On Fri, 31 Jul 2015, Gary Collins wrote:
I think that register is an important consideration. Colloquial
language tends to be in a state of flux and dictionaries will always
lag behind. Formal language tends to be far more conservative, and
that, I think, is where "proper" is likely to be a more important
consideration.
Is either "more correct" than the other? Not really. It depends on
the nature and purpose of the communication. But "improper" use
of words and grammar will, of course, give the impression that the
communicator has been "poorly educated." (Again, that could be
considered a "loaded concept".) Where "making a good impression" is
important, dictionaries are very useful tools indeed.
/Gary
I fully concur. for instance misspelled words don't always impair
understanding but they can give a bad impression.
I only wanted to say dictionaries are not 'authorities' except as
snapshots of actual usage.
thanks.
f.
From: Felmon Davis <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, 30 July 2015, 21:48
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] Question about LO Writer and "complex
documents"
On Wed, 29 Jul 2015, anne-ology wrote:
grammar skillfully employed procures meaningful communication,
[see below for comments to your comments]
yes, 'skillful' is not the same as 'proper'.
or let's put it this way, 'proper' is ambiguous. it could mean
'according to some accepted standard' or it could be 'adept'.
an act of communication can be 'improper' but apt or 'proper' but
inept.
some think 'the King and me' is 'improper' and should be 'the King and
I'. aside from reasons of gentility they are equally fit to purpose.
[pardon the deletions]
Without good communication skills, then how can anyone be a part of
any community ???
I doubt 'good communication skills' require 'proper' grammar.
[well, how would you punctuate this sentence? -
Woman without her man is helpless
(yes, it's an old time example used by probably every English
instructor since ... )
It could be 'Woman, without her man, is helpless.' or 'Woman:
without her, man is helpless.']
the spoken sentences would be unambiguous.
here are some other punctuations:
Woman! without her man is helpless.
Woman - without her, man is helpless.
some grammar 'authority' will favor one, some another. it is pointless
to dispute such religious questions.
speaking of which: to me it's anathema how Brits sprinkle commas all
over their sentences; after all they aren't Germans!
f.
--
Felmon Davis
Do not fold, spindle or mutilate.
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