One thing that is nails on chalkboard to me is when I hear my fellow nurses use double negatives and other blatant grammar mistakes. I'm speaking of English as a first language, domestically born and raised people.
I feel as this detracts from the professional image of nursing. We are supposed to be educated professionals. Poor grammar makes nursing look like a blue collar trade to those who are educated, such as our physicians and many members of the public.
Let me clarify that I don't harshly judge the intelligence or moral character of people with poor grammar. But, I feel strongly that nurses should project an image of being educated professionals in our speech and demeanor. Thanks for reading.
I used to listen to a lot of talk radio when my older kids were small. I started calling in to comment on topics, and I started taping myself. At first I said 'um' and exhorbitant amount of times, but I practised and improved. Recently I called in a show I was listening to while visiting the city, I think I was pretty articulate. I have improved over the years.
I have another grammar question. Which of the following is correct:
1) I have decided not to apply.
2) I have decided to not apply.
What kind of word is "to" in these sentences? What I'm getting at is...it's not a verb, and it's not a noun. So what is it? Knowing this would help me find the applicable grammar rules.
To is a preposition, but to followed by a verb will form a structure known as an infinitive (to play, to run, etc). For years and years, grammar experts warned us not to stick anything between the to and the verb. They called this grammatical error a split infinitive.
Now more and more grammar references are telling us not to sweat the split infinitive so much. Sometimes by trying to avoid one, you end up creating a bigger, messier sentence.
In your example above, #1 is technically correct and it's probably what you want to use since it isn't any more awkward than #2. Just know that people aren't agonizing over this as much as in the past.
them darn't infinitives. cap'n kirk said it all (wrong)
to boldly go where no man has gone before.......
| split by →an adverb←, how humbling.|
but then the good cap'n had other things on his mind, like star trek shuffle, gazing upon uhuru's long legs and every other sweet thing's things........
Y'all are just too smart for me (yes I know Y'all is an improper contraction but I like it). Thanks Eric for the link, mabey I can rid myself of my worst speech mistakes. You don't have one for spelling idiots do you?
i'm sure it drove english teachers up the wall for years.
however, it just doesn't have the pizazz when said correctly, though.
did another google search on this issue, and according to bbc the oxford dictionary has given the go ahead to this phrase.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/150458.stm
uk
'to boldly go' gets green light
experts behind the new oxford english dictionary have decided that splitting infinitives is okay.
leslie :-D
11,191 Posts
hahahaha.
one time i had to give a deposition.
when all is said and done, you are sent a written copy of what transpired.
you read it, and sign it if you accept what was written.
when i received my copy, it was filled with "um", "um", "um", "um"....
i signed my name, with an addendum:
"i contextually agree with the sentiments expressed.
but i must contest the quantity of "ums"."
dang.
such a humbling experience. :)
leslie