A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English

SS-Traveller · 17th December 2009, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Whats wrong grammatically with this popularly used phrase

" You yourself once said that all politicians are corrupt"

It's grammatically perfect. Nothing wrong with it at all. Perhaps it doesn't sound correct because there are two pronouns placed together. If you rephrase it to "you once said yourself that all politicians are corrupt", the sentence might sound better.

Thad E Ginathom · 18th December 2009, 00:48

It's for emphasis, probably as a point in an argument when someone is contradicting themselves:

"Politicians are among the finest, most moral people on this earth."

" You, yourself, once said that all politicians are corrupt"

Note I added the commas.

In general, though, remember that taking the red pen to possibly redundant words is a good idea: less is more! The more I look at it on the screen, the more inclined I am to drop that yourself.

The famous example, beloved of English teachers in my youth, was, "I, myself, personally..."

amitoj · 18th December 2009, 06:59

If it is for emphasis, won't the following be better and grammatically sound?
"You were the one who once said that all politicians are corrupt"
or
"You only once said that all politicians are fat."

Thad E Ginathom · 18th December 2009, 12:04

"Only yesterday, you said that all politicians are corrupt!"

"You only ... " This is the translation into Indian English!

"You once said..." --- English English.

I don't say that Indian English is wrong, here, just pointing out the different cultural flavours. It's like:

"Even I think that politicians are corrupt," in British English is expressing something surprising, "Even I think...", whereas in Indian English it expresses "Me too".

(Err... I think... As I've mentioned before, the longer I stay here, the more confused I get between Indian and British usage!)

Mpower · 19th December 2009, 00:35

Yes like Thad said, its 'Indian' vs western vocabulary. Maybe that's why I felt its not right.

You wont find anybody in a Hollywood movie using the phrase "you yourself" or "you only". But then again. I still dont know what word/phrase in 'British English' is equivalent "you yourself".

I think the Americans and Brits accomplish this not by words but by 'tone'. The only thing I can think of is. "It was youuuuuu who one said that all politicians are corrupt"
Note the stressing and pulling of the uuuuu.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

" You, yourself, once said that all politicians are corrupt"

Note I added the commas.

sure but when we say it the 2 words are pronounced w/o pause ..youyourself.

anupmathur · 19th December 2009, 09:00

Where is Uncle Sam?
Hasn't been heard from in a while!

Thad E Ginathom · 19th December 2009, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Quote:

Note I added the commas.

sure but when we say it the 2 words are pronounced w/o pause ..youyourself.

Sure, I wondered about that too!

However, although it is the simple explanation of punctuation that it represents various degrees of pause it has a grammatical role too, in separating subordinate clauses.

Err.... I haven't studied English grammar for over forty years!

tortoiseNhare · 19th December 2009, 10:30

Quote:

You yourself once said that all politicians are corrupt.

This is an example of an indirect reported speech. In school we were taught that the reported part in such an example should be in the past tense. If that rule is followed then the correct form will be

Quote:

You yourself once said that all politicians were corrupt.

If direct speech is used then

Quote:

You yourself once said, "All politicians are corrupt."

muni · 19th December 2009, 11:40

I have many a times seen people using Built quality when referring to how the vehicles are put together.

I believe It is always the BUILD quality in whatever context it is used.
How is the Build quality or The build quality is quite good. There is lot of scope for improvement interms of build quality etc. can be some examples.

I have seen Incident-Incidence, Pedal-Peddle, Brake-Break especially the second word used while meaning the first word.

There seems to be confusion while using apostraphe also

If you recollect, the ICE section's most popular thread title read " audio Guru's" for quite some time until i had pointed out to one of the Mods to make it " Audio Gurus"

Guru's means you are referring to a single Guru.
Example: I had asked for advice on the ICE for my car. Based on the audio Guru's suggestion ( here one guru) or audio Gurus' suggestion ( many gurus), i went for a SQL setup which I am happy with.

The plural form while referring to Guru is Gurus and no need for Apostraphe.

anupmathur · 19th December 2009, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by muni

....
There seems to be confusion while using apostraphe also
.......
.....and no need for Apostraphe.

I'm sure you mean apostrophe, not apostraphe!

muni · 19th December 2009, 14:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by anupmathur

I'm sure you mean apostrophe, not apostraphe!

yeah..spelling mistake

Thad E Ginathom · 19th December 2009, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by tortoiseNhare

This is an example of an indirect reported speech. In school we were taught that the reported part in such an example should be in the past tense. ...

Reported speech! I used to enjoy this one at school. Let me see if I can remember...

All the verbs change tense:

-- "Politicians are corrupt," Said John.

-- John said that politians were corrupt

-- Mary said that John had said that politicians were corrupt.

Hmm... Let's try this one:

-- "I had my dinner," Said John.

-- John said that he had had his dinner.

-- Mary told us that John had said that he had had his dinner

Oh well... I used to be good at it!

navan49 · 19th December 2009, 21:37

Hi

It too is a good thread. In my view some of our members make spelling mistake due to the typographical error. They don't have time to re check. So once think they type and post.There comes the mistakes. Any how let the thread continue.

anupmathur · 19th December 2009, 23:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by navan49

Hi

It too is a good thread. In my view some of our members make spelling mistake due to the typographical error. They don't have time to re check. So once think they type and post.There comes the mistakes. Any how let the thread continue.

Navan, a typographical mistake is one where you know the correct spelling but hurriedly/inadvertently typed the wrong one.
Far too many people use the convenient excuse of typographical error when, in fact, they simply did not know the correct spelling!

Muni, above, must be applauded for acknowledging his mistake as a spelling mistake rather than insisting it was a typographical one!

And, in your post above, surely you mean 'There come the mistakes'?

navan49 · 20th December 2009, 04:25

I am not making excuses. We must try for the better presentation. I mean to say that this too might happen. None is perfect. But does not mean any writing should be accepted. The common mistakes I find with the people are, for example for first by mistake they write or type. Then some times the miss the last letter of the word. I know some scholars did it. It does not mean they did purposefully but sure it is done erratically.

18th December 2009, 00:48	#947
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,970 Times	It's for emphasis, probably as a point in an argument when someone is contradicting themselves: "Politicians are among the finest, most moral people on this earth." " You, yourself, once said that all politicians are corrupt" Note I added the commas. In general, though, remember that taking the red pen to possibly redundant words is a good idea: less is more! The more I look at it on the screen, the more inclined I am to drop that yourself. The famous example, beloved of English teachers in my youth, was, "I, myself, personally..."
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 06:59	#948
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,406 Thanked: 3,499 Times View My Garage	If it is for emphasis, won't the following be better and grammatically sound? "You were the one who once said that all politicians are corrupt" or "You only once said that all politicians are fat."
	() Thanks

18th December 2009, 12:04	#949
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 11,435 Thanked: 29,970 Times	"Only yesterday, you said that all politicians are corrupt!" "You only ... " This is the translation into Indian English! "You once said..." --- English English. I don't say that Indian English is wrong, here, just pointing out the different cultural flavours. It's like: "Even I think that politicians are corrupt," in British English is expressing something surprising, "Even I think...", whereas in Indian English it expresses "Me too". (Err... I think... As I've mentioned before, the longer I stay here, the more confused I get between Indian and British usage!) Last edited by Thad E Ginathom : 18th December 2009 at 12:05.
	() Thanks

19th December 2009, 09:00	#951
anupmathur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 3,095 Thanked: 311 Times	Where is Uncle Sam? Hasn't been heard from in a while!
	() Thanks

19th December 2009, 11:40	#954
muni BHPian Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 607 Thanked: 216 Times View My Garage	Build Quality I have many a times seen people using Built quality when referring to how the vehicles are put together. I believe It is always the BUILD quality in whatever context it is used. How is the Build quality or The build quality is quite good. There is lot of scope for improvement interms of build quality etc. can be some examples. I have seen Incident-Incidence, Pedal-Peddle, Brake-Break especially the second word used while meaning the first word. There seems to be confusion while using apostraphe also If you recollect, the ICE section's most popular thread title read " audio Guru's" for quite some time until i had pointed out to one of the Mods to make it " Audio Gurus" Guru's means you are referring to a single Guru. Example: I had asked for advice on the ICE for my car. Based on the audio Guru's suggestion ( here one guru) or audio Gurus' suggestion ( many gurus), i went for a SQL setup which I am happy with. The plural form while referring to Guru is Gurus and no need for Apostraphe. Last edited by muni : 19th December 2009 at 11:41.
	() Thanks

19th December 2009, 21:37	#958
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	Hi It too is a good thread. In my view some of our members make spelling mistake due to the typographical error. They don't have time to re check. So once think they type and post.There comes the mistakes. Any how let the thread continue.
	() Thanks

20th December 2009, 04:25	#960
navan49 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: CHENNAI Posts: 1,000 Thanked: 73 Times View My Garage	I am not making excuses. We must try for the better presentation. I mean to say that this too might happen. None is perfect. But does not mean any writing should be accepted. The common mistakes I find with the people are, for example for first by mistake they write or type. Then some times the miss the last letter of the word. I know some scholars did it. It does not mean they did purposefully but sure it is done erratically.
	() Thanks