Than/Then

[annundriel]

I had a long, weird dream last night with a lot of things going on. I only just now remembered what I was so busy trying to explain to a friend through part of it.

The difference between "than" and "then."

Which I still have problems with sometimes. Even though I know exactly what each one is used for, sometimes I think about them too hard and the lines blur. Pathetic, I know.

At least the person I was trying to explain it to was a friend who does not have a grasp of grammar (and doesn't think it matters!). And is going to be teaching. Elementary school. ::facepalm::

Comments

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

"At least the person I was trying to explain it to was a friend who does not have a grasp of grammar (and doesn't think it matters!). And is going to be teaching. Elementary school. ::facepalm::"

uh... WHAT?!

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

OMG, MICHELE. I ask myself the SAME THING. But it's more like, "WHAT WHAT WHAT?!" in my head.

Earlier this year she was complaining about this grammar class she had to take and how they were reading this book and it was all totally stupid because the teacher even told them they wouldn't be teaching it.

And I was like, "Yes, but you have to be able to explain to your students why something is incorrect."

She said, "That's what the teacher said, too."

Not that she'd necessarily be able to tell if something was wrong. Though she did one-up me on the use of "bad/badly," but she was already biased against the writer and the document.

She just doesn't understand the importance, and that's what really worries me for future generations.

[michelerz.livejournal.com]

I feel as though Dr. Bean should kidnap her.


My issue with this whole disregard of grammar by your friend is the fact that I wasn't informed of the irrelevance of grammar.


It seems like something that would never become irrelevant, but rather ETERNALLY RELEVANT.

Mariah Carey's music is irrelevant.
Language and its usage and punctuation are timeless.

[annundriel.livejournal.com]

Every time she brings up grammar, I want to drag Dr. Bean over here and force her to listen.

The disregard for grammar really kills me. Especially because right now this friend is going through a custody thing. I keep wanting to tell her that all of the paperwork and legal things that are going on wouldn't be possible if there weren't some ground rules laid out for language to work in.

Language and its usage and punctuation are timeless.

I agree. I read a book called The Fight for English that had a lot of stuff I didn't particularly agree with, but it did make me think about how language, usage, and punctuation change and evolve. I think that even in its evolution, it's timeless. Does that make sense? Is it even possible?