The Ledge Usage Guide

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

It's NOT "would of," "could of," or "should of," it's "would've," "could've," or "should've."

That drives me insane. I also can't stand people making 'a lot' and 'at least' one word. Atleast.... *rips hair out*

I had a friend who said "agleast" when she spoke, too. My ears burned each time.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

That drives me insane. I also can't stand people making 'a lot' and 'at least' one word. Atleast.... *rips hair out*

Speaking of which, can we declare a moratorium on committing the same sin with regard to Stevie song titles?

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Speaking of which, can we declare a moratorium on committing the same sin with regard to Stevie song titles?

As in StandBack? I think that's the only one I've seen put together as one word.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

As in StandBack? I think that's the only one I've seen put together as one word.

"Everyday" is another offender. Not a bad description of the song, but not its proper title.

Actually, that's another good point to make in this thread:

"Every day" is an adverbial phrase, referring to something which happens daily.

"Everyday" is an adjective meaning commonplace or ordinary, or appropriate for routine use.

(Other Stevie song titles that need not be shoved together: "Bella Donna," "Wild Heart.")

[goldustsongbird]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

"Everyday" is another offender. Not a bad description of the song, but not its proper title.

Actually, that's another good point to make in this thread:

"Every day" is an adverbial phrase, referring to something which happens daily.

"Everyday" is an adjective meaning commonplace or ordinary, or appropriate for routine use.

(Other Stevie song titles that need not be shoved together: "Bella Donna," "Wild Heart.")

Yeah, that's another one. I've never seen Wild Heart put together. Wildheart?
That's almost as bad as Goldust Woman. I saw that in a Rumours album review once, frighteningly enough. I'm gonna hope and pray that it was just a weird typo.

[Rickypt]

Originally Posted by goldustsongbird

As in StandBack? I think that's the only one I've seen put together as one word.

"That's Alright"

Christine makes her own errors; that "you, you, you, you, you and I" song should be "you, you, you, you, you, and me".

Obviously in music the rules are broken to sound better to the ear.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by Rickypt

"That's Alright"

Although (I almost just typed "all though"... and then "all most") that's the actual title of the song, so that's Stevie's fault, not the fans'.

We had a very good thread about solecisms in Fleetwood Mac lyrics in the Rumours forum a while back. Also (all so?) started by David, of course.

But yeah, proper grammar has never been at the top of the priority list in most popular music, nor should it be.

[ragandbone]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

(Other Stevie song titles that need not be shoved together: "Bella Donna," "Wild Heart.")

If you shove the words together you are talking about a poisonous herb, or a Daniel Lanois album.

I find that I am never sure whether to use "which" or "that" and no amount of study in my style and grammar books has ever cemented the rule. I believe I used to understand when to use each, but now the neural connection is broken. It is like the block I have with the spelling of occasion, a word I missed in the county finals of my 8th grade spelling bee. I will never be sure of the spelling of that word.

Does anyone here own the Transitive Vampire? The author's example sentences are very amusing.

[Jyqm]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

I find that I am never sure whether to use "which" or "that" and no amount of study in my style and grammar books has ever cemented the rule. I believe I used to understand when to use each, but now the neural connection is broken. It is like the block I have with the spelling of occasion, a word I missed in the county finals of my 8th grade spelling bee. I will never be sure of the spelling of that word.

I think "that" and "which," at this point, are acceptably interchangeable in most cases. There is a distinction, but I think even grammar books these days recognize that it's not really worth making.

"That" is actually a fairly tricky word. There are four uses of it:

1) as a noun/pronoun. "That is one of my favorite songs."
2) as a determiner. "That pie is tastier than the others."
3) as a conjunction. "I think even most grammar books these days recognize that it's not really worth making."
4) as a relative pronoun. "I used to put up with her attitude, but telling me I look fat was the straw that broke the camel's back." (This is the one that is sometimes interchangeable with "which.")

I think the general rule for that/which is that if the clause is absolutely necessary for the sentence to make sense, use "that."

"Dogs that bite are dangerous." If you take out the clause "that bite," the sentence doesn't mean the same thing anymore: "Dogs are dangerous." So you use "that."

"The article, which talks about the dangers of owning large dogs, was printed in Sunday's paper." This sentence still makes sense and means the same thing if you take out the clause: "The article was printed in Sunday's paper." So you use "which," and you also usually separate the clause with commas.

I think that's the rule, anyway.

[Johnny Stew]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

Although that's the actual title of the song, so that's Stevie's fault, not the fans'.

I think the one that stands out for me the most, is "Skies The Limit." Eek!
Granted "skies" looks more aesthetically pleasing than "sky's," but that doesn't excuse it.

[elie]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

3) as a conjunction. "I think even most grammar b

I think the general rule for that/which is that if the clause is absolutely necessary for the sentence to make sense, use "that."

"Dogs that bite are dangerous." If you take out the clause "that bite," the sentence doesn't mean the same thing anymore: "Dogs are dangerous." So you use "that."

"The article, which talks about the dangers of owning large dogs, was printed in Sunday's paper." This sentence still makes sense and means the same thing if you take out the clause: "The article was printed in Sunday's paper." So you use "which," and you also usually separate the clause with commas.

I think that's the rule, anyway.

Jyqm, that's really very interesting! I knew I have to put a comma before "which" (not necessary with "that") but I didn't have a particular rule in mind as to when it is more correct to use "that" or "which"..

[skcin]

Originally Posted by Jyqm

2) "etc." - This is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "et cetera," meaning "and the rest" or "and other such things." It is not written "ect," for obvious reasons. I think the reason people write this incorrectly is because they pronounce it incorrectly when they speak it. It's pronounced just as it's written, though: "et cetera." Not "eck cetera," as many people seem to say.

God bless you, sir. This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine.

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

I think the one that stands out for me the most, is "Skies The Limit." Eek!
Granted "skies" looks more aesthetically pleasing than "sky's," but that doesn't excuse it.

That has driven me crazy for years.

[cliffdweller]

I've been reading through this thread now for about 15 minutes (albeit half-assedly) and I've gotta say that this is one of the most boring threads I've read in a long time!

I'm sorry, I guess it's just that I can't stand lengthy conversation about prescriptivist grammar. ~snooze~

I know, I know, move on to another thread, and here I go...

[DrummerDeanna]

There is no "x" in Espresso.


That's all.

[skcin]

It's Christopher REEVE. NOT REEVES

I don't know what that has to do with anything, but there it is.