Please, please, this is supposed to be a happy presidency!

  • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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    6 days ago

    “Whom” is on its way out because there is no loss of understanding whatsoever if you just say “who” instead.

        • MyBrainHurts@lemmy.caOP
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          6 days ago

          It’s the same idea, we understand exactly what he’s saying, 0 impairment of understanding etc.

          There’s no reason for a lot of stuff; why do verbs like have and be require different conjugations when the subject is in the sentence? Why bother pluralizing words when we can usually figure it out from context etc.

          • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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            6 days ago

            Yup, you’re right. This particular word is especially egregious, though. It’s a holdover from Old English, and the fact that it conveys absolutely no extra information when used instead of who shows that.

            • MyBrainHurts@lemmy.caOP
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              5 days ago

              To each their own!

              I personally think English sounds better when spoken well and enjoy doing so. “For Who the Bell Tolls” sounds silly and I think people missing whom tend to sound similarly silly.

              • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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                5 days ago

                Yes, I definitely see the appeal of legacy titles and phrases keeping the original words. It’s like how “To thine own self be true” sounds nicer than “Be true to yourself.” Doesn’t mean I want to use “thine” in everyday speech, though.

                After all, that book title is from archaic English: “Send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.” It’s telling that that’s the first thing you thought of.

                • MyBrainHurts@lemmy.caOP
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                  5 days ago

                  “Of which you thought.” - I also enjoy not ending sentences with prepositions.

                  Again, I just think it makes everyday language better. Similar to having art on one’s walls, doesn’t improve anything other than aesthetics but that’s enough to make it worthwhile to some.

                  I also would never use “k” instead of okay in a text but to each their own!

                  • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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                    4 days ago

                    “Chief, you know that guy whose camper they were whacking off in?”

                    “Bork, you’re a Federal Agent. You represent the United States government. Never end a sentence with a preposition!”

                    “Oh, uh… You know that guy in whose camper they… I mean, that guy off in whose camper they were whacking?”

                    So you like to use formal English at all times; that’s fine. All I’m saying is that language changes over time, and that change isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes it gets rid of needless complexity. However, things like “literally” meaning “figuratively,” its complete opposite, I absolutely hate because it takes away from the usefulness of the word. I won’t mourn “whom” any more than “thou,” though.

      • samus12345@sh.itjust.works
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        6 days ago

        It’s still used in formal speech and writing, but everyday use has been steadily declining. Even as something of a stickler for grammar, I find it rather pointless.