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Discussion Groups / English Usage / November 2008"Lost for Words" by John Humphrys
I’m currently reading “Lost for Words” by John Humphrys and in Chapter 13 “Can Words Change the World?” he sites the following as having 3 grammar errors: “Some people think that being tired is just a part of today’s hectic lifestyle. But being Tired even after a good nights sleep, or feeling that you just want to nod-off when you are travelling to and from work, can be signs of daily fatigue.” Whilst I agree the whole sentence could do with restructuring, in the actual text I am only able to see, glaring though they are, just 2 grammatical errors. I’m certainly no grammarian so can you tell me what the 3 errors that John Humphrys is alluding to. Cheers All > I’m currently reading “Lost for Words” by John Humphrys and in Chapter > 13 “Can Words Change the World?” he sites the following as having 3 > grammar errors: cites > > I’m currently reading “Lost for Words” by John Humphrys and in Chapter > > 13 “Can Words Change the World?” he sites the following as having 3 > > grammar errors: > > cites Fair point, but I'm no auther and perhaps I got things wrong thinking this was a forum of learning! >>> I’m currently reading “Lost for Words” by John Humphrys and in >>> Chapter 13 “Can Words Change the World?” he sites the following as [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Fair point, but I'm no auther and perhaps I got things wrong thinking > this was a forum of learning! author  SignatureSkitt (AmE) Trying to teach. Do you find that trying? >> > Im currently reading Lost for Words by John Humphrys and in Chapter >> > 13 Can Words Change the World? he sites the following as having 3 [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >Fair point, but I'm no auther and perhaps I got things wrong thinking >this was a forum of learning! The post should result in you learning when to use "site" and when to use "cite". SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:51:36 -0800 (PST), miseri > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > -- > Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida And I have - a sloppy oversite on my part - but that happens sometimes when typing straight into an editor and not reading over the post before uploading it. >> On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:51:36 -0800 (PST), miseri >> [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >when typing straight into an editor and not reading over the post >before uploading it. It happens to the best of us. Was your question answered in AEU? I see no reason to post separately to each group, by the way. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland > On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:57:25 -0800 (PST), miseri > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > > - Show quoted text - The answers were very helpful Chuck – and in spite of a few cheap shots from some members I think this is a great resource. My ‘double’ posting is down to my lack of understanding of how the two user groups work, but I think I’m getting the hang of it now. Cheers >> <seanridge...@ntlworld.com> wrote: >> >> On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:51:36 -0800 (PST), miseri [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >posting is down to my lack of understanding of how the two user groups >work, but I think Im getting the hang of it now. I didn't see any "cheap shots". I corrected your use of "site" where "cite" should be used, and Skitt pointed out your misspelling of "author". These are not cheap shots. We assume, when you ask a question about usage in aue, that you are here to gain some knowledge about English usage. It's not the custom here to restrict the replies to the specific question if errors in usage are spotted. It's not up to you to direct us in how we reply. In your post above, you have used "oversite" where the correct spelling is "oversight". You are far more likely in future to use the words "site", "cite", and "oversight" than you are to use some examples from a book on words...especially when the examples are of rather inconsequential errors. You should look at these comments as constructive, not as "cheap shots". SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida > On Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:45:41 -0800 (PST), miseri > [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] > > - Show quoted text - On reflection I stand corrected – you are certainly right that I will try never to make the same mistake twice. It’s not that I have any objection to being corrected, I welcome constructive criticism, nor would I wish to restrict in any way the responses that are given in this forum. It’s just that the first response I saw was that highlighting my own errors with no reference to my original question. However, the excellent response subsequently more than made up for my ‘hurt pride’ and I’m humbled yet again. Thanks >> <seanridge...@ntlworld.com> wrote: >> >> On Thu, 27 Nov 2008 11:51:36 -0800 (PST), miseri [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >The answers were very helpful Chuck and in spite of a few cheap >shots from some members I think this is a great resource. I agree. I hope you continue to enjoy it and to find it useful. > My double >posting is down to my lack of understanding of how the two user groups >work, but I think Im getting the hang of it now. > >Cheers I've never quite understood the reason for both groups, myself, and I've been posting to AUE for years. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland >>> > Im currently reading Lost for Words by John Humphrys and in Chapter >>> > 13 Can Words Change the World? he sites the following as having 3 [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >The post should result in you learning when to use "site" and when to >use "cite". I thought the policy of AUE was to comment constructively, especially to posts from newcomers. Apparently, miseri's questions were answered in AEU, which I don't subscribe to, but I don't know this for a fact. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland >> miseri wrote: >>>>> I'm currently reading "Lost for Words" by John Humphrys and in >>>>> Chapter 13 "Can Words Change the World?" he sites the following [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > to posts from newcomers. Apparently, miseri's questions were answered > in AEU, which I don't subscribe to, but I don't know this for a fact. Yabbut, correcting the use of a wrong word is constructive, doncha think? SignatureSkitt (AmE) Ah'm here to hep. >>> miseri wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > >Yabbut, correcting the use of a wrong word is constructive, doncha think? If the difference between two similar words is substantive, yes I do. SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs Near Dublin, Ireland In alt.usage.english, miseri wrote: >I’m currently reading “Lost for Words” by John Humphrys and in >Chapter 13 “Can Words Change the World?” he sites the following as [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >grammatical errors. I’m certainly no grammarian so can you tell me >what the 3 errors that John Humphrys is alluding to. It rather depends on what you'd classify as a grammar error. Three simple changes I'd make if I were writing it: tired not Tired night's not nights nod off not nod-off The most obvious problem, though, is that is says absolutely nothing. It's 100% waffle. Typical of a writer who's being paid by the word. SignatureMike Barnes Cheshire, England > In alt.usage.english, miseri wrote: > >Iâm currently reading âLost for Wordsâ by John Humphrys and in [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > The most obvious problem, though, is that is says absolutely nothing. > It's 100% waffle. Typical of a writer who's being paid by the word. This was also posted to AEU and has received answers there. SignatureBob Lieblich Ever alert; we need all the lerts ... >Mike Barnes wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > >This was also posted to AEU and has received answers there. I haven't been there. The only true grammar error I see is that the second sentence is of the form "A or B can be signs of daily fatigue", when A and B are each a single sign. It should be of the form "A and B can be signs", or "A or B can be a sign". SignaturePaul >In alt.usage.english, miseri wrote: >>Im currently reading Lost for Words by John Humphrys and in [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >The most obvious problem, though, is that is says absolutely nothing. >It's 100% waffle. Typical of a writer who's being paid by the word. That's true, unless "daily fatigue" is a particular condition previously introduced and now being explained. SignatureJohn > “Some people think that being tired is just a part of today’s hectic > lifestyle. But being Tired even after a good nights sleep, or feeling [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > grammatical errors. I’m certainly no grammarian so can you tell me > what the 3 errors that John Humphrys is alluding to. "But being Tired . . . " 1. Starting a sentence with But is a syntactic solecism. 2. Tired should be capitalized only when it starts a sentence. "good nights sleep" 3. Nights requires an apostrophe, since possessive case. " nod-off" 4. No hyphen should be used to join these two words. ##2-4 are errors of punctuation, not grammar. SignatureDon Phillipson Carlsbad Springs (Ottawa, Canada) |
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