Comments on: Punctuation Ambiguity

By: ~twi~

~twi~ — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 19:30:18 +0000

Ningen, you didn’t *really* read my post.

Also, “would of” makes no sense. Would’ve is different. Also, was that intentional or accidental confusion (?) of hear/here?

When I’m listening, most people do make a beer run on and speak improperly like they’ve never passed the fifth grade — much less high school. I personally use fragments and often end sentences in prepositions.

I’m just saying that I’m wondering now frosty bottles if they’re doing it on purpose to influence, not because they’re sloppy.

By: Ningen

Ningen — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:04:17 +0000

Hello Twi,
I am not sure if you understand the whole point of this article. It is not about bad grammar…
Looks simple when you see the statement put down in writing. Would be interesting if you really recognize these suggestions in a “normal” conversation.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:01:27 +0000

Reading about punctuation ambiguity and using it in natural conversation are two very different things.

I’ve heard many times now from others how they would surely notice such ambiguities and bad grammar.

People for the most part do not hang on your every word and analyze. In fact, most people are so absorbed in their own thinking, they are already thinking about what they’re going to say to you before while you’re talking.

The examples I used were rough. The grammar was obviously wrong, but even then it is rarely noticed, if at all. I went out this weekend and purposefully used bad grammar and punctuation ambiguity in many different situations. Nobody caught on. I then explained what I did and they were certain I did not do what I said. They told me they would of heard something so obvious.

But as I said before if you take the time, you can come up with clever grammatically correct sentences as well. Shorter suggestions using the verb may be less obvious.

Take the watch example. You could say, “As I look at my watch closely, I notice it’s time to go.” This doubles as an embedded command as well.

Say this one out loud: The fact that you’re even hear, to discover new things means that you will learn to master this more quickly.

Remember, reading about this stuff and actually having someone use this stuff on you and not being conscious of it, are two different things. I can drop hundreds of embedded commands in my daily speech, being completely obvious about it, and it is never picked up on. Unless you are aware and looking out for this stuff, you won’t hear it.

By: ~Twi~

~Twi~ — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:17:03 +0000

“As I look at my watch closely what I’m doing I notice it’s already 4:30pm.”

Bad grammar. What did you do?

Etc… etc… How could someone NOT notice?

On the other hand, maybe more people are doing that on purpose of the exercise than on accident just because they’re bad at language. You know?

By: Random Magus

Random Magus — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 16:01:31 +0000

I get the noun and verb element watch closely and ‘watch’ as in your wrist watch, but don’t people notice that the sentence itself is grammatically wrong.

As I look at my / watch closely what I’m doing I notice it’s already 4:30pm.”
The break would be there right? But if you’re saying look at my _____ and then use watch as a verb it leaves the sentence hanging

“So, you’re thinking about buying a new home / in on my words closely.”
Together they don’t mean anything – so I’m confused a bit.

Please elaborate if I have missed the point of the post because it’s really a fascinating one!