Subject: Re: The First of a Series of Grammatical Corrections...
From: Cecilia Baader (ceciliabaader@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Feb 07 2002 - 12:51:11 GMT
--- Matt Kozusko <mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu> wrote:
>
> Fie, Cecilia, fie. Common usage is for commoners. And descriptive
> grammar is for hippies--and communists. It's a deferal of agency;
> it erases blame and accountability, both for the learning writer and the
> grammarian.
Were I responding to anyone but you, Matt K., whom I adore, I might make
the observation that a grammarian who insists on using "fie" in a sentence
has no business speaking of common usage, since he's abandoned all
pretense of it long ago.
But soft, what light through yonder inbox breaks? It is the east, and
Matt K. is the sun.
(Just trying to make you feel more at home so you'll come back, dearest.)
It occurs to me that I should take this opportunity to answer old Jim's
criticisms. First, dictionary snobbery is no defense, as your dictionary,
grand though it may be, is unequal to mine in at least one respect: the
noun quote.
> P.S. "Evil" in "Evil Matt. K." should probably not have been
> capitalized unless it's a recognized title or name for Mr. K.
Oh, but that's precisely what it is. I thought you would have recognized
that "Evil Matt K." has long been his title, if only among use common
usage folk.
> P.P.S. I don't think you need to include an ellipsis at the beginning of
> a quotation, as you did in the following: "... a passage referred to,
> repeated, or adduced."
An ellipsis is always appropriate when picking up in the middle of a
quotation, as I did. The definition was far longer and I grabbed only
that which applied.
> P.P.P.S. Furthermore, the ellipsis is typed by including a space between
> each period. So, an ellipsis is not "...", but ". . .".
You've got me there. I can only claim the Microsoft Word excuse, since it
corrects me automatically every time I type it properly. I'll admit it,
I've bowed to the Man.
So. Next thing you know, somebody around here is going to stand up and
shout "Digression!" but I have one last response to lower-case will, who
said:
> Huffing and puffing about bad English won't blow my house down.
> Staying attuned to language and its wonders is where the fun is, will--
To that, I must say it's beginning to feel like the old days around here.
Thanks, will, for being you.
I'm just feeling so damned FOND of everybody this morning. (She says,
with a startling burst of candor.)
Regards,
Cecilia.
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