John Hurst as Pedant
A Pedant is a person who is excessively concerned with
minor details, or a person displaying academic learning.
Somehow, I think the second definition fits me better, although
there will be those who think otherwise. Unfortunately, there is
the irony: I have to admit the detail of this qualification
clearly puts me under the first definition. Sigh.
So, with this in mind, these pages are in two parts. The second
definition is covered in a separate page, called Teaching. This page
deals with the first definition, and is the shorter of the two.
So there.
Pedantry
This section was started in Sep 2016. There have been numerous
prior examples that should also go in this section, but I am not
so anally retentive that I shall go back and find all such
examples that might be in my ken. No, suffice to start afresh.
I think this section shall grow sufficiently quickly on its
own.
PS. If you find any error on these pages, feel free to send me
a correction, and you shall be elevated to pedant supremo
instantly.
PPS. Shouldn't that be "you will be elevated"? Well, yes. but
I shall note that I have always followed the rule that using the
non-regular form ("I will, you shall, they shall") implies an
extra emphasis. As in Cinderella's "You shall go to the ball!"
So there.
More Information on Pedantry
Want more guidance on how to be a pedant? Need to know the
difference between it's and its? Read the Grammar Monster
In similar vein, Grammatica have developed a tool to provide
web users with an AI-based Grammar Check (inter alia).
Check it out.
Monash Focus
In the latest Monash
Focus, there is a section called "Meet our new Faculty
Managers", with a subheading "What Exciting Challenges Lay
Ahead for your Faculty". Arrgggh! One of my pet hates is
confusing the verbs "to lay" and "to lie", particularly with
respect to the present tense of to lay ("lay") and past tense
of to lie ("lay").
So I wrote a comment on that page. Here's what I commented:
"What Exciting Challenges Lay Ahead for your Faculty"? Well,
getting your grammar correct for a start! That should be
"lie ahead"!! Come on, Monash, this is our public face on
display here!
Other people have commented on this solecism in more general
terms. Here's one.
Teaching
Please see my separate
Teaching page.
