I'm still an English professor. Shoot.

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > I'm still an English professor. Shoot.

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

I'm sorry if this has been asked before.

What do you read for fun? Are there any contemporary authors that you enjoy?

# ¿ May 25, 2009 07:56

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ Apr 29, 2024 02:01

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

I bought the Stand yesterday because of your frequent references to it. It's a lot better than what I've come to expect from King.

# ¿ Jul 28, 2009 05:22

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

Brainworm posted:

e.g. a few Pushcart winners.

When is it proper to use e.g. and i.e.?

Also, is it acceptable to end a sentence with a period and a question mark?

# ¿ Mar 28, 2010 06:42

TheChimney: Jan 31, 2005

Brainworm posted:

I curse all the time, but not usually at people. The problem that I have with e.g. "oval office" is that it's not really shocking or particular and so doesn't have any power to hurt.

For instance, say I call girlfriend a oval office. She might be, like, mildly hurt that I'm calling her names, but she's also going to write me off because the word "oval office" is a worn out verbal weapon. It's like throwing a ping-pong ball at someone. No matter how hard you do it, it doesn't have enough weight to do any damage.

That's the problem, right? People think of profanity as general, but it's not. If it's going to work, it needs to be just as deliberately used as words like "verisimilitude" or "crepuscule," which are particularly effective in their own narrow environments and basically useless anywhere else.

So saying "oval office" all the time, it's kind of like always saying "ephemeral." It probably means that you don't know how to use it well.

I always thought oval office was the last truly offensive word left. I guess I am behind the times.

# ¿ Apr 19, 2010 03:44

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Ask/Tell > I'm still an English professor. Shoot.