'nother grammar quiz

[countrycousin]

I normally do well on these.  Got all of the last one that went by.

OK, here's another.

http://www.mentalfloss.com/quiz/quiz.php?q=329


I got a whopping 1 out of 10.

Enjoy.

Comments

[harimad.livejournal.com]

My explicit knowledge of grammar (being able to describe why something's correct and use the correct words when doing so) is very bad but my implicit knowledge of grammar (knowing what's right) is reasonably good.

I got 2 of 10. And punted on #9 rather than make a random guess.

That said, I disagree with a couple of the answers. No matter what the LA Times does, being inconsistent while using apostrophes for plurals (the "As & Bs" question) is wrong. And all the standard references cites for the question about split infinitives have changed since I studied them - I'm not convinced that therefore I am wrong. So I think I should've gotten 4 of 10. Which isn't much better, I admit.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I don't know that I disagree, but the answers were different in many cases from what I've been taught. And in other cases, I've forgotten details or terminology.

I agree with you; inconsistency is terrible. Even if there is an underlying subtle reason for the inconsistency. The idea is to make the text readable, not to present complex interpretation problems.

But you did twice as well as I did!

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

5/10 - and I totally agree that the apostrophes question ("As and Bs") was crap. If you're going to use apostrophes with plural letters, or not, you should always be consistent - that is a fairly elementary rule of grammar.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

5/10 is the highest score I've heard! And I suspect that other grammarians might differ here and there. Consistency is good.

I've wondered what the who/m/ever resolution was.

[dkogan.livejournal.com]

Meh, 3. With such poor grammar skills, I'm surprised I'm still allowed to post on the internet.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

heh.

I suspect half of the test is to promote the writer's prejudices on some rules.

[cat9.livejournal.com]

</td>

The mental_floss Grammar Quiz Score: 50% (5 out of 10)

So, 5 out of 10, but I also think the apostrophes ruling was ridiculous.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I also think the apostrophes ruling was ridiculous.

Yeah, the test maker (and maybe the LA Times) seem to be alone on that one.

But you tied for top score!

[coalboy.livejournal.com]

Major humiliation - one right. Which was your correct one? I wish I could copy the answers to study.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I don't recall which one I got right - I'm still in shock. Some, indeed, are controversial, but some I just got wrong. I suppose I better take it again and check some other experts.

[countrycousin.livejournal.com]

I feel bad about the fact that I didn't get any others right.

I still disagree with a few, but I think she's right on most of them. I also don't like the freedom of indefinite article choice before historic. "an historic" comes out as an istoric. And I don't consider that correct.

[coalboy.livejournal.com]

I disagree with the inconsistency on the grades - either A's and B's or As and Bs, & I prefer with apostrophes.