"be" " was" were"

[Japher]

"also famous too" sound stupid

[Provost Harrison]

Yes, there is an element of redundancy there...

[Japher]

there an element of redundancy is!

[Provost Harrison]

I see you are channelling Yoda

[Elok]

Originally posted by Geronimo
in fact careful ambiguity could even create amusing double meanings in the writers creation.

Yes, but there's no such careful ambiguity here, is there? I don't think anyone's suggesting that non-grammatically-correct lyrics should be against the law or anything daft like that. But I, at least, reserve the right to point out that bad grammar for no reason makes you sound like a dumb, poorly-educated tool.

Bad grammar can be used in an artistic way; for example, the numerous dialects used in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But this is not Mark Twain, or anyone with such a gift. It's not even Amiri Baraka. It's just a kid speaking an uneducated dialect. In cases where awkward language is used for any reason other than the speaker's inability to do otherwise, I agree with you.

[Provost Harrison]

I think Elok has a pretty good idea of what this particular artist is like

[Barnabas]

At 2:40 the reviewer says


Does the fairy tale elements really exist?

shouldnt it be do the fairy tale elements really exist?

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Elok


Yes, but there's no such careful ambiguity here, is there? I don't think anyone's suggesting that non-grammatically-correct lyrics should be against the law or anything daft like that. But I, at least, reserve the right to point out that bad grammar for no reason makes you sound like a dumb, poorly-educated tool.

Bad grammar can be used in an artistic way; for example, the numerous dialects used in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But this is not Mark Twain, or anyone with such a gift. It's not even Amiri Baraka. It's just a kid speaking an uneducated dialect. In cases where awkward language is used for any reason other than the speaker's inability to do otherwise, I agree with you.

So you're saying strict adherence to grammar rules is important when people are ignorant about it but isn't important for those who have thoroughly memorized it?

It seems that grammar is only considered important for the following reasons:

1. It is possible for unintended ambiguity to be created through lack of adherence to grammar.

2. People find grammar rules important because they have convinced themselves that use of non standard grammar means the offending individual must be ignorant and usage of standard grammr will make them less ignorant and therefore more valuable as individuals.

I accept reason 1 as important in the broad sense that a communicator should use any tools at their disposal to reduce unintended ambiguity and careful use of grammar can remove such ambiguity in some circumstances.

However reason number 2 seems about as useful for defending adherence to the rules of standard grammar as an assertion that students in uniform look more intelligent than students allowed to dress as they please would be in defending the implementation of school dress codes.

Obviously I don't think a valid case has been made that use of non standard grammar or even ignorance of standard grammar is useful for measuring an individuals ignorance of any other knowledge.

[Geronimo]

Originally posted by Provost Harrison
I think Elok has a pretty good idea of what this particular artist is like

Certainly. But how does that support the notion that it's important to avoid usage of non standard grammar?