User:Grammarian
Grammarian is a Wikipedian dedicated to improving the quality of Wikipedia articles by attempting, as far as possible, to eradicate a number of problems, viz:
- solecisms,
- barbarisms,
- misspellings,
- inappropriate expressions,
- poor or incorrect punctuation, and
- any other language errors that he considers to be in need of improvement.
Grammarian may not be the most prolific contributor to Wikipedia, but what he does contribute is the fruit of deep reflection and the slow, careful application of his craft.
Pet Peeves
[edit]Were Grammarian to make a list of his pet peeves, this list would surely include the following:
- gobbledygook, jargon, officialese and other related afflictions
- solecisms
- barbarisms
- sloppy punctuation
- slip-shod grammar
- inconsistency
- inappropriate tone
- inappropriate vocabulary
Favourite Books
[edit]- Fowler's Modern English Usage
- The Complete Plain Words
- The Chicago Manual of Style
- The Elements of Style
Favourite Authors
[edit]Favourite Film
[edit]- The soon-to-be released film version of Eats, Shoots and Leaves, starring Judi Dench, Colin Firth, and Albert Finney as the panda. Sounds promising.
Shortlist for Favourite Quotation
[edit]- Albert Einstein: "As simple as possible, but not more so."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do."
- Friedrich Schiller: "Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
- E.B. White: "The best writing is rewriting."
Favourite Quotation
[edit]- James Joyce: "Writing in English is the most ingeneous torture ever devised for sins committed in previous lives."
FAQs
[edit]- Is Grammarian perfect?
- Heaven forfend.
- Is Grammarian inconsistent?
- Yes, and Emersonianly so.
- Is Grammarian perfect?
- This question is asked quite often. The answer remains unchanged from the last time it was asked: not by a long chalk.
- Has Grammarian given up on Wikipedia?
- By and large.