Further down in the e-mail exchange, use of the word "impactful" is debated. Brians' common english errors site has an entry about it here. I've heard people say that "impactful" is a legitimate word, but I personally cringe every time I hear it. I specifically remember a KGMB ad that used it, and it really bothered me. :P What do you guys think about it?
There's also a minor reference in the comments to Strongbad's Rhythm 'n' Grammar (but they missed an apostrophe...). I don't know how many of you are Strongbad fans, but that "e-mail" is my favorite. ;)
I think spelling/grammar errors are particularly common in advertisements since the focus is on the product and not on spelling/grammar rules. But that's why they need editors! :D
And here's a random english error of the week pic:
5 comments:
Many thanks for the link to the letter, Jen. I had read it when it came out (my boss showed it to me) and am glad it is now on the internet.
In my humble opinion, it would be a good thing if the word impactful went away for ever :) Here are two other things that annoy me:
1. period of time; and
2. point in time.
Unless you are differentiating from points in space, there is no need to add in time in the second example. In the first, period refers to temporal delineations, so there is no need whatsoever for of time.
Such grammar errors are called tautologies; we'll talk about them tomorrow.
I didn't know about Strongbad—thanks again!
Just read (quickly) the comments on the Coca-Cola–English teacher battle. Very funny ;-)
Glad you enjoyed it, too. :) I'm also not very fond of the word "prideful." It just doesn't sound right to me. What's wrong with good ol' "proud"?
I personally cringe at Apple's recent description of their iPod released in 2008: "The funnest iPod ever."
Really?
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