I knew this was coming.

Well, the Stuff White People Like blog has added its 99th entry: grammar.

It turns out that, in addition to study abroad, Barack Obama, coffee, bicycles, Arrested Development, multilingual children, organic food and David Sedaris, white people like grammar.

Considering that this blog could pretty much be called Stuff Kate Likes, I absolutely knew that this was coming.

When asking someone about their biggest annoyances in life, you might expect responses like “hunger,” “being poor,” or “getting shot.” If you ask a white person, the most common response will likely be “people who use ‘their’ when they mean ‘there.’  Maybe comma splices, I’m not sure but it’s definitely one of the two.”

And what of the people who actually correct grammar?

Another important thing to know is that when white people read magazines and books they are always looking for grammar and spelling mistakes. In fact, one of the greatest joys a white person can experience is to catch a grammar mistake in a major publication. Finding one allows a white person to believe that they are better than the writer and the publication since they would have caught the mistake. The more respected the publication, the greater the thrill. If a white person were to catch a mistake in The New Yorker, it would be a sufficient reason for a large party.

I’m not going to lie — if I found a mistake in The New Yorker, I would experience a huge burst of emotion.  Not of pride, however — of anger.

That is DEFINITELY taking it too far.

One response to “I knew this was coming.

  1. Pingback: On Words and Business » Blog Archive » Grammar, grammar everywhere…

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