Who among us are proud to be labeled "grammar police"?

I like being part of grammar SWAT. I am OK (“oll korrect?”) with hyphenating words, especially since I use them in my everyday life (e.g. white-fronted brown lemur).

I’m a paid up member of the grammar Gestapo. As for hyphens, I think context and flow of prose are more important than a rigid rule.

This post might be of interest: http://spandg.blogspot.com/2007/10/can-you-lose-your-hyphen-when-playing.html

I’m all for water-boarding repeat offenders. I think of my-self as more “grammar-vigilante” than po-po.

MUST READ THIS: Eats, Shoots & Leaves. If you’ve ever felt the urge to grab a monster permanent marker and travel the world correcting grammar mistakes, this book is for you (and me!).

In one of his novels, David Foster Wallace (one of my fave. writers) suggests that we boycott supermarkets where the express line has a sign that says; ”“10 items or less.”

I noticed that my Price Chopper, mediocre in most areas, says “10 items or fewer.”

@gezd: thanks for funny, funny link. I knew that there are still clever, eloquent, law-abiding writers out there. But do I need another excuse to hang out with them? (That’s rhetoric, son.)

@dee: that book title keeps reapearing. I did love it; I have always felt that I was born w. a red pencil surgically attached to me. I’m glad to know that I am not alone.

Also relevant:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/fashion/21age.html?_r=1&ref=fashion&oref=slogin

Sometimes, I believe Grammar Gestapo to be more apropos and euphonious. I prefer to think of myself as a Grammar Therapist. Is gailcalled a grammar gramma?

Or Gail, how about a septuagenarian grammarian? I like the ring of that! (Unless I have your age wrong!)

@gezd:After a lot of staring and pondering, I would include the hyphen in paid-up.

@sjd: exactly my kind of article. Thanks

@Hoss: Don’t I wish! I have a grandcat (not very satisfactory) and several grand nephews and a grand niece (very satisfactory altho far away) Grammar greataunt? Not very mellifluous. However, G Gestapo has a nice ring.

@)brownlemur: not bad, but septuagenarian ultragrammarian is a double-double, or quadruple* dacty. You got my age spot-on. (Some of which I now note on back of hands, sadly).

*See infamous poetic biographical verse form:

double dactyl

guilty

I’ve given up my grammar policing. I hate lost causes. But I do enjoy a good hyphen.

funny-ass strip Poser

I’m a former member of the Grammar police. I felt kind of superior, then I realized the vast majority of people don’t give a hoot about grammar. Now I leave it to grammar checker software to do the police work for me, realizing that it won’t catch everything, but that’s OK.

@mcbealer—I think you mean, “Funny ass-strip.”

@ Poser ~ no, I meant what I wrote.

I think supernutjob should sign up to be a written rhetoric rightest.

Rightest Rightist?

I was, then I took a course in linguistics and was cured.

Count me in, but I prefer the term Grammar toll collector.

;-)