Toom-ayt-o. Tom-ought-o.
Ape-ricot. App-ricot.
Suppos-ed-ly. Suppos-ab-ly.
Nuke-leer. Nuke-you-lure.
Right? Wrong?
Accent. No accent.
North. South.
Left. Right.
I still know what you mean.
When we are in a conversation,
or you are speaking
writing
conversationally,
It.doesn’t.matter.
You.
Matter.
If you are writing something that needs to be published, and needs to be put to some sort of standard, then we’ll talk.
It’s not like I can’t figure out what you are trying to say.
Or guess – at the very least.
Nuke-leer. Nuke-you-lure.
What other words come to mind in that context?
You write it’s or its and I know what you mean.
I’ll correct it, but only if it needs to be corrected.
You say a word a little funny – and I’ll wait – for the context.
To try to figure out what you mean(t).
I read change and chnge and I know the intended word. Yes, for clarity and the value of the English language, I will correct it for publication.
And I do (tend to) correct words in my head – automatically.
But conversationally,
relationally,
that isn’t helpful to you or to me.
What matters is you.
And what you mean.
I generally will figure out that you say what you say
because of where you are from
and I’ll understand what pronunciation to use
and what is appropriate for the context.
If you happen to know German or you read your Bible in the (New or Standard) King James Version, then you may be able to pick up on when people are supposed to use whom vs. who.
And that’s probably still a long shot.
(I think) as an English major who really does enjoy the English language, I can say this:
If you say who instead of whom,
who(m) freaking cares?
The actual, intended and inferred meaning doesn’t change. And – at least in English – no one needs to know the difference to understand the meaning.
The reality and the often unspoken truth is: It.doesn’t.matter.
Except maybe to an English teacher.
Sory iff yoo we’re myne.