Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Now That's 'A Whole Nother' Debate

I promise if you sit through my grammar lecture, I have a delicious treat for you at the end!

I have a degree in English. It's not like I actually use this degree in my daily work life. Quite the opposite actually. I work at an ad agency, but not the fun creative, copywriting, artistic side of advertising. Nope. I'm the boring media buyer who deals in rates and circulations and cost per points and gross rating points. I'm surrounded by numbers all day. I hate numbers. I'm more of a word girl.

I found this picture here. It made me laugh.

So I guess that's why I love it here. I get to write and it helps keep my relatively unused English degree from getting moldy. I might not always be the most grammatically correct person in the world -- I'm often in desperate need of a proofreader to fix my butchering of punctuation. And I'm unconditionally and irrevocably in love with the dot-dot-dot. Love... It... (I also recently realized that my mother is also a big fan of the ellipsis. I wonder if writing styles are hereditary...)

But alas, I didn't intend on giving you the fucking history of my writing life. There seems to be a debate brewing and I want to get your feelings on it. It's a phrase we've most likely all used at one time or another and never gave it a second thought.

A whole nother.

What the mother fuck is a "nother"?

It even looks weird. Like someone misspelled "mother."

I've done a bit of research on the subject. Some of these new fangled websites, like Wiktionary defines it as: (informal, proscribed) An entirely different; an itensified version of another. And dictionary.com also lists it as an actual word: Informal. a whole nother, an entirely different; a whole other. But then again, dictionary.com lists "bootylicious" as a real word. The day it was decided this word could be listed in the dictionary, my IQ dropped a few points.

A grammar guidelines blog I recently came across says this:
"Nother" is not a word. To correct this error, you could use "another," "a whole other," "a completely different," "an entirely different," etc.

And then I hear some real grammar-nazi types use it, or a local radio talk show host, or myself and it makes me want to stab someone. With a nother. I often feel it coming and try to head it off at the pass. My goal is to eradicate the "nother". I have nothing against making up new words when there's no other word that can express what your trying to say. Google, for instance, is an acceptable new word for me.


This is where you guys come in? What are your thoughts? Do you use it? Do you despise it? Does it make you want to jam a sharp stick into your eardrum so you never have to hear it again? I needz help, yo!

And now for your treat... a new Bel Ami trailer... if you haven't already watched is 843 times. Pay close attention at 1:55 -- I had to pause, stare and drool. I can't wait to see that boy in action. You're welcome.

42 comments:

  1. Bel Ami + Rob.....that's a whole nother level.

    Yum.

    I HAD to... I hope you can forgive me. =)

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  2. Nother is like "ain't" - and it ain't a word. Sounds...hick (yes, I like dot dot dot too)

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  3. I agree. I hate it, and I never personally use it. I say "other," as in, "that's a whole other story" or "that's a story for another day." I can see where it may have come from breaking up the word "another" to emphasize how entirely different it may be. People still break up words to emphasize them, but turning a non-word into a word isn't part of these phrases. It would need to be awholenother story. ie...absofreakinglutely!
    I'm totally with you on eradicating the "word."

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  4. I have NEVER used that fake word & I've never even heard it until recently. It makes me want to slap someone.

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  5. I hate it. It should be 'a whole other'. It's like when people say "I could care less" when they mean "I couldn't care less."

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  6. I never noticed that people use nother like a real word before. How I missed this is beyond me.. I'm sure from this point on I will notice it every time. Thanks for that.........
    And a huge Thanks for the trailer. yum.

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  7. Is it weird that I automatically fast forwarded to 1:55? Not at all? Okay, good.

    I don't like "nothers," either. But, then again, I have a degree in English, too. I'm incapable of accepting these "exceptions" to rules. Bastards.

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  8. I know nothing about that word at all and I will take that as a good thing.

    As for the wondering if "writing styles are hereditary" - my Mom would say no way! There is no way that my mother and I write the same in any way from penmanship to actual grammar and wording. LOL

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  9. It doesn't bother me. I grew up hearing it. I assumed it was a southern phrase. I sometimes use it in an informal conversation where I'm laying on the "ain'ts" and the "yonders" and the southern accent.

    The word that bothers me the most is irregardless. Just don't say it or my head will explode.

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  10. Hmmmm 1:55 seems a lot like a certain other movie I have watched with Rob, what was it called? Hmmm Oh yea, New Moon. I love that the voice over even says "and I am going to live." right before he walks out into the light.

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  11. No. Just no. I haven't heard it.
    I'm pretty lax on grammar and punctuation, but I have to say nothing gives me more pleasure in my day than correcting mispronunciations of medical terminology.
    I stop everything and have the student repeat after me...very slowly. Muaaahhh hahaha!

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  12. I guess I've always used "a whole other" when I say that, and I KNOW I've said it.
    I can't imagine myself saying nother. That would be like me saying aint!

    @Nifer, I agree. It's a pain. Med term should never be a problem because it's taught so well to NOT mispronounce.

    Rob, however, makes me want nother lookie at his gorgeous chest in that Bel Ami trailer that I aint ever gonna get to touch in real life!

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    1. Right! I have a student that keeps saying "Foily" instead of "Foley" and "droggy" not "groggy" and "fernix" not "pharynx" I wish she would just drop out and rejoin her mouth breathing people.

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  13. That Grammar Nazi poster old be a lot more effective... if it didn't contain a spelling error.

    I *should* have gone for an English or lit degree, and even so, I've been guilty of the 'nother' offense. I have cut it from my vocabulary in recent years, though, to prevent the need to slap myself.

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    1. Wow, and apparently I need to proofread myself more carefully. *would.* People who live in glass houses, I guess... (can I blame the late hour and the wine?)

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    2. Go ahead - I always do!

      And that is too funny - a misspelled word in that poster - good catch! I didn't notice it until you pointed it out (obvs).

      I am afraid I may use "nother" - dammit! Is it weird that I am not sure???

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  14. I'm under the impression that "a whole nother" is of the same ilk as "abso-fucking-lutely" - sticking one word inside of another for emphasis. So that's one theory. My other theory is based on the fact that I first heard that phrase many years ago in a commercial for Texas tourism advertising it as a whole nother country. So if Texas is another country, maybe this phrase is from their foreign language... (see what I did there with the ellipsis?)

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  15. Has this 'nother' thing made it to the West Coast because I have no ideas what you are talking about. But, it doesn't really matter...what matters is that angry DuRob does things to me that I cannot explain. Must go watch again.......

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  16. Nope. I will never ever use it. I had no idea it was a "real" word. I've heard it, but just imagined it as "... 'nother blah blah blah", as if they meant to say "another" but hickishly (made up word, I know) dropped off the a.

    And Bel Ami .... my heart flutters. He's so dreamy! But Rpatts and Kristin Scott Thomas? Really? That just seems .... odd. I don't want to imagine them getting down and dirty. I mean she's attractive, but I don't want to see her rolling around in the sheets with a hot younger guy. She seems too sweet, or prim and proper. I don't know ...

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  17. 'nother' get's a nope in my book. It's just being a lazy ass.

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  18. "Nother" is a pet peeve of mine as well. Like Katrinka up there said, it's like "abso-fucking-lutely." Except somehow that one works, I guess in the same way bastardization of most words with the addition of the word "fucking" seems fine to me. Double standard? Yes. Now, if you changed "a whole nother" to something you might rudely shout at the bartender when you want a refill (ie, "A-hole! Nother!"), it might be more acceptable.

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  19. First of all, I'm sort of shocked that there are actually some of you that have never even heard this phrase. Secondly... SO glad I'm not alone in my hatred.

    And HOLY FUCK, Bel Ami. The end.

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  20. I hate the use of fake words too. I try to not be a grammar nazi because I'm probably not perfect either but some things drive me crazy.

    That was the first time I've watched the Bel Ami trailer. I can't wait to see that movie. He's pretty.

    One more thing before I go...(because I like dots too), ipads are a bitch to post comments from. They auto correct the captcha thing and sometimes it just stops you from typing in the little box. Not sure why but this is one reason why I don't always comment. Sometimes it's far too frustrating!

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  21. I'm kind of 'meh' about nother. I don't mind made up words if the person using them realized they are made up. What irritates me is ignorance. I had a friend who would say that she, "couldn't phantom something" - instead of fathom. Or people who say 'supposeDly' (Joey Tribiani). Or, as someone pointed out already, "I could care less".
    Also, I am a big fan of the ... so much so that I have tried to stop using it so much.

    Topic change - when are we going to do a group online BD viewing??? (guess I'm a fan of the punctuation trio)...

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  22. I don't think I've heard "nother" used, but it doesn't bother me for some reason.

    Now, when some unmentionable people (ehem) use "I should have went" or "I should of went" instead of "I should have GONE", that's a whole NOTHER story!

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  23. When Stewie Griffin took over America, one of his laws was the execution of people who said 'a whole nother' and 'all of the sudden'. God, I love that little guy. I can tolerate grammar mistakes in casual speech, but constant abuse and ignorance really pisses me off.

    On a side note, my dad is going through yet another mid-life crisis (I think this is number four or five) and has decided to write a book. I'm his proof-reader. Or, as he likes to put it, Grammar Nazi. If he saw that poster he'd probably blow it up and hang it on the wall with my face stuck on one of the figures.

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  24. I use slang. I abuse the English language in vile filthy ways. But I will never use the word "nother" it doesn't sit right with me.

    My friend always corrects my use of the words 'good' and 'well'. How can a person that uses the word 'seen' like its going out of style have any room to talk? "I seen this thing once..." I shit you not!! I guess I really have no room to talk either but I don't go out of my way to correct people... unless they are borderline defective, then I'll step in and say something.

    Let's not correct any punctuation mistakes in this....I admit I suck at commas, apostrophes, etc. My grammar is not so good either lol. Amazing that I walked away with my History degree that depended on my ability to write well. I fooled them good!! Suckers!! I'm sure they'd be happy to know it's being put to good use Twilight blogging.

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  25. I have a nother (tee hee) one that makes me a tad crazy. Since I work in NYC, I'm surrounded by quite a few accents and there is one thing that makes me bonkers. It's when my coworkers say "axe" instead of "ask". Makes me CRAZY.

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    1. That's not an accent. That's ignorance.

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    2. It's not ignorance. ::Steps on soapbox::

      It is a salient feature of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) that has made its way into many other vernacular dialects.

      It is linguistically relevant and recognized. It just isn't your (or my) dialect. I hate it too, but if I grew up speaking that way, I wouldn't see the difference. There's also a difference between the dialect you use at home/with friends, and the one used at work/in public that some people don't recognize as separate.

      ::Steps off soapbox::

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  26. Now, see . . . I don't mind nother, but I hate abso-fucking-lutely. No, wait. Maybe it's abso-tively posi-lutely! Yeah! That's what I hate!

    Here is something I often read in fanfiction that is foreign to me - "I did it ON accident". The fuck is up with that? What part of the country is that from?

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    Replies
    1. That is just wrong. It doesn't matter where you're from!

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  27. I have to admit, I skipped right to the trailer. What can I say? I like my dessert before dinner.

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  28. Bad grammar fills me with rage; possibly I am dangerous. Consider yourselves fairly warned ...

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  29. Nother? What the?.....don't use that Down Under....my 14 yo daughter is such a grammer nazi she corrects her friends on FB, I glow with motherly pride! Things people say that makes me want to stab them: "aks" instead of "ask"; "somethink" instead of "something" & my most HATED "them ones" instead of "those ones" grrrrr......AND that trailer made my toes curl....his accent....gah....

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  30. There's another pretty annoying thing people do in Maine that makes me so ragey...

    Instead of saying, "He came over to visit."

    They say, "He come over to visit."

    *stabstabstab*

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  31. I think it's supposed to be "an other" or "another"- so that would make it have to look more like this, right 'nother!

    Just sayin... and the Bel Ami Trailer was luscious- thanks!

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  32. I have never actually seen it in writing before. I've heard others say it... hell I say it, but then correct myself in disgust! it bugs the shit out of me... your' right it just looks wrong... But I've never seen it... which is saying something because I used to be a high school special ed teacher...
    Watching the Bel Ami trailers just simply pisses me off because I just want to see it so badly...

    ** see I've paid homage to youe elipsis fetish! I happen to have one too.

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  33. I think since the time I have started using social media (FB, blogging, IM, etc.), my general use of grammar and punctuation has gone downhill. I fear using dot-dot-dots on formal written documents, or inserting "fucking" as an adjective for every noun I use.

    But who cares, you gave us that panty dropping preview, so you can't blame us for our shitty speaking/typing skills. Our brains are mush!

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  34. JMFHF I hate nothing more than an apostrophe catastrophe.

    I can't be arsed scrolling through all these comments to see if someone's already said this, but basically, if you don't know when you need an apostrophe and when you don't, go back to fucking primary school.

    Seriously.

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  35. Just because you do not like the term does NOT make it incorrect. Nother by itself is meaningless. "whole nother" is a correct phrase. You may not like it but Merriam Webster is more of an authority and they recognize it as such. Tmesis (wiki it) also tells us that "whole nother" is a grammatically correct phrase and if you have a problem with that, blame the Greeks.
    For those "grammar Nazi's" that don't understand where words come from and why we consider them accepted words, I suggest you start your research with Shakespeare as his use of words would have sent you all into a rage in the 1500's.
    http://www.nosweatshakespeare.com/resources/shakespeare-words/

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