guess now would be a good time to point out that I really love reading DUIN, so I'm certainly not trying to pick on them.)

Reads: Seems pretty self explanatory, doesn't it?

Should read: Seems pretty self-explanatory, doesn't it?

Rule: Ok, besides the fact that this sentence still isn't that great, self-explanatory is hyphened. self modifies explanatory. 

Easy Mistake

Duin fall 08 issue, page 32

Reads: "Intellectual manual skills".

Should read: "Intellectual manual skills."

Rule: Periods, and other grammar symbols, go INSIDE the quote, not out of it.

Facebook Offenders

Alright. So I'm reading over my friend Brittney's tv quotes, and she has one from 30 rock. Perfect, right?

Reads: "I want to go to their"

ouch. Their? You want to go to show possession? That doesn't make any sense.

It should read: "I want to go to there"

Rule: there is a place; a location. their shows possession. For the record, they're is a contraction meaning they are. 

Now I'm Hungry

pg 24, DUIN fall 2008 issue.

 

Says: "The Olmstead nachos; they may be lacking in meat, cheese, and tomato from time to time...

Should say: The Olmstead nachos (colon or em-dash) 

Rule: Semi-colons can only be used if both clauses are complete. 'The Olmstead nachos' isn't a complete thought. 

Complete sentence=success

Page 16, DUIN fall 2008 issue.

Sentence reads: Whether you want to piss on Herriott or try steal a security cart, you'll be able to do it without any fear of getting caught.

Should read: Whether you want to piss on Herriott or try TO steal a security cart,...

Rule: Um, steal needs a helping verb to make a complete sentence. Which is what I assume they are striving for. 

I love books.

They caught themselves, but it's worth pointing out anyway.

Check it out.

Rule: In this case, it's me,not I. Take out the other person, in this case, you, and see what sounds better. Grammar Book for me? Grammar book for I? ME. There's your answer.

Alright. I love my friends, but this has got to stop.

On facebook: Your such a great friend!!!

Problem: Your and You're mean two different things. Your shows possession. You're is a contraction for you are. TOTALLY different.

It should read: You're such a great friend!!!

Problem solved. and Thank you.

We Talk Good Down Here

This is just bad business.

Rule: We're talking about multiple reasons. We need to say there are, rather then there is, as we are talking about more than one thing.

Don't Get Overeager

Sign found on tables in Drake University dining hall.

It read: Napkins made with 100% Recycled Paper

It should read: Napkins made with 100% recycled paper.

Rule: We don't need to capitalize recycle or paper. Those words aren't proper nouns-so don't worry about capitalizing them. They just aren't important enough. 

Comma Comma Everywhere

Sign found in Hubbell Dining hall, on all the tables.

"Don't wait for people to be kind show them how."

Should be: Don't wait for people to be kind, show them how.

Rule: We need a comma to break up separate clauses. Think: two separate thoughts.

This is Unfortunate

Uh-oh. An editor clearly didn't need to pass a sensitivity test to get the job. 

http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=48777796451&h=c0zir&u=2HZPy

Check it out.

Rule Broken: Just good old-fashion common sense.

This is Erin''s print editing blog for J70.