<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Pardon My Grammar<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Many times I’ve had my use of the English language criticized and my grammar scoffed at by the Grammar Police, but it don’t bother me, I tells ya. All those criticisms just roll off me like water off a duck. I’ve been out of college for more years than some of you have been alive and there’s not much chance of me taking any kind of remedial grammar or English courses. I don’t want to learn how to diagram a sentence! I forgot that nonsense in grade school, and I’ve never used it since. And don’t snivel – diagramming sentences would not improve my grammar or my use –or misuse– of the English language.<\/span><\/p>\n Can you imagine the hoots and hollers I’d get if I wrote this?<\/span><\/p>\n “Grammatically, for he\/she\/it we use “does” or “doesn’t” like in,<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He doesn’t eat meat.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n but these days I’m observing the usage of the above sentence(especially in American movies) like this,<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He don’t eat meat.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, after a lot of observations, I’m assuming that both usages are correct.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n My assumption – When to use “don’t”?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In temporary situations like,<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n He don’t have a pen.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n …Worth noting: though the validity of he don\u2019t in various dialects is debatable, I\u2019ve yet to come across a dialect in which he doesn\u2019t isn\u2019t considered correct. In other words, as a non-native speaker, it is always safest to err on the side of caution and use he doesn\u2019t. Speakers of \u2018don\u2019t dialects\u2019 might possibly find it a tad uppity or overly formal\u2014but not incorrect…<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Nope! I did not write that I tells ya, it came from a site that claims:<\/span><\/p>\n “English Language & Usage Stack Exchange” is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.” <\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n See this page.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n If you doesn’t like that, write to the guy who wrote it; don’t kill the messenger.<\/span><\/p>\n Hey Grammar Cop, did I use that semi-colon correctly?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Anyway, here’s what I think. I think the purpose of language, both the spoken and the written, is to communicate. If you’re gonna fret over passive voice, active voice, verb agreement, gerund usages, prepositions and the like, I think you should teach English, edit books,\u00a0 or subscribe to the “How to Make Fun of — and Criticize — Stupid People Who Don’t Write Well” newsletter.<\/span><\/p>\n Let’s get on with this. Language is for communication. If you speak or write and successfully communicate your thoughts or ideas, that’s good enough for me.<\/span><\/p>\n If I tell you – “Make certainly that you don’t drop your computer in to the bathtub if it got water in it!” Criticize the English if you must, but don’t ignore my warning! Or go ahead, correct that sentence, and ruin your computer.<\/span><\/p>\n The English language is alive – IT’S ALIVE! IT’S ALIVE!. And because it’s alive, it’s constantly changing.<\/span><\/p>\n We think teenagers don’t use the English language good. Right? Oh sorry… don’t use the English language “well”, is that better? It may surprise you to learn that many words that were once slang are now proper and have been officially approved by the English & Grammar Police (EGP).<\/span><\/p>\n Let’s take a look at a couple of 1920’s slang phrases and words that are now accepted by the EGP:<\/span><\/p>\n Cat’s Pajamas <\/span> Wallflower<\/span> OK\u00a0<\/span> “OK started off as the LOL of its time. Then Martin Van Buren\u2019s presidential campaign popularized it and its brevity proved useful for sending telegraph messages. You can read more about the history of the word in Allan Metcalf\u2019s book, OK: The Improbable Story of America\u2019s Greatest Word<\/a>.”<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n See this page to read more, OK?<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Now, let’s move along, shall we?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Busted<\/span> Hip<\/span> And then we have words hipsters create by combining words to make new words that somehow find their way into the Oxford dictionary. I’m assuming that the Oxford dictionary is the Bible of English words for the EGP.<\/span><\/p>\n Frenemy<\/span> Bromance<\/span> Ginormous<\/span> And now some more from www.yourdictionary.com<\/span><\/a>…<\/span><\/p>\n Read: To ‘read’ someone means you’re calling them out for their bad behavior. ‘Wow. Stefon read Amy for filth at last night’s dinner.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Salty: Angry or bitter about something. ‘Why are you so salty? I said I would share if I win the lottery.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ship: Short for’romantic relationship,’ sometimes used as a verb. ‘Everyone wants to ship Edward and bella, but they say they’re just good friends.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The tea: When someone is dishing’the tea,’ they’re gossiping, particularly with the juiciest or most dramatic gossip.’Let’s call Wendy. She always has the tea.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thirsty: If someone’s ‘thirsty,’ it means they’re a little too eager or even desperate.’Look at the way she dressed for their second date. She’s way too thirsty.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Throw shade: To’throw shade’ means to insult or say something unkind about someone.’I can’t believe he said that. He just threw some serious shade.’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Woke: Slang for’awakened,’ as in being highly aware of social injustices. ‘If you’re so woke, why didn’t you vote?’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n YOLO: An acronym for’you only live once,’ encouraging people to seize the day.’Of course you should go on that trip to Dublin! YOLO!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n And even more slang from “USA Today”<\/span><\/p>\n “…Bruh = another way of saying ‘bro’ or ‘brother’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Canceled = done, deleted, finished, blocked on social media<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clout Chaser = someone who tries to latch on to other, more popular people<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Clout Demon = a wannabe<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Cringey = awkward, uncomfortable, cringe-worthy<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Curve = reject someone\u2019s advances<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dead A–= To be completely and honestly serious<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dead = overwhelmed or exhausted<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dime = rating of attractiveness, 10\/10<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Down in the DM = direct messaging someone privately, usually to hook up<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Drip, Drippin = flashy, ostentatious<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Extra = over the top<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n F2F = face to face, meeting in person<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fam = the friends you are closest with<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finna = going to\/about to, short for ‘fixing to’<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Finsta = a fake Instagram account<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fleeky = amazing or great<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Glow-Up = an incredible transformation<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Goals = a lifestyle to strive for<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n GOAT = greatest of all time, mainly used in sports<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gucci = good, cool<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n High-key = a lot, wanting everyone to know something<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hit a lick = to steal something<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hundo P = 100 percent, confirming something<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s lit = cool, awesome, great<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u2019m weak = something so funny it made you weak<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Juice = credibility, respect, can also mean booze or drugs<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Kickback = a casual get together<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n KMS\/KYS = kill myself, kill yourself, used sarcastically<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Lean = an intoxicating drink made using soda and cough syrup<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Meme = a joke or reference to something<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n OP = out of pocket, used when something is extreme or offensive<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pods = disposable cartridge for a nicotine vaporizer<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ratchet = loud, obnoxious, trashy<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Saucy = feisty or sassy<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Savage = wild or harsh<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Shook = shocked, upset<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sips tea = minding your own business<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Smash = to hook up<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Squad = your closest group of friends<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Stan = have an intense fandom for a particular object, such as a singer, athlete, or company<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Straight fire = popular, trendy, or awesome<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sus = short for suspect, when something is suspicious or sketchy<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n TBH = to be honest<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tea = gossip<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thicc = voluptuous, curvy body (usually a compliment)<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thirsty = wants attention, or usually from a specific person<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tweaking = high, usually on amphetamines<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n V = very<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Wig = when something crazy or unexpected (good) happens<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Woke = enlightened about social issues, originally to describe being aware about racism and police violence.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n (If ya want to be even more high key, you can read more<\/span><\/a>…)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You certainly don’t want to be a clout demon, do you? Of course, you don’t.<\/span><\/p>\n The point to this saucy essay is that if you obsess over grammar and proper English, you might miss the point of what you’re reading – you might miss what the writer is trying to communicate. This could be very harmful and even dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n For instance, a member of the English & Grammar Police might be so incensed by a road sign that reads: “Drive Careful. Bridge out a head” they would drive their car into the river once spanned by the now, non-existent bridge. I can hear them yammering about poor grammar as the car splashes into the river.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I am used to people throwing shade about my writing. But I’m telling you shade throwers and grammar cops – don’t expect me to glow up any time soon; it ain’t gonna happen.<\/span><\/p>\n I don’t think my writing is fleeky, but I do think I’m woke. I think all you grammar police are cringey.<\/span><\/p>\n And all you members of the EGP, who do you think makes more money? The author of a best-selling novel or the editors who edited it?\u00a0 I think all of you are a bit thirsty.<\/span><\/p>\n And to everyone who is reading this who don’t belong to the EGP and who do get the point, I think you’re all the GOAT! I hope you found this essay lit!<\/span><\/p>\n Now before I get even more rachet, I hereby declare this essay canceled.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pardon My Grammar Many times I’ve had my use of the English language criticized and my grammar scoffed at by the Grammar Police, but it don’t bother me, I tells ya. All those criticisms just roll off me like water off a duck. I’ve been out of college for more years than some of you have\u2026 Read More »<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[228,1681],"tags":[1720,3434,3432,3433,3435],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17483"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17483"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17489,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17483\/revisions\/17489"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thundercloud.net\/infoave\/new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nDarcy is the cat’s pajamas. It means she’s the best. (Don’t get all excited, I’m just making an example).<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDarcy is certainly not a wallflower, she’s the center of attention!<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Who doesn’t use OK? Eh? <\/span><\/p>\n
\nBack when I was a kid the word “busted” meant broken. To my kids, busted meant getting caught doing something wrong or getting arrested. Now, if you say something like “Darlene is busted”, it means Darlene is ugly.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nOriginally hip was — and still is — a joint in the body. Hip over the years has evolved to mean fashionable (cool) and the word hip evolved into Hippie and more recently “Hipster”. Darcy certainly are one of those.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThis hipster word is a combination of the word friend and the word enemy. It’s self-defining – I should not have to explain it. See how cool and flexible English is? The EGP should learn this.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nA combination of the words “Brother” and “Romance” bromance is an intense relationship between two straight men.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nGuess? Yes! Gigantic and enormous combined to make the word ginormous. No definition needed. Darcy’s yacht is ginormous.<\/span><\/p>\n