Do grammatical errors bother you? - Page 2

SneakySnake · 10-22-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

What was wrong with "hone in on?"

It was the context. I thought "home in on" was correct for the story.

E.g. homing in on a location.

maybe "hone in on" is acceptable. We have a living language that changes with use, and I guess if a term is used and understood it is correct, regardless of it's origins.

dmacmart · 10-22-2010, 10:23 PM

The Alot is better than you at everything:

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.co...verything.html

(my son just showed this to me today ...)

However I agree that proofread books should be held to a higher standard

Lady Fitzgerald · 10-22-2010, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

What was wrong with "hone in on?"

The original term was home in on.

SneakySnake · 10-22-2010, 10:35 PM

I wonder what honing pigeons do?

Lady Fitzgerald · 10-22-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I wonder what honing pigeons do?

Sharpen their homing skills?

bgalbrecht · 10-22-2010, 11:51 PM

My pet peeve is "try and" instead of "try to". Try to get it right, folks

SneakySnake · 10-22-2010, 11:56 PM

Why is it that 'oblivious to' sounds OK, when 'unaware to' sounds wrong?

Is it the common use thing again?

Viseguy · 10-23-2010, 01:02 AM

"Hone in on" is an error of usage, not grammar.

Worldwalker · 10-23-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravensknight

our languages are alive. That means they grow, change, etc, etc. Grammar rules are NOT the 10 Commandments set in Tablets of Stone.

And I was with those who had to go look why "hone in on" was 'wrong'.

And once again, we hear from the people who remember nothing of their English classes but "our languages are alive." They don't remember anything else, but they remember the one thing they think gives them a license to be sloppy.

There is a difference between "growing, changing, etc." and just being an utter slob who doesn't know how to use a word and picks one that sounds kind of similar, like "your" for "you're" or "there" for "their". They throw away meaning when they talk of a "straight jacket" and have no clue why it's straighter than any other jacket (it isn't -- it's strait, as in tight) or talk about "free reign" as if kings had something to do with letting a horse find its own way, that is, giving it free rein. They lose all the meanings that words have gained and keep only the sound, and figure if "rain" and "reign" and "rein" all sound the same, they're interchangeable. After all, written language is only a way of reproducing the sound, right, so you just sound it out and understand what you just said ... right? ... right?

We should use "literal" to mean "not literal", right? After all, we don't really need a word that means what "literal" means now. If you want to say you figuratively exploded, people will know what you mean when you say you literally exploded; if you went 'pop' you won't be here to write about it anyway. And sure, "hone" and "home" sound kind of the same, so let's just use "hone" to mean "home". After all, "sharpening in on" is a common phrase; you say you sharpen in on things every day, don't you? There's no reason to keep the meanings of words. Just keep the sounds, and that'll be fine ... won't it?

That kind of "growth" we don't need. As C.S. Lewis said, I've seen that in an egg -- we call it 'going bad'.

lene1949 · 10-23-2010, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

What was wrong with "hone in on?"

Hey! You! That was supposed to be MY question...

lene1949 · 10-23-2010, 02:11 AM

Gosh... I have a lot to learn...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worldwalker

And once again, we hear from the people who remember nothing of their English classes but "our languages are alive." They don't remember anything else, but they remember the one thing they think gives them a license to be sloppy.

There is a difference between "growing, changing, etc." and just being an utter slob who doesn't know how to use a word and picks one that sounds kind of similar, like "your" for "you're" or "there" for "their". They throw away meaning when they talk of a "straight jacket" and have no clue why it's straighter than any other jacket (it isn't -- it's strait, as in tight) or talk about "free reign" as if kings had something to do with letting a horse find its own way, that is, giving it free rein. They lose all the meanings that words have gained and keep only the sound, and figure if "rain" and "reign" and "rein" all sound the same, they're interchangeable. After all, written language is only a way of reproducing the sound, right, so you just sound it out and understand what you just said ... right? ... right?

We should use "literal" to mean "not literal", right? After all, we don't really need a word that means what "literal" means now. If you want to say you figuratively exploded, people will know what you mean when you say you literally exploded; if you went 'pop' you won't be here to write about it anyway. And sure, "hone" and "home" sound kind of the same, so let's just use "hone" to mean "home". After all, "sharpening in on" is a common phrase; you say you sharpen in on things every day, don't you? There's no reason to keep the meanings of words. Just keep the sounds, and that'll be fine ... won't it?

That kind of "growth" we don't need. As C.S. Lewis said, I've seen that in an egg -- we call it 'going bad'.

SneakySnake · 10-23-2010, 02:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viseguy

"Hone in on" is an error of usage, not grammar.

I tend to think that it is both. I can't really understand why and where one would use the term 'hone in on'. I guess it is possible, but I think it would sound clumsy.

Still: I am willing to be educated.

boxcorner · 10-23-2010, 03:54 AM

Edited by boxcorner

FlorenceArt · 10-23-2010, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

My pet peeve is "try and" instead of "try to". Try to get it right, folks

Actually, that's how I learned it at school, if I remember correctly. I mean "try and" was taught as the correct form. For a while I felt slightly guilty using "try to", but I got used to it as everyone seems to use it that way.

Jellby · 10-23-2010, 04:06 AM

Typos and mistakes I can understand, but it makes me mad when I see consistent usage or gramatical errors. For instance, in the last paper book I've read the imperative is wrong all the time ("sentaros" instead of "sentaos" in Spanish), which is a common problem in everyday language, but unnaceptable in a printed book. In the book I'm reading now I've seen already a couple of times "morriña" (homesickness) used where "modorra" (drowsiness) would have made sense.

10-23-2010, 03:54 AM	#28
boxcorner »(°±°)« Posts: 826 Karma: 775629 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: divisive reader	Edited by boxcorner Last edited by boxcorner; 10-26-2010 at 02:31 AM.

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10-22-2010, 10:23 PM	#17
dmacmart Fanatic Posts: 534 Karma: 696908 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Ottawa Canada Device: Kobo Mini, Glo, Arc, H2O, iPhone, iPad 2, (husband)Touch	The Alot is better than you at everything: http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.co...verything.html (my son just showed this to me today ...) However I agree that proofread books should be held to a higher standard

10-22-2010, 10:35 PM	#19
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	I wonder what honing pigeons do?

10-22-2010, 11:51 PM	#21
bgalbrecht Wizard Posts: 1,806 Karma: 13399999 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US Device: Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Clara HD, Kindle 4	My pet peeve is "try and" instead of "try to". Try to get it right, folks

10-22-2010, 11:56 PM	#22
SneakySnake I'm watching you! Posts: 6,113 Karma: 22344652 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sunny Coast Qld, OZ Device: Sony PRS-900(unused lately) iPadAir2, want me Kindle Oasis	Why is it that 'oblivious to' sounds OK, when 'unaware to' sounds wrong? Is it the common use thing again?

10-23-2010, 01:02 AM	#23
Viseguy Just a kid from Bklyn Posts: 135 Karma: 4448 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle 3 Wi-Fi; Samsung Galaxy Tab 7	"Hone in on" is an error of usage, not grammar.

10-23-2010, 04:06 AM	#30
Jellby frumious Bandersnatch Posts: 7,548 Karma: 19500001 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Spaniard in Sweden Device: Cybook Orizon, Kobo Aura	Typos and mistakes I can understand, but it makes me mad when I see consistent usage or gramatical errors. For instance, in the last paper book I've read the imperative is wrong all the time ("sentaros" instead of "sentaos" in Spanish), which is a common problem in everyday language, but unnaceptable in a printed book. In the book I'm reading now I've seen already a couple of times "morriña" (homesickness) used where "modorra" (drowsiness) would have made sense.

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