It makes the rule somewhat subjective though; "wear and tear" are past a tipping point where the related concepts are generally regarded as elements of a single one, while "Twitter and texting" are not, despite the fact that some (e.g. DK and I) already regard them that way.
Do you often say Twitter and texting together? Whenever you mention Twitter do you add texting as well? Do you say, "I was Twittering and texting"? Do you say, "kids these days with their Twitter and texting"? Or is it just in this one particular instance and usage that you consider them to represent a singular idea, and in every other usage of them together they wouldn't be used that way? If so, then I rest my case. :p
Because you can't actually argue that specific intent on a case by case basis should inform grammar. I mean, if I were to say, "My brother and sister has a plan", that would be incorrect. If I argue that I consider my brother and my sister to both be instrumental to a plan that they came up with together from start to finish and that they should be considered a singular subject insofar as it concerns the plan, that doesn't make it grammatically correct.
Warder to starry_nite
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Chapterfish — Nate's Writing Blog
http://chapterfish.wordpress.com
Grammar junkies
- 05/10/2011 06:46:31 PM
1142 Views
I'm not always sure that I'm correct, but....
- 05/10/2011 07:04:13 PM
837 Views
I didn't see any errors
- 05/10/2011 07:24:27 PM
821 Views
- 05/10/2011 07:24:27 PM
821 Views
Must ... have ... grammar.
- 05/10/2011 07:53:34 PM
1014 Views
For you and Tom as well, the same question about question eight.
- 05/10/2011 08:33:39 PM
1299 Views
Tom can probably give you actual terms and correct rules, but here's my take on it.
- 05/10/2011 08:43:47 PM
787 Views
Er...yes I meant them as a singular idea...
*NM*
- 05/10/2011 08:47:34 PM
472 Views
*NM*
- 05/10/2011 08:47:34 PM
472 Views
Use them together, and only together, for fifteen years and we can discuss this again. *NM*
- 05/10/2011 09:32:30 PM
405 Views
That makes sense as far as it goes.
- 05/10/2011 09:02:42 PM
823 Views
But do you actually regard them that way?
- 05/10/2011 09:08:36 PM
806 Views
Yeah, pretty much.
- 05/10/2011 09:25:18 PM
766 Views
No, Joel. You're just wrong. Again. Get used to it. We have.
- 05/10/2011 09:31:21 PM
705 Views
- 05/10/2011 09:31:21 PM
705 Views
I can live with being wrong, at least in the sense of technical error.
- 05/10/2011 10:06:30 PM
813 Views
Let's just pare this down to the bare bones.
- 06/10/2011 01:37:30 AM
662 Views
He made a mistake that I did not recognize as a mistake because I read his words as he intended.
- 06/10/2011 04:43:39 AM
813 Views
You bring up a point that I was researching the other day
- 05/10/2011 08:53:40 PM
858 Views
You guys mean a hyphen, not a dash.
- 05/10/2011 09:00:25 PM
818 Views
- 05/10/2011 09:00:25 PM
818 Views
You're right of course!
- 05/10/2011 09:13:44 PM
883 Views
I frequently am.
- 05/10/2011 09:16:38 PM
891 Views
So I've noticed.
- 05/10/2011 09:19:38 PM
804 Views
Achtung! Grammatik! :insert Nazi-saluting smiley as the Wehrmacht marches by:
- 05/10/2011 08:10:45 PM
914 Views
Good poll, especially for this site.
- 05/10/2011 08:11:10 PM
924 Views
Re: Grammar junkies
- 05/10/2011 08:33:06 PM
814 Views
People should talk in a way that can be understood, else they are not communicating.
- 05/10/2011 09:17:37 PM
864 Views
Re: "everyone's". ~winky~ *NM*
- 05/10/2011 09:22:18 PM
398 Views
Is it time for my lecture on superfluous apostrophes again?
- 05/10/2011 09:43:47 PM
773 Views
- 05/10/2011 09:43:47 PM
773 Views
Unsurprisingly, I don't really agree with you at all on this point. :p
- 05/10/2011 10:29:59 PM
858 Views
I do not really think I am "right" on this one so much as "not wrong."
- 06/10/2011 12:01:36 AM
778 Views
But contradictions are inherent in the entire English language!
- 06/10/2011 01:25:39 AM
767 Views
Ghoti. Also, this is why Rebekah and don't argue this any more.
*NM*
- 06/10/2011 04:44:42 AM
358 Views
*NM*
- 06/10/2011 04:44:42 AM
358 Views
Sure, but not deliberate ones created by grammarians who know better.
- 06/10/2011 05:40:58 AM
780 Views
I'm going to listen to the others.
- 06/10/2011 06:17:18 AM
786 Views
Like I say, I appreciate exceptions when justified (and again, only claiming to be "not wrong." )
- 06/10/2011 07:26:18 AM
677 Views
But you are wrong
- 06/10/2011 02:17:40 PM
812 Views
- 06/10/2011 02:17:40 PM
812 Views
I disagree.
- 07/10/2011 12:15:14 AM
755 Views
- 07/10/2011 12:15:14 AM
755 Views
How utterly unsurprising
- 07/10/2011 02:21:38 PM
735 Views
- 07/10/2011 02:21:38 PM
735 Views
"We want to be nothing if not persistent."
- 07/10/2011 02:39:19 PM
783 Views
Doesn't matter.
- 07/10/2011 03:12:14 PM
794 Views
Perhaps not, but it should, and I am not above being a lone voice crying in the wilderness.
- 08/10/2011 05:17:35 PM
879 Views
What.
- 06/10/2011 06:17:41 PM
861 Views
Those cases are not the same, because those words are already possessive in their own right.
- 06/10/2011 10:52:06 PM
849 Views
if you have trouble understanding my post it is more likely do to typing skills than grammar
- 05/10/2011 09:31:42 PM
765 Views
Likely so; I have the same problem, but usually when writing by hand.
- 05/10/2011 09:53:08 PM
739 Views
#1) I do not use NetSpeak while playing games, texting or using social media.
- 05/10/2011 11:34:12 PM
752 Views
What about NateSpeak? *NM*
- 06/10/2011 04:01:08 PM
366 Views
I did use that once to tell the story of you and CNRedDragon going to see Ice Princess. *NM*
- 07/10/2011 01:46:50 AM
387 Views
I freebase split infinitives on a regular basis.
- 06/10/2011 01:53:36 PM
683 Views
