Grammar Nazi: Do not turn off your computer?
Mikey 20 comments
It's a slow news evening, which is probably why this caught attention when it otherwise might not have. Let me put on my Grammar Nazi hat for a second.
Installing Vista Service Pack 1 and correct me if I'm wrong, but is that message grammatically incorrect? "Do not turn off your computer" sounds munted to me, and I reckon it should say "Do not turn your computer off".
Likewise you wouldn't say "Turn up your volume" you should say "Turn your volume up". Am I right?
Jen
Tuesday 20th May 2008 | 08:21 PMIt's wrong. You also say "don't switch the light off" not "don't switch off the light"
andrew
Tuesday 20th May 2008 | 09:51 PMhey they are computers programmers what do you expect?
Debra
Tuesday 20th May 2008 | 11:43 PMInserting animate object - I would say you are correct:
do not turn off me vs do not turn me off
turn up me vs turn me up
What is "munted"?
Kim OJ
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 04:36 AMActually both variations are allowed grammatically. From case to case one might sound better than the other.
"Turn off the computer on desk number 5 in the first room on your left."
"Turn the computer on desk number 5 in the first room on your left off."
Which would you prefer?
...in response to this comment by Debra. Hi Debra.
I probably shouldn't have used the word 'munted' during a topic about grammar :-)
It's not a real word as far as I know, but down here in Australia it's slang for 'messed up'
Jake
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 07:10 AMMikey, it depends totally on whether you're speaking bogan or not.
Either is correct.
Jen
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 07:32 AMDo not kick the ball up
Do not kick up the ball
The 2nd one sounds strange to me.
Jaquie S.
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 07:50 AMGotcha! "Let me put on my Grammar Nazi hat for a second."
Shouldn't it be "Let me put my Grammar Nazi hat on for a second."
Jake
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 08:08 AM...in response to this comment by Jaquie S.. Damn Jaquie, you're a biggere nazi than Mikey.
Rodney
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 12:52 PMHow the hell did this thread get this long without someone posting this link??
http://warehouse.carlh.com/comic/comic_062.php
Mike you should link that picture here...
...in response to this comment by Rodney. Ha! Link added. I think Gramma Nazi should be a regular thing.
...in response to this comment by Jaquie S.. Well played Jaquie, well played. But I still need more convincing. Kims suggestion was good but I don't think it applies to a short sentence like the Microsoft one.
Debra
Wednesday 21st May 2008 | 08:45 PM...in response to this comment by Mikey. Hey Mikey,
I think I will teach it to the kids in my family and see where it goes... I can see the teens and tweens (girls) now: "Oh, I really munted that!" "You soooooooooo munted that one!"
I am terrible with grammar - hope this is a regular thing!
Jake, What is "bogan"?
Thanks, Guys
...in response to this comment by Debra. Ha! Well that usage is correct. If it catches on over there remember where you first learned it ;-)
Gina Squitieri
Thursday 22nd May 2008 | 06:10 AMIt would have been really wrong if they'd left out the word "not."
Rusty
Saturday 24th May 2008 | 07:49 PM...in response to this comment by Jen. I have never said that.
I "switch off" the light.
The verb is "switch off"!
Nasorenga
Saturday 20th June 2009 | 02:17 AM
Here's a good treatment of phrasal verbs: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/phrasals.htm
Phoebe
Monday 1st March 2010 | 03:42 AMI always dismissed it as a very formal way of saying the sentence - although it never felt right saying it. But it IS wrong. You'd never speak like that.
Offended Computer Programmer
Sunday 1st May 2011 | 06:07 AM...in response to this comment by andrew. I take pride in being grammatically correct, and I'm sure many other computer programmers do the same.
Mark
Tuesday 20th May 2008 | 05:21 PMThis is a warning for anyone standing on their computer to avoid turning if it will cause them to fall off. Kinda sounds like a takeshi's castle challenge.