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.
Um, no, they are not. Orientated is a legitimate word, "conversated" is not (you can look it up, but in the definition it is listed as "slang." My Firefox spellchecker accepts orientated but not "conversated," and personally, I know the difference between the two, and do not use the word "conversate." So, don't assume that everyone is ignorant.
Sounding right or not has no bearing on its legitimacy.
Yes, I know it is a legitimate word. And yes, not everyone who uses it is ignorant. I still think it sounds weird.
People, chill.
This thread is the virtual equivalent of sitting around a nurses' lounge (or is it nurse's lounge? Nurses lounge? No, I believe I was right the first time) chatting about anything and everything to keep our spirits up amidst some heavy s*&%. In this particular thread, we're chatting about grammar. Disagreement is fine, friendly debate and banter is encouraged, but if you think this thread should be closed it will take minimal effort on your part to simply choose a different topic on the board.
Oh! I have another pet peeve - the way people pronounce drugs that end in '-mycin' e.g. clindamycin pronounced 'clinda-my-o-cin'
Being the equivalent of chatting around a nurse's station aside, this argument started off by the bold statement that "orientate is not a word" despite the fact that it is most certainly a word, a word recognized in major dictionaries and a word widely used in several cultures. Several people were quick to point out this fact and correct this supposition. If false statements are made, people WILL pounce all over it. That's just the way it is. Telling people to "chill" is counterproductive and takes away from what we all stand to benefit from - learning the facts.
Being the equivalent of chatting around a nurse's station aside, this argument started off by the bold statement that "orientate is not a word" despite the fact that it is most certainly a word, a word recognized in major dictionaries and a word widely used in several cultures. Several people were quick to point out this fact and correct this supposition. If false statements are made, people WILL pounce all over it. That's just the way it is. Telling people to "chill" is counterproductive and takes away from what we all stand to benefit from - learning the facts.
I'm still a student but I had an instructor this last semester that has his Master's degree, but cannot spell or use correct punctuation at all, in addition to using bad grammar in his notes and on the exam questions he writes! And he grades our APA format papers we write for his class! What a joke.
I'm still a student but I had an instructor this last semester that has his Master's degree, but cannot spell or use correct punctuation at all, in addition to using bad grammar in his notes and on the exam questions he writes! And he grades our APA format papers we write for his class! What a joke.
I find this pathetic and completely incomprehensible, especially for a master's level instructor. For shame.
Well, I am from England, home of the English language and "orientate" is definitely the correct pronunciation and spelling. "Orient" refers to the Asian continent as in "oriental", someone or something from Asia. In contrast, "Occident" refers to the western world, and an "occidental" is an inhabitant of said region.
So "orientated" is just fine.
Sure, orientate is a English word... just not an American one... Just like aluminium.
We Yanks are doing to your language just what the Spaniards did to Latin... (and what the Mexicans have done to Castillian) we just haven't been at it as long!
I'm still a student but I had an instructor this last semester that has his Master's degree, but cannot spell or use correct punctuation at all, in addition to using bad grammar in his notes and on the exam questions he writes! And he grades our APA format papers we write for his class! What a joke.
I had that experience, too. I just learnt to keep my mouth (and fingers) quiet.
To the That's-Not-a-Word crowd, I'd like to simply remind you that all languages evolve, adding and losing words all the time... American seems to do it more than most... perhaps due to our melting-pot history.
You don't speak American, you speak English. Sure there are different dialects and idiosyncrasies but that wasn't the issue - you would think this melting pot would be more tolerant and receptive to the diverse characteristics of this same language we all share.
opossum
202 Posts
Yes, I know it is a legitimate word. And yes, not everyone who uses it is ignorant. I still think it sounds weird.
People, chill.
This thread is the virtual equivalent of sitting around a nurses' lounge (or is it nurse's lounge? Nurses lounge? No, I believe I was right the first time) chatting about anything and everything to keep our spirits up amidst some heavy s*&%. In this particular thread, we're chatting about grammar. Disagreement is fine, friendly debate and banter is encouraged, but if you think this thread should be closed it will take minimal effort on your part to simply choose a different topic on the board.
Oh! I have another pet peeve - the way people pronounce drugs that end in '-mycin' e.g. clindamycin pronounced 'clinda-my-o-cin'