(sp?): The Phantom Menace - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Rimbaud · 10-10-2002, 08:13 AM

Rimbaud's Annoying Habitometer is beeping incessantly, telling him a new foible has arisen and he must address it immediately.

Rimbaud the Merciless does not condone lazy posting. When writing a long word or name, such as Marileangorifurnimaluim or others of great length and/or capacity to confuse, writing the odious _(sp?)_ afterwards does not excuse your mistake (if indeed you have made one).

It is that last qualifier that irks me especially. To make an unseen error in a post is understandable, typos are common and in a medium of this nature, almost unavoidable...but to notice that you may have made a mistake and not to correct it seems like apathy of the highest order.

Look the word up, and spell it correctly, if you are not sure. Then you will have learned something, as well as having imparted your knowledge correctly.

The next person to scribe (sp?) shall be destroyed by a barrage of flaming trout. This I vow.

[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Rimbaud ]

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 10-10-2002, 09:09 AM

...And with this mighty oath, Sir Rimbaud, Grand Knight of the Dictionary, laid down his fearsome challenge.

All those who fear his deadly trout should note that it's a matter of a couple of seconds' work to open another browser window and point it at dictionary.com, which is what I always do if I'm not sure how to spell something. They even have both British and American spellings and you'd be amazed at how the flow of one's prose improves with the removal of parentheses, question marks and little abbreviations. There are even off-line dictionaries that may be consulted without recourse to a browser, and which are tailored to the version of English most prevalent in their country of origin (they use a combination of ink and paper as a storage medium, I believe). The manifold wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me. (sp?)

Bêthberry · 10-10-2002, 09:15 AM

Ah, the Fish called Rimbaud schools the unwise. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Ammunition, my good Sir.

Battle resource, fall back position to Squatter's troups: Online Dictionary

Bethberry

[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

piosenniel · 10-10-2002, 09:51 AM

Long posters, please remember that you can use the WORD program, with 'Spell Check' as an initial editor, to craft your replies.

Polish your gems, and present them to us in all their glory!

Maikadilwen · 10-10-2002, 10:09 AM

This makes me think about the always returning mistakes that makes my toes curl [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] every time I see them, such as:

their/there, your/you're, then/than and so on.

Anyway, I have yet to find an online dictionary that works from Danish to English.

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 10-10-2002, 10:37 AM

Try this one:

http://dictionaries.travlang.com/DanishEnglish/

I don't speak Danish, so I can't vouch for its quality.

Maikadilwen · 10-10-2002, 10:46 AM

It seems to work to some point. It might be useful. Thank you. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Bêthberry · 10-10-2002, 12:49 PM

Menacing punc humour

Edit: Okay, I realize this isn't directly related to the (sp) virus, but I think the !!!! is a mutation of said virus (or vice versa). We have a disease syndrome here for which humorous retorts are the most fitting replies.

[ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

VanimaEdhel · 10-10-2002, 05:03 PM

*Cheers for Bethberry*

Woo! Thank you so much! The "more than one exclamation point" thing gets to me. Makes us all sound like a bunch of caffeine-addict, chipmunky, *N Sync teeny-bopper, overly-excited creatures...

And: yes: the dictionary is a very powerful item. They also have a spelling dictionary, if you notoriously spell things wrong.

Oh: and if you have even more questions, go to http://www.1000dictionaries.com/engl...onaries_1.html . It has links to many, many different dictionaries for many, many things (including spelling, grammar, a thesaurus, a quote dictionary, etc.)!

Elenna · 10-11-2002, 09:44 AM

Personally, I think flaming trout may be too quick. Maybe rabid squirrels.

(Sp) really bothers me too. It shows that you didn't take enough time to make sure your post was correct. I know that some words are hard to spell, but if you can't spell it, maybe you shouldn't use it!

Rimbaud · 10-11-2002, 12:31 PM

Do you question my choice of weapon, good lady?

*lowers eyebrows menacingly and juggles a suitably aflame piscean*

Elenna · 10-11-2002, 01:00 PM

Maybe I am, kind sir...

*Elenna unlocks the cage of several red-eyed, foaming-at-the-mouth, screeching squirrels.*

Are you telling me you don't fear this?

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 10-11-2002, 02:20 PM

That sounds like a challenge to me. This thread's beginning to get interesting.

VanimaEdhel · 10-11-2002, 05:13 PM

*Points over to where the Rabbit of Caerbannog is still hunched in his cave*

You guys wanna take that on? Anyone? Aaaand: you first have to answer three questions:
1. What is your name?
2. What is your quest?
3. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow (African)?

Good luuu-uuuuck...

HerenIstarion · 10-12-2002, 01:32 AM

Can't answer questions imposed, (especially the last one)

Just let me sit back comfortably and recall my youth, when BD was running on Ezboard. There was such a thing as spellcheck installed + post preview option, which came in handy, especially for the likes of me (i.e. not native speakers). Maybe it is possible to obtain such useful tools for UBB as well?

ilon · 10-12-2002, 04:57 AM

Ahh, chat and sms have slowly diminished all our spelling capabilities. That's the downside of technology when people want to be faster. Being not some English major would not be an excuse for me to be wrong in my grammar but it's shameful sometimes to not know the correct words, grammar and spelling.

Maikadilwen · 10-12-2002, 06:13 AM

Indeed chat-spellings are sneaking in everywhere, sometimes forcing me to read a message two or three times before I actually understand what it says. That, of course, is partly caused by the fact that English isn't my native language.

Vanima you know very well that the answer to the third question depends on whether it is carrying a coconut or not!(!!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Childlike Empress · 10-12-2002, 01:23 PM

I would almost rather people leave their misspellings alone and unmarked. Adding "(sp?)" after a word shows the writer noticedthe mistake but was too lazy to actually do anything about it. Sometimes the word isn't even misspelled....

Maikadilwen, what are you on? It is impossible for a three-ounce bird to carry a one-pound coconut through the air! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Maikadilwen · 10-12-2002, 04:01 PM

Childlike Empress you haven't seen "Monty Python and the quest for the Holy Grail" have you? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Childlike Empress · 10-12-2002, 05:41 PM

But of course I have, Maikadilwen, else I'd have said nothing or at least phrased it differently [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Estelyn Telcontar · 10-13-2002, 06:08 AM

I would like to call your attention to another very annoying bad habit - realizing the senselessness of a post and posting anyway! How often do I read: "I guess I'm not making much sense, but it's late and I'm tired!" Here are three good solutions to that problem:

1. Don't post. If you're too tired to make sense, wait until the next morning. If you're afraid to lose those valuable, though scatterbrained, thoughts, type them into your word processing program and save them - that makes it easy to do a spellcheck on them the next day too. Or just jot them down on a piece of paper, the way Tolkien himself took notes of ideas, before thinking them over and making necessary changes.

2. If you feel you must post when tired, check what you wrote the next day and edit it so that it does make sense. Then the above comment is unnecessary.

3. If you wrote it and realize the next day that there's not really any sense to it, delete it! Don't wait for a moderator to do it.

Take pride in your writing; there are enough posts on the forum that make very little sense - and the authors didn't even notice!

Maikadilwen · 10-13-2002, 07:14 AM

Good point Estelyn.

I think one of the reasons why many people are posting even though they are too tired to make proper sense, is because they are afraid that if they wait, somebody else will come up with the same thoughts and post before them.

Sometimes a post sounds a lot better when you read it over and edit a bit.

Personally, I always read through my posts two or three times, checking for errors before I hit "Add Reply". And then I check it again when it has been added to the page because the post always looks different then.
I think the most important thing when making a post, is to read it through a few times and think "Do I make myself clear? Will other people understand what I am saying?"

Too many people do not take the time to do that and that is why they end up with spelling errors or missing words.
"I am typing too fast" is not a valid excuse for not checking your spelling.

[ October 13, 2002: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]

Marileangorifurnimaluim · 10-13-2002, 12:31 PM

I just noticed this thread. If you guys chance upon some particularly abhorrent spelling, do please add it to the "Agony of Misspelling" Hall of Shame.

I stole the idea from Merendis' list of misused homophones. What I have are all the misspelled thread titles I could find. I find that particularly appalling - bring on both the flaming trout and rabid squirrels. But we can expand the parameters of the Hall of Shame.

-Maril

red · 10-13-2002, 12:45 PM

"Your Friend at the End"

Laziness is a disease that will not be cured by well-meaning threads such as this. Nice try though.

Marileangorifurnimaluim · 10-13-2002, 10:34 PM

Quite true. For example, we are the only ones who will read a thread entitled 'The Agony of Poor Spelling.'

These threads are entirely for those who care, the dwindling cult of English mavens.

Rimbaud on the other hand cleverly disguised this thread under the name "Phantom Menace," which is sure to confuse the 'Star Wars vs. LOTR, who would win?' crowd. They however will flee the moment they realize what they have wandered into.

-Maril

Alkanoonion · 10-13-2002, 10:51 PM

Boo hiss
This topic is misleading _(sp?)_ [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] , this is not about the "Phantom Menace,"
For shame misleading poor little old me.
I think that it is time for me to flee, before being destroyed by a barrage of flaming a trout and rabid squirrels.

Exit stage left.

Kithrèna Greenarrow Legolas · 10-13-2002, 10:54 PM

I speak as one of the many who dont have a spell checker on thier computer and didnt know that dictionary.com exisited, and couldent find a FREE online spell checker but I thank you all for the advice.

I am also one of the people here who has realy bad spelling skills (Although I can read any word you throw at Me) and I aplogize for My spelling skills.

Bêthberry · 10-14-2002, 01:25 AM

And I suppose you have never heard of that ancient relic, a book called Dictionary, KGL?

And Maril, you could always rename your thread, "The Agony and The Ecstasy ..." and you might catch a different crowd. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

[ October 14, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ]

Elenna · 10-14-2002, 05:16 AM

As an English maven myself, it's a pride issue with me to check words that I don't understand using a *gasp* PRINT DICTIONARY!

KGL, you should take enough pride in your writing to assure that it is spelled correctly.

The Squatter of Amon Rûdh · 10-14-2002, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Laziness is a disease that will not be cured by well-meaning threads such as this. Nice try though.

Too true, réd. I'm not trying to improve the situation, though; I'm here because I like to complain. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Quote:

And I suppose you have never heard of that ancient relic, a book called Dictionary

I'd just to point out how cheaply those can be picked up: I bought a 1954 copy of the Concise Oxford (let's face it: have any really useful words been added to the language since then?) for about 50p (around 80 cents) at a charity book sale just last week. I also managed to get a copy of Roget's Thesaurus, which is useful for those who have progressed beyond elementary spelling, and have reached the giddy heights of prose style. This volume was acquired for the princely sum of £1.

Quote:

And Maril, you could always rename
your thread, "The Agony and The Ecstasy ..." and you might catch a different crowd.

Well, it would attract those who enjoyed that biographical novel about Michaelangelo; but I doubt that they have any trouble with their English. Any hormonally overloaded and gramatically challenged fans of Renaissance art would, however, find themselves suitably chastised.

What really depresses me about the entire spelling issue is that the worst offenders are not those for whom English is a second, third or even fourth language, but native speakers. I find it more than a little embarrassing, not to mention surreal, when an English Downer proves to be worse at speaking English than, for example, a German or a Swede. Have these would-be dyslexics no shame?

Since I'm now progressing into a full-fledged rant I'd also like to back Estelyn up in her attack on the "I'm tired" cop-out. In the past I've worked on a serious post for up to an hour, realised that it was going nowhere and abandoned it. Better to waste my time, I reason, than to waste everybody's. When through oversight I do post some utter drivel and someone knocks holes in it, I acknowledge my sloppy research, questionable premise or rambling argument or concede the point quietly. What difference does it make that someone was tired? Does that fact correct their spelling? Does it magically make their argument less rambling or specious? None of us are going to hold one weak submission against them if it's clearly an aberration, and by the same token no little apologies inside the posts will prevent people from resenting the consistent and thoughtless publication of dross.

My suggested punishmnent for such craven idleness is that the perpetrator be made to cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with a herring; possibly being required to make a nice two-level shrubbery as well.

ilon · 10-14-2002, 06:17 AM

Using a print dictionary should cause you no shame, Elenna. English is a third language for me so I still constantly refer to it when I come across a new word or some meaning that I may need to be refreshed of. Still, every encounter with a new word will always be advantageous to me.

Kettle of fish · 10-14-2002, 06:47 AM

Cutting down a tree with a de-boned and defrosted herring will be harder and should be reserved for repeat offenders.

Rimbaud · 10-14-2002, 07:52 AM

I am pleased to report a reduction in the number of additions of (sp?) to posts in the last week, as observed by this humble... observer.

Bêthberry · 10-14-2002, 02:19 PM

Quote:

have any really useful words been added to the language since then?

Well, I did once hear a prominent teacher of linguistics attempt to argue for the creation of the first new preposition in over 1000 years with the verb phrase, "would of". *coughs rather loudly* It was over a glass of ale, however. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

As to the problem which the following might have:

Quote:

Any hormonally overloaded and gramatically challenged fans ...

Perhaps Maril could spell the word Xtasy? She might also want to consider replacing "Agony" for something more appropriate for a Tolkien forum, "Theogony." [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

VanimaEdhel · 10-14-2002, 03:33 PM

Rimbaud! I found the next person you should beat with whatever you decide to beat them with!

Quote:

On dreams I vaugly(sp) understand what you mean

I'm not saying any names: it's up to you to find them (hint: Middle Earth Mayhem)! LOL...

And: someone who gets an "F" in my book for pronounciation is President GW Bush...no offense to him: he's who I wanted to win, but, when he said "nucular", I kind of fell off the couch laughing...then, of course, I told my friend about it, and she said, "Well...isn't that how it's said?" Then I explained the concept of the word "nuclear" coming from "nucleus" as in the "nucleus" of an atom and all that...

Elenna · 10-14-2002, 04:14 PM

What I want to know is this: When Saddam Hussein's interpreters are telling him what President Bush is saying in his speech, do they say something like "And here the President grossly butchers his own native tongue?"

What I find ridiculous is that he is representing the American people, and he can't even speak our language! Lindil, I was surprised to hear that you aren't a native English speaker because you write so well. If only our fearless leader took so much care with HIS speech.

VanimaEdhel · 10-14-2002, 04:35 PM

Elenna, I have a feeling they say something more along the lines of, "Now, the big dork from the United States said..."

Well, maybe in stronger language...

Even if the person they were speaking of is not a big dork or whatever they would call him, I have a feeling the interpretors may use not-nice reference in referring to the people...

mark12_30 · 10-14-2002, 04:41 PM

In terms of leaders, I'd rather have a good man who's not a good speaker than a good speaker who's not a good man. "Nucular" annoys me-- but weighed against other annoying things leaders have done, I can let "Nucular" go and be grateful for the man.

However, we were talking about threads... and since we are celebrating a language professor's work, here, on the Barrow Downs, we should indeed take pride in what we type. We do get the chance to review and edit it. In memory of, and with respect for, the Professor, it's the least we can do.

I am reminded of the beauty and balance of Frodo's prose as he speaks with Faramir in Ithilien; I think that Bilbo would have been very proud. Reading that section makes me want to be eloquent, too. Few other passages in any other work have such an impact on me.

(Thanks, Professor.)

Marileangorifurnimaluim · 10-14-2002, 07:10 PM

I think it was Fidel Castro who said of GW after he was elected: "I hope he's not as stupid as he seems." Talk about blunt. I guess there are advantages to having no diplomatic relations with the US. You don't have to be diplomatic!

Somewhere around here I have a list of 'Bushisms.' A personal favorite is one where he attempted to pronouce a multi-syllabic word three times. And got it wrong each time. In fact, I think it kept getting worse. (Anyone who took potshots at our last President's cigars is gonna have to stand aside as I make fun of Bush.)

Susan Delgado · 10-14-2002, 11:42 PM

This is a song by John McCutcheon, with the Help of Our Glorious Leader.

Quote:

Hail to the Chief
Music by John McCutcheon
Words (entirely) by George W. Bush

Spoken:
I was raised in West Texas, pretty near California
Far away from Dad’s home in DC
When I’m talkin’ 'bout myself and
They’re talking 'bout myself
All of us are talkin’ about me
Now some may retort to personal attacks
Take the high horse then claim the low road
But I’m not a revengeful person
I’ll simply respond with this ode

When I delivered the State of the Budget Address
I offered a question or two
How can a man still put food on his family
Will the tollbooth to the middle class become more few?
It’s time to make the pie higher
This idea’s sure to resignate
This is no time to be subliminable
It’s a time to unificate

If there’s more trade, there’s more commerce
And we’ll bring this solution to an end
Even if your business is Hispanically owned
If you speak French or Mexican
We’re working for a hopefuller country
No longer vulcanized
Where humans and fish can coexist
And each act civilized

I think we can agree, the past is over
Still we’re held hostile everywhere
Today we’re not so sure who “they” are
But still, we know that they’re there
No longer inoculated from what is coming
With a foreign-handed foreign policy
Keep good relations with Kosovoans and Grecians
And resist emotionality

We know reading is the basics of learning
And learning…well…I forget the rest
But teach a child to read and he or her
Will be sure to pass a literacy test
So I ask you, “Is our children learning?”
Will we tolerate failed subsidation
Or will this be where wings finally take dream
Not a cufflink of federalization

So if you’re tired of the politics of polls and of principles
It’s time that you join this campaign
We’re looking for women who while serving our country
Never the house will they stain
Where our priorities is our faith
Where a troop can house his family
We’ll find power to power the power of the power plants
No, you’d best not misunderestimate me

Sung:

With every word and every breath
Our language dies a slow, sad death
Hail to the Chief, let’s give him hail
Part Yogi Berra
Part Dan Quayle

©2001 John McCutcheon/Appalsongs (ASCAP)

[ October 15, 2002: Message edited by: Susan Delgado ]

10-10-2002, 08:13 AM	#1
Rimbaud The Perilous Poet Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Heart of the matter Posts: 1,062	(sp?): The Phantom Menace Rimbaud's Annoying Habitometer is beeping incessantly, telling him a new foible has arisen and he must address it immediately. Rimbaud the Merciless does not condone lazy posting. When writing a long word or name, such as Marileangorifurnimaluim or others of great length and/or capacity to confuse, writing the odious _(sp?)_ afterwards does not excuse your mistake (if indeed you have made one). It is that last qualifier that irks me especially. To make an unseen error in a post is understandable, typos are common and in a medium of this nature, almost unavoidable...but to notice that you may have made a mistake and not to correct it seems like apathy of the highest order. Look the word up, and spell it correctly, if you are not sure. Then you will have learned something, as well as having imparted your knowledge correctly. The next person to scribe (sp?) shall be destroyed by a barrage of flaming trout. This I vow. [ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Rimbaud ] __________________ And all the rest is literature

10-10-2002, 09:09 AM	#2
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	...And with this mighty oath, Sir Rimbaud, Grand Knight of the Dictionary, laid down his fearsome challenge. All those who fear his deadly trout should note that it's a matter of a couple of seconds' work to open another browser window and point it at dictionary.com, which is what I always do if I'm not sure how to spell something. They even have both British and American spellings and you'd be amazed at how the flow of one's prose improves with the removal of parentheses, question marks and little abbreviations. There are even off-line dictionaries that may be consulted without recourse to a browser, and which are tailored to the version of English most prevalent in their country of origin (they use a combination of ink and paper as a storage medium, I believe). The manifold wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me. (sp?) __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne? Last edited by The Squatter of Amon Rûdh; 09-21-2005 at 06:17 AM. Reason: Cleaned up code left over from the old forum

10-10-2002, 09:15 AM	#3
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,997	Ah, the Fish called Rimbaud schools the unwise. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Ammunition, my good Sir. Battle resource, fall back position to Squatter's troups: Online Dictionary Bethberry [ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ] __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

10-10-2002, 09:51 AM	#4
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Long posters, please remember that you can use the WORD program, with 'Spell Check' as an initial editor, to craft your replies. Polish your gems, and present them to us in all their glory! __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

10-10-2002, 10:09 AM	#5
Maikadilwen Summoner of Lost Souls Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: At home, with my Strongbow Posts: 521	This makes me think about the always returning mistakes that makes my toes curl [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] every time I see them, such as: their/there, your/you're, then/than and so on. Anyway, I have yet to find an online dictionary that works from Danish to English. __________________ -"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."

10-10-2002, 10:37 AM	#6
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	Try this one: http://dictionaries.travlang.com/DanishEnglish/ I don't speak Danish, so I can't vouch for its quality. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?

10-10-2002, 10:46 AM	#7
Maikadilwen Summoner of Lost Souls Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: At home, with my Strongbow Posts: 521	It seems to work to some point. It might be useful. Thank you. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ -"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."

10-10-2002, 12:49 PM	#8
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,997	Menacing punc humour Edit: Okay, I realize this isn't directly related to the (sp) virus, but I think the !!!! is a mutation of said virus (or vice versa). We have a disease syndrome here for which humorous retorts are the most fitting replies. [ October 11, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ] __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

10-10-2002, 05:03 PM	#9
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	Cheers for Bethberry Woo! Thank you so much! The "more than one exclamation point" thing gets to me. Makes us all sound like a bunch of caffeine-addict, chipmunky, *N Sync teeny-bopper, overly-excited creatures... And: yes: the dictionary is a very powerful item. They also have a spelling dictionary, if you notoriously spell things wrong. Oh: and if you have even more questions, go to http://www.1000dictionaries.com/engl...onaries_1.html . It has links to many, many different dictionaries for many, many things (including spelling, grammar, a thesaurus, a quote dictionary, etc.)! __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

10-11-2002, 09:44 AM	#10
Elenna A Ghostly Light Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: My private bubble of innocence Posts: 563	Personally, I think flaming trout may be too quick. Maybe rabid squirrels. (Sp) really bothers me too. It shows that you didn't take enough time to make sure your post was correct. I know that some words are hard to spell, but if you can't spell it, maybe you shouldn't use it! __________________ If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

10-11-2002, 12:31 PM	#11
Rimbaud The Perilous Poet Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Heart of the matter Posts: 1,062	Do you question my choice of weapon, good lady? lowers eyebrows menacingly and juggles a suitably aflame piscean __________________ And all the rest is literature

10-11-2002, 01:00 PM	#12
Elenna A Ghostly Light Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: My private bubble of innocence Posts: 563	Maybe I am, kind sir... Elenna unlocks the cage of several red-eyed, foaming-at-the-mouth, screeching squirrels. Are you telling me you don't fear this? __________________ If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

10-11-2002, 02:20 PM	#13
The Squatter of Amon Rûdh Spectre of Decay Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Bar-en-Danwedh Posts: 2,178	That sounds like a challenge to me. This thread's beginning to get interesting. __________________ Man kenuva métim' andúne?

10-11-2002, 05:13 PM	#14
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	Points over to where the Rabbit of Caerbannog is still hunched in his cave You guys wanna take that on? Anyone? Aaaand: you first have to answer three questions: 1. What is your name? 2. What is your quest? 3. What is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow (African)? Good luuu-uuuuck... __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

10-12-2002, 01:32 AM	#15
HerenIstarion Deadnight Chanter Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,244	Can't answer questions imposed, (especially the last one) Just let me sit back comfortably and recall my youth, when BD was running on Ezboard. There was such a thing as spellcheck installed + post preview option, which came in handy, especially for the likes of me (i.e. not native speakers). Maybe it is possible to obtain such useful tools for UBB as well? __________________ Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time! Last edited by HerenIstarion; 03-19-2007 at 01:51 PM. Reason: For the hell of it, of all places possible, spelling

10-12-2002, 04:57 AM	#16
ilon Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: lothlorien Posts: 31	Ahh, chat and sms have slowly diminished all our spelling capabilities. That's the downside of technology when people want to be faster. Being not some English major would not be an excuse for me to be wrong in my grammar but it's shameful sometimes to not know the correct words, grammar and spelling. __________________ "Not all those who wander are lost."

10-12-2002, 06:13 AM	#17
Maikadilwen Summoner of Lost Souls Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: At home, with my Strongbow Posts: 521	Indeed chat-spellings are sneaking in everywhere, sometimes forcing me to read a message two or three times before I actually understand what it says. That, of course, is partly caused by the fact that English isn't my native language. Vanima you know very well that the answer to the third question depends on whether it is carrying a coconut or not!(!!) [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ -"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."

10-12-2002, 01:23 PM	#18
Childlike Empress Wight Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fantasia Posts: 109	I would almost rather people leave their misspellings alone and unmarked. Adding "(sp?)" after a word shows the writer noticedthe mistake but was too lazy to actually do anything about it. Sometimes the word isn't even misspelled.... Maikadilwen, what are you on? It is impossible for a three-ounce bird to carry a one-pound coconut through the air! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ Fantasia is with you in your heart. It is the story of which we are a part. Take my hand, come with me, join in my Neverending Story.

10-12-2002, 04:01 PM	#19
Maikadilwen Summoner of Lost Souls Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: At home, with my Strongbow Posts: 521	Childlike Empress you haven't seen "Monty Python and the quest for the Holy Grail" have you? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ -"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."

10-12-2002, 05:41 PM	#20
Childlike Empress Wight Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Fantasia Posts: 109	But of course I have, Maikadilwen, else I'd have said nothing or at least phrased it differently [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] __________________ Fantasia is with you in your heart. It is the story of which we are a part. Take my hand, come with me, join in my Neverending Story.

10-13-2002, 06:08 AM	#21
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I would like to call your attention to another very annoying bad habit - realizing the senselessness of a post and posting anyway! How often do I read: "I guess I'm not making much sense, but it's late and I'm tired!" Here are three good solutions to that problem: 1. Don't post. If you're too tired to make sense, wait until the next morning. If you're afraid to lose those valuable, though scatterbrained, thoughts, type them into your word processing program and save them - that makes it easy to do a spellcheck on them the next day too. Or just jot them down on a piece of paper, the way Tolkien himself took notes of ideas, before thinking them over and making necessary changes. 2. If you feel you must post when tired, check what you wrote the next day and edit it so that it does make sense. Then the above comment is unnecessary. 3. If you wrote it and realize the next day that there's not really any sense to it, delete it! Don't wait for a moderator to do it. Take pride in your writing; there are enough posts on the forum that make very little sense - and the authors didn't even notice! __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

10-13-2002, 07:14 AM	#22
Maikadilwen Summoner of Lost Souls Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: At home, with my Strongbow Posts: 521	Good point Estelyn. I think one of the reasons why many people are posting even though they are too tired to make proper sense, is because they are afraid that if they wait, somebody else will come up with the same thoughts and post before them. Sometimes a post sounds a lot better when you read it over and edit a bit. Personally, I always read through my posts two or three times, checking for errors before I hit "Add Reply". And then I check it again when it has been added to the page because the post always looks different then. I think the most important thing when making a post, is to read it through a few times and think "Do I make myself clear? Will other people understand what I am saying?" Too many people do not take the time to do that and that is why they end up with spelling errors or missing words. "I am typing too fast" is not a valid excuse for not checking your spelling. [ October 13, 2002: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ] __________________ -"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun."

10-13-2002, 12:31 PM	#23
Marileangorifurnimaluim Eerie Forest Spectre Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction Posts: 798	I just noticed this thread. If you guys chance upon some particularly abhorrent spelling, do please add it to the "Agony of Misspelling" Hall of Shame. I stole the idea from Merendis' list of misused homophones. What I have are all the misspelled thread titles I could find. I find that particularly appalling - bring on both the flaming trout and rabid squirrels. But we can expand the parameters of the Hall of Shame. -Maril __________________ Deserves death! I daresay he does... And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?

10-13-2002, 12:45 PM	#24
red Spirit of Mischief Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Land of the free and home of the brave Posts: 366	"Your Friend at the End" Laziness is a disease that will not be cured by well-meaning threads such as this. Nice try though. __________________ "Cats are like greatness: Some people are born into cat-loving families, some achieve cats, and some have cats thrust upon them." -William H. A. Carr

10-13-2002, 10:34 PM	#25
Marileangorifurnimaluim Eerie Forest Spectre Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Buried in scrolls of fanfiction Posts: 798	Quite true. For example, we are the only ones who will read a thread entitled 'The Agony of Poor Spelling.' These threads are entirely for those who care, the dwindling cult of English mavens. Rimbaud on the other hand cleverly disguised this thread under the name "Phantom Menace," which is sure to confuse the 'Star Wars vs. LOTR, who would win?' crowd. They however will flee the moment they realize what they have wandered into. -Maril __________________ Deserves death! I daresay he does... And some die that deserve life. Can you give it to them?

10-13-2002, 10:51 PM	#26
Alkanoonion Spirit in Eriador Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Adelaide Posts: 392	Boo hiss This topic is misleading _(sp?)_ [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] , this is not about the "Phantom Menace," For shame misleading poor little old me. I think that it is time for me to flee, before being destroyed by a barrage of flaming a trout and rabid squirrels. Exit stage left. __________________ In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.

10-13-2002, 10:54 PM	#27
Kithrèna Greenarrow Legolas Wight Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 144	I speak as one of the many who dont have a spell checker on thier computer and didnt know that dictionary.com exisited, and couldent find a FREE online spell checker but I thank you all for the advice. I am also one of the people here who has realy bad spelling skills (Although I can read any word you throw at Me) and I aplogize for My spelling skills. __________________ Mess with Me and I'll grab Sam Gamgee by the heels and beat you over the head with him! Me: The Anti-Leggy-bopper :)

10-14-2002, 01:25 AM	#28
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,997	And I suppose you have never heard of that ancient relic, a book called Dictionary, KGL? And Maril, you could always rename your thread, "The Agony and The Ecstasy ..." and you might catch a different crowd. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] [ October 14, 2002: Message edited by: Bethberry ] __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.

10-14-2002, 05:16 AM	#29
Elenna A Ghostly Light Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: My private bubble of innocence Posts: 563	As an English maven myself, it's a pride issue with me to check words that I don't understand using a gasp PRINT DICTIONARY! KGL, you should take enough pride in your writing to assure that it is spelled correctly. __________________ If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

10-14-2002, 06:17 AM	#31
ilon Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: lothlorien Posts: 31	Using a print dictionary should cause you no shame, Elenna. English is a third language for me so I still constantly refer to it when I come across a new word or some meaning that I may need to be refreshed of. Still, every encounter with a new word will always be advantageous to me. __________________ "Not all those who wander are lost."

10-14-2002, 06:47 AM	#32
Kettle of fish Wight Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 114	Cutting down a tree with a de-boned and defrosted herring will be harder and should be reserved for repeat offenders. __________________ The inimical is often more instructive than the benign. Between screams, try to pay attention.

10-14-2002, 07:52 AM	#33
Rimbaud The Perilous Poet Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Heart of the matter Posts: 1,062	I am pleased to report a reduction in the number of additions of (sp?) to posts in the last week, as observed by this humble... observer. __________________ And all the rest is literature

10-14-2002, 04:14 PM	#36
Elenna A Ghostly Light Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: My private bubble of innocence Posts: 563	What I want to know is this: When Saddam Hussein's interpreters are telling him what President Bush is saying in his speech, do they say something like "And here the President grossly butchers his own native tongue?" What I find ridiculous is that he is representing the American people, and he can't even speak our language! Lindil, I was surprised to hear that you aren't a native English speaker because you write so well. If only our fearless leader took so much care with HIS speech. __________________ If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."

10-14-2002, 04:35 PM	#37
VanimaEdhel Etheral Enchantress Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wellesley College! Posts: 1,461	Elenna, I have a feeling they say something more along the lines of, "Now, the big dork from the United States said..." Well, maybe in stronger language... Even if the person they were speaking of is not a big dork or whatever they would call him, I have a feeling the interpretors may use not-nice reference in referring to the people... __________________ "I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes

10-14-2002, 04:41 PM	#38
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	In terms of leaders, I'd rather have a good man who's not a good speaker than a good speaker who's not a good man. "Nucular" annoys me-- but weighed against other annoying things leaders have done, I can let "Nucular" go and be grateful for the man. However, we were talking about threads... and since we are celebrating a language professor's work, here, on the Barrow Downs, we should indeed take pride in what we type. We do get the chance to review and edit it. In memory of, and with respect for, the Professor, it's the least we can do. I am reminded of the beauty and balance of Frodo's prose as he speaks with Faramir in Ithilien; I think that Bilbo would have been very proud. Reading that section makes me want to be eloquent, too. Few other passages in any other work have such an impact on me. (Thanks, Professor.) __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.