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Pedants' corner

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Original poster

Raising a pedant

15 replies

GeorgianMumto5 · 15/02/2013 14:39

DS (6.5) asked me, 'When exactly should you use a semi-colon, because I see them all the time?'

Dismissing the idea that he sounded like the little boy in The Sixth Sense (I see semi-colons... all the time.') I gave a vague explanation and then furtively googled semi-colon usage. The next day I carefully explained it to him, whereupon he said, 'I know - I asked my teacher.'

Does he have the makings of a good pedant, do you think? Oh, I would be so proud! Imagine the Georgian family annual newsletter: which we don't do This year, Mini Georgian mastered the art of the semi-colon; we have had a high old time finding him examples to correct!

Ha-ha!

OP posts:

DomesticCEO · 15/02/2013 14:40

PigeonPie · 16/02/2013 20:20

You should be very proud

streakybacon · 17/02/2013 07:44

Mine got into trouble at school around that age, for pointing out that his teacher had written a semi-colon incorrectly on the board. She'd put the comma bit at the top and he told her it should be the other way around. She argued with him for a few minutes until the TA confirmed that he was right.

DrRanj · 17/02/2013 07:46

Oh my giddy aunt, a TEACHER put the comma above the full stop?! Whatever is the world coming to!

streakybacon · 17/02/2013 09:48

Sadly it just one of many such incidents. We home educate now and he can be as pedantic as he likes .

ElphabaTheGreen · 17/02/2013 09:57

I dream of my baby growing up to be a pedant. His father and I bonded by correcting each others' emails when we were courting.

YokoUhOh · 17/02/2013 10:12

Elphaba umm I think it's each other's ('other' acts as a singular noun) :) (are we allowed to correct each other in Pedants' Corner?)

ElphabaTheGreen · 17/02/2013 10:16

Balls. I did look over that several time and wonder if I'd got it wrong.

Thank you

ElphabaTheGreen · 17/02/2013 10:16

TIMES. Arse.

YokoUhOh · 17/02/2013 10:27

Oh god I feel horrible now! :( it's a funny one, I had to think about it. PS If my DS (14 weeks) doesn't show signs of being a pedant soon, I'll be forced to start intensive SPG coaching ;)

Toomanyworriedsonhere · 17/02/2013 17:49

I spotted it too, Yoko!

My DH said the other day:
"That's not pedantry it's just being accurate with the facts."

No hope for my DCs

OhBananas · 17/02/2013 18:55

When dd was about 4, we were on holiday and I was taking photos of the things she asked me to take. She was pointing out a flower and telling me how beautiful it was.

Me: Do you need me to take a photo of it?

DD: I don't need you to take a photo. I would like you to take a photo.

I am so proud

Original poster

GeorgianMumto5 · 18/02/2013 22:50

OhBananas, your dad is a gem!

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MaggieMaggieMaggieMcGill · 18/02/2013 22:59

My little boy, at the age of three, no less, corrected me (and still does) on the way I pronounce h.
"no, mummy, it's aitch"
At the age of bloody three! His name does begin with H, but still!

Original poster

GeorgianMumto5 · 19/02/2013 21:41

Not dad - dd! Must look into how to turn off autocorrect.

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