matter: who or that?

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Grammar Geek

#490418 Tue, 18 Mar 08 09:46 PM

Kooyeen, have you ever read actual transcripts of speech?

I had to read.. what are they call it? When people have to give tesimony in a law suit... oh yeah, depositions. And when you read, word for word, what people actually say... well, it's amazing we can communicate at all!

When people post here, having listened to something on the radio or seen someone on TV, and want to know if what that person said was "correct" or not... well, let's just say, the answer is just about always "not" -- according to the rules of formal, written English. And I assure you, that includes my own speech. (Though the day you hear me say "I seen it!" please shoot me!)

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (14,781)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Kooyeen

#490761 Wed, 19 Mar 08 07:05 PM

I think I once read something similar... yeah, they looked quite confusing, LOL.

Grammar Geek
When people post here, having listened to something on the radio or seen someone on TV, and want to know if what that person said was "correct" or not... well, let's just say, the answer is just about always "not" -- according to the rules of formal, written English.

Yes, because you have time to read the sentence carefully, read it again, think, think again... and there's no trace of intonation or stress. So you might end up saying that something is odd without realizing it's something you sometimes actually say. This is a pretty confusing thing for learners... for example, if I try to pay attention to whatever I hear, I'll definitely notice an awful lot of weird pronunciations, strange sentences, etc. Sometimes I do pay attention, and that's when I get confused the most, lol. Smile

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (3,706)

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CalifJim

#490894 Thu, 20 Mar 08 03:51 AM

Just to keep this thread "fair and balanced", let me say that I don't have any strong preference for who over that when referring to people. Smile

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (15,989)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Anonymous

#512613 Mon, 12 May 08 02:35 AM

I am so glad you asked! And Bravo to you for using your brain instead of falling for the dumming down of the English language and following the path of least intellectual resistance. WHO is right!

Anonymous

shaved

#512855 Mon, 12 May 08 04:59 PM

the 'who is only for people, that is only for things' rule is pedantic and trite

that's usage with people dates back centuries in literature of all kinds

prescriptive grammar =/= proper use of the language

shaved

Joined on Fri, Apr 11 2008

Junior Member (63)

Grammar, Dates, Literature

Forbes

#512858 Mon, 12 May 08 05:06 PM

A language is by definition what a group of people actually use to communicate, not what they are supposed to use and that someone else expects them to use.

Can we have that up in lights!

(I wanted to put it in huge letters, but can't seem to do that Sad )