As I was meandering along the sidewalk a few days ago, I noticed a woman with a shirt on. In and of itself, that might not seem an event worth recounting, but bear in mind that this shirt had words printed on it. What, you may ask, were those words?
"KNOW
IT ALL"
I felt temptation overtake me, but restraint won the day. As much as I wanted to, I did not ask her, "Shouldn't that be hyphenated? Do you really mean that statement as an imperative?"
Now, of course, I only regret my tactful silence.
"KNOW
IT ALL"
I felt temptation overtake me, but restraint won the day. As much as I wanted to, I did not ask her, "Shouldn't that be hyphenated? Do you really mean that statement as an imperative?"
Now, of course, I only regret my tactful silence.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: A Pedant's Tale
Fri, April 16, 2004 - 9:10 PMOn top of which, by "overtake" I clearly meant to say "overcome". Because, um, you know. Yeah.
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Re: A Pedant's Tale
Fri, April 16, 2004 - 10:25 PMWas there, by chance, an ad for a college or university or other means of conceivably *learning* it all on the other face of that t-shirt?
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Re: A Pedant's Tale
Sat, April 17, 2004 - 7:44 AMIf she was naming herself, then it should be hyphenated:Knit-it-all.
Could be she was simply making a declarative statement and left off the "I".... -
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Re: A Pedant's Tale
Sat, April 17, 2004 - 9:26 AMArgh!
That would be even worse. I'm perfectly happy with the omission of the assumed subject (you) in direct address and imperatives, but omitting the first-person subject--I say nay!
Additionally, if she knew it all in a declarative sense, wouldn't one assume that she would know to include the 'I'? -
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Re: A Pedant's Tale
Sat, April 17, 2004 - 9:38 AMmaybe the "I" was on the front of the shirt...
Ah well i suppose there is a Humpty Dumpty School of Subjective Grammar as well as Vocabulary... -
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Re: A Pedant's Tale
Sat, April 17, 2004 - 10:37 AMFar more popular, it seems, is the school that teachs, "All grammar is subjective."
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