Comments on: Big Grammatical Blunders: What’s Yours?

By: Laura

Laura — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:22:35 +0000

Just thought I’d respond to the “lay/lie” comment. Lay is a transitive verb; this means it needs a direct object to be correct. So “lay my body down” is correct because “body” is the object. “Lie” is an intransitive verb; this means it does not need a direct object. So “I will lie down” is correct too. The confusion comes because the word “lay” is ALSO the past tense of “lie” so it can be used as an intransitive verb here – as in “I lay down yesterday.”

Isn’t grammar fun?

By: Jenn Escalona

Jenn Escalona — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:42:14 +0000

The thing I always have to look twice at is “your” and “you’re.” I know the rule and yet I’m still always in fear of getting it wrong. (And I do get it wrong often enough that that is a valid fear!)

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 09:33:02 +0000

I recently wrote about apostrophes turning up in plural words – I knew it made my blood boil, but it’s proven to be a very contentious issue.

I often hear Canadians say “minds well” instead of “might as well”.

*Deep breath*

By: Texas Susan

Texas Susan — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:56:13 +0000

Here in south Texas, people say they’re “fixin’ to” do things. After 25 years living here (out of 55), I say that, too! They also say they’re “waiting on,” instead of “waiting for.” I’ve even seen headlines in the “Houston Chronicle” that use “waiting on!” That bugs me!

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By: Alisa Bowman

Alisa Bowman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:59:17 +0000

Okay, first my blunders, then some notes of the PA Dutch. (And yes, that is an incomplete sentence.)

Thanks for clearing up the “towards” thing, because I think I do that wrong. I also have trouble with lay and lie, especially when I’m talking about my own body position. “I lay myself down” doesn’t sound right and neither does “I lie down.” Help?

Someone cleared up “important” vs “importantly” for me many years ago, but so many people write “most importantly” that I’m still not sure writing “most important” is truly correct. Yes? No?

And I have a hard time saying “I am well” when people ask me how I’m doing, so lately I’ve just responded, “Fantastic!” There, when in doubt, write (in this case talk) around the issue!

Re the PA Dutch (another incomplete sentence). I moved to Emmaus PA many years ago and was struck by how differently people talk. When the weather forecast is for snow, they will say, “They want snow tomorrow.” Who is they? And they really want snow?

There’s also “leave him go” instead of “let.” And the word “yet” gets tossed into all sorts of sentences in unusual places, yet. Like that. I think? I’m not a native so…

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I don’t think these small grammatical issues are all that important. As long as people can figure out what we’re saying and as long as the message gets across, that’s what’s most important. For the rest? There are good copy editors.

By: Jean Murray

Jean Murray — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:35 +0000

I’m sure I don’t have a grammatical thing (I was an English teacher and taught grammar to court reporters):-)
My pet peeve is people who use “it’s” for “its” as in: “The puppy played with it’s toys.”

By: Allison

Allison — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:17:59 +0000

Maybe a Pennsylvania thing, because I’ve def heard people say that. That’s something I can hear as wrong, but I hear it all the time.

By: Debbi

Debbi — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 02:02:53 +0000

I knew someone once from Pittsburgh–a well-read, intelligent person–who always said that something “needed fixed” when it “need to be fixed.” She’d say, “My car needs washed.” I’d say, “You mean needs to be washed.” She insisted she was right.

Is that a Pittsburgh thing I wonder? I’ve never heard anyone else say it.