Grammar Girl

[one...two...tree 2,762]

She lives in Gilbert, Arizona - the town I spent most of my youth growing up!

She comes across as so completely, so utterly, normal.

A quiet, friendly demeanor. Sensibly cut red hair. She lives in a comfortable Gilbert subdivision.

You would never guess that behind that nondescript appearance is a woman who goes by the name Grammar Girl, a character who has developed a legion of online fans talking exclusively about grammar. Yes, grammar.

Grammar Girl is actually Mignon Fogarty, a 39-year-old technical writer who has combined her love of language with an online expertise to develop the Grammar Girl character.

Her podcasts have been downloaded more than 3 million times since July. There is enough interest that Fogarty was able to quit her day job.

"To me, grammar is fun," Fogarty said.

"I know that sounds funny. But to learn all the little rules about language. Grammar helps language be more beautiful."

For the uninitiated, a podcast is basically a radio show you can download.

It is a digital audio file you can listen to on your computer or MP3 player.

Topics range from sex to music to learning Chinese. Still, the Gilbert grammarian has become something of a star on the Internet, despite her unlikely subject.

Her shows, each less than five minutes long, have ranged from "who vs. whom" to subjunctive verbs, to the always difficult "lie vs. lay."

Fogarty walks her listeners through the sometimes-tricky subjects with a voice that is authoritative but warm. Kind of like the sixth-grade teacher you wish you had.

Sometimes she uses music to help.

Here's part of what she said about lay vs. lie:

"The way I remember is to think of the phrase 'lay it on me.' You're laying something (it, the direct object) on me. It's a catchy, dorky, 1970s kind of phrase, so I can remember it and remember that it is correct.

"I know I don't normally play music, but I love Eric Clapton, and his song Lay Down Sally can actually help you remember the difference between lay and lie ... because he's wrong. To say 'lay down Sally' would imply that someone should grab Sally and lay her down. If he wanted Sally to rest in his arms on her own, the correct line would be 'lie down Sally.' "

http://www.azcentral.com/community/gilbert...arGirl0226.html

[almaty 19]

i could use her wisdom

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i could use her wisdom

me three

[Fandango 1,439]

does she have a podcast on misused apostrophes?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

does she have a podcast on misused apostrophes?

You's want's to order's it's for me's?

[Fandango 1,439]

does she have a podcast on misused apostrophes?

You's want's to order's it's for me's?

I think a blood vessel just popped inside my brain.

[Mags 112]

does she have a podcast on misused apostrophes?

You's want's to order's it's for me's?

I think a blood vessel just popped inside my brain.

Does the left side of your brain hurt Lisa?

[bucknekkid 0]

huk't on gram'r work't 4 me,,,,,

[mawilson 2,133]

Grammar girl? For a moment there, I thought this thread was about Alex+R

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Grammar girl? For a moment there, I thought this thread was about Alex+R

That's who I thought of when I first heard of her.

Oh, and we can't forget her sidekick, Apostrophe Annie (aka LisaD)

Edited February 26, 2007 by Steven_and_Jinky

[mawilson 2,133]

Oh, and we can't forget her sidekick, Apostrophe Annie (aka LisaD)

Sidekick? Don't they hate each other?

[Ban Hammer 13,336]

Grammar girl? For a moment there, I thought this thread was about Alex+R

ditto

[JenT 0]

Let's talk about comma-happy people, shall we??

So nice to find a group I can relate to ;-)

[KarenCee 3]

....and spelling errors....OH MY GOD! It drives me insane! *AUGH* One of the drawbacks to being a teacher, you see every little mistake...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Oh, and we can't forget her sidekick, Apostrophe Annie (aka LisaD)

Sidekick? Don't they hate each other?

All Superhero duos have tension (Batman and Robin, Sonny and Cher) - it's what makes them Dynamic!