Showing posts with label Grammar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grammar. Show all posts

Monday, October 5, 2015

Fun with the language...................


“Grammar, which is the art of using words properly, comprises four parts: Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody.” 
-Dr. Samuel Johnson,  A Grammar of the English Tongue (free on Kindle)

As a public service:
























all definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Comma........................

As a public service to all you Grammarians out there, I am suggesting you read this essay at McSweeney's.   Opening salvo is here:

1. If nothing else, one ought to know how to treat a comma. Abandonment or abuse of the comma muddles discourse, and this lack of respect is akin to neglect, to a lack of appreciation, to an unreasonable rejection of the very foundation of all worthy human interactions.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Virtual differences..................


Victor David Hanson notices, among other things, that libraries are not always about books.  Essay here.  Excerpt here:
"Better yet, the fact that it says “library” and not “student union” or “arcade” or “playhouse” makes it even more desirable. Today’s virtual student goes to a virtual library and does virtual research. That way you can be successful in that you are in “college” and you say you are “at the library” as you entertain yourself. Who cares whether someone knows the difference between the Parthenon and Pantheon or that e.g. is not quite i.e.? Get over it.
"The popular culture changed the library; the library did not change the popular culture."
Since this blog is public service oriented....................
The Parthenon, the pride of ancient Athens








Atop the Acropolis, the Parthenon dates to 438 B.C.






Pantheon, Rome.  Built in 126 AD.  Still in use today

The Pantheon's exposure to the outside was purposeful.































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e.g.

The abbreviation e.g. is used to provide an example:

Examples:

The buffet provided excellent variety, e.g., vegetarian and non-vegetarian soups, Italian and French breads and numerous sweets.
(e.g. = for example)

i.e.

The abbreviation i.e. is used to restate an idea more clearly or offer more information.
Examples:
It happened in August; i.e. two months ago.
(i.e. = in other words)