Grammar Nazi: Difference between revisions

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{{quote|'''Perrier Lapadite:''' I swear I do not know where Mademoiselle Dreyfus was at!
{{quote|'''Perrier Lapadite:''' I swear I do not know where Mademoiselle Dreyfus was at!
'''Hans Landa:''' Did you just [[Prepositions Are Not to End Sentences With|end a sentence with a preposition?]]<br />
'''Hans Landa:''' Did you just [[Prepositions Are Not to End Sentences With|end a sentence with a preposition?]]
'''Perrier Lapadite:''' ... [[What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?|forgive me, Colonel.]]|From a parody<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM This one, in fact.]</ref> of ''[[Inglorious Basterds]].''}}
'''Perrier Lapadite:''' ... [[What Do You Mean It's Not Heinous?|forgive me, Colonel.]]
|From a parody<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4vf8N6GpdM This one, in fact.]</ref> of ''[[Inglorious Basterds]].''}}


Somewhere along the line, Grammar Nazis got more into the form than the content. They sometimes leave snarky little notes in discussion areas about the correct use of italics or where the apostrophe goes in "its/it's." They don't actually add any new content -- except possibly passive-aggressive "help" articles on proper usage of the semicolon. At their worst, they are known for insisting on "rules of English" which are derived from French and other Latin-descended languages, and were invented for the sole purpose of annoying English-speakers. They'll also likely become a [[Serial Tweaker]], careful to quickly correct their own mistakes. (We hope.)
Somewhere along the line, Grammar Nazis got more into the form than the content. They sometimes leave snarky little notes in discussion areas about the correct use of italics or where the apostrophe goes in "its/it's." They don't actually add any new content -- except possibly passive-aggressive "help" articles on proper usage of the semicolon. At their worst, they are known for insisting on "rules of English" which are derived from French and other Latin-descended languages, and were invented for the sole purpose of annoying English-speakers. They'll also likely become a [[Serial Tweaker]], careful to quickly correct their own mistakes. (We hope.)
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Often, people will be accused of being Grammar Nazis by someone who simply cannot grasp simple second-grade English concepts, such as confusing "you're" for "your". Even worse, a Grammar Nazi will jump all over people who use grammar that is technically incorrect but that [[Reality Is Unrealistic|seems correct because]] ''[[Reality Is Unrealistic|everyone]]'' [[Reality Is Unrealistic|(except for the Grammar Nazis, of course) uses it]], such as "It is me" instead of "It is I."
Often, people will be accused of being Grammar Nazis by someone who simply cannot grasp simple second-grade English concepts, such as confusing "you're" for "your". Even worse, a Grammar Nazi will jump all over people who use grammar that is technically incorrect but that [[Reality Is Unrealistic|seems correct because]] ''[[Reality Is Unrealistic|everyone]]'' [[Reality Is Unrealistic|(except for the Grammar Nazis, of course) uses it]], such as "It is me" instead of "It is I."


But of course, some people -- [[Godwin's Law]] or not -- bear the title with pride. [[Super OCD|They seek order within the literary confines of the Internet]]. [[Utopia Justifies the Means|S'not such a bad cause, aye]]? A good rule of thumb to distinguish between "good" and "[[Troll|bad]]" ones is: the former will usually overlook [[Self-Demonstrating Article|ovbious tyops]].
But of course, some people -- [[Godwin's Law]] or not - bear the title with pride. [[Super OCD|They seek order within the literary confines of the Internet]]. [[Utopia Justifies the Means|S'not such a bad cause, aye]]? A good rule of thumb to distinguish between "good" and "[[Troll|bad]]" ones is: the former will usually overlook [[Self-Demonstrating Article|ovbious tyops]].


Also, you might want to use the term "Grammar Police" around [[You Keep Using That Word|those more easily offended]], but that street runs both ways. In many cases the person being criticised is fairly justified in attacking the Grammar Nazi right back; we all make mistakes and there are plenty of dyslexics and dyspraxics on the internet - not to mention all the people who aren't quite as keen on your pedantic crusade, nor with your fixation on "Ten Items Or Less" signs.
Also, you might want to use the term "Grammar Police" around [[You Keep Using That Word|those more easily offended]], but that street runs both ways. In many cases the person being criticised is fairly justified in attacking the Grammar Nazi right back; we all make mistakes and there are plenty of dyslexics and dyspraxics on the internet - not to mention all the people who aren't quite as keen on your pedantic crusade, nor with your fixation on "Ten Items Or Less" signs.
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== Literature ==
== Literature ==
* Lassic Wert in ''[[Felsic Current]]'' is a [[Grammar Nazi]] mainly through the constant presence of his partner Geal Tromautein, who could be described as a verbal dyslexic. Were Lassic not constantly busy correcting his friend's mifpronouciations (like that one), he might not have developed such a reflex for linguistic accuracy.
* Lassic Wert in ''[[Felsic Current]]'' is a [[Grammar Nazi]] mainly through the constant presence of his partner Geal Tromautein, who could be described as a verbal dyslexic. Were Lassic not constantly busy correcting his friend's mifpronouciations (like that one), he might not have developed such a reflex for linguistic accuracy.
* Avril Incandenza of [[David Foster Wallace]]'s ''[[Infinite Jest]]'' made her ''career'' out of this, leading a wave of linguistic prescription including ''riots'' over the damned thing, incorporating rigorous education in English grammar in the [[Elaborate University High|Enfield Tennis Academy]] curriculum (which in fairness is based on the medieval ''trivium'' and ''quadrivium'', which ''did'' include [Latin] grammar), and leading a group called the Militant Grammarians of Massachusetts, whose primary activity seems to be hassling supermarkets over "10 items or less" signs on express lanes ("It should be 10 items or ''fewer''!").<br />This is likely an [[Write Who You Know|exaggeration of his own mother]], a community-college English professor who raised her children with songs about grammar mistakes and pretending to go into a coughing fit whenever one of them used a solecism (which Wallace in retrospect admitted was rather chilling). On the other hand, she never got ''nearly'' as grammar-crazy (much less anything else-crazy) as [[Stepford Smiler|Avril Incandenza]]...
* Avril Incandenza of [[David Foster Wallace]]'s ''[[Infinite Jest]]'' made her ''career'' out of this, leading a wave of linguistic prescription including ''riots'' over the damned thing, incorporating rigorous education in English grammar in the [[Elaborate University High|Enfield Tennis Academy]] curriculum (which in fairness is based on the medieval ''trivium'' and ''quadrivium'', which ''did'' include [Latin] grammar), and leading a group called the Militant Grammarians of Massachusetts, whose primary activity seems to be hassling supermarkets over "10 items or less" signs on express lanes ("It should be 10 items or ''fewer''!").
** This is likely an [[Write Who You Know|exaggeration of his own mother]], a community-college English professor who raised her children with songs about grammar mistakes and pretending to go into a coughing fit whenever one of them used a solecism (which Wallace in retrospect admitted was rather chilling). On the other hand, she never got ''nearly'' as grammar-crazy (much less anything else-crazy) as [[Stepford Smiler|Avril Incandenza]]...
* Josephine Anwhistle from ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' is a perfect example of a typical Grammar Nazi, going so far as to pointing out Sunny Baudelaire's utterances as nonsense even if she's yet to speak coherently. Played with somewhat in that she uses bad grammar to relay a secret message to the Baudelaires. Unfortunately she corrects the [[Axe Crazy]] villain's grammar as well...
* Josephine Anwhistle from ''[[A Series of Unfortunate Events]]'' is a perfect example of a typical Grammar Nazi, going so far as to pointing out Sunny Baudelaire's utterances as nonsense even if she's yet to speak coherently. Played with somewhat in that she uses bad grammar to relay a secret message to the Baudelaires. Unfortunately she corrects the [[Axe Crazy]] villain's grammar as well...
* Most members on the noble side of mysterious organization V.F.D. are revealed to be this, in ''[[Lemony Snicket the Unauthorized Autobiography]]''. Another editor's note in the latter stated that "Some of the photographs in this book were taken by Julie Blattberg", which was promptly followed by a note from Mr. Snicket reading:
* Most members on the noble side of mysterious organization V.F.D. are revealed to be this, in ''[[Lemony Snicket the Unauthorized Autobiography]]''. Another editor's note in the latter stated that "Some of the photographs in this book were taken by Julie Blattberg", which was promptly followed by a note from Mr. Snicket reading:
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== Web Comics ==
== Web Comics ==
* The [http://www.angryflower.com/aposter.html mascot] of Grammar Nazis everywhere is [[Bob the Angry Flower]].
* ''[[Bob the Angry Flower]]'', the [http://www.angryflower.com/aposter.html mascot] of Grammar Nazis everywhere.
* Another favorite is the Grammar Nazi from ''[http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20040628.html Queen of Wands]''.
* ''[[Queen of Wands]]'' got the [http://www.queenofwands.net/d/20040628.html Grammar Nazi]. Selling the Grammar Spork<sup>TM</sup>
* The [http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20090714.html North American Grammar Squirrel,] who corrects the cast of ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]]'' at the expense of their fourth wall.
* ''[[The Inexplicable Adventures of Bob]]'' has The [http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20090714.html North American Grammar Squirrel], who corrects the cast at the expense of their fourth wall.
* ''[[The Perry Bible Fellowship]]'' has, as always, its own [http://www.pbfcomics.com/?cid=PBF099-Grammar_Wizard.gif twisted take] on the concept.
* ''[[The Perry Bible Fellowship]]'' has, as always, its own [http://www.pbfcomics.com/99/ twisted take] on the concept.
* Meanwhile, in absolute obscurity, the Fairy of Good Grammar from ''[[Spelling the Vacuum]]'', whose grammar powers tie the universe together.
* Meanwhile, in absolute obscurity, the Fairy of Good Grammar from ''[[Spelling the Vacuum]]'', whose grammar powers tie the universe together.
* The [http://www.explosm.net/comics/997/ grammar sheriff] from ''[[Cyanide and Happiness]]''.
* ''[[Cyanide and Happiness]]'' got the [http://www.explosm.net/comics/997/ Grammar Sheriff].
* Xykon, the [[Evil Sorcerer]] lich from ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'', can be this too. Mostly about [[Psmith Psyndrome|how his name is spelled]], but not exclusively (although it should be noted that Xykon has killed people for less):
* Xykon, the [[Evil Sorcerer]] lich from ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'', can be this too. Mostly about [[Psmith Psyndrome|how his name is spelled]], but not exclusively (although it should be noted that Xykon has killed people for less):
{{quote|'''Tsukiko:''' We need a new Head Executioner, you know. Xykon killed the last one for spelling "guillotine" wrong on his daily reports.}}
{{quote|'''Tsukiko:''' We need a new Head Executioner, you know. Xykon killed the last one for spelling "guillotine" wrong on his daily reports.}}
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