In today’s world, labeling yourself a grammar enthusiast can feel like wearing a badge of pride. It signals to others that you appreciate the finer details, that you’re refined, and in an era dominated by constant group chats and people recording fireworks on their phones as if they’ll ever revisit those moments, you still value thoughtful, well-structured communication.
However, I must confess that I’m not a genuine grammar enthusiast. Like many, I have my own pet peeves—those grammatical missteps that send a shiver down my spine, compelling me to correct strangers or grab a red pen for a highway sign. Yet, if I’m being honest, I recognize only about five to seven specific mistakes in my daily encounters; the rest simply slip past me. I attribute this shortcoming to a significant gap in my public education. While I can still recall the names of the Inuit families we studied in fifth grade or sing every word of “Top of the World” by the Carpenters (thank you, groovy music teachers), I can’t remember the definition of a dependent clause or the difference between “lie” and “lay.” (Just to clarify, I do work as an editor, so I can claim some level of ‘nerd’ status in the written realm, but when it comes to correcting grammar in everyday conversations, I’m often oblivious.)
I’m always curious about what irritates others’ grammatical sensibilities. I might have a minor meltdown when a friend states, “Me and him went to the beach” or feel the urge to correct people who use “myself” instead of “me” because they think it sounds more sophisticated (e.g., “If you have any questions, you may ask Jim or myself”). However, while some friends misinterpret that Joan Osborne song as “What if God were one of us,” such informal errors don’t bother me as much. We all seem to act as grammar enforcers, but what constitutes a grammatical faux pas varies from person to person.
I found a fascinating chart that outlines “The Anatomy of the Grammar Enthusiast.” Interestingly, it suggests that most of us are women, and that we primarily reside in cities like Chicago and New York. I do, however, challenge the notion that grammar enthusiasts universally adore the Oxford comma—calling it that seems unnecessarily pretentious. It’s known as the serial comma, folks, and it’s as outdated as the practice of adding two spaces after a period.
I’d gladly engage in a debate over what it really means to be a grammar enthusiast. I posit that simply adhering to basic rules doesn’t make you a nerd; it just makes you a competent English speaker.
- Not using “irregardless”
- Distinguishing between “their,” “there,” and “they’re”
- Knowing the difference between “your” and “you’re”
- Recognizing that the “i before e” rule doesn’t apply to “weird”
Perhaps what makes me a true grammar enthusiast is that I care about these details at all. I find myself pondering which of my friends understand the difference between “which” and “that,” or if it’s acceptable to end a spoken sentence with a preposition, like in “What’s it all about?” Maybe most people are too busy living their lives to care about minor grammatical slips. I sometimes wish I could be less concerned.
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In summary, while I may not fit the classic mold of a grammar enthusiast, my interest in language nuances keeps me engaged. We all have our quirks, but whether we’re correcting grammar or figuring out home insemination methods, the journey is what counts.