Steve's Grammatical Observations: The "is-is" Epidemic

Just like "the reason is because..."

I had a boss who constantly, in speech and in writing, felt the need to identify his (or our company's) "role" every time he referred to himself, particularly obnoxious when the "role" had nothing to do with what he wanted to say. Goes like this: "Mr. Brown, as a director for this organization, likes root beer." The Awesome Group, as a non-profit organization, likes spaghetti."

I always wanted to say to him, "I, as an educated person, think you're silly. I, as you're employee, shall keep my observations to myself."

I get it if the "role" or "hat" he's wearing needs to be identified to place whatever he's about to say in context, but he never used it that way.

Cheers,

Erica, as herself (but sometimes as a woman, a milk drinker, a redhead, or an Aquarius).

The "is-is" Epidemic The next time I make an grammer error you can spank me, it might be fun lol I know I would lol

Apparently the problem is these new-age pundits were not paying attention in English class. Whether or not they were paying attention in college at all is completely up to speculation.

Nice pod, Stephen.

Great pod!

Oh man do more Grammar correction, I like that

What the problem is is money

"What the problem is" is a noun clause acting as a subject. A noun clause can act as a subject, predicate nomnitive, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition, and an appositive. Because this clause acts as a subject, you could replace it with a single word.

"Time is money."

In conclusion: It is not the best way of phrasing what you want to say, but it is gramatically correct. It also does not make anyone look any smarter and often they don't know what they are talking about. That being said, good video and great message.

Love it and agree with much of what is said above! Now can you do one about my grammatical pet peeve - the proper use of the words "its" vs. "it's"? Or just the general overuse of apostrophes at the end of words that should simply end in s!!!!!! Even in materials that are printed and edited professionally!!! I did love the images at the end and the way that you zeroed in on a few specific ones by slowing them down.

kunnikr, thanks for your webcam response! love it!

Cool video. :) It really gets confusing to understand when people use unnecessary words when they speak. It is simpler to say exactly what you mean to avoid confusion or misunderstandings. I guess sometimes people underestimate the power of words and language at all levels. Maybe a lot of issues are a result of wrongly using language.

the next observation should be on people saying "like" like too much.

(A) Indeed there is a ridiculously large percentage of our population that are functionally illiterate. However, my prayers are for people to communicate with truth and love over grammatical eloquence. Peace.

(B) Indeed, there is a ridiculously large percentage of population that is functionally illiterate. However, my prayers are for people to communicate with truth and love over grammatical eloquence. peace.

(C) Indeed a ridiculously large percentage of our population are functionally illiterate. However, my prayers are for people to communicate with truth and love over grammatical eloquence. Peace.

Nice work Steve. Keep it going.

Give this man a medal.

I just commented elsewhere this evening on some language related issues such as "is" instead of "are" and "very unique". People should listen to themselves when they speak. When language is used well, it's gorgeous. When it's not, it is exhausting. At least to me.

I love it!!

that was Lindsey Lohan you saw. and yes, she is a problem. Although arguably she could have been switched out for Paris Hilton.

so smart—RIGHT ON!
love it!

is Tyra Bans really a problem??

nice work, man. i wonder if you want to dip your toe into metaphysical waters by expounding on what might be the most cosmic grammatical error every uttered:

The Jewish God declared:
"I Am that I Am" which seems to be to be the logical equivalent of "I is that I is." Is am reducible to Is?

mikeygleason, what a boob I am I just reread what you posted and realized I was wrong in asking you about your post.

You were writing about the use of the word "a lot" being spelled "alot" which is clearly wrong. Sorry I assumed you were talking about people typing lengthy posts and wanting to only read headlines. I guess I must have been on some of that wacky weed causing me confusion. heh heh....

I think grammar is irrelevant as long as the other side can understand what you say.

But the video is a hoot.

YESSSS! You just called out some people that should not be makin grammatical mistakes. My favorite part is the end - very effective.

Dude!, where do you get your weed? hook me up. lol. i definitely want to be off on some thinking trips like that."The problem 'is-is' "... shit sweet!

mikeygleason:

are you saying that you want to read only headlines?

Please do something about a lot. I can't stand when people write alot. It bothers me a lot.

Never realized that we had an "is is" problem on our hands. I just thought it was because people forgot what they were going to say and instead of saying "uh", they just repeated the last word they could think of. Still, nice grammatical observation.

I agree with Hack26, the last 30 seconds really nails the immensity of the problems we face.

This is is is so good.

I really, really like this!

it also bothers me when people say ATM machine

It's great to learn
Cause knowledge is power!

thanks for putting things in perspective. I dont think i would have have caught myself doing that.

Stephen you are a genius!

Nice one Stephen!
I was cracking up.
The thing is is that it came together nicely.

YES! I feel like such a grammar fiend when I feel the need to correct such things. I also really enjoy the "WTF" blocks in the intro and outro.

Yes, there may be problems in the world that appear much more serious than a "simple" grammatical flaw, but it just points to the global level of eductation in general. If we were all more intelligent with our semantics, would that benefit our intelligence in other matters? Do "smaller" problems inadvertently lead to bigger problems?

I totally agree with it! Thanks for bringing that up "stephenthomson." We should always try to improve our talking and writing. Ha! I am notorious for making some grammatical mistakes myself. The important is that I am aware of it and when I have the time I go back and edit it. Despite of it, I do recognize that, there are big differences in English Language between "phonetic" and "writing."

By the other hand, I think people should not be too much concerned as many times the importance of the information overwrites the importance of style or grammatical correctness.

-What do you think about it?

In my opinion the last 30 seconds of this video should be attached to the end of every other video. Just to remind people of what the real problem is.

Very thought provoking! Especially enjoyed the ending.

I will be waiting for you to tackle more of these grammatical aberrations, perhaps with the same wit and depth. I'm not a native English speaker, so grammar is very important to me. How about "very unique?" Or any modifier for the word? It drives me insane...
You have a nice presence in front of the camera.

Very nice work! I like the music too!

Excellent stephenthompson! (Bet it's been hard for you not to correct us on the posts!)

Now that is a great video. Beyond the content, which I liked, the craftsmanship was excellent. Really well edited. Great music and sound design. Even the graphics are well designed and executed.

I hope you do more.

Alas, I'm sure I make all of these grammatical mistakes and more. I blame computers. How do you pluralize DVD and VCR? Or STD? Or WMD...that would be a good thing to know.

This is great -- really kind of mean-funny commentary on the media. Your ire at the world for mistaking cultural questions for the important things. "Status:epidemic" -- that's classic. Where's the music from?

That is is fuckin awesome.

Good good job job steve steve.

"It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the—if he—if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not—that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement."

---- Bill Clinton

I loved this, I want more "Watch Your Language" pods!

However, I argue that the "is is" epidemic is not related to grammar. I think it can be considered as an example of phatic language.

Great pod, Steve.
Know what I'm sayin'?

Very good never noticed that before, i think will now!

"Is" is static and not changing.

Stephen! I love this. It morphed from an entertaining and charming "nitpick" of a cultural phenomenon to a much greater reminder that we've got other problems. Your montage was great. It actually made me laugh at first, because of the contrast between the is-is problem and real world problems. But the point you make is bigger than the sum of its parts. The point is in many ways, language. The definition of torture. The laws that are written to leave out language defining global warming and scientific findings. The fuzzy logic that allows injustice to persist. The inflammation of the corporate media's words drawing our attention to what is not a problem - i.e. Britney so we ignore actual problems.

Words are power.
Watch your language indeed.
Well put.
And bravo.

Keep making videos...this one is great..tj

i LOVE this.

Way to wipe that loogie off the face of common grammar!
Both face-paced and engaging. Nicely edited.
The ending was excellent.

It is cool. What I liked is is that it is amusing, that is that I is entertained by it.

I'm glad you finished off with recognizing some of the bigger issues we face today. That Britney Spears is indeed a problem.

very true, Marilynn Murray... as the saying goes, "is is" is what "is is" is, isn't it? ok, I need to get away from the computer...

You guys are mean as poverty. I do all that. I also put a coma wherever I please. Doesn't mean I'm not a good person.

I love your observation. Awesome!

Klenga, you hit the nail on the head.
apostrophes to denote plurality - THAT'S THE WORST!
I think that began with an initial confusion as to how to pluralize things like DVD and VCR.

But now it's spreading. People are putting apostrophes on third person present verb conjugations, for example "He want's to..." !!!*^&$%!*^&$%!*&^

I blame the now infamous quotation, It depends on what the meaning of is is for our current situation. So the problem is what the meaning of is is isn't it?

I like it! great video, especially the quick cuts towards the end (quick but i still clearly saw the cheney sneer)

very entertaining... but what my minor quibble with this piece is is that that particular grammar faux pas pales in comparison to what I consider to be the two most pervasive, insidious affronts to the English language as typed on the internet:

1. Spelling 'lose' as 'loose'
2. Using apostrophes to denote plurality

...and all people who disagree with me are a bunch of looser's!!!

I must be a hopeless case. It won't work for me.

i've said it ONCE.
one of my bosses is a huge, unknowing is-is fanatic.
once, i overheard him say, 'the funny thing WAS.. is that...'

steve, he needs a lesson from you!

(great video, btw. i'm not a fan of root beer, but i like how you used that as an example to visually differentiate btwn what's grammatically acceptable and what's not.)

I dig it man. The end of the video pretty succinctly acts as a video clause of [what the problem is].