All-Star Grammar Thread - Have At It

[gofriars610]

I have a friend that says ''yogrut'' instead of ''yogurt''. It drives me crazy!

I played my Kentuckian roommate a CMP commercial to demonstrate a Maine accent (powah, evah, cah, ovah, etc) and she was horrified.

 

[Just-a-Mom]

"I" vs "me"
Misuse = nails on the chalkboard

Yes!

And most people get it wrong, even when they are convinced that they're right. It's like the whole world has decided that "me" is just not a word - because every time I use it someone tries to correct it to "I."

If I say "Between you and me," that's correct! But guaranteed, someone in the room will pipe in with "Uh, don't you mean 'between you and I?"

Well... No, I don't. Objects and subjects = not complicated. I learned this in 3rd grade - didn't anyone else? It's simple: take out the additional pronoun in any sentence (in this case "you and") and it will become immediately clear if you need the subject pronoun (I) or the object (me).

Grammar 101, courtesy of J-a-M.

 

[Cheer Dad]

Yes!

And most people get it wrong, even when they are convinced that they're right. It's like the whole world has decided that "me" is just not a word - because every time I use it someone tries to correct it to "I."

If I say "Between you and me," that's correct! But guaranteed, someone in the room will pipe in with "Uh, don't you mean 'between you and I?"

Well... No, I don't. Objects and subjects = not complicated. I learned this in 3rd grade - didn't anyone else? It's simple: take out the additional pronoun in any sentence (in this case "you and") and it will become immediately clear if you need the subject pronoun (I) or the object (me).

Grammar 101, courtesy of J-a-M.

No wonder English is one of the hardest to learn languages.

Major kudos to all you foreigners who learned English as a second or even third language.

 

[astaley22]

Living in Iowa, I hear a lot of "warsh your hands". I still have no clue how that became a thing. I remember visiting my grandparents before we moved and thinking they were crazy.

 

[rrhhiannon]

I always say cimanon instead of cinnamon. It's just the way it comes out because I talk super fast. At least I know the difference!

 

[Daniellerae]

I met a girl at college orientation who was complaining about her Nike pros, and pronounced "Nike" like it rhymed with "bike." I kid you not.

 

[getsum]

apparently, i mistake sophomore for sophmore.

(or is it the other way around, grammatically speaking?)

 

[Senior5Allie]

Pronunciation is a whole other issue lol. A few were already mentioned.

Tyanol instead of Tylenol
Ambalance instead of ambulance
Ax instead of ask
Q-pon instead of coupon

 

[katemarie89]

People who say li-berry instead of li-brary

 

[kristenthegreat]

My dad has always told us that if you go out to eat, you leave a 20% tip, unless they were horrible. And extra if it's a special day like Christmas Eve. Tipping is part of eating out. If you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to eat out. Plain and simple.

Do you often find that there is a certain demographic of people who don't tip? I ask because I have friends from other countries who don't understand the concept of tipping, so they don't. One of my friends is from Panama and it took him two years to understand that you are supposed to tip at restaurants. (whenever we went out to eat with him, we'd always have to cover his portion of the tip since he would not pay it. I'm glad he finally understands it now.) Apparently it's not something they do in their country. I know that NYC and the surrounding areas are extremely diverse and abundant in immigrants, so this is why I ask.

Also, am I the only one, when tipping, I have to round to the nearest whole dollar? Say the total, with tip, comes to $13.38 - it has to be 14. I just like seeing whole numbers on my credit card statement, I'm sorry.

I'm "lucky", I guess- my restaurant will add gratuity to checks if the guest is from another country. We specifically write it out on the bill plainly so they know and if a table leaves me over, I always return the extra right away because I don't ever want my tables to feel 'cheated'. I know when people from other countries don't leave tips, it's not personal- sometimes it's actually IMPOLITE (particularly in some Asian countries, so I've heard) because it implies they servers are not being paid enough. We ARE in a heavily touristy area- the only other buildings on my street are hotels and an Indian take-out restaurant, so we're tourists and the people who specifically are looking for a dessert-type place. That leaves us with a certain..issue regarding tipping. Even some Americans don't know how to tip, though.

To be honest, yes, most foreign tables don't know, but I always appreciate when they ask. I will say- Australians/New Zealanders are the most likely to double-check to make sure they've left enough (and they're always a joy to serve)! Tourists definitely have 'seasons', right now we're pretty heavy on Irish/Scottish. Other times of year Germans, then Swedes or Norwegians, then Brazilians in May. Money/tipping can be a very...polarizing conversation. You get burned enough, though, and it's MUCH easier to suck up and just grat them. It's my livelihood, but I don't mind serving. I'm good at it, and some nights are actually fun.

Dining out culture has changed dramatically from when I was younger and from restaurant to restaurant. I'm not just a server- I'm a hand-holder, food guide, wine woman, photographer, that aunt who always anticipates your needs, etc. The amount of indecisiveness seems to increase every year- it's like people are afraid to make a decision! I've also watched tables be sitting, having a glass of wine, and STARING their phones down. I'm like, you're drinking a $10 glass of wine EACH and ignoring each other- isn't it cheaper to buy a bottle and do this at home?!?!

 

[dawgshow]

I always say cimanon instead of cinnamon. It's just the way it comes out because I talk super fast. At least I know the difference!

I think I was a teenager before I could pronounce that correctly.

 

[Mamarazzi]

Living in Iowa, I hear a lot of "warsh your hands". I still have no clue how that became a thing. I remember visiting my grandparents before we moved and thinking they were crazy.

My Daddy was from southern Illinois (SILENT "S," y'all) and warshed his hands in Missouruh (the state next-door.)
And any true Midwesterner knows the cities of Loo-vul (KY) and In-din-apolis.

 

[JMW]

Sir-rup and I hate when people say seerup! Another thing I hate... One time I was baking with a friend and the recipe called for maple syrup and she tried to put that fake "mrs butterworth" type syrup in and I was like "no!" And she was like "what, it's syrup...." *facepalm*
My relatives on my dads side make real maple syrup so I'm kind of a syrup snob. I can't deal with the fake stuff. I need real syrup! Most people I know use the fake stuff though. Blehhh

Yes, and it's also Car-muhl , not Care-a-mell.

 

[JMW]

apparently, i mistake sophomore for sophmore.

(or is it the other way around, grammatically speaking?)

I hear people say "south-more".

 

[Just-a-Mom]

I'm "lucky", I guess- my restaurant will add gratuity to checks if the guest is from another country.

I'm so shocked by this. I can't even.

Either add it to all checks or not at all. Out of curiosity, how do you know? Do you just add it to anyone with an accent? Do you ask?