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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Class of 2012 t-shirts
At my school each grade designs t-shirts for certain events like pep rallies or powderpuff games. Usually when I spot a blatantly obvious error, like improper usage of 'your', I feel the need to point it out.
On the back of our Junior class shirts the text reads
"Don't you wish you were one, two?"
I found the wordplay really clever, but couldn't help but wonder if the comma was proper English. I'd feel horrible nitpicking for it to be another correct way to state the phrase, but I'd also not want to buy a shirt with such an error. I turn to the English forums because I have used a few online grammar checkers and thus far none have made it out to be an error.
On the back of our Junior class shirts the text reads
"Don't you wish you were one, two?"
I found the wordplay really clever, but couldn't help but wonder if the comma was proper English. I'd feel horrible nitpicking for it to be another correct way to state the phrase, but I'd also not want to buy a shirt with such an error. I turn to the English forums because I have used a few online grammar checkers and thus far none have made it out to be an error.
Top answer
Excuse me if I'm being slow, but what is the significance of "one, two"? I mean, I assume it's a pun on "one too", but what is the purpose of the pun? I'm wondering if this might affect the choice of comma or no comma...
- Excuse me if I'm being slow, but what is the significance of "one, two"?
- I mean, I assume it's a pun on "one too", but what is the purpose of the pun?
- I'm wondering if this might affect the choice of comma or no comma...
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4 Answers
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Excuse me if I'm being slow, but what is the significance of "one, two"? I mean, I assume it's a pun on "one too", but what is the purpose of the pun? I'm wondering if this might affect the choice of comma or no comma...
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The pun is referring to the class of 2012, or the one-two that makes twelve if that helps.
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Oh, sorry. It's a failing of mine to hardly ever notice what's written in subject lines!
After all that, I really can't decide which I think is better. I don't think I would put a comma in "Don't you wish you were one too?", but, because of the association with "one, two, three, ...", the comma arguably helps to emphasise the pun. I think it's perhaps just a matter of opinion.
After all that, I really can't decide which I think is better. I don't think I would put a comma in "Don't you wish you were one too?", but, because of the association with "one, two, three, ...", the comma arguably helps to emphasise the pun. I think it's perhaps just a matter of opinion.
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