American English Professor hates British English
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Ha! Obviously everyone should learn Australian English (but not 'Strine) as the grammar is similar to US and spelling is mostly the same as the UK. It's the best of both worlds and thank fuck we didn't go with UK grammar and US spelling, that'd be a complete fucking mess.
The reason we kept UK spelling is that we love vowels. We even sneak extra ones in when we speak (which is why almost no one can fake an Aussie accent).
The reason we kept UK spelling is that we love vowels. We even sneak extra ones in when we speak (which is why almost no one can fake an Aussie accent).
Sorry to break it to you but the professor is probably more in the right here. You are presumably in an American college/university. American English and British English have different official codified rules. Being in America, and specifically in an English class in America, you should use the American standards. Using British standards is similar enough to using German grammar in its incorrectness--yeah, you can still usually understand it, but it's wrong.
I grant most of the differences are spelling (like -or/-our), but a few are actual grammar. I believe in British English a collective noun is treated as a plural--"the team are sitting down," rather than the "team is sitting down." Still, using British grammar/spelling is considered to be wrong in America, just like American grammar/spelling is considered to be wrong in England.
Also, the "lol its called English for a reason, stop being anal and just let me use the original/real/etc form of the language" argument is dumb. The "original" form of English is Old English (which is what Beowulf was written in). So if you're making the "original language" argument, go speak that.
I grant most of the differences are spelling (like -or/-our), but a few are actual grammar. I believe in British English a collective noun is treated as a plural--"the team are sitting down," rather than the "team is sitting down." Still, using British grammar/spelling is considered to be wrong in America, just like American grammar/spelling is considered to be wrong in England.
Also, the "lol its called English for a reason, stop being anal and just let me use the original/real/etc form of the language" argument is dumb. The "original" form of English is Old English (which is what Beowulf was written in). So if you're making the "original language" argument, go speak that.
One could argue the OP *IS* using proper grammar. Also, while we're arguing grammar, it's 'you're', not 'your'. Maybe you shouldn't be posting on this threadStoic raptor said:
I *cannot* *STAND* the terms 'British English' and 'American English'. The Chinese language has about a million different dialects, and they all have different names. I think 'British English' should be called English (because it's the proper, ORIGINAL one), and that rubbish the Americans distorted it into should be called something else. As for your professor, as long as it is considered correct in 'British English', he shouldn't have marked you down, but morons will be morons
I, Boom129, apologise for everything. My country is-and will always be-its little cesspit of problems, its carnival of drugs, football violence, backwardness and alcohol. A ramshackle nation strung together by swindling independance-wanting bastards, dole-dependant tosspots and bored stab-happy teenagers, presided over by a few honest taxpayers and the Nanny State.
But we are not honest with ourselves; we think we are the best country ever. We are in denial that we are we are the fattest, the meanest, the most pathetic, miserable, servile trash ever shat into existance. And yet we plough on, with more arrogance than England, and more nationalism than China.
So bring your insults and your woes. Bring your Tennants special ale, your expensive cigarettes and cheap booze. Bring your smack, your crack, your cocaine, your junk-food and no salad. Bring your perversions, your anger, your hate, your contempt for every other miserable fucking creature in this world, and love only the fast-track to early death of cancer or obesity.
Welcome to fucking America; leave your sanity, your decency and your scruples at the door, and have a fucking great time.
But we are not honest with ourselves; we think we are the best country ever. We are in denial that we are we are the fattest, the meanest, the most pathetic, miserable, servile trash ever shat into existance. And yet we plough on, with more arrogance than England, and more nationalism than China.
So bring your insults and your woes. Bring your Tennants special ale, your expensive cigarettes and cheap booze. Bring your smack, your crack, your cocaine, your junk-food and no salad. Bring your perversions, your anger, your hate, your contempt for every other miserable fucking creature in this world, and love only the fast-track to early death of cancer or obesity.
Welcome to fucking America; leave your sanity, your decency and your scruples at the door, and have a fucking great time.
I like the Australian bastardisation. I had the misfortune to be in school back when they still tried to teach us unbastardised English and it was a pain in the arse. Then one day we were told most of the rules didn't matter so much, so we started abusing apostrophes and commas.Autofaux said:
I think most of the people are missing the point here. It's not about American English vs. British English.
Academic organizations have very specific rules for grammar, spelling, and citation and you have to follow the rules of that organization.
For example, when I am writing a paper for my Psychology class, the rules for citing my sources are going to be different then when I am writing a paper for my English class. I can't decide to use the English format just because I prefer it.
Grammar is no different. American colleges have a standardized version of English that they use and students are required to abide by those standards. You don't get to just pick and chose what rules you like and don't like. Your professor was absolutely right to mark you down for using the wrong grammar for that class.
Also, you're assuming the professors heritage is English. Not every white person in America has English heritage, (not to mention we don't even know that he's white).
Edit:
Furthermore, Boom129 doesn't have the right or the authority to apologize for America or it's 300 million citizens, and certainly not for me.
Academic organizations have very specific rules for grammar, spelling, and citation and you have to follow the rules of that organization.
For example, when I am writing a paper for my Psychology class, the rules for citing my sources are going to be different then when I am writing a paper for my English class. I can't decide to use the English format just because I prefer it.
Grammar is no different. American colleges have a standardized version of English that they use and students are required to abide by those standards. You don't get to just pick and chose what rules you like and don't like. Your professor was absolutely right to mark you down for using the wrong grammar for that class.
I'm sorry, but the British don't have exclusive rights to English. As another poster pointed out, it's not even like you invented the language from scratch. Every country has the right to use any language they want, however they want, and call it whatever they want. No one language is "right" or "wrong" so to say that we should speak your language because it came first is just absurd, especially considering the fact that your language has changed just as much as ours in the past 200 years.sheah1 said:
Also, you're assuming the professors heritage is English. Not every white person in America has English heritage, (not to mention we don't even know that he's white).
Saying a professor should be fired for expecting a student to use the appropriate language for the class? You just made my head hurt.LegendaryGamer0 said:
Wow, you have some bad teachers (or just really lazy ones) if they let you (the student) decide what grammar is appropriate.InnerRebellion said:
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I, Pyode, take absolute offense at everything in Boom129's post. As a proud American, I acknowledge that my country isn't perfect, but the idea that it is the horrible country that Boom129 seems to think it is is offensive and inaccurate.Boom129 said:
Furthermore, Boom129 doesn't have the right or the authority to apologize for America or it's 300 million citizens, and certainly not for me.
Well, if you're in America, studying under an American professor, you should probably stick to the conventions established in that country. Just because "English" bears the name of a country that still happens to exist doesn't mean that the way they do it over there is somehow more valid. English, like all languages, has evolved out of a number of dialects and continues to evolve to this day. You can't call someone out for expecting you to adhere to the most modern and regionally appropriate dialect when that's his job; if it was you psych teacher pissing on you about it I'd find a lot more sympathy for you. Besides, if Pygmalion has taught me anything it's that the British can't even decide amongst themselves how the chuffing hell to speak properly.
EDIT:
EDIT:
Actually, the above post expands on my post very neatly. Refer to him if you have any questions.Pyode said:
I was an english teacher, and my american student wrote "mom" on his paper, i would be tempted to fail him, and he would get worce marks. If my german student wrote mum in german i WOULD fail him.
Your don't spell out a forigen languge in a languge class. its that simple.
Your don't spell out a forigen languge in a languge class. its that simple.
I could understand being annoyed at mixing British/American spelling and grammar.
I also have to say that if you're American, use American spelling and grammar and if you're British, use British.
It's more the way in which he said not to use British grammar that annoys me.
I also have to say that if you're American, use American spelling and grammar and if you're British, use British.
It's more the way in which he said not to use British grammar that annoys me.
Well it is kinda valid if you mix it. If you stick to either variation its your choice, but mixing RP with AE is low style and marked down nearly in every University i know.
dear collegue i hope you were severely drunk when you wrote down that gibberishmrwoo6 said:
Here's an interesting story ...
I was once at a dinner party in Oxford with some very well educated British friends (posh accents all around). The conversation turned to language, and one of the Canadians at the table mentioned that American newscasters are taught to "speak Canadian", as Canadians generally have almost perfect pronunciation of English (it is a total myth that Canadians say "aboot", by the way).
The Brits naturally scoffed at this, and so a little challenge was drawn up. The British folks and the two Canadians would pronounce words from the Oxford English Dictionary (UK version), and their pronunciation would be compared to the canonical dictionary pronunciation.
20 random words were chosen, and the results were 19 correct for Canada ... and 2 correct for Britain. The one word the Canadians "mispronounced" was "aluminum", which as it turns out can be spelled and pronounced multiple ways. So the results in the end were 20 correct for Canada and 2 for Britain.
A further 10 words were then tried by the Brits, and they got 2 more correct. Then they gave up the point.
So as it turns out, the English cannot pronounce their own language properly (which actually makes some sense, given that they have been speaking it long enough to bastardize its pronunciation).
I was once at a dinner party in Oxford with some very well educated British friends (posh accents all around). The conversation turned to language, and one of the Canadians at the table mentioned that American newscasters are taught to "speak Canadian", as Canadians generally have almost perfect pronunciation of English (it is a total myth that Canadians say "aboot", by the way).
The Brits naturally scoffed at this, and so a little challenge was drawn up. The British folks and the two Canadians would pronounce words from the Oxford English Dictionary (UK version), and their pronunciation would be compared to the canonical dictionary pronunciation.
20 random words were chosen, and the results were 19 correct for Canada ... and 2 correct for Britain. The one word the Canadians "mispronounced" was "aluminum", which as it turns out can be spelled and pronounced multiple ways. So the results in the end were 20 correct for Canada and 2 for Britain.
A further 10 words were then tried by the Brits, and they got 2 more correct. Then they gave up the point.
So as it turns out, the English cannot pronounce their own language properly (which actually makes some sense, given that they have been speaking it long enough to bastardize its pronunciation).
Depends on who the author is...
Seriously though, both are good. One is a bit more "commonplace" whereas the other is more "intellectual". Even then, this isn't proof that the guy "hates" British English, he just wanted to you to spell it the correct way. Very simple difference, that is all.
Seriously though, both are good. One is a bit more "commonplace" whereas the other is more "intellectual". Even then, this isn't proof that the guy "hates" British English, he just wanted to you to spell it the correct way. Very simple difference, that is all.