I know it might be pedantic, but if you use "it's" as a possessive, your writing skills are lacking. Readers (and employers) who know better will think less of you. And yes, I know you've seen it done wrong so many times (I'm looking at you CNN.com) that you might have become confused. But really: it's = it is every time.
Posted May 11, 2011, 4:00 PM UTC
That's why I love reddit ... free grammar lessons
Oh no, you'll be getting a bill for this.
But really: it's = it is every time.
Pro tip: this is wrong. It's may also be used as a contraction of 'it' and 'has'.
Edit: And who really gives a fuck about casual orthography, anyway? My fingers don't know the difference between your and you're: is that a problem? I catch it on the proof scan, but I don't always proof scan. If my message is entirely unambiguous, can you forgive me my haste? Would you prefer to enjoy an opportunity to feel better than me? Do you really hate typos that much?
Good catch. Unless I'm mistaken it only seems to work in association with the word "been", as in "it's been a while".
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Upvote for being ABSOLUTELY correct that it's can also be a contraction of it has. But its is always correct for the possessive. And I'm not referring to typos.
Nevermind my snarkiness. :P
I fully agree with you as to the importance of correctness, by the way, in formal correspondence.
I didn't realize your fingers worked separately from your brain.
For most people, they think of what they are about to type before they type it. If they type it incorrectly, it is because of the brain, not the fingers. (Typos are different, since they can be a slight misplaced finger, but typing the wrong word or contraction is a brain issue.)
Saying that mistakes that leave the message unambiguous are okay is pretty silly. A lot of people care about correctness. Where do you draw the line, personally? You think "its" and "it's" can be used interchangeably, but do you think "then" and "than" should be as well? How about run-on sentences? What if I started spelling lla ym sdrow sdrawkcab? You can still figure out what I am saying, but it takes a little more energy. What if I purposely insert a D aDfDtDeDrD eDvDeDrDyD lDeDtDtDeDrD? That might take even longer for you to comprehend.
We have a language with rules for a reason. It makes it easy to communicate thoughts with one another. If you fuck with one rule, you might as well fuck them all.
I didn't realize your fingers worked separately from your brain.
Actually, a surprising amount of muscle control is executed at the spinal level. But, that's not actually relevant in this case. (:
OK, it is a brain issue. Attributing it to my fingers was my attempt at a metaphor for indicating the various levels of conscious and unconscious processing at work when you type. If you want me to talk empirically, I can say that though I know the differences between all of the your/you're to/too/two their/they're/there, etc., and am very good at recognizing these mistakes in reading, that I will on too frequently an occasion type the wrong one.
It's analogous to an indeliberate spoonerism, or a Freudian slip. You know what you intend to say, but there are levels of unconscious control between your intent and your actions, and if you don't pay strict attention then it's possible for those levels to take liberties.
You think "its" and "it's" can be used interchangeably,...
Except I didn't approve any such thing. In fact, I only asked your forgiveness for the haste which will occasionally ask you to disambiguate 'your' and 'you're', or 'it's' and 'its'. Writers should strive for correctness. But if you as a writer can save five minutes of proofing per thousand words of casual correspondence, I'm not going to begrudge you the occasional misuse.
And of course, when writing professionally, you should proof your copy to ensure correctness. Misuse in that context does imply misunderstanding.
When you feel like raging about spelling and grammar, watch this, because you're not making the world a better place.
I think Fry's point here is that English should be allowed some freedom to breathe and grow in creative ways. He's not making the argument that we should abandon established grammatical foundations. Thanks for the link.
Fry's point is that language IS freedom and that we need to stop being petty long enough to recognize that language is a vehicle of expression. Instead of criticizing someone's grammar, especially considering that the context is more than sufficient for clarity of meaning, he suggests that we revel and celebrate the creative possibilities of words. So while pinpoint accuracy of grammar may be critical to your personal verbal expression, that is certainly not the case for many people, and it doesn't make your expression any more valid than another.
Well you have to realize that the majority of people with bad grammar don't do it to express themselves; they do it because they don't know any better, and they are too apathetic to apply the correct use of language.
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Lol, prescriptivism.
I think Fry's point here is that English should be allowed some freedom to breathe and grow in creative ways.
I disagree. I believe he's saying "don't be a pendant". And to quote your first sentence, "I know it might be pedantic ...".
He's not making the argument that we should abandon established grammatical foundations.
You've taken a slippery slope down to argue with a straw man: no one is saying to abandon established grammatical foundations. But, you should allow for a modicum of human error. Say, if someone's typing is at 1% error rate per typed character or less, then embrace their meaning rather than frothing at those 1% of nits.
I'm going to go out on a limb and make an assumption that I hope doesn't offend: you're not an idiot. Neither are most people. But, mistakes do happen -- call it the human condition. Luckily, redundancy is built into our language, and you, not being an idiot, can, with a deep breath, figure out what someone's written intent is -- imperfections and all -- without shouting, hopping, and doing a silly dance to let everyone know that you you've discovered fleeting evidence that not only are you not an idiot, you might even be slightly smarter than that other guy who just typed "it's" instead of "its".
"Definately" makes me want to strangle someone.
You know, I used to hate "definately" with a passion, but I have to trump you here. I see something else even more commonly than "definately."
"Defiantly."
What. The. Fuck.
When I see someone say, "We should defiantly hang out," It makes me want to stab someone. Not even close.
I have never come across this one, but now I will for certain. Damn it.
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Thats an easy way to remember.
Some people "supposably" use it both ways.
Supposably is a real word.
Although, you're using it wrong.
My blood just began to boil.
Send your thanks to Nunu, then.
protip: use "irregardless" and "supposably" in conversations on purpose to subtly annoy pedants.
bonus: if they actually say something about it you win!
You can also use this strategy to fail at job interviews.
great point. you really should just speak perfectly at all times in case you should stumble across a surprise job interview.
pedantic
I find this post shallow and pedantic.
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People using 'Pacific' instead of 'Specific'. Makes me want to kick a badger.
I'm 35 and this just finally sunk in... thanks!
I approve of this post. I'm a self-confessed grammar douchebag, but I don't care. I'm proud of my language, and all the people who claim that "language is freedom" and that we should "embrace its evolution" won't change the fact that if you can't master the basic rules of grammar, I'm going to judge you for it.
Then maybe you'll stop doing it wrongly.
My only regret is that I have but one upvote to give.
This really makes me want to write a grammatically incorrect statement but I don't like to do the expected. So instead, I'll leave you with an equally infuriating emoticon. :/
It's not possessive.
Every time you're about to correct someone's grammar in a douchey way when you knew exactly what they meant anyway please say "I'm a fucking douchebag" out loud to yourself.
Then maybe you'll stop doing it.
Every time you're about to correct someone's maths in a douchey way when you knew exactly what they meant anyway please say "I'm a fucking douchebag" out loud to yourself.
Then maybe you'll stop doing it.
Here's the thing: I'm currently interviewing candidates for two jobs that require excellent written communication skills. I consistently receive cover letters and resumes that contain this simple mistake. Those candidates are ignored because they lack a required skill. So by trying to point this out in an easy-to-remember way, I'm apparently a douche. Got it.
Résumés.
That is all.
Perfectly acceptable with two accents, one over the final e, or none at all.
I always use one accent on the final e, pretty sure that's how I was taught, and it sounds the most... correct, to me anyway. Résumé - Ray-zoo-may and Resumé - Rez-oo-may.
I'll admit that I have to do this most frequently with you're.
This always baffled the hell out of me... (not the its/it's difference) but why "it is" was shortened in the first place. Is the apostrophe really necessary to replace one character and a space?
Tit's or GTFO!
Its a good idea.
They're, there, their/You're your
To, two, too.
I hate to see this type of sentence - "You have to much time on your hands."
"You have to much time on you're hands."
FTFY. This is the true definition of pain.
i hate even repeating that people do this but ... it needs to be said:
are / our .... "protecting are streets" .... seriously people?
also .... could/would/should of ... instead of could/would/should have
i guess "should've" turned into phonetic "should of" ... tsk tsk
... but protecting IS streets.. :)
Sweet Jesus -- the burning pain of "should of"...
To, two, too, 2.
I hate to see this type of sentence - "You have 2 much time on your hands"
FTFY
And when in the fuck did then/than become interchangeable?
since people stopped caring about grammar
since people became too dumb to care about grammar
FTFM
I think they're/there/their is a worse issue then this one.
What's the difference?
Baby steps...