It's M-e-y-e-r: NO "S" @ the end!!! (and other errors)

[Gabrielle]

I get kind of anal sometimes-things make me twitch every so often. One twitch-worthy little gem I keep seeing over and over and over again on discussions and such (not just here, but everywhere) is an extra "s" at the end of Stephenie Meyer's name. Her name is spelled M-e-y-e-r. There is no "s" at the end.

My opinion of her books has nothing to do with it. It's the fact that for every time I hear or see her name correctly, I see or hear it incorrectly 3+ more. If you're a fan and think she's so great, you should know enough about what you love so much to say/ get the author's name right. And if you're against Twilight, you should have a good enough idea of what you're criticizing to criticize it.

As an aside, I also get annoyed when people say, "Nortstroms," instead of, "Nordstrom." Again, no "s" at the end. N-o-r-d-s-t-r-o-m. NO "s" here, either!!!

I also get annoyed when people pronounce "mischievous" as "mis-CHEE-vee-us" instead of "MIS-chiv-us." There is no word in the English language that is spelled in such a way as to be pronounced as "mis-CHEE-vee-us."

Granted, I'm no pronunciation queen. For example, the first time I said "godiva" out loud, I said, "Go-DEE-vuh" instead of "guh-DIE-vuh." But I fixed it really quickly when my error was pointed out, and I am not a repeat offender. Also, I sometimes fall victim to homonyms when writing, but if I don't spot it and correct it myself, I always admit it when someone else points it out to me.

Whew! I feel better! ;p

So now that I got my frustration out, it's your turn! Any mispronunciations that just bug the crap out of you? Any words that get spelled wrong all the time that make your skin crawl?

[Gabrielle]

OOoo, here's one. As a politics major, I'd constantly encounter "tenants" instead of "tenets" when either listening to other students in class or editing their papers. A "tenant" is a person renting land or a place to live from someone else, like someone renting an apartment or a house. The word they'd be going for is "tenet," meaning (in our context) an important principle or aspect of a theory being discussed. It too made me twitch. My professors hated it, as well, and my senior seminar class got lectured after our first papers were turned in that if "tenants" showed up instead of "tenets" anywhere in our second papers, offenders would lose a whole letter grade. "You're seniors now, you should be able to get this right, for crying out loud!"

[QuantumTuba]

Was this senior in college or high school? Because it should have been automatic once people were college students, as far as I'm concerned. I mean, I would have recognized the distinction long before now, and I'm entering my junior year in high school.

[Gabrielle]

College. I know. Sad, isn't it?

::headdesk:: Or maybe just a really big disappointed sigh and head-shake...

[Decepticon]

"Or maybe just a really bit, disappointed sigh and head-shake..."

You mean, "Or maybe just a really big disappointed sigh and head-shake..."?

It'd b-i-g, dammit. There's no t there!

And why's there a comma just randomly thrown in there. Commas are entirely optional in listing adjectives, but, even when they are used in such a manner, should only be used when you are listing three or more.

[QuantumTuba]

We appear to have a battle of the grammar Nazis on our hands here.

[Gabrielle]

Fixed- didn't I say I'd concede if mistakes were pointed out? And I conceded to your point about the comma, although I disagree- it's a style thing, and I was never told to correct it in all of my time in high school or college. But since it bugs YOU, I'll let it go so as not to offend your impeccable taste.

Edited adult content out...

[Decepticon]

...Well, ok.

[Gabrielle]

Candles or handcuffs?

[Gabrielle]

You used a period instead of a question mark in your first sentence, by the way, dear. ;p

[Decepticon]

Oh damn.

[Kenny]

Pwn't

[Anna]

Okay I'm honestly not trying to be a pain here, but just so you aren't confused I'll explain. When you have interchangeable adjectives you do in fact have to separate them with a comma. Doesn't matter if there are two or three.
For example: The crumpled, burning piece of paper was slowly igniting the log in the fire pit.
And they are never optional in listing adjectives. At least, not according to my 9th grade English teacher who wrote a book on grammar.
Honestly I'm not trying to be obnoxious.
Also, you spelled "It's" It'd.