Encouraging the potential Grammar Nazi in all of us
Aug 30
When I first heard the term “Grammar Nazi” , I knew immediately that it applied to me. I come by it naturally… my father is a Grammar Nazi. So, when I saw the book Eats, Shoots and Leaves on the Today Show, I immediately began to violate the 10th commandment. I do not yet own the book, but as I hope to continue the line of grammar nazis in our family, I will be buying one for Jack at the earliest opportunity. The book teaches, through illustrations, the correct use of commas, and how misplacing or leaving out a comma all together can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example:
The student, said the teacher, is crazy.
The student said the teacher is crazy.
Try this online game to see if you need to buy the book.
Results: I’m a 58% stickler and it said Buy the Book! I did quite horrible on the apostrophe questions! I worry for my future children (:
Results: I’m an 83% stickler. (the result of growing up under the instruction of a grammar nazi)
Results: 100% (pray for Emily… she lives with the ultimate stickler)
Yay! I got 100% too. I’m quite proud to be a grammar nazi, though I try not to annoy other people with my obsession. But finding grammar mistakes fills me with a strange joy. 🙂
I should take the test again. It was my 25th birthday and I may have eaten too much cake or something. (: I really have no excuses, my dad was a teacher and my mom wanted to teach English had she been a teacher!
Thanks for the great gift idea for Mark! And me too, unfortunately – only 67%. We’re always proofing (or trying to) each other’s english – which is hard for 2 chemists. How many grammar mistakes did I make in the above???
I’m impressed that everyone was above 50% at least. She supposedly is going to come out next with a book on the correct use of the apostrophe. I think every person who has anything to do with making signs, billboards, etc. should be required to own it! They seem to be some of the worst offenders.
Randa,
I would agree about who needs the book, but I would add a category. I’m just not going to say what that category is 🙂
Steve,
Hmmmm, what could you possibly be talking about…? Don’t worry, if the book comes out, I’ll make a donation of that book in your name to the church library so it will be available for reference!
Eschew obfuscation.