Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Why don't we say 'I'm smarter than YOU'RE'? The language of fear. Catherineisms.

Oct 22, 2024

Ever wondered why ending a sentence with 'you're' sounds odd? Dive into the quirks of English contractions and enjoy a witty poem that highlights common language frustrations. Get in the Halloween spirit as the discussion shifts to the 'language of fear,' exploring its historical roots and cultural nuances. Discover how emotions are shaped by language and how expressions of fear vary across cultures. Plus, enjoy amusing 'Catherineisms' that showcase the playful side of language mishaps.

17:12

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Quick takeaways

Ending sentences with contractions like 'you're' can sound awkward due to phonetic rules favoring stronger forms in specific contexts.

Cultural variations in the language of fear illustrate how emotional responses are shaped by social and linguistic environments, influencing perception.

Deep dives

Understanding Sentence Endings with Contractions

Ending a sentence with contractions can often sound awkward or incorrect, particularly with forms like 'you're.' The discussion highlights how function words such as pronouns and auxiliary verbs have strong and weak phonetic forms, influencing their placement in sentences. For instance, while it's acceptable to say 'you are,' using the weak form 'you're' at the end can lead to confusion or a funny sound as it lacks the necessary vowel sound. This creates a linguistic rule where strong forms are required in specific contexts, highlighting the nuances of English phonology.

Intro

2min

Exploring Strong and Weak Forms in English Grammar

5min

Exploring the Language of Fear and Its Historical Roots

3min

Language and Emotion: A Cultural Perspective

5min

Exploring Language through Humorous Miscommunications

3min

1024. It often sounds weird if you try to end a sentence with a contraction like "you're" and "I'm." We look at why! Then, get ready for Halloween with the language of fear.

The "contractions" segment is by Neal Whitman, an independent writer and consultant specializing in language and grammar and a member of the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, school board. You can search for him by name on Facebook, or find him on his blog at literalminded.wordpress.com.

The "language of fear" segment is by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in Reno and the author of "Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English." A version of this story originally appeared on Psychology Today, and you can find her at valeriefridland.com.

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