f u cn rEd ths thn U nEd 2 rEd d thred "My introduction to the English language

[Lewis]

Welcome Newbie, Oldie, In-betweeney for all I care,

I hope you find this informative.

 

I call this post "My introduction to the English language for beginners".

-----------------------------------

Let's start with the basics shall we:

' = Apostrophe

! = Exclamation mark

" = Quotation mark (also includes what people incorrectly call "inverted commas" e.g. ‘ ’ )

% = Percentage mark

^ = Caret

& = Ampersand

* = Asterisk

¶ = Pilcrow

( and ) = Bracket (Yes bracket! Parentheses are a type of bracket containing parenthetical material)

… = Ellipsis

. = Full stop (a period is when a woman spits out her womb!)

« and »= Guillemets

- = Hyphen

· = Interpunct

? = Question mark

; = Semicolon

: = Colon

/ = Solidus (although "slash" is commonly acceptable)

~= Tilde

_ = Underscore

 

-----------------------------------

Ok.......common errors:

accept = verb meaning to receive or to agree: He accepted their praise graciously.

except = preposition meaning all but, other than: Everyone went to the game except Alyson.

 

affect = verb meaning to influence: Will lack of sleep affect your game?

effect = noun meaning result or consequence: Will lack of sleep have an effect on your game?

effect = verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish: Our efforts have effected a major change in university policy.

 

advise = verb that means to recommend, suggest, or counsel: I advise you to be cautious.

advice = noun that means an opinion or recommendation about what could or should be done: I'd like to ask for your advice on this matter.

 

its = possessive adjective (possesive form of the pronoun it): The crab had an unusual growth on its shell.

it's = contraction for it is or it has (in a verb phrase): It's still raining; it's been raining for three days. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

 

Their = possessive pronoun: They got their books.

There = that place: My house is over there. (This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)

They're = contraction for they are: They're making dinner. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

 

We're = contraction for we are: We're glad to help. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

Where = location: Where are you going? (This is a place word, and so it contains the word here.)

Were = a past tense form of the verb be: They were walking side by side.

 

Your = possessive pronoun: Your shoes are untied.

You're = contraction for you are: You're walking around with your shoes untied. (Pronouns have apostrophes only when two words are being shortened into one.)

 

If I have inspired you to gain an interest in "da wA U spk" then may I refer you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eats%2C_Shoots_and_Leaves - a worthy purchase.

 

I'll add to this as I see fit. Please DO point out any errors in it, it's only fair and I would like it to be correct.

[SupraStar 3000]

whats the title say please sir.

[Pixelfill]

 

Lewis - Some others if you are interested.

 

§ section

¤ currency

¯ macron

¨ diaeresis

 

{}

#

|

¬

¦

 

I'd be interested in what the tilde is used for too (and I don't mean to access users home directories in Unix)

 

Mike

[Whitesupraboy2]

As the young mod who breaches the old with the young, i have decifiered this to read 'if you can read this read this thread'

 

But i must say your txt speak is very poor

[jamesmark]

whats the title say please sir.

 

 

If you can read this you can read this thread.

 

Although poor example as not seen anyone "TXT" talk as bad as that, until now that is.

[Max Headroom]

How about

 

lose - verb, be deprived of,esp by negligence or misadventure

 

loose - adj, no longer held by bonds or restraints, slack, relaxed

[Lewis]

As the young mod who breaches the old with the young, i have decified this to read 'if you can read this read this thread'

 

But i must say your txt speak is very poor

 

Do you mean you bridge the old and young?

 

Also, it's "deciphered", just in case you wondered lol. You may also not wish to start your sentences with "But".

 

See me!

[Matt H]

 

effect = noun meaning result or consequence: Will lack of sleep have an effect on your game?

effect = verb meaning to bring about, to accomplish: Our efforts have effected a major change in university policy.

 

 

Shouldnt that be affect and effect? in the same sequence?

[CardiffSupra]

[SupraStar 3000]

So its not "Fcuk Ed ???? thank you Ed"

[Lewis]

Shouldnt that be affect and effect? in the same sequence?

 

 

No, affect was above it but was spaced incorrectly.

 

Now fixed.

[rik]

Well done. That should sort the men out from the boys.

 

My wife studied languages at university, and has put the fear of Christ into me when ever it come to grammer and punctuation.

 

And there's no excuse for geting your spelling wrong when you are sat in front of a computer....

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/

[Bobbeh]

Sticky the thread? I could use it for the accept/effect stuff

[RedM]

ha ha ha

[Class One]

It's intellectual snobbery I tell thee!

[KaoriFan]

perfect, needed that for a while

 

can you do one on txt speak as well for the older members

 

i agree with everything you wrote, except for brackets.

 

brackets ( ) are parentheses or known as round brackets. brackets covers the generic term for all brackets

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket#Parentheses_.28_.29

 

from wiki:

Brackets are punctuation marks, used in pairs to set apart or interject text within other text. Types of brackets include parentheses or round brackets ( ), box brackets or square brackets [ ], curly brackets or braces { }, and angle brackets

 

Usage

 

In addition to referring to the class of all types of brackets, the unqualified word bracket is most commonly used to refer to a specific type of bracket. In modern American usage, this is usually the square bracket, whereas in modern British usage it is usually the parenthesis.

 

Types of brackets

[edit]

 

Parentheses ( )

 

Parentheses (the singular is parenthesis, with an i) – sometimes called round brackets, curved brackets or just brackets; or, colloquially, parens, or fingernails – are used to contain parenthetical (or optional, additional) material in a sentence that could be removed without destroying the meaning of the main text.

 

not going for controversy, just want my 10 point score on the 'english test' the other day, lol

 

[Matt H]

U missed out apostrophe: '

 

Of all the symbols to include! tut tut

[Whitesupraboy2]

You may also not wish to start your sentences with "But".

 

See me!

 

Well the dictionary says i can

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/a/and.html

[Lewis]

It's intellectual snobbery I tell thee!

 

However, you still corrected the typo in your post

[RedM]

Lewis.

 

What is an eroteme?

 

The clue is in the question.

[Max Headroom]

Well the dictionary says i can

 

http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/a/and.html

 

 

 

Should it not be "But the dictionary says I can":)

[Whitesupraboy2]

Should it not be "But the dictionary says I can":)

 

I like your style.

[Lewis]

perfect, needed that for a while

 

can you do one on txt speak as well for the older members

 

i agree with everything you wrote, except for brackets.

 

brackets ( ) are parentheses or known as round brackets. brackets covers the generic term for all brackets

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracket#Parentheses_.28_.29

 

from wiki:

Brackets are punctuation marks, used in pairs to set apart or interject text within other text. Types of brackets include parentheses or round brackets ( ), box brackets or square brackets [ ], curly brackets or braces { }, and angle brackets

 

Usage

 

In addition to referring to the class of all types of brackets, the unqualified word bracket is most commonly used to refer to a specific type of bracket. In modern American usage, this is usually the square bracket, whereas in modern British usage it is usually the parenthesis.

 

Types of brackets

[edit]

 

Parentheses ( )

 

Parentheses (the singular is parenthesis, with an i) – sometimes called round brackets, curved brackets or just brackets; or, colloquially, parens, or fingernails – are used to contain parenthetical (or optional, additional) material in a sentence that could be removed without destroying the meaning of the main text.

 

not going for controversy, just want my 10 point score on the 'english test' the other day, lol

 

 

 

It seems to be under debate, technically a perenthesis IS a bracket...... I am happy to change it if the masses agree.

[Lewis]

U missed out apostrophe: '

 

Of all the symbols to include! tut tut

 

OMG - I hang my head in shame.

 

Added.

[KaoriFan]

there is also the point of people starting sentences with 'and'. seems ok these days to do that, yet years ago was sort of frowned upon.