public service announcement, it's time for some english lessons

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jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,918
9
81
man, i don't know what educational system you guys come from, but you sure don't know how to spell. yes, i realize that language is an ever evolving entity. however, get yourself an oed (that's oxford english dictionary), learn some philosphy, pass your english courses and let's get crackin'.

1) the plural of virus is viruses, not virii. who the hell came up with virii? to that person i ask: do you just like seeing a whole bunch of i's strung together?

2) the plural of box is boxes, not boxen. sure this is an extension from vaxen, but seriously it's quite ridiculous. for example "those foxen over there have some nice titii." this type of language abuse will cause your average geek to get smacked across the head by your average non-geek. of course why would a real geek go to a club to see real "foxen" with their real "titii"?

3) "beg the question" - i have not seen one person use this term correctly. what most people want to use is the phrase "raises the question." begging the questions means "the fallacy of founding a conclusion on a basis that as much needs to be proved as the conclusion itself." (eg lying is wrong because we should always be telling the truth). however, i am saddened that the new oed does acknowledge the wrong use of "beg the question."
 
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Orsorum

Lifer
Dec 26, 2001
27,631
5
81
With virus, I think the confusion exists because the ending is similar to a 2nd declension Latin masculine word, which has "-us" as its singular nominative and "-ii" (or an "i" with a macron) as its plural nominative.

Or maybe I'm full of it.
 
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digitalsm

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2003
5,253
0
0
Originally posted by: jhu
man, i don't know what educational system you guys come from, but you sure don't know how to spell. yes, i realize that language is an ever evolving entity. however, get yourself an oed (that's oxford english dictionary), learn some philosphy, pass your english courses and let's get crackin'.

1) the plural of virus is viruses, not virii. who the hell came up with virii? to that person i ask: do you just like seeing a whole bunch of i's strung together?

2) the plural of box is boxes, not boxen. sure this is an extension from vaxen, but seriously it's quite ridiculous. for example "those foxen over there have some nice titii." this type of language abuse will cause your average geek to get smacked across the head by your average non-geek. of course why would a real geek go to a club to see real "foxen" with their real "titii"?

3) "beg the question" - i have not seen one person use this term correctly. what most people want to use is the phrase "raises the question." begging the questions means "the fallacy of founding a conclusion on a basis that as much needs to be proved as the conclusion itself." (eg lying is wrong because we should always be telling the truth). however, i am saddened that the new oed does acknowledge the wrong use of "beg the question."
Click to expand...

Virii is the term used for computer viruses. IE: Instead of saying computer virus(viruses), just say virii. Its the same thing.
 
Anubis

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,712
427
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: SaigonK
My favorties are

"teh good" christ that doesnt even make sense if it were spelled correctly!

What idiot came up with that!?!
Click to expand...

you mean like teh suck?
 
J

jhu

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
11,918
9
81
Language is not static, it evolves

i already said that, but at least it could evolve in a consisten fashion.
 
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EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
Originally posted by: jhu
Language is not static, it evolves

i already said that, but at least it could evolve in a consisten fashion.
Click to expand...

English is so freaking stupid inconsistant to begin with, does it really matter?

In grade school english, they spend 1 year teaching you the way it "is" and then the next 11 years teaching you the exceptions.
 
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skriefal

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2000
1,424
3
81
I've recent discovered the phrase "NO YUO". This is every bit as hideous, misspelled, and grammatically incorrect as "teh good" and "teh bad". Hopefully it'll be a short-lived fad.
 
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TwinkleToes77

Diamond Member
Jul 13, 2002
5,086
1
0
You know, if you are going to do a PSA on spelling, you should atleast spell correctly as well.. I'll assume it was a typo.. but philosophy was incorrectly spelled in your opening paragraph :)
man, i don't know what educational system you guys come from, but you sure don't know how to spell. yes, i realize that language is an ever evolving entity. however, get yourself an oed (that's oxford english dictionary), learn some philosphy, pass your english courses and let's get crackin'.
Click to expand...
 
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EyeMWing

Banned
Jun 13, 2003
15,670
1
0
Originally posted by: skriefal
I've recent discovered the phrase "NO YUO". This is every bit as hideous, misspelled, and grammatically incorrect as "teh good" and "teh bad". Hopefully it'll be a short-lived fad.
Click to expand...


"NO YUO"? Definition?
 
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starknaked

Member
Jan 27, 2004
47
0
0
Two more things.

1. The word is spelled "weird", NOT "wierd". Most people misspell it.

2. Learn the proper use of the word "literally". It means "word for word, exactly as the words say". It is not a way of emphasizing your point. If you say, "I literally kicked the crap out of him", this does not mean that you beat him severely. It means that you kicked him until crap came out of him.
 
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jjones

Lifer
Oct 9, 2001
15,424
2
0
Originally posted by: starknaked
Two more things.

1. The word is spelled "weird", NOT "wierd". Most people misspell it.

2. Learn the proper use of the word "literally". It means "word for word, exactly as the words say". It is not a way of emphasizing your point. If you say, "I literally kicked the crap out of him", this does not mean that you beat him severely. It means that you kicked him until crap came out of him.
Click to expand...
Well, I did...crap was flying everywhere... I had to get new shoes.

 
mugs

mugs

Lifer
Apr 29, 2003
48,920
46
91
"Close minded" is not correct. "Closed-minded" is correct (hyphen is optional). You're describing the openness of their mind, not its physical proximity to something.

"Alot" is not correct. "A lot" is. I don't understand how people don't know this, they pound it into your head in school.
 
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PowerMacG5

Diamond Member
Apr 14, 2002
7,701
0
0
Originally posted by: guyver01
How did you miss the phrase "I COULD CARE LESS" in your rant????
Click to expand...

I'll rant it up. The proper way is "I couldn't care less." </end little rant>
 
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