Grammar, please!

[LexiKD]

I don't think it's such a big deal, unless a NPC chapter's newletter reads ALUMNI Update, or something of that type.

I mean, really, did anyone pay attention to the New Member program and see that it was Alumnae and Alumna all over the material?

As for guys, I don't know all IFC terminology, so it doesn't matter to me, but I understand the frustration and think it was great to point it out.

[SSS1365]

Originally posted by 33girl:

It is kind of a pity that Latin's not taught much anymore - there are a lot of things in it, such as the root words, that help when learning vocabulary in English or any language.

I agree with you... after taking 3 years of Latin, I can read some French, Italian, and Spanish. I might not know every word, but I can get the basics. Latin can be pretty difficult to learn, but it really does help!

[newbie]

Originally posted by 33girl:
It is kind of a pity that Latin's not taught much anymore - there are a lot of things in it, such as the root words, that help when learning vocabulary in English or any language.

Hey 33girl! I take Latin, and I LOVE the language! When people learn that I'm taking Latin, their eyes pop up and they go, "WHAT?! You actually enjoy the language?!!!" For some reason, Latin comes very easily to me. I love how logical the language is...you basically only need to understand the grammar, memorize the words, and that's it!! Maybe it's b/c I've taken Chinese, German, French, and Spanish before...but I love languages themselves . Latin is my favorite class .

It's just too bad that Latin isn't offered much anymore...my HS is the only HS in the city which offers Latin. Also--enrollment numbers are very low for Latin, so unfortunately, Latin may not be offered at my school anymore after a few years .



[This message has been edited by newbie (edited June 04, 2001).]

[ees125]

I hate to see that something as simple as an error on my part as become such a long discussed topic. I thank everyone for pointing out the difference, and as I said before it was not that I did not know, it more that I was not mind was going faster than I could type.

[ROWDYsister]

I dug this up because I was wondering about the "alum" thing.

I've known that stuff for a while, as well I should after 3 years of Latin! One thing that I have problems with is that, because I took 3 years of Latin, I have a habit of pronouncing those words the way I was always taught to. For example, I pronounce -ae like "eye."

So alumnae is pronounced "alum-nay?"

Rudey,
You are right, but if people don't know the difference between alumna/alumni etc. ADGAlum was giving them information so they would know. I attended an all female college and at reunions, graduations, etc. we occasionally have vendors trying to sell us stuff that reads "Spelman College Alumni". Sorry, but "mistake" or not, that is wrong! Needless to say, they do not sell much stuff when it's written that way!

If "alumni" refers to masculine or mixed plural, then why is it dead wrong when used for an all-female college? Wouldn't it be like one of those situations you could use the male form for, just to be safe? I mean, I know "alumnae" would be preferred...

[33girl]

Originally posted by ROWDYsister
If "alumni" refers to masculine or mixed plural, then why is it dead wrong when used for an all-female college? Wouldn't it be like one of those situations you could use the male form for, just to be safe? I mean, I know "alumnae" would be preferred...

Because if it's an all female college, there are no male graduates, therefore there are no alumni. If it is a college that USED to be all female and has admitted some males, they should go w/ "alumni" but Spelman hasn't done that.

Thanks for the info! As a new alumna I've been trying to figure out which is correct - it was something we were never taught as new members, and I couldn't track down anyone who knew. I'll pass it along!

[Richard(SNU)]

If you really want to split hairs, to be truly correct you must use
the "AE ligature" when referring to alumna in the plural.

Like this: Alumnæ

[ROWDYsister]

Originally posted by 33girl


Because if it's an all female college, there are no male graduates, therefore there are no alumni. If it is a college that USED to be all female and has admitted some males, they should go w/ "alumni" but Spelman hasn't done that.

Thank you, 33girl. That seems simple enough.

[Tom Earp]

Da, I dont care what the heck I am, I grad u ated!

I am a college gradute!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Now if only people would use there, their, and they're correctly.

[Kevin]

Words are just communication.

As long as they get the point accross there's not much other use for them!

Sure, to and too get mixed up. If you're writing a law, it's important to know what is... is.

However, when you're posting on the internet, communicating the gist of what you want people to understand is all that is necessary.

Grammar and spelling just help credibility with your readers. Sometimes you have to look past that. We don't ALL take the time to go back and edit our messages for content and punctuation.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by Cream
Now if only people would use there, their, and they're correctly.

You said it, Cream!
The other thing that drives me nuts is when people misuse "of" for "have".

Example:
He should of done that!

[bcdphie]

Originally posted by SSS1365
For example, I pronounce -ae like "eye."

That's how most (if not all) Canadians pronounce it.

[dzrose93]

I think the difference in alumnus/alumna/alumni/alumnae is a very valid thing to post considering how often the words are interchanged.

As an example: a few years ago, one of the girls in charge of invitations for Alumnae Weekend okayed the invitation draft that read "Alumni Weekend" and literally hundreds of invitations were printed incorrectly. When the error was discovered, it ended up costing the chapter extra money to have the invitations printed up correctly. That money could have been saved if the person proofing the invitations had been aware of the difference in "alumnae" and "alumni."

I hope this thread helps to clarify things a little. I know that I was never taught the difference when I was a pledge and would have been totally in the dark if it wasn't for 3 years of Latin!