William Safire

[RedScare]

This is not exactly Houston, but it is media. William Safire died on Sunday.

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/s/william_safire/index.html

I didn't exactly expect the media onslaught that erupted in the wake of Michael Jackson's death, but I did expect Safire's death to be noted here. Given the grammar, spelling and mangled metaphors that we see on the forum, it would not be too surprising if no one even knew that Safire for years wrote a column on the history of words and phrases. To a word and metaphor geek like myself, it was great stuff. I loved reading about the origins of scofflaws, malcontents and ne'er do wells, and the regional differences between cattycorner, kittycorner and cattywampus.

RIP, Mr. Safire.

Here is a collection of Safire columns for those who enjoy this sort of thing.

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/features/magazine/columns/on_language/index.html

[JLWM8609]

This is not exactly Houston, but it is media. William Safire died on Sunday.

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/s/william_safire/index.html

I didn't exactly expect the media onslaught that erupted in the wake of Michael Jackson's death, but I did expect Safire's death to be noted here. Given the grammar, spelling and mangled metaphors that we see on the forum, it would not be too surprising if no one even knew that Safire for years wrote a column on the history of words and phrases. To a word and metaphor geek like myself, it was great stuff. I loved reading about the origins of scofflaws, malcontents and ne'er do wells, and the regional differences between cattycorner, kittycorner and cattywampus.

RIP, Mr. Safire.

Here is a collection of Safire columns for those who enjoy this sort of thing.

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/features/magazine/columns/on_language/index.html

I read many of Safire's columns while in undergrad. They were of interest because I was majoring in English. One column that stands out in my mind was this one about the misuse of "of".

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/magazine/13wwln-safire-t.html?ei=5124&en=c4c2b9f5a8fb8cd5&ex=1357707600&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&pagewanted=all

[RedScare]

I read many of Safire's columns while in undergrad. They were of interest because I was majoring in English. One column that stands out in my mind was this one about the misuse of "of".

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/magazine/13wwln-safire-t.html?ei=5124&en=c4c2b9f5a8fb8cd5&ex=1357707600&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&pagewanted=all

Definitely one of my many grammar gripes.

I cannot find my all-time favorite column on the origins of cattycorner, but I always enjoyed this discussion of the origin of varmints.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnsafire.t.html

[JLWM8609]

Definitely one of my many grammar gripes.

I cannot find my all-time favorite column on the origins of cattycorner, but I always enjoyed this discussion of the origin of varmints.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/magazine/22wwlnsafire.t.html

My main grammar gripes are misuse of their, they're and there, misuse of your and you're, and misuse of apostrophes.

I don't know why those rule's are so hard to follow, their easy rules to remember. I tell anyone who messes them up that you're grammar need's work.

For those who can't see the obvious, the above sentence purposely contained those errors.

[TheNiche]

My main grammar gripes are misuse of their, they're and there, misuse of your and you're, and misuse of apostrophes.

I don't know why those rule's are so hard to follow, their easy rules to remember. I tell anyone who messes them up that you're grammar need's work.

For those who can't see the obvious, the above sentence purposely contained those errors.

The misuse of of doesn't bother me much. It may be inefficient but is pretty well entrenched, so I'm inclined to get used to it and let it be. I'm with you though about the simple things, especially their, they're, and there. That's not even so much of a grammatical thing as it is vocabulary. ...very basic vocabulary.

[RedScare]

The very first misuse of of in the article, should of instead of should've or should have, drives me to distraction. However, my love of Safire's columns is more for the origins of obscure words and phrases, as well as more current ones, as well as their use in modern language. In a world that increasingly shuns colorful language for the lazy monosylabic and intentionally misspelled language that we are forced to endure, Safire evoked a time when language painted a more vivid picture. Strangely, improving technology seems to encourage poor vocabulary rather than enhance it.

[AtticaFlinch]

The very first misuse of of in the article, should of instead of should've or should have, drives me to distraction. However, my love of Safire's columns is more for the origins of obscure words and phrases, as well as more current ones, as well as their use in modern language. In a world that increasingly shuns colorful language for the lazy monosylabic and intentionally misspelled language that we are forced to endure, Safire evoked a time when language painted a more vivid picture. Strangely, improving technology seems to encourage poor vocabulary rather than enhance it.

wtf r u talkin bout?

[NenaE]

My main grammar gripes are misuse of their, they're and there, misuse of your and you're, and misuse of apostrophes.

I don't know why those rule's are so hard to follow, their easy rules to remember. I tell anyone who messes them up that you're grammar need's work.

For those who can't see the obvious, the above sentence purposely contained those errors.

My problem is overuse of commas. I admit it. And I've noticed (on internet sites) that many people are not very good spellers.

[AtticaFlinch]

My problem is overuse of commas. I admit it. And I've noticed (on internet sites) that many people are not very good spellers.

I've tried to impress on people the importance of grammar, spelling and punctuation, especially when typing on the internet, but rarely do people care. I contend without tonality or inflection to convey meaning (as with the spoken word), it's even more important to use proper English. If an idea cannot be communicated properly, then what's the point of writing it at all?

But then again, who needs proper grammar, spelling and punctuation when you've got a smilie or two to fill in the gaps?

Signed,

AtticaFlinch, , the Smirky.

[JLWM8609]

My problem is overuse of commas. I admit it.

Welcome to the club! Those commas are so darn attractive. You want to place a pause, and then another pause, and another, and another, until, the whole thing, is just overrun, with, commas.

[porTENT]

R.I.P.

Linguistics are very important and I've always been fascinated with the study especially in regards to the origins of names, but I think the jury is still out on intentional misspellings and miscommunication in general. Call it a gut instinct but I just don't trust anyone over the age of 30 to have faith in word connotations of the future. It seems it is in their best interest to deride the increasing "informality" of our future lives. Check out this book if you don't believe me.