Haunted by English Composition
I've got this issue, and now it's time to get it out. You know those psychiatrists on made-for-tv movies that always say "letting it out" is better? Well, I'm heeding their advice and letting it out.
I do a lot of typing. A lot. And along the way, I've formed some pretty bad habits. Like not using my pinky. Yes, even Mrs. Beacon couldn't rid me of this horrible habit. (It is just a guess that "Mrs" is correct because she's so sexy. How could she not be married?) I did the same thing when I first learned how to play guitar, but a wise friend beat it out of me by telling me I'd suck the rest of my life if I didn't learn to use that damn little finger, and so I did. But typing? I guess I've just never cared enough. I can still type fast ... freakishly fast I think. But my poor pinkies go unused and my indexes do double the work they should have to. I'm sure one of these days I'll get sued for not using my resources efficiently, but until then ... whatever.
That's really not the issue that I'm having though. Its more in the composition of words and sentences. I have a few things that literally haunt me every time I sit down at a keyboard. Like, for instance, the word "definitely". I can't for the life of me remember how to spell that stupid thing and every time I spell it wrong. I've tried little mind memory tricks to no avail. Its too ingrained in my mind as "definitley" and I'll continue misspelling it that way making myself look like an idiot until I die I'm sure.
The more serious offender however, and the one I'm specifically wanting to address today, is the use of quotation marks. You know, those little things you used to represent by making flapping doggie ears with your boy scout fingers back in 1996? I abuse them more than they should be, but I've never been able to wrap my head around their proper use in conjunction with punctuation. I remember my english teacher telling me again and again and again that I'm supposed to put in punctuation before I close a quotation. To such a degree that when I see it differently I cringe. This of course makes sense if a whole sentence is a quote ... but in the majority of the sentences I type it doesn't make any sense, and it drives me insane!
Let's have us an example. Take this sentence I just wrote:
Like, for instance, the word "definitely."
Now, in my head, that's correct punctuation. I should admit that I had to retake English 2 times in University, so there's a high chance I'm wrong, but at least its what I've been taught. But it makes no sense to me. To me, it should look like this:
Like, for instance, the word "definitely".
Apparently, that's not correct. But it feels right in my head. The period is for the whole sentence, not just for the quote. And so, since I have much bigger fish to fry in life right now, I've decided to do it my way. I could be wrong. My high school English teacher could have been wrong. But I Just don't care anymore. Whoever came up with the rule I couldn't put a period outside a quotation ... I'm sure you don't read my blog. So never mind. To you three, you'll have to live with it.
I feel so free now.
Oh, and P.S., I noticed when looking up the link, for all you single guys out there, Mavis isn't wearing a ring. Don't let the business suit fool you ... you'll thank me later.