Never Too Old to Learn
I'm not trying to be a smart*ss but I thought I knew most everyday words in the English language. You know, the simple words we use every day.
Anyway, to cut to the chase, I installed the free Grammarly extension to my Chrome browser to see if it would help with the occasional typo. I didn't really expect to learn anything much, I just wanted confirmation that what I was doing was OK and to pick up any silly mistakes.
I kinda like the way it underlines errors in red so I can rethink what I'm saying.
So tonight I got a shock. I was responding to a comment on my training video Adsense Ads with Ad Inserter Plugin and I typed "any more" as two words. But Grammarly said "no" and suggested that I use "anymore" as one word. HUH? is there any such word as "anymore"?
So I asked Google. Yup! "Anymore" as one word is correct in that context. So I've been using the wrong word(s) all my life.
It just goes to show that you're never too old to learn.
I'm keeping Grammarly. And I suggest to everyone that even if English is your primary language and you think your vocabulary is pretty good you can still learn a thing or two.
P.S. Context Matters
In some cases one word is correct and in some cases we should use two words. As some of my friends have pointed out in the comments below; "any more" and "anymore" are not interchangeable. And you'll note that I used "everyday" and "every day" in the first paragraph because the context was entirely different.
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I used Grammarly a while back for a full year. I had the paid version and decided not to renew it.
It does help with silly mistakes, typo's and the kind of error you mentioned. For non-English or where English is a second new language, it can be helpful.
Does the chrome extension now have the feature to save the "ignore" words so it will stop selecting those? I was using it for a while but got tired of clicking "ignore" so many times...lol. ~Jude
I haven't tested that yet Jude. There is an option to add a word to the dictionary so that probably covers it. For my purposes, I think the free version is going to be enough.
I think Grammarly is a helpful tool, but not to be trusted one hundred percent.
I mentioned in a post written 2 years ago how I tested Grammarly in relation to MasterChef. (Or should I say Master Chef!)
Anyway, I mentioned 11 cooks putting their aprons on. Grammarly did not agree with cooks taking such action. They would rather it was 11 'books' putting their aprons on!
These differences could be a concern for someone just starting to learn the English language
An enjoyable post, Marion. Thank you :)
With 11 cooks putting their aprons on it's a good show.
Well, I just typed that to see what would happen with the current version of Grammarly and it totally ignored the sentence indicating that it now sees it as correct.
My next experiment is to see what happens if a word is not spelt correctly. Just as I figured. It wants "spelled" instead of "spelt". I can live with that!
It does provide reason for a bit of a 'giggle'. (I suggest we don't put that word through Grammarly.)
Clearly Grammarly has taken some higher education during the past 2 years. Excellent!
But, now it wants to show us that our words are not 'spelled' correctly! As you say, Marion - you can live with that, and I'll do likewise!
Any chance this is an Australian thing? I still can't get used to seeing learnt and whilst
Are these real words? Yes they are, spoken mostly in countries with British influence like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and of course the UK.
I've never been a good speller. I think it has something to do with a change in a reading and writing teaching technique used when I was in grammer school.
Now I find myself constantly using Google to confirm both the spelling and context of words I am using in written form.
I was born in Britain and grew up in Australia so my native language is English with an Australian twist. Now I'm spending a lot of time on the internet I'm learning the American version of English with its different spelling.
There are more people using American English than Australian English so I'd better go with the flow.
I love the proper use of the English language; I often provide "lessons" for my friends who are teachers! But, every now and then I get a surprise when Grammarly informs me that I used a word incorrectly. Interestingly enough, as much as I pride myself on communication, my spelling is horrendous!
Never stop learning, Marion!
Hello, Marion, and thank you for all your help along the way. I am living proof that you're never too old to learn. I know that this old dog is learning some new tricks!
To weigh in on the discussion, I was taught that the decision to use any more or anymore depended upon the context.
Two examples:
I'm not going fishing anymore.
There aren't any more fish.
What do you think about my early schooling?
And no, I wasn't in class in the mid-1800's! Lol
Yes, the context is key to this particular word/phrase. In the context that I was using it, the single word was correct.
Hi Marion!
I have been using the paid version of Grammarly for four years. It is $70/year (US) and it is worth every penny. It has taught me a few things too!
Sometimes I have a brain f*rt on spelling a word and I can count on Grammarly to bail me out. It is also excellent with punctuation and word usage.
If our websites are not professional in content, how can we get our readers to trust us? We must use every tool we can to achieve that goal.
Thanks for sharing!
(This post has been checked by Grammarly and it is approved for publishing) LOLOL
LOL! Grammarly picked me up on using an asterisk in my post so I want to check if it picked up yours in "brain f*rt". Nope, it seems to like asterisks.
lol.
Do you have any more oranges? Is correct.
I will not be eating green oranges anymore: is also correct, but for a different reason. It’s a temporal adverb.
All the same, I cannot promise that comments returned to you via small electronic devices with upstart autocorrect behaviours will not contain malapropisms or Americanisms. And since everything looks clearer with hind legs, I shan’t be casting any nasturtiums. ;)
In editing work, I am required to adopt the formally-agreed standard and style of the originator. But for the most expressive, beautiful, and original writing, I’m looking a little beyond what any style editor or electronic aid can recommend.
It’s a cat above the rest. :p
I love Grammarly! It has been such a godsend for me, particularly for my dyslexic typing. I was given a word of caution from the PM on a freelance writing job I'm on to be careful with Grammarly, as it can sometimes input HTML code in the text you write. Not a big deal for most things, but if you're doing something with a character limit, or where HTML is not allowed, it can sometimes cause issues. Just an FYI! :-)
I decided that because 75% of visitors to my website are from the USA, I cannot use the following and have had to re-learn how to not use correct English. (Correct being England, where Americans originated with their language).
As an Australian I was taught Australian which is very close to British English.
Here are just a tiny selection of examples of what I can no longer use.
Footpath (sidewalk)
Ute (Pickup)
Colour (Color)
Neighbour (Neighbor)
Brittish (British)
Aluminium (Aluminum)
There are too many more to mention. So I am also learning everyday to talk like a "Yankie" :-)
No more G'day Mate, how the hell are ya cobber?
Dave
American English uses different terminology, yes. But it also employs at times, different syntax. So swapping out colloquialisms won’t be the only way that text is made more American.
I’m Australian too, and in my professional writing and editing activities, the use of British English does not waver unless there is a professional requirement for it. And even then, American editors who specialise in such edits are employed.
In online writing - unless you are such an editor with such a requirement - it’s easier to just be yourself. Add detail where necessary, rather than impersonate, or you risk seeming like the written equivalent of a horse with a cow’s head.
Americans are navigating the same international space as we all are, and they will not be broken for reading the Queen’s English. Or anyone else’s, for that matter.
For comprehension, you may need to explain professional terminology (what’s a quaver?), or disambiguate two like-terms used for different reasons (that’s not a pudding! THIS is a pudding).
Of course, all things considered, what’s best for you depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your own blog! Who are you? And what sort of stories or knowledge are you hoping to share? And to what effect? Are you writing copy for Amazon, or are you the next Douglas Adams?
Thank you Ivy for spending the time to explain that. Love the horse with a cow's head. LOL
I thought if I used color and specialise that my US readers would think I am a bad speller. I will take your advice and be myself and ignore all the Red Squiggles under all the Australian spelt words.
However, if I am promoting a wheelchair ramp to access a footpath, the US will not know what I am referring to. The same would happen if I am explaining a Ute.
Then I think, should I just write like this?
China produce a Trike Ute (Trike Pickup) that has a motorcycle on the front and a differential driving the rear.
A lot of my articles would have brackets. LOL
As my niche has so many situations like sidewalk and pickup, it is an issue that occurs frequently.
So what do you think. Would my 75% USA readers know what a footpath and a ute is?
Dave
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Hi Marion,
Well I do try to spell properly but I am not super critical so if I get the meaning then that's O.K.
I never understood how to use Grammerly, I suppose you need to open it before you start typing.
Maybe I'll give it another try.
Cheers Jae ☼