Re: the grammar of spam
My pet peeve lately has been the inappropriate use of the possessive
form of a noun instead of the plural form. I just received an email
yesterday from Phase One, the digital back makers, with the following
heading:
Capture One 4: Working with the Pro's
Argghh.
I notice this particular mistake popping up quite frequently on the
internet. I guess good grammar is optional nowadays. One clue might
be the answer I received from my youngest daughter the other night
when I asked her if she knew the difference between an infinitive and
a gerund. She replied that she had no idea what either word meant.
She is a freshman in high school at an ostensibly good school. I
have a feeling some of her teachers might have the same response to
my question.
I just realized I sound like a curmudgeon. Oh well, maybe the world
is really going to hell in a handbasket.
Clay
On Oct 6, 2007, at 1:53 PM, Judy Seigel wrote:
I have been mocked (or praised?) on this very list as grammarian,
(or maybe it was "goddess of between you and me"?), but I share
this off-topic topic as not entirely frivolous....
AFAIK, no bank or reputable business e-mails customers about
anything, let alone asks them to "sign in" with their credentials
(my husband's bank phones if there's a question). But I have never
seen any communication from a legitimate institution, financial or
otherwise, not in proper
business English.
The following, in my queue today, is NOT a joke, as the rest of the
pitch was obviously serious. Some people must bite, or they
wouldn't bother (would they)? So grammar isn't all snobbery (just
the fun part).
Anyway, for the general amusement:
"We've designed our service to ensure that all our customer are
assured and protected. To this notification you are required to
validate your profile to enable us serve you more better. Sign In to
start the validation process."
(next, about my darkroom)
J.