Orgasmic Grammar™ (Katie & Liz's bandname)

[osaraba]

Because of this post and response, I wondered, what is, exactly, the big difference between British and American grammar? Because, although there were some examples of British grammar and punctuation in Eats, Shoots & Leaves that I didn't agree with, I found the book to be wonderful and it filled me with a great joy because well, here was another grammar nerd who was making it clear to everyone and their mother exactly what was proper and what was not. Whether British or American, I deeply appreciate the sentiment.

So, to refresh my memory, I did a Yahoo!Search on "the difference between British and American grammar", and came up with this link, which took me to this link from Wikipedia where I proceeded to drool over shinigami's monitor, fall in love with the site, and wish to have its babies. ♥ (Notice the use of the comma before the "and" -- a personal style preference).

I followed links on: rhoticity, diphthong, Received Pronunciation, Estuary English, Mid-Atlantic accent, and Standard Midwestern accent, before getting back to the first page and viewing the grammar section.

I'm basking in the glow of a highly satisfying brain-usage session. ::sigh:: I do miss learning about grammar. I should go back to college and take linguistics classes; it's what I should have taken to begin with.

Comments

[bishsticks.livejournal.com]

It wasn't so much the British grammar that drove me nuts, it was British punctuation.

After spending hours at work moving all commas inside quotation marks, because, at work, we use AP style and AP demands all commas are inside quotation marks, to read Eats, Shoots and Leaves, in which commas are outside quotation marks, drove me quite batty and I had to give up reading it.

I think, perhaps, it wouldn't have bothered me had I not been a copy editor for a newspaper in which no other styles are tolerated.

This job will be the end of me, I fear.

[osaraba]

This job will be the end of me, I fear.

Ack! Have you been there long? I'd say, try not to let it get to you, but I understand that sometime you just can't help it. My best friend hates it when I correct her grammar/punctuation/spelling/pronunciation -- and sometimes I really try to restrain myself -- but most 98% of the time I just can't help myself! I can't let the mistake go uncorrected!

[bishsticks.livejournal.com]

Also - the serial comma thing...

Another cringe-worthy punctuation rule. Again, AP style, which we use at work, demands that there is no serial comma before "and." And so, while both way are technically correct, due to the fact I am forced to remove each and every serial comma from each and every article that is printed, it makes me ... frustrated.

It's a good thing this is LJ and I don't have to correct posts (my own very much included!). :D

[osaraba]

I understand now. I think I would be just as frustrated if I were forced to remove serial commas too! LOL! And whereas I am used to including commas (and other punctuation) inside all quotation marks, which is how most Americans do it, I think it makes more sense the other way -- in certain circumstances. (LOL, you should see me when I post in my own LJ, trying to decide whether to write:

She offered to give me a "discount."

OR

She offered to give me a "discount".

(Bad example, but the best I could come up with at 4am.) The latter makes more sense to me, but I always go with the former because that's what's more commonly used. x_x;