There are many quite unflattering names to describe those individuals for
whom proper grammar and syntax is extremely important:
The Grammar Hammer, Grammar Nazi, OCGD's (obsessive compulsive grammar disorder), and
Grammar Police are only a few examples.
I guess it makes sense that our current culture would refer to these grammar gurus in a negative way. After all, we live in a high-tech, speed-of-light, word-counting world, and these detail crazies are annoying. We don't have time to write out the whole words. And that extra button to capitalize the personal I? Well, it can be a personal pain that interrupts the texting flow. Numbers have started to find their way into our words: l8r, m8, let's go sk8ing, for the sake of time and a strange sort of cleverness I don't fully understand. As far as capital letters to begin our sentences or put nouns in their "proper place?" (only the true grammar nerds will get that one) That is almost a
dead art.
Believe it or not, I was your age once. I remember believing that it was more about the creativity and "word painting" ability as a writer than where the commas and semi-colons belonged. I wanted my writing to move people, to make readers fall in love with my characters and sit on the edge of their seats with my masterful conflict weaving; I wanted to make them see something differently, or maybe even REALLY see something for the first time. Punctuation? That was cute, too, but not as important as
style. Much to my chagrin, Marina High School's Honors English III teacher, Mr. Hole, had a very different point of view...
The first piece of writing I ever turned in to him was a narrative. I was very proud of that narrative and expected to receive some encouraging comments of recognition when it was returned. Instead, my paper floated back to me in a river of red ink. I was crushed, and if I am completely honest, I was also indignant...
and a little bitter.
For a while, I was afraid to write for Mr. Hole. I experienced blocks that I had never known as a writer. I was convinced my past glowing reports were all just a sham, and now that I had entered the world of
REAL writers, well, I just plain wasn't one. I went to see him during office hours every time we had a paper due, brimming with all sorts of insecure questions. I would write, rewrite, throw away, and write again before I would show anything to him. Then, one day, he said this to me, and it really changed everything: "Kristin, you are a great writer. You are creative, and I can tell you have a genuine love of words and storytelling. You must believe you are an artist. But what good will any of that do you if people cannot clearly see the vision you have poured out on the page?"
It stuck. I even wrote it down to remind myself of that. What good, indeed? Furthermore, what if a poorly placed comma or missing semi-colon placed my work in a negative light for an intelligent, syntax-savvy reader? This was a necessary, humbling experience that not only made me a better, more effective writer, but it also made me realize how complex the process of creating communication really was...and you know what? It
SHOULD be! Communicating effectively deserves our time and close attention! Words are extremely powerful! We have certainly explored that notion quite a bit this year. But that power is quickly drained in untrained hands. Nathaniel Hawthorne said it best: "Words: so innocent and powerless as they are standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows well how to combine them."
So, why should
you care? Well, for one, like it or not, the professional world cares. According to an article in
Forbes Magazine (dated March 11, 2013), "....good grammar is a fairly accurate predictor of professional success." Apparently, there are studies to prove it.
1.
Professionals with fewer grammar errors in their profiles had achieved higher positions. The profiles of those who'd failed to achieve director-level positions within the first ten years of their careers made almost three times as many grammatical errors as their director-level colleagues.
2.
Fewer grammar errors correlate with more promotions. Professionals with six to nine promotions made 45% fewer grammatical errors than those who'd been promoted 1-4 times.
In the article,
Forbes interviewed iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens, who maintained that grammar skills typically indicate positive workplace traits, including but not limited to
attention to detail, critical thinking , and
intellectual aptitude.
You don't need to be a
Forbes editor or a
Fortune 500 CEO to know that you only get one chance to make a first impression. In our tech-savvy world, most communication is now written and sent via email or text messaging. When face time technology is used, grammar and syntax skills still come through in verbal communication: "With whom shall I conference on this topic?" vs. "Who do I follow up with?" OR "Where shall we meet on Friday?" vs. "Where do you wanna meet up at this Friday?"
I'll admit that last so-called sentence I just typed made me CRINGE! Yuck! As picky as I have become about grammar now, years after high school, I still do not profess to be perfect or even nearly so when it comes to English grammar and syntax, but I
do strongly believe in its great significance. As you revise and edit your essays in this class and future ones, please take the time to consult grammar and syntax resources, such as the classic
Elements of Style book that graced many an English major's personal libraries. It is time very well spent, as it makes such a difference in how others perceive you as a communicator! We may be moving from the calligraphy pen to the stylus, but that just means communication is more readily available and easy to access. Now, more than ever, it is important to be an excellent, effective communicator...
literally!
Please take a moment to enjoy these humorous blog commentaries through the links below. They really make grammar fun and a bit hilarious, too! The first one about the "alot" is one of my favorites, and it will certainly give you a much needed comic relief, but on another level, it will also show you how seriously the Grammar Hammers of the world take this issue. Hey, let's be honest, you should probably take it seriously, too, because according to
Forbes, these Grammar Nazi, OCGD, Grammar Police will most likely be your employers and promoters someday!
http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/who_vs_whom
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/semicolon
Enjoy reading the blog posts on these links and comment on your favorite! Then, confess: What is your biggest grammar or editing challenge? How do you plan to tackle it this spring?
I thoroughly enjoyed the "Hyperbole and a Half" website,and I feel like "Alot" is my new spirit animal now. It's funny that such a word was brought up and emphasized on this site, because I always seemed to believe that I was one of very few who did not use "alot" as a word. It just looks so weird... why would you ever leave out the space? It feels so rushed when you squish two words together like that, and they're really short words too! But yes, I feel like I need to go seek an "alot", because I need a new spirit animal anyways...
ReplyDeleteI've never been someone who has been really into grammar, but I do know that grammar is very important to use. Back in 6th grade when I had Mrs. Caraway as my Language and Literature teacher; we would do grammar bell work and have mini grammar lessons all of the time. Some of those lessons have stayed with me since then. One of my favorite mini-lessons was the "Alot" lesson, where she showed us the same website she put on here and every time I write or type "a lot," I think of "Alot."
ReplyDeleteYES! The alot is awesome. :) Timeless!
DeleteAlot gave me a good laugh. I don't really see that very often, but the next time I do, I'm pretty sure I'll think of that article.
ReplyDeleteI've found that a lot of what we may see as the "correct" grammar, while important, may eventually become void. I know that kind of counteracts all the articles that we just read, but the point I'm trying to make is that language evolves just like we do. We don't speak the same as we did in 1776, and that's because English has changed as a language in many different ways. Some things I think should always remain important, like capitalizing sentences or spelling words correctly, but recently in class we talked about the world literally, and how many people dislike the "incorrect" use of the word. Yet we learned that it can just be seen as hyperbole, so it might not be as incorrect as it may seem. I think the same concept applies to things like "whom". Is it correct? Yes. Should people use it? Probably. However, English has evolved enough that when people don't use it, I don't think it really matters. It does sound classy, but is it really worth it to remember the rules? I don't personally think so.
However, I do hate it when people don't use the right "there, they're or their". That may make me a hypocrite after what I just said, but I'm ok with that. ;)
Also, I do love semicolons. They're really just a sneaky way to make your thesis statement longer without making it more than one sentence. Take that, Mr. Arnoldy!
Delete(This is Jaquelyn by the way)
ReplyDeleteWhile the humor in these blog posts is certainly outdated and not for me, I found the who/whom rule in the first Oatmeal article to be very useful, because I keep forgetting which to use for sentences I write. I think I subconsciously try to avoid using who and whom in my writing just to avoid the possible mistake. The rule is simple and easy to apply on other sentences, so I will certainly be using it in the future.
I'm sorry you feel that way. I find the humor in these amazing, and helpful in remembering the rules. If that makes me outdated, well, I can embrace that!
DeleteI really enjoyed the first post because of the humor distributed throughout. I can personally relate to the frustration of improper grammar. However, I do feel like when telling a joke, it does add a sense of stupidity and can make it funnier. But under serious circumstances, I do tend to get frustrated with people who have the ability to precisely communicate and choose not to. Obviously context plays a key role in this situation but I just found the message in the literal statement quite funny and relatable.
ReplyDeleteThe first blog post was my favorite because of the humorous sense to it. I have been on both sides of the grammar spectrum, using improper grammar and getting mad at others for similar mistakes. I think the first blog relates with many people because of the humor in it. Using improper grammar can be helpful in certain situations but only if your message is able to be conveyed by your sentence. Although I will be trying to fix my grammar mistakes and be a better communicator after reading all the posts.
ReplyDeleteBefore stating my favorite I want to express gratitude for all of these articles appearing to be written for a 5th grade audience, which is on par with my grammar ability. Out of all of these amazing articles I think my favorite must be the Alot article. I frequently make that mistake and frankly being reminded of a cute fuzzy creature everytime I use it is just an incentive, but I'll try to abstain from using it. I am interested, however, to see how the current grammar rules will evolve over time with the introduction of text speech.
ReplyDeleteAren't they great? Hey, if we cannot laugh at ourselves, then something is wrong, right? :)
DeleteI loved all three blog posts, not only did it teach how to use certain elements of grammar, it does it in a humorous way. Most people don't use grammar anymore in texting or proper communication and I think they should look at these blogs. The drawings and the constant sarcastic tone truly would make someone laugh but also teach them at the same time. I know just how important grammar is, especially after taking this class. I even write texts with proper grammar just to practice, and sometimes correct someone I'm texting if they use the wrong 'your/you're'. Although I get called the dreaded grammar nazi, I know practicing it will pay off in the end.
ReplyDeleteAll three articles were humorous, while teaching me grammatical lessons at the same time. Although I thoroughly enjoyed each one, the first one about the Alot would have to be my favorite one. As a person who finds it annoying when other people use grammar incorrectly, this was a fun way for me to process my frustration while letting other people continue their grammatical ways :)
ReplyDeleteYES! I laugh every time I read it.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading those three articles regarding different grammar rules. I actually remember the “Alot” article from fifth or sixth grade and still think of it to this day when I’m writing papers! These types of articles are very helpful to me personally because it allows for me to be taught in a way that I know I will remember. This kind of teaching can be very beneficial for any audience, in my opinion. While I was reading I was also able to learn more about when to use who/whom, which is something I have always wondered about and struggled with. I also agree with what’s stated in the blog regarding the importance of grammar. I, of course, am guilty of using short cuts online or while texting, and it’s definitely something that I could improve on. However, I still find myself turned away from those who are supposed to exhibit professionalism, but don’t when it comes to grammatical errors found in their texts, emails, or bios on social media. This kind of allows for me to understand that grammar can act as a first impression of someone, especially in the workforce. Of course, there is room for myself to grow and I really hope to someday understand all the rules of grammar and be able to use them effectively as I grow older. This just really highlighted its importance and the positive effects that can derive from it.
ReplyDeleteThe spider imagery in who and whom is my fave - it's so memorable because I am TERRIFIED of spiders. Humor is so awesome as we try to remember the plethora of grammar rules in English!
DeleteI enjoyed this blog post a lot. When authors take the time to find interesting words that paint a picture in my mind I tend to have more respect for their work. The articles were enjoyable as well, I had always typed the word "a lot" as "alot" until I was corrected by the spell check and ever since I have not forgotten the proper way of spelling it. This was an interesting conclusion that I had come to and reading the article made my realization funny to me as well. I love that your professor, Mr. Hole, gave you that golden nugget and I hope to start writing with more purpose. I want my audience to understand exactly what I am trying to get across. This blog post leads me to think about pronunciation; many people pronounce words incorrectly and do not think twice about it. For example: across (acrost), draw (drawl). When we don't take the time to pay attention to detail we won't be able to accomplish what we want to get across. I think that presentation is very important in the workforce. Not only is speech and grammar important, but, also your appearance. It is important to understand your audience and the type of impression you want to make; impressions are repeated, not only to one who is seeing your impression but you yourself will continue to repeat your impression. That is why crucial to understand how you are communicating and to determine your character as strong and professional.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh - I agree and love ALL of your points--who is this? It signed in as unknown. Thanks for your insights! :)
DeleteI'm so sorry I didn't realize my name was not on here, this is Kassie Hinton.
DeleteI enjoyed the semicolon blog post the most because I have always struggled with semicolons. I have been told many times how and when to use them, but I just can not keep it in my mind. Every time I try to use a semicolon, it just looks wrong. I end up just using more commas than I should. The article put it in a short, concise, easy way to use semicolons and when. Now, I am more confident in my semicolon use and I may just try to use one in my next paper.
ReplyDeleteYes - and a funny way so it's memorable. I LOVE these! :)
DeleteMy favorite article was The oatmeal one, where the article talks about how and when to use who and whom. I found it very interesting because I've always struggled when to appropriate use who and whom. For instance, when referring to someone who is doing something you would use who and when you're referring to someone who is having something done to them you would use whom. Another helpful advice I found in the article is when the questions are answered either by he or him; and if the answer is he then you would use who and if the answer is him then you would use whom. This article was very insightful and helpful.
ReplyDeleteI greatly enjoyed reading the about when and how to use 'whom' in a sentence. I felt the visuals helped a lot plus it made reading the article more interesting. I thought them showing that he goes with who and him goes with whom. I thought that was the most simplest way of putting it and I like simple sometimes. Plus the animation made the article most entertaining to read with the funny drawings of weird looking characters it made it even cuter.
ReplyDeleteI naturally never had a hard time about learning the rules of grammar, mostly because I was taught certain ways to never forget them (mostly by you!). One that stuck with me the most was the ALOT versus a lot, and those visual cues helped me distinguish between the two. Understanding an individual's cognitive way of learning is imperative in order for an individual to go from short term to long term memory. For me, the visual cue of a hairy monster as an "alot" is helpful for me to tell which is which. Funny, but it works!
ReplyDeleteHere is Gates' response:
ReplyDeleteI do love grammar and those who teach grammar in fun ways. It's funny to see an artist's rendition of alot. It looks rather silly. It's nice to see individuals educating others in the proper utilizations of lexicons in a kind manner. Oft, the world of corrections is filled with either short single word corrections, or in lengthy condescending sentences that can depress the individual that made the mistake.
Wow, I really enjoyed the Oatmeal.com articles on grammar! I should be honest with you and take the time to apologize for my own grammar. In the past few emails back and forth, I have reread them and found so many mistakes. To my defense, I do use auto-typing to send quick emails (almost as if they were text messages), so I hardly check for spelling, punctuation, ect.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I loved the spider and he/him imagery in the who vs whom blog. I've never understood the difference. To be even more honest, I don't think I have ever had the pleasure of learning the difference either. Thank you for informing me in a comical way! Great read this evening.
I have to say that the article about ‘who’ and ‘whom’ was the most entertaining to me; although the visual of Alot has forever changed how I will read it. The ‘who’ and ‘whom’ article was my favorite because it was not only entertaining to read, but it was actually teaching me the correct way to use ‘whom’. I especially appreciated the mnemonic device as a trick for me just in case I need to be using ‘whom’, but now I know the explanation behind it too! I love how they acknowledged that there was no direct need to use ‘whom’, because, especially with this upcoming generation, not many people will even notice whether it’s being used correctly or not. So despite the author and illustrator going through a lot of effort to make this article, they made sure that the reader knew that it could mostly be used to sound “distinguishable and classy”. Which is a smart comment to make on their part as that is reason enough for some people to start using ‘whom’, since it’s now not a requirement, but a choice.
ReplyDeleteI remember Mrs. Caraway showing our 6th grade class the "Alot" blog post, and I have always remembered it since then. Every time 'a lot' is spelled 'alot,' that is what I think of. It's what has stuck with me the most. But out of all the articles on this weeks blog, I found the who/whom post most helpful, as I had struggled with it before. This post helped clarify for me when to use the two, and when not to, in a much more simpler way than I imagined. Though it might be confusing to me sometimes, I'm sure I'll catch on soon.
ReplyDeleteI am not one who is very good at grammar, thereofre all these posts were useful. However, the one that was most useful was the "who" and "whom". WIth this blog, I have finally found myself understanding when exactly to use these words. While I was taking my ACT, some of the questions I struggled with included these words in the answers. Therefore, next time I take the ACT I will be able to increase my score now that I understand the difference between "who" and "whom".
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the blog post about "who vs whom." It was absolutely hilarious. I thought it was so funny the sentences and phrases they were able to come up with. I feel like adding some sort of humor into teaching helps it to resonate more with a younger crowd who tend to struggle with grammar such as this. It makes it easier for those who read the post to remember the unique yet funny posts used to teach the grammar issues in a way that is much more appealing to an audience and doesn't appear as a basic grammar lesson.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this blog since I am the type of person who struggles with the creative side of writing and has had my fair share of fixing grammatical errors. I found it relatable and relief that people are now becoming aware of the disposition their mistakes put me in. Although this has its downsides, my friends are the complete opposite, similar to how Mrs. Caraway was in her youth. Together, we are able to edit each other's paper with extreme success and have bettered each other's writing abilities because of it.
ReplyDeleteThe article with "alot" really interested me. I have memories of middle school telling all of my friends that "It's TWO words, not ONE". Although, grammar has been something I have always struggled with, especially with my complete lack of ability to spell. It has been something that I really needed to work on in these past few years when applying to internships and writing professional letters to teachers and mentors alike. For me, it helps to reread a paper over and over until I catch those little mistakes like a missing letter or punctuation. With practice, I feel that I can begin to correct my mistakes as I make them and excel to those top individuals in the workplace that are high achieving with the help of prefect grammar.
ReplyDeleteI really loved the first link listed that talked about the "alot" imaginary character. I admit, I am guilty of using this incorrect grammar quite often, but have gotten better recently. The image they depicted of the character was really funny and something I will use to prevent myself from making this grammar mistake again.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who grew up with a grammar nazi for a mom, I have turned in to quite the nazi myself. I've always been the one in the group correcting other's grammar or spelling, and in arguments I can always pull out "At least I know the difference between your and you're" or "Do you even know what a predicate nominative is?". I found these articles very humorous, mostly because I knew all of them, and am one to laugh if I see someone using who, rather than whom. I enjoyed this blog post a *space* lot, as I relate to the articles and find them hilarious.
ReplyDeleteThe first link didn't really make sense to me because I struggle with "alot" too and so the article just looked completely weird. The second link however, that explains when to use who and whom, is an amazing source! Even after being taught the difference of the words, I didn't understand until this site explained.
ReplyDeleteFor a second I digress: after making the comment regarding texts, I looked back at my text messages and caught myself using all the shorted terminology with my friends, obviously, more so than my parents or authority figures in my life. I started laughing when I read a text with also all shorthand, thinking about how shameful I would look through Mrs. Caraway’s eyes: “thx 4 ur help 2day bb v v appreciative[.]”
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, I greatly enjoyed the three websites, though one stood out to me most: the comic about “whom” versus “who.” I am a culprit of mistaking the two terms, due to an absurd misconception - for the longest time, I believed that ‘whom’ was just a more fancy way of saying ‘who,’ which in hindsight seems really idiotic. Though, now, I feel I have grasped an understanding for the difference; it’s simple to comprehend, though I hadn’t ever put the effort into learning the difference. The illustrations really added to my ability to understand. :)
I feel like grammar is really hard to get perfect 100% of the time and can be really tricky. I found the last two articles extremely helpful because I always seem to forget how a semicolon works, and where it is placed and the difference between who/whom. I found the who/whom mnemonic really creative and useful as well because it helps with sentence structure. I remember when I was younger and use a lot as one combined word so it would be alot and now that I’m older, I know there is a space and use it the right way. I am now going to apply all of these trciks so I can become a better and stronger writer.
ReplyDeletetricks* didn't realize i had a typo oops :)
DeleteI personally enjoyed the "a lot" comic. It seemed like the article added to the irony. One significant thing I noticed about these articles are how helpful they are. I am quite aware on how foully I use semicolons. I can never seem to put them in the correct place. Especially, if it's within an essay or around the lines of one. For the "who" and "whom" comic I really found it amusing. For myself, I have noticed that "who" and "whom" are used incorrectly most of the time. Which may in fact be due to poor teaching. However, overall these comics have amused me greatly and gave me more context on how to be aware of my own incorrect grammar.
ReplyDeleteThe "Who v. Whom" article was extremely helpful for me. Before reading this article, I would determine which word to use by playing it by ear. However, the way in which the author explained it helped me understand how they are used. By thinking of the subject as who and the object as whom, I was able to conceptualize when I would use 'who' versus when I would use 'whom'. When they were giving examples in the article, I used their methods and found lots of success. It was a euphoric experience to understand a concept that I had struggled with for most of my life!
ReplyDeleteThe article that I found to be the most entertaining and helpful is the "Who v Whom" article. I had always believed it to be so complicated when deciding whether to use who or whom but after reading this article I feel like an English major! I also enjoyed the examples they used to explain the different scenarios in which the two different words would be used. It was also a relief to know that whom is not necessary to use although it does sound fancier. After reading this article I have been inspired to begin using the word whom when appropriate and necessary! :)
ReplyDelete(Joshauh DIGuardi )
ReplyDeleteI really liked the simplification of alot a lot ,and not to mention the semicolon article has helped to improve my knowledge of semicolons . I enjoy the humor mixed with the information in regards to who the oatmeal is making these informative comics for . Not to mention I now have a knowledge on how to use whom in a sentence ;and I will utilize these comic articles when the need arises .
I really liked the use of humor in the first article and how the author channeled their compulsive need to correct other's grammar into a creative outlet. I also liked the images of the "Alot"; the artist has a unique cartoon-y style that I enjoy. I found the "Who vs. Whom" article to be the most helpful. I already knew when to use them in a vague sense, but I mostly judged correctness based on how it sounded. The shortcuts that they gave are really helpful and easy to remember. The semicolon article was also interesting to read, though I already knew the most of the rules concerning semicolons. This article had the most interesting images, but some of them were very strange.
ReplyDeleteThese articles were very interesting and entertaining. Although I was pretty familiar with all of these uses of grammar, I would be lying if I said I didn't make mistakes using them from time to time. The one that probably helped most was the article about how to use a semicolon. I find that, when using a semicolon, I am often doubting whether I used it correctly, and this article gave me a refresher on how to properly use it. The he/who and him/whom rule highlighted in the "whom" article also stood out to me, and will definitely help me remember the different between "who" and "whom" in the future. All of the articles also did an outstanding job of keeping me entertained with the amazing visuals and their very unique styles. I would definitely recommend them to others, especially to a younger audience who may not be 100% sure about their use of grammar.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI greatly enjoyed reading about this and being able to see the many jokes throughout (and in addition the "Hyperbole and Half" blog). I remember, as well as a few others, taking mini-lessons about grammar throughout I believe, 5th and 6th grade. They greatly have helped me today but I do know I have forgotten some things, as usual. I enjoyed reading the few examples that exemplified how "we" text or talk to one another, I found this amusing. Overall though, this blog was a good trip down memory lane for me that brought back some old memories of my less-educated self.
ReplyDeleteI am the first to realize my grammar is not the best in my formal or informal writing. I was a small part in the blog about "alot". The beginning of the blog talked about the use of “u” and “you” “When someone types out "u" instead of "you," instead of getting mad, I imagine them having only one finger on each hand and then their actions seem reasonable”. This made me laugh because I have never found the point in only using the letter “u” instead of writing the word out. All of the illustrations in the blogs were amazing a got the point across.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite post was the post discussing "alot." It makes me cringe when I see someone type "alot" instead of "a lot." It's a very small thing that could turn me into a Grammar Nazi. Now that I read that post, and saw the author's "Alot" creature I will picture that every time that someone improperly texts me "alot."
ReplyDeleteHonestly I thought the to whom vs who was very helpful. I loved the pictures of the squirrel in the underwear because it was so funny. As well, I always text in sentences, even though spell check helps me; I'm not a Grammar Nazi but I refuse not to capitalize the personal "I".
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI’ll be honest, commas (grammar in general) has always been difficult for me. I always ask myself: where do I put a comma at? Does a comma go here? Is this comma placed in the right place? Etc. I always freak myself out because I don’t know where I should properly place my commas. When I first began this class, my grammar was not that great but after almost two years in this class, I feel that my grammar has improved. By constantly writing, editing, and revising my written tasks, QPAs, or class assignments, I have grown a bit in the world of English grammar and syntax. Although I feel like I have grown as an effective communicator, I still have so much to learn about grammar and syntax. My writing is not perfect but that’s what gives me the potential to become a better writer every day. That being said, I do believe communicating effectively deserves our time and attention. I also believe that being a good communicator comes from a good understanding of English grammar and syntax. In order for me to become a good communicator, I need to continue working on my personal grammar issues. Therefore, I personally believe that throughout these two years, my writing and grammar as an author have grown but there is still room for improvement.
I found the “Hyperbole and a half: The Alot is better than you at everything” blog so cute and humorous. The pictures of the Alot made me giggle and actually imagine a creature like it. I think like Alot is a cute creature. However, this also made me think about how we condense words and sometimes even substitute numbers for words just for the convenience. I found it surprising and funny at the same time. In the “Who vs. Whom” blog post, I found that the he/him mnemonic was very helpful. I will probably use this trick to determine whether I should use who or whom. I also really enjoyed the little drawings and examples. From the “How to use a semicolon” blog, I realized that I learned how to properly use a semicolon in this class when I asked Mrs. Caraway how and when to use one. Although, personally, I have to disagree with the statement, “the semicolon is the most feared punctuation on Earth.” To me, it’s those commas that are the most feared punctuation on Earth, it's so tricky! Also, it was interesting to see that commas are brief pauses and semicolons are moderate pauses which connects two statements.
All in all, this was a good lesson on how to use certain grammar. I know it helped me to review and redefine my understanding of grammar and its use in both writing and the real world.
While all three articles were very enjoyable to read, I found the second one about "who vs. whom" the most helpful. Personally, I had never been able to truly understand in what instances these words could or could not be used. I really enjoyed the way this article explained this grammar rule, especially the correlation he made with he/who and him/whom, as it simplified it in such a humorous manner! I've always struggled with grammar and punctuation in my life, so these articles really helped me understand the rules in a more entertaining and memorable way! I'll certainly remember these articles and use these tips in the future!
ReplyDeleteBefore reading these articles I never had a problem with people using bad grammar outside of academia unless it hindered my ability to properly understand what was being communicated. I do not have OCGD so I don’t take offense to bad grammar and try my best to dismiss it but I also never thought I had problems with the grammar that I used. These comics helped me better understand how grammar works. The first article didn’t teach me a lot because it mainly focused on helping people with crippling OCGD cope with their OCGD and I don’t fall into that category. The second and third articles taught me a lot more than I initially thought when I read the titles. I got a better understanding on how to use semicolons and learned when and when not to use “whom” which I never thought that I would have a problem with. It turns out I did have a problem with knowing when to use either “who” and “whom” but I did learn how to with the article. I definitely learned a lot from these articles and I hope that translates into my writing.
ReplyDeleteComing from someone who is the absolute worst at grammar and spelling and who doesn't remember what punctuation and capitalization is when texting, I confess to have loved the first blog post on ‘Alot’. Being the lazy texter that I am, I many times find myself using ‘a lot’ incorrectly so it was interesting to see how the Grammar Nazis feel about my frequent mistakes. Although autocorrect helps cover for me at times, I am very guilty of seeming like a person with one finger on each hand or an eagle that can’t use apostrophes/capital letters when texting. While I do stray away from using such bad grammar when completing school assignments or emailing my teachers, I would love to one day improve on my day to day texting skills as I am sure my Grammar Nazi friends would much appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteThe article I chose was the "Alot" one. I related to this article the most considering the fact that I do use "u" constantly. I liked the fact that they said "they might just have one finger" I found this very funny and something that I could relate to and also since my grammar is not the best.
ReplyDeleteAfter going thorough this blog and the others suggested at the end, as well as observations I've made while reading well written novels and other writings, I've seen a common trend. When I read a gorgeous piece of writing, I typically can go back and find that the sentences are shorter which makes them clearer. I feel as if this contradicts to how we are told to write in late elementary and throughout middle school. We are taught to explain thoroughly in each sentence and are even told to condense our paragraphs to 5 sentences. I feel as if these restrictions have personally had a major effect on my own writing. I find that in my most favorable assignments in class I use shorter sentences. I think this way of writing has helped me across the board because by not overcrowding sentences, I have clearer facts in historical writing, but also clearer imagery in more creative and literature based writing. I also found the who vs whom blog was extremely helpful because I had known the he vs him rule of it, however, the connection to whom the verb applies to was extremely helpful or me.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say my favorite was the who vs whom article. I can get pretty frustrated with incorrect grammar, but who vs whom is something I've never really gotten myself. It was a pretty funny article and I'm glad it was genuinely informative.
ReplyDeleteAll of these blog posts were very funny and I heavily relate to the authors about being a "Grammar Nazi". However, my favorite was the who/whom blog, because I didn't know the difference between the two and how and when to use them. The he/him mnemonic helps alot ;).
ReplyDeletePersonally, I have never been one to use abbreviations like sk8 and l8ter because I find them extremely time consuming and unnecessary. However, I do find myself using an abundance of slang, but that never interferes with my use of punctuation and proper grammar. My favorite article out of the three was the second one where the difference between whom and who was explained. One reason I find it amusing is because I find myself confused at times and have to do the he/ him trick to figure out which to use. I also found the cartoon with the guy approaching the girl at the bar more amusing than I probably should have. All in all I think now more than ever the world is in need of some more grammar nazis to whip these youngsters into shape ;))
ReplyDeleteI loved all the blog posts! Personally, I like the "Who" vs "Whom" article the most because it gave me clarification on when to use it. Although, I thought it was funny when I read about the "a lot" vs "alot" article. I remembered learning about how to correctly write "a lot" in middle school, and it has stuck with me ever since.
ReplyDeleteSo, these were quite informative, and more than a little amusing. I knew most of the information there, but I found out a few nuances with "whom" and semicolons of which I hadn't been aware before (however, I did notice a violation of the preposition rule in the whom article; they ended their sentence with "to"). I'd say the whom article was my favorite. It was enlightening in an entertaining way; I found the illustrations and examples to be the funniest out of the three. I did enjoy the fantastical situations in which the Alot appeared as well. The whom article gets extra points for using the word "pedantry" however. As a side note, I am pleased to discover that grammar conscience individuals are more likely to succeed; I finally feel validated.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading these blog posts! Especially since the “Alot vs. A lot” article made me remember my middle school days when I did not know the difference. My favorite article out of the three was the “Who vs. Whom” blog post! I felt it was very informative and very interesting, I honestly cannot wait to use ‘whom’ in a future essay or assignment! Mostly because I feel as if it makes my writing sound so much fancier and makes me feel that the person reading my work should do so with a cup of tea in hand while making sure that their pinkie is sticking out! This reasoning is also why I love to use the word ‘thus’ in my assignments as well! Overall, I had a lot of fun reading about the different grammar points and feel as though being a “Grammar Nazi” isn’t so bad anymore since there are so many reasons to get frustrated with awful grammar.
ReplyDelete-Lauren Guardado
For some reason grammer never came to me like every one. I still Iget confused and have multiple people read what write. I do like this blog post though because it means im not the only one. I never knew who and whom was so different and I cant wait to whip that word out and surprise some customer with it. In my essays i will now be able to know how to use there , their and there as well .
ReplyDeleteThe blogs provide humor and knowledge on grammar at the same time. And as for someone who tends to struggle in grammar it made me laugh because the three blogs are concepts about in Mrs.Caraway's and now looking at the blogs it makes me laugh. I know my grammar is not the best but I do know how important it is to use. So I will remember these blogs for some time as they are helpful and funny.
ReplyDeleteI've been a fan of Hyperbole and a Half for a few years now, and every time I see someone type 'alot' I immediately think of the blog post you linked. The author has a really distinct and humorous writing style, which is why it's my favorite, even though it isn't very useful (practically speaking). The post on who vs. whom brought up a really great point with the he/him tip, and the semicolon one is probably the article I will use the most for writing.
ReplyDeleteAs I am sure anyone who reads my writing knows, I am not the best with grammar. I always seem to not only misspell words, but use too many commas and only write run-on sentences. The “Who vs Whom” article’s he/him tip was so helpful and I’m excited to use whom! Whenever whom is used, I immediately believe the speaker is professional. I like to use semicolons to connect related, independent clauses but it was interesting to clear the confusion about when to use them in lists. I loved reading the “A Lot” article. It reminded me of when you showed my class it in 5th grade and I thought the A Lot monster was so funny. I showed it to my mom and to this day she still references it when she sees someone type “a lot” online.
ReplyDeleteI love the blogs and I've bought multiple books from that author! I thought the analogies were very useful and hilarious at the same time. Even though I could consider myself a member of the grammar police, I'm not perfect, so I still have some problems with formatting. These blogs were really helpful and easy to remember, as well as provide a humorous twist to a problem a lot (if not all) of us have.
ReplyDeleteThe article entitled “How to use a semicolon” was very helpful to me. Especially because I incorrectly use semicolons very frequently. I don’t know what it is; I just put them everywhere. Was that the correct way to use a semicolon? I sure hope so; I read the article twice. Dang it, I used another one.
ReplyDeleteI am a grammar Nazi for certain, I wont say my grammar is perfect but incorrect spelling is one of my biggest pet-peeves. I found the semicolon article helpful, that is something I have always struggled with. I believe the way you write can show what type of person you are. If ya txt lke ths, or say, "thats there dog" I am quietly judging you over the phone. I hope these articles help anyone who struggles with this, and I am glad we are going over this. :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the who/whom article. I loved how I could practice with the examples before looking at the answer. I've never really used whom before because I never knew anything about it so I just avoided it completely. In all honestly I'll probably still avoid it, like I avoid semicolons, but at least I'll be able to tell when someone else uses it wrong! I thought about using a semicolon just now but that wouldn't make sense because I was going to use 'but' as a conjunction. At least I'm learning! :)
ReplyDeleteI really liked the "alot" article because I think that it very cleverly commented on this generation's poor usage of grammar. I find that poor grammar is everywhere now with the help of social media and it can be hard not to get annoyed with it. However, I think that it was fun to see this commentary on this topic. They humorously dealt with something that can be quite annoying. Overall, I think all of these articles had a very entertaining and memorable way of teaching people about how to correctly use grammar in a world that is abandoning it. I hope that I can remember these tips so that I may become a better writer.
ReplyDeleteI read a quote about semi-colons and how, every single semi-colon ever used, by professionals or not, has for the most art been a shot in the dark. Personally I feel that it is true for everyone; for high school students especially. Semicolons have simple yet complex set of rules for using them that always seem to be forgotten. Numerous times, mostly when writing essays for your class; I've searched online the rules for using them in a pale attempt to impress you.
ReplyDeleteI mean, if we're talking favorites, nothing was going to, or will ever, beat the "Alot" article. Don't get me wrong, the other two pieces were fairly funny, but I remember when you showed us the "Alot" article in the 5th, maybe 6th grade, and I haven't forgotten it since. It's just so, so, so good. I think there's something about the personification of the error that gives it such great staying power; I doubt I'm ever going to forget to put a space in-between the two words.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the "I'm sad, Alot" comic is just the absolute best. I want to print it out and staple it to my wall.
I'm really glad to have been able to read these articles because other than the "alot" grammatical error, they helped clarify a lot for me in my writing! Semicolons and the word "whom" are two things that I constantly struggle with, so educationally those were my 'favorites' in the sense that they helped me the most However, nothing will ever beat "alot" in my heart because that has been stuck in my head since you showed us the same technique in fifth or sixth grade. Back then I didn't know the difference but I've never mixed them up again, just as I'm sure I won't struggle as much with the others now!
ReplyDeleteI loved the blog talking about "alot" being used by many instead of "a lot" (the grammatically correct way). It was such a funny insight into why we should be more grammatically correct when typing because we are fully capable of doing so. The modern keyboard was crafted to make typing easier for humans, so we should use it for its intentions of making communication easier and more understandable for all. Also, the Alot monster was very cute and I will certainly think about it every time I see someone use "alot" instead of "a lot". Very creative and amusing illustrations!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite post was the "Alot" article. I thought it was very fun to see how the writer and artist portrayed "Alot" as a thing to poke fun at people who have written it incorrectly. I thought it was very creative and the overall article was a good way to teach people how to write correctly while keeping them entertained.
ReplyDeleteThe comedic relief within these blogs seemed to really help me understand and see the typical grammar mistakes that even I make to this day when writing, and even speaking. I feel as if the blogs allowed me to clearly view and get the direct message of the use of certain words and their examples and will most definitely improve my writing.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading all three of these articles. My favorite one however, has to be the one about The Alot. I think the author went about in a very clever and funny way of explaining the topic. For me, at least, the story made the purpose a lot more effective. I always questioned which way was the correct way of writing it; alot or a lot? I always assumed it was 'a lot' because I would picture a literal lot of something, such as a parking lot. With this method I would think of an abundance of whatever the subject of the sentence was. Whenever I scroll through social media and I see someone using 'alot' I think about correcting them but then I doubt myself. After reading this article though I know for a fact that 'a lot' is the correct way to write it. That being said, I will embrace my OCGD and correct any incorrect grammar :)
ReplyDeleteThese articles were all very interesting, but I really liked the "a lot" because it was new to see the various misinterpretations and miss assuage by writers all the time.
ReplyDeleteI uploaded a post to this blog the awhile ago but it did not go through because I was not signed into a topamail account.
ReplyDeleteThe Alot monster was very cute and I will always think about it when writing or reading because I will be reminded to say "a lot" instead of "alot" and I will have something funny to think about every time I see someone use "alot". Keyboards were made to make typing easier for humans so we should not type like eagles.
I enjoyed reading all of the articles and the
ReplyDelete"alot" monster has been used with me in the past. I now know the correct way to use "a lot" due to trial and error, but it was funny to see other people use "a lot" the incorrect way. I would also like to note all of the "there, their, and there's" because it really bothers me when people don't use the correct grammar. Every once in awhile I become the "grammar police" and have sort of crack down on all of the people who use their grammar incorrectly (even if I do it too).
Here is Tom's response: The alot monster was a staple of our 6th grade English class, and taught me how to use a lot. I vividly remember reading about the alot monster, and how people can't seem to use it correctly. P.S. If you can not use there their and they're correctly, you're silly.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite one has got to be the article about the "alot". I have never been able to whether or no it was one word or two word. Now, I don't think I'll ever forget that "a lot" is the proper phrase and an "alot" is a pretty cool animal that I'd like to have as a pet.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was the Hyperbole and a Half article because it is something that I see regularly, while browsing the internet. People seem to like to lie on the internet and is seems to be though hyperbole the most. http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/04/alot-is-better-than-you-at-everything.html
ReplyDeleteOut of all of the articles my favorite had to be the second one, Not only did I appreciate the comics but I had no idea that "whom" was so commonly available compared to "who". While I don't know how often I'll work it into my daily conversations, it will definitely be good to have for essays and when the time to sound classy strikes.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite article out of all of them was the Hyperbole and a Half article. One because I always used to have a mini debate in my head about whether or not it was a lot or alot and this article helped clear up that debate. Second because the monster Alot was really funny and super cute.
ReplyDeleteI definitely have to say that the post about using semicolons was the most helpful for me. While I had a generic understanding of how they are used, this article/post cleared the air for me. Most of the time I use them (even if I use them correctly), they just look strange and incorrect. Reading this definitely helped to boost my confidence in how I use them in my writing.
ReplyDeleteThe article I really enjoyed reading was the Hyperbole and a Half article. It took a humorous approach to a problem I tend to struggle with every day. I always struggle with whether it is “a lot” or “alot”. Usually, spell check saves my life and corrects it for me when writing or texting. I liked the pictures and drawings it gave a humorous approach to something a lot of people deal with. I will be working on bettering my spelling and grammar and probably won't ever forget these articles. :)
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