>One grammar doesn't fit all. Boy, that's for sure. And it's not just differences between countries. The US is such a big place that there are significant regional differences. Several of Harold's examples of proper US grammar (or at least commonly used US grammar) are not proper in the western states where I've lived. For example, although we've certainly heard "quarter of four" for 3:45, it sounds as strange to me as it does to Harold. "Quarter to" is far more common, at least where I've lived (and among my friends from elsewhere). There were other things in Harold's well-thought-out list that made me sit up and say, "that's not how we talk or write here," although I don't think there was anything in his list that was flat-out wrong.
I have the utmost respect for anybody who can put together a useful grammar checker. However, most professional writers I work with either don't use a grammar checker, or use one as a way to find some problems, such as checking for passive voice, while ignoring much of what the checker points out. Grammar checkers work about as well as translating software. They can be helpful, but it's a bad idea to rely on them entirely. There's just no such thing as *a* standard English, and the language would be weakened if one were imposed. On the other hand, I also write sometimes in German. A grammar checker would help me find the errors I inevitably make in my second language, and so would be very helpful. I suspect, though, that I wouldn't want to accept all of the checker's suggested changes, even in a language that's closer to having a single standard (as long as you don't start getting into dialects, which are a whole different story and are a lot of fun). Even then, there are some big differences between proper German in Germany and proper German in Austria. That's just how language is. And I'm glad. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
