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  Sara Rosinsky • Shiny Red Copy

sara's Shiny red blog

I am not a grammar Nazi.

2/22/2019

9 Comments

 
Picture
Grammar Nazi emblemThis is actually a thing.
We live in a time when I need to say this: Nazis are bad.

And I could use this space to analyze when the word "Nazi" has managed to qualify as amusing, and when it hasn't, and why. But that's not what I want to focus on.*

Let's leave the word "Nazi" aside for a few minutes and instead talk about the common prototype of  a dictatorial, hairsplitting, pedantic, shrill, strident curmudgeon who haughtily corrects everyone around her. Call it a grammar cop. Or a grammar dominatrix. A grammar fire-breathing dragon.

I'm none of those things.

What I am is a language lover. I'm a fan of clear, well-crafted sentences. And yes, I've been known to cringe when I hear or see errors of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the like. But I'm not going to push anyone's nose in their mess and shame them for making a mistake.**

Instead, I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and assume that all of us are doing our best. We've all had different upbringings and educational opportunities, and we all have different kinds of brains. (Some people, for example, are predisposed to utter spoonerisms or misspell words. You can blame your genes.)

For those who want to write and speak more clearly and correctly, I will happily share what I know and try to provide assistance. Almost daily, I post little spelling and grammar hints (many of which you can see here) on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I want to help people distinguish between "me," "myself," and "I" and know their "they'res" from their "theres."

Essentially, my attitude toward language is one of fascination and appreciation. I want to share my enthusiasm. I want to spread the love. And there's nothing Nazi-like about that.


*Yes! I began a sentence with "and" and ended a sentence with a preposition. You can do that.
**And yes, I just used the singular "their" and "them"... on purpose.
9 Comments
Schelley link
3/15/2019 01:34:57 pm

This really resonates with me. I swear we must be long lost sisters from another mother. I, too, cringe when I hear or read something grammatically incorrect but I would never resort to being a grammar fire-breathing dragon. We all have our strengths and weaknesses. It’s nice to see you sharing your strength and love of words with others. We both have the same objective: to help folks learn to write well while having fun explaining the ins and outs of English. So kudos to you, Sara!

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
3/15/2019 04:03:19 pm

Kudos to YOU! You're the LinkedIn Queen Bee!

As irony would have it, a friend just pointed out to me that the email that directed you to this very page had a spelling error in it! 🙄 I won't be throwing any stones from *this* glass house!

Reply
Stjepan link
11/8/2019 08:54:18 am

There was once a humanoid robot sent from the future to correct people's grammar.

HER name was - the Gramminator.

After the Gramminator corrected EVERYONE'S grammar, the Gramminator had children and then the Gramminators children had children.

And this is the story of how the Gramminator came to known as:

"Gramma!"

:)

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
6/30/2021 05:34:53 am

I just realized that the response I wrote to this in 2019 wasn't posted in the right spot. It said:

I love this on every level. 😂

Reply
Alice
12/2/2020 06:15:13 am

It's as I said, Sara.

'You're Top of the Pops,' and I look forward to your posts.

I'm grateful to have access to your educational and entertaining content.

Be safe, be well, be HAPPY 🐝

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
12/2/2020 06:49:43 am

Thank you, Alice! 😊

Reply
Mriga
6/30/2021 05:28:47 am

Love love love all the way from India!

I love your posts and they are not just insightful but also at times the much-needed reassurance that every editor needs when they start to question every spelling and every meaning till the brain is a muddle.

Thank you! You're awesome!

Reply
Sara Rosinsky link
6/30/2021 05:33:18 am

Thank you so much!

Reply
Tabitha link
6/3/2022 04:14:54 am

Lovely blog you have heree

Reply

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