6.0235 Qs: Grammr; Printing and Punctuation (2/38)

Elaine Brennan & Allen Renear (EDITORS@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Sun, 13 Sep 1992 21:52:25 EDT

Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 6, No. 0235. Sunday, 13 Sep 1992.


(1) Date: Thu, 3 Sep 92 23:53:43 GMT-3:30 (27 lines)
From: W Schipper <schipper@morgan.ucs.mun.ca>
Subject: Confusing grammar

(2) Date: Sat, 5 Sep 92 14:02:55 CDT (11 lines)
From: maynor@Ra.MsState.Edu (Natalie Maynor)
Subject: Boring Question Re Printing and Punctuation

(1) --------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 92 23:53:43 GMT-3:30
From: W Schipper <schipper@morgan.ucs.mun.ca>
Subject: Confusing grammar


I am to teach an undergraduate course on modern English grammar this
term. I want to begin with a brief discussion of why it is important to
know grammar. Avril Henry (on Medtext) suggested she might begin such a
course with some specific examples in which faulty grammar makes a genuine
difference. Can anyone supply some examples? I am not thinking of the
kinds of mistakes we all make from time to time in writing (e.g.
subject-verb agreement, pronounc reference, etc); while these are not
trivial in good writing perhaps, they are not necessarily "crucial" in
real life (if you could hear a Newfoundland student from one of the
outports speak you would know just what I mean).

Any examples will be greatly appreciated.

Bill

--
.......................................................................
W. Schipper                         Email: schipper@morgan.ucs.mun.ca
Department of English,              Tel: 709-737-4406
Memorial University                 Fax: 709-737-4000
St John's, Nfld. A1C 5S7
........................................................................
(2) --------------------------------------------------------------21----
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 92 14:02:55 CDT
From: maynor@Ra.MsState.Edu (Natalie Maynor)
Subject: Boring Question Re Printing and Punctuation
 
I've often heard that the U.S. convention of placing commas and periods
inside ending quotation marks even when to do so seems illogical is related
to the history of printing.  I need to find out more about that bit of
history but am having trouble finding anything.  I would appreciate any
suggestions for sources, preferably books or journals widely available.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
   --Natalie (maynor@ra.msstate.edu)