Yes. Everyone knows it should be "a moo point" because cows say "moo" and their horns have points so "a moo point" means the kind of point a cow would make.
Simple.
"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
Even the most experienced pundits can use the wrong word. Today MSNBC's Chris Mathews mentioned Donald Trump was addressing the NRA about gun rights. He pointed out that the Constitution "exquisetly" guarantees owners protection. I think he meant "explicitly".
Originally posted by Proofreader: Here is an example of a misplaced comma defeating a purpose.
quote:
Homosexuality is a chosen behavior that is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths that has been ordained by God in the Bible, recognized by our nations founders, and shared by the majority of Texans.
I don't see a misplaced comma. I see a mistake in using "has" instead of "have". But even so, there is absolutely no way that "homosexuality" can be the subject of "has been ordained/recognized/shared". There are two embedded clauses:
Homosexuality is a chosen behavior [that is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths [that has been ordained by God in the Bible, recognized by our nations founders, and shared by the majority of Texans.]]
The subjec of the second embedded clause has to be "the fundamental unchanging truths".
That just goes to show why it is so important to be clear and thoughtful when writing. Ambiguous sentences, such as this one, can be taken differently. The writers of this were clearly not well educated in writing.
To me, "has" completely, with no doubt or explanations from others, refers to "homosexuality." Additionally, the first comma, to me, makes it read that homosexuality is contrary to the truths by God in the bible, but also is recognized by our nations founds and shared by the majority of Texans.
Yes, you can go on about embedded clauses, but at least some people, like me, wouldn't read it that way. Thus the importance of cogent and thoughtful writing, particularly in an official platform such as this.
It took me a little while but i figured out what you mean! There is another was of reading it!
Homosexuality is a chosen behavior that is contrary to the fundamental unchanging truths that has been ordained by God in the Bible, that is recognized by our nations founders, and that is shared by the majority of Texans.