Why correct grammar is so important

[Gerry Seymour]

It can be either en-en, or un-un. I believe it means "no".

Ah, I think you're referring to the sound I've usually seen spelled "uh-uh". It's sometimes also said with a more nasal "a" sound, which could explain your use of the "n".

 

[Steve]

Ah, I think you're referring to the sound I've usually seen spelled "uh-uh". It's sometimes also said with a more nasal "a" sound, which could explain your use of the "n".

Kudos to you. I would never have gotten there from that.

uh-uh - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

en.wiktionary.org

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

The "no nothing" idiom is pretty widely used.

What do you think the elementary school English teacher may think about this usage?

One math class that I took in school taught me that double negative = positive.

-(-5) = 5

 

[Gerry Seymour]

What do you think the elementary school English teacher may think about this usage?

One math class that I took in school taught me that double negative = positive.

-(-5) = 5

That's the general concept in English syntax, as well. But idiom rarely obeys syntactical rules.

 

[Steve]

That's the general concept in English syntax, as well. But idiom rarely obeys syntactical rules.

Yeah, and triple negative equals a positive, and quad negatives net negative. I smile thinking about a Brit's reaction to a sentence like, "You couldn't possibly NOT want to avoid undoing the lack of preparation."

 

[Gerry Seymour]

Yeah, and triple negative equals a positive, and quad negatives net negative. I smile thinking about a Brit's reaction to a sentence like, "You couldn't possibly NOT want to avoid undoing the lack of preparation."

I wish actual memos were still a thing. That sentence begs to be in one, circulated among department heads.

 

[Dirty Dog]

Yeah, and triple negative equals a positive, and quad negatives net negative. I smile thinking about a Brit's reaction to a sentence like, "You couldn't possibly NOT want to avoid undoing the lack of preparation."

I read that, and now my eye won't stop twitching...

 

[Steve]

I wish actual memos were still a thing. That sentence begs to be in one, circulated among department heads.

I can't be sure, but I think that sentence endorses a lack of preparation.

 

[Gerry Seymour]

I can't be sure, but I think that sentence endorses a lack of preparation.

Both halves of that sentence are why it should be in a memo. Memos were rarely actually useful.

 

[donald1]

 

[Steve]

I was born in a country in Europe, where we learned English at school. However, I always knew that I would make my university years in the US. TBH, the English we learn in school is quite different from here. People sometimes do not respect the grammar, which sometimes is pretty confusing. Plus, I needed a bit of retouch. I used a great app, where for example, you inserted the word erudite, and then several sentences appeared with their meaning. For me, it was very easy to understand the unknown terms.

Erudite isn't a word one hears often. If you do use it, you probably are it.

Another good word is luddite, which refers to people who are anti-technology... precursors to the obsurantists today who are anti-science and peddling misinformation to the ignorant about the vaccines and covid-19. Personally, I think the anti-vaxxers are our modern version of luddites, though the word isn't quite right.

Can anyone think of a more appropriate term than luddite?

 

[Monkey Turned Wolf]

Erudite isn't a word one hears often. If you do use it, you probably are it.

I find that most of the time, people who will use erudite in regular conversation are rather grandiloquent.

 

[Steve]

I find that most of the time, people who will use erudite in regular conversation are rather grandiloquent.

And loquacious.