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Picture of shufitz
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  • Dear John:
    I want a man who knows what love is all about. You are generous, kind, thoughtful. People who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me for other men. I yearn for you. I have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart. I can be forever happy -- will you let me be yours?
    Gloria

  • Dear John:
    I want a man who knows what love is. All about you are generous, kind, thoughtful people who are not like you. Admit to being useless and inferior. You have ruined me. For other men, I yearn. For you, I have no feelings whatsoever. When we're apart, I can be forever happy. Will you let me be?
    Yours,
    Gloria
 
Posts: 2666 | Location: Chicago, IL USAReply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Richard English
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I have seen this piece previously. It is very good - and there are many more examples. Just one simple punctuation error can massively alter the sense of a piece and I like the one about the husband's reply to his wife who had left a text asking whether she could buy an expensive item of jewelry. Compare:

1. No! Price to high for you darling.

2. No price too high for you darling.


Richard English
 
Posts: 8038 | Location: Partridge Green, West Sussex, UKReply With QuoteReport This Post
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It's good to see you back, Richard!
 
Posts: 2879 | Location: Shoreline, WA, USAReply With QuoteReport This Post
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This isn't about punctuation but about clarity and logic. Read this sentence from the NYT: "An osteopathic physician in Florida spreads more coronavirus misinformation online than anyone, researchers say." More than ANYONE? So he is no one? Wouldn't logic require people to say, "...anyone ELSE?

I see this construction often. Why?
 
Posts: 6187 | Location: Muncie, IndianaReply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of Kalleh
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1. No! Price to high for you darling.

I'm not sure I get this one.

Nice to see you here, Richard!
 
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