Basic English - 101
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19909
Printed Date: 03 April 2026 at 12:41am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Basic English - 101
Posted By: BugTeeny
Subject: Basic English - 101
Date Posted: 07 August 2008 at 9:05pm
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Smiths City - what were you thinking?
Latest ad campaign: Smiths City, Make's it easy! MAKE'S???? Since WHEN does the word 'makes' have an apostrophe? And I am the only Grammar Nazi when it comes to advertising? Or books? or is that 'book's'? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 07 August 2008 at 9:09pm
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Nope, I am a stickler for grammar too, Chinese english on signs at takeaways etc. drives me NUTS! -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 07 August 2008 at 9:16pm
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Gahhhhhhhh. It's killing me already.
*tic* *tic* |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 07 August 2008 at 9:33pm
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I'm always annoying DH by pointing out spelling and grammar mistakes in mailers and on signs etc, but I'm also chronic for not proofreading when I'm in a hurry. Such a hypocrite! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 07 August 2008 at 9:37pm
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I am the same and my DH is a printer! I am forever picking up mistakes in stuff, but the funny thing is its stuff that has already been approved from the Media Agencies!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 7:04am
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ME TOO! living in japan drove me nuts but at least they had an excuse that English wasn't their first language. i am shocking on this forum though. bad typing more than grammar
BTW just told all my students if they used american spelling they would FAIL NCEA. |
Posted By: ellen
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 7:33am
| I always notice spelling mistakes. What I've found hard is texting language. I always use apostrophes (sp?) and only have a few things I abbreviate. Some of my kids texts take ages for me to work out cause I don't get it straight away. But then I'm the same with personalised number plates - most of them puzzle me. |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 8:05am
That is pretty poor & to think it had probably been checked by numerous people 
I always notice & point out bad spelling & grammar. I think I get it from my Mum who's always done the same. Blackboard menus & fruit & veges shops are often the worst. Avacado or potatoe anyone?? -------------    
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Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 11:12am
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I too am sick of chineese spelling its always wrong, I just have a little chuckle when I see it.
I think schools should learn NZ english and no way should they be allowed to use txt english. That is just silly. So I am with you Lizzle Hmm I love Avacado and potatoe. lol I must say I am not the best when it comes to spelling but I am usually quite good. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 11:28am
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I hate bad spelling and grammar too. Although sometimes on here mine's shocking.
I'm not as much of a grammar/spelling nazi as some people though. I've borrowed library book before in which someone has penned corrections. -------------  
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 11:37am
I just had a little chuckle when I saw your spelling of Chinese   ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Dagster wrote:Posted By: Red
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 11:41am
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Don't get me started on bad spelling it drives me insane! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 12:05pm
I did the same thing  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 12:32pm
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Glad to hear I'm not the only one who gets annoyed about such things!
Has anyone read Eats, shoots and leaves? I read it a few years ago but I remember enjoying it, though I think it made me even more of a punctuation nazi than I was before! I get particularly irritated by people putting apostrophes where there shouldn't be any - I know someone who puts them in EVERY word with an s on the end! Every word! Drives me crazy! Lol checking back over my post now in case there are any errors... ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BugTeeny
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 4:41pm
Yeah, I know a few people who do the same. To a point it's forgivable. Not everyone has a grasp of the written language. Heck, I am crap at maths, so no one's perfect. And I know I'm not overly careful when it comes to typing. But for it to be on an ADVERTISEMENT! Like sally belly said, several people would've checked it. Shameful. -------------
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 08 August 2008 at 4:50pm
 I'm shocking with apostrophes (DH would always give me lessons when proofing my essays) but I'm anal about grammar and spelling. However, even with my apostrophe "shockingness", I would have picked up the Smiths City cockup!------------- Mum to two wee boys |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 3:12pm
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I am an apostrophe Nazi. The one that bugs me the most is advertising the likes of a Mum's Group. Um, does that mean that only one is invited???!?! ------------- |
Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 5:51pm
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Yep I'm an apostrophe nazi as well.
Also TVNZ and TV3 have been bad lately with spelling. I saw some subtitling on TVNZ for that Maori language show where they'd subtitled brakes (for a car) as breaks. And TV3's target had breach as "breech" the other night. I have "eats, shoots and leaves" but I never get to read it as it's on permanent loan. -------------  
 
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Posted By: linda
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 6:10pm
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Someone at my office uses 'whom' all the time and even though I correct him every time he still doesn't get it. The other thing I hate is yous instead of you. I also correct emails from staff where they have used incorrect grammar or spelling. It just worries me what they email out to clients. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Alex 6 and Harry 8 |
Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 6:57pm
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Ditto.
I still cannot bring myself to text in "txt speak". The only time I do is when I am low on credit and need to make sure I don't run into two texts instead of one. I am super fussy about that kind of thing, especially when I know people can spellcheck and must have people who read it before it's approved. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 9:28pm
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I like when people are talking about something being 'gutting' and say 'guttering'
'It's so guttering'.... um? Guttering: the stuff on your roof? Makes one Emma very perplexed! DH says: yous instead of you seen instead of saw etc etc I *suppose* he's from Westport and his mother is a shocker too so he does have some excuse. You would think though after 5 years of being together that I would have drilled it into him by now, wouldn't you? |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 9:34pm
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My pet hate is when people say "aks" instead of ASK.....WTF....isnt that basic english!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 09 August 2008 at 9:57pm
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I haven't read the book but the title always cracks me up. Makes me think of the panda eating, shooting then leaving - LOL. -------------
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 11:25am
Yuhuh. I have it at home (stole it from mum ) and loved it! It made me more of a punctuation nazi but then I realised how much of the english language I have absolutely no idea about as well. I was quite ashamed!
I have started using semi colons a lot more after reading E,S&L. he. The next one isn't quite as funny and I still haven't finished it despite starting it years ago. 
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Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 12:24pm
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Okay so i couldnt care less about grammar, if its something INFORMAL. Like, ohbaby for example. Or a text to a mate.
I think that being overly fussy about grammer is just annoying. Yeah when its something proper i understand. But if your mate texts you and is all "hey man, sup?" are you really going to say "Im a woman. and its "what is up" not "sup". Its like woah, chill out a bit. lol. Txt speak does get to me sometimes, like when people spell words with a z or replace a ltetter that is pointless cause why dont you just spell it properly in the first place your not using any less letters. Or when my mate says "suxs" WTF? why the extra s? haha and a couple of my mates (they are sisters) they spell really horribly. Like one just spelt Bored BOARD. Spelling annoys me i guess. Im sh*t with grammer. Like commas and what not. Oh and signs and sh*t i always crack up when they have typos.
hahaha to show how bad her spelling is this is just what she msn'd me "man i just lighted a candel and it smellt like burnt sallery" ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 4:36pm
I have a friend and cousin who do this, its actually a speech impediment. I used to feel the same way about "f" instead of "th" except my cousin also does this and speech therapy did not help her any! My grammar is terrible and I will add in an apostrophe when it isn't needed. What annoys me is people who don't spell check there CV before applying for a job! Way to impress!!! Or when they fail to realise that we can see what you titled your CV, sheesh. -------------   
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 4:39pm
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Yeah I'm only really a grammar nazi for public signs etc. where people should really know better.
I have no problem with informal communications on OB etc. God knows I'm pretty bad at times anyway -------------
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Posted By: AuntieSarah
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 6:03pm
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Another one that makes me laugh is when people say they're "wrapped" with something instead of "rapt". ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 6:10pm
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Haha yeah at suxs, that gets to me too! And wrapped lol.
Their/there/they're is my biggie. It also really bugs me when my friend will text something like "r u cuming tonite?".... why she can't just write 'coming' I don't know. It's dirty with a u!! Lol. Sometimes I say words all wrong, especially if I'm tired. Quite embarrassing considering I'm a teacher and all lol. ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: my4beauties
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 6:24pm
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Haha, that "cuming" annoys me as well. It doesn't look right at all! Especially when my mum texts it to me!!! I feel like replying "actually it's none of your business"
I think that most of the time I'm pretty good with spelling & the like. Dh on the other hand is really bad. He always spells "does" like "dose". Bugs me so much. Especially when he's doing a quote, and I read it after he's sent it to he client, and it has soo many spelling mistakes. They must think a muppet has written it up! Surprises me when he gets the job though. ------------- My babies: R (9),G (7), J (5) http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 10:10pm
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I hate that "cuming" as well, it just looking so rude. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: MelanieAndBree
Date Posted: 11 August 2008 at 11:06pm
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Yeah and its stupid. Like its harder to type O instead of U! ------------- Melanie. Mum to Briahna Robyn, 3yrs |
Posted By: Paws
Date Posted: 12 August 2008 at 6:35am
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How the heck did that sign get through??? ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 12 August 2008 at 9:19am
Don't count me as defending it because I also think it's crap, but I think the logic is that O and M are on the same button so you have to wait that millisecond longer until you can push it again... whereas if you push U then you can just keep on pressing IYGWIM. |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 12 August 2008 at 1:38pm
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I also don't get why people have to type lyke instead of like - its the same number of letters....and the I isn't on the same key as l or k
AND I hate excess use of apostrophies - it actually makes my stomach feel yuckky. Annnd (along the same lines) Box's, bus's thanxs and suxs (lol mel said that too, and lol at burntt sellary) ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: queenbean
Date Posted: 12 August 2008 at 2:08pm
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Hehe, my "annoying" ad at the moment is the Westpac Helicopter one...
"and done CPR" Was kinda cute at first, now just plain annoying. -------------   
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 12 August 2008 at 2:16pm
Omigoodness. I knooooooooooow. It's like you can see the cycle of bad english starting right there when the kid repeats it straight after him. Arghsfksjhgksrbg |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 12 August 2008 at 2:29pm
Couldn't have said it better myself queenbeen -------------
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Posted By: fire_engine
Date Posted: 13 August 2008 at 2:01pm
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can anyone explain the new suzuki ad - "swift - it's smiles better".
??????? ------------- Mum to two wee boys |