Wednesday, July 7, 1999: Revenge of the language-oriented

[NonsenseWords]

Wait, wait, um... what's she getting revenge for? Stephan indirectly correcting Ozy?

I still really hate it when strips that don't usually break the fourth wall just barrel right on through it.

[Arloest]

Language-oriented people are just inwardly envious that the science-oriented people get paid loads more money than they do.

And that we are much better people and didn't waste college studying the worthless viewpoints of some dude who died 3 centuries ago.

(I was always pretty big on the science majors vs. liberal arts majors war)

[Feefers]

Maybe I just really hate grammar nazis...

Okay I hate all nazis equally but we really only have neo-nazis and gramma nazis left so i'll stick it to the grammar nazis.

But the way Stephen says it is perfectally acceptable and correct usage, the version Millie uses is outdated and in contemporary language; technically incorrect.

[nickspoon]

Neither form is technically incorrect, but most style guides continue to suggest Millie's usage because it improves the balance of the sentence. I tend to use the 'to whom' expression because I prefer how it sounds but I don't try to correct the other form; sometimes it flows a lot better. It's this kind of nonsense up with which I will not put. :)

There were a number of scientific flaws in 'yesterday's' strip and I'm glad DCS took the time to point one out, even though he dismissed the objection in a snarky sort of way.

[Bocaj Claw]

Yes, this was the result of someone explaining all of this to me via e-mail. And Millie's response is my own. I took about as much science as I was forced to, but I am the poster child for language geekery. (And yes, this is the signal to commence pointing out very language error I have ever made.)

Y'know, it was Ozy reading the science or whatever book. Atoms=planets is a mistake a kid can be expected to make.

Also, the joke here is kind of meta.

[Arloest]

Good job, you know grammar, now bus my table.

[NonsenseWords]

Wow, good timing for me to stumble on this one.

A better alternative to this particular joke:

[Muninn]

And that we are much better people and didn't waste college studying the worthless viewpoints of some dude who died 3 centuries ago.

You mean like Isaac Newton, one of the most influental people ever? Science geeks, always so jealous of us literature/history geeks because we dabble with the best and greatest mankind has forged.

Now, I'm off to read some poetry and sip my herbal tea while listening to some soothing classical notes, I would so like it if you sciencey types next door didn't go about building such infernal contraptions and doodads like the LHC that cause a noise before breaking down.

[Arloest]

I took a couple of philosophy courses, as well as a couple of creative writing courses, so I'm familiar with your field as well. Familiar enough to know it's total CRAP

PS Creative Writing was fun, at least. Philosophy was objectively terrible.

[Muninn]

PS Creative Writing was fun, at least. Philosophy was objectively terrible.

Then we have little to argue about.

[likeafox]

Guys I think Millie was only correcting the word "who", not necessarily the sentence structure.

<3 science btw