Word to the Wise

This is a blog that is a long time in the making.

I'm a Word Snob. Maybe it's because I work with words for a living, perhaps it's because I was forced to study phonics -- and not just spelling -- in school. It drives my children and friends crazy.

When you speak or write please, please, please do it right. There is precious little in this world that will make me cringe more than the irresponsible use of the English language.

Don't get me wrong, I don't expect everyone to be an ace when it comes to language and grammar -- Lord knows I'm not -- but there are two simple rules I think everyone should follow:
* Know the basics. There are some rules that unless you're still in elementary school and learning, you should just know. When someone says that you "could've had a V8" please know that "could've" is a contraction for "could have." It is NOT "could of." Same with "would've" and "should've."
* If you don't know the word, don't use the word. Words may sound differently than they appear to sound in print, so if you're not familiar, don't take the chance. I went out with a guy -- only once, and you'll soon know why -- who, on a telephone conversation after our date started telling me he was an aficionado of certain things, except what he said was that he was an "Aff-i-KON-di-o" of those things, and he said it three times in two sentences. First, who really uses that word? And second, if you're going to use it, know how to pronounce it. Otherwise you just look silly. And undatable. (Yes, that is the reason I didn't go out with him again. I told you, I'm a word snob.)

More examples of word abuse that have put me on edge:
* "I suspicion that the reason he did that ..."
* "These candies are so addicting ..."
* "Can you even phantom winning that much money?"
* "Your a good friend." (This one REALLY gets me going -- using the wrong "your" or "you're." Ugh)