Just checking in to say I'm alive. Work work work is keeping me quite busy, so I'll make this short. The funny thing I saw on Facebook, and I can't remember who posted it or I'd give credit where credit is due (can you search your news feed?) but I liked it and have been pestering everyone with it. It's about the importance of the comma.
It's the difference between helping your uncle, Jack, off a horse, and helping your uncle jack off a horse.
I'm sure y'all have seen that one before but it was new to me. And no I do not use it in the classroom. Poo jokes are fine though. Like today when the student kept saying it was dump or dumpy outside. I thought she meant shit but she was trying to remember the word "damp". I had a good chuckle at her expense and that's a good thing, because she'll always remember the word damp now.
I'll check back in this weekend. Toodles~
14 comments:
In this case, capital letters (or not) seem to be just as important as the placement of a comma. ;)
Muhuhuhu, I think it was me, cracked me up vigorously ;-)
Here the link to a youtube vid for Luvs Diaper, "Poop There it Is!" Contest Commercial. Not sure if you'll see it up there. It's cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMeeP-5NN2g
Have scientists given a name to your particular poo fetish?
Pauvre Uncle Jack
See, and I'm thinking it was me.
I love that one too!
Man, I'm off to buy a copy of Strunk & White. I never want to make THAT mistake.
In fact, I think "your uncle, Jack," could be wrong anyway, leaving aside the other meaning. This is because the commas seem to imply that you have only one uncle, and you may well have several. As Cameron says, the crucial differentation lies in the use of the capital. Though, clearly, use of the commas stops the bestiality interpretation, it imports the I-have-only-one-uncle implication.
Apostrophes are important, too.
Like when you posted:
I'm so glad I found your site! I posted a rant "Waiter's are pieces of shit" June 1st. It centers on the vengence the customer is subject to for bad behavior.
At least Uncle Jack has a hobby.
Have you read Eats, Shoots & Leaves? It's a good read, even for someone who's not a word nerd (which you, I say affectionately, are). Just don't grade my grammar in that sentence.
Hang on, Friday evening is coming soon!
I also was going to rec Eats, Shoots & Leaves, it's by Lynne Truss, and always makes me laugh even if I still can't remember how to do punctuation.
Waiting for the link!
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