Conjunctions

As a Child, I used to always love watching the Saturday Morning cartoons. My favorite part of the whole thing was ABC airing the "School House a Rock" series. I would sing along with those, and believe it or not, they taught me. 

Because of them, and this "Blog" I wish to do an entry that I wish to dedicate to their happy memories, "Conjuction Junction what's your function?" (If you're familiar with this series, you sang that didn't you? AND if you have an imagination, or memory (whatever the case is, you see the "Conjunction Junction Train!)

Let me start off by introducing you to a conjunction: a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause. 

Now allow me to show you words that are conjunctions:

But, or, nor, and, yet so

Now let's see how they work:

I went to the store, but I didn't want to. This easily could've been two sentences, but because of my conjunction, it's now one. Saving me a capital letter and a period, throwing in a coma, and a conjunction. It also sounds better. 

Let's try another: I don't know if I want to go yet, I'm going to think about it. Again, this could've easily been two sentences, but instead, I felt a conjunction was better. 

Are you seeing how this works yet?

Let me try to explain this, so maybe you can understand it better. Here I am using the word so, and I did it casually, to see if I catch you off guard to make it easier on you. Did it help?

Personally, I find conjunctions fun. I think it's kind of "School House a rocks" fault, but oh well. I think you need to get on "Netflix" or Rent it, borrow it, or something, and watch it yourself, 1973 was a great year. TV was educational back then. 

Now of days you watch what's on TV, or you don't watch TV at all. Conjunction the word or. And one more thing to watch for, often before the conjunction, you can find a coma. Watch for it. It's a breather in the sentence when you're reading it. Just putting that out there.....

I hope I've educated someone. If anything; I've had fun, I guess that's what counts. 

Regardless of the Dictionary:

Oh snap! I just witnessed a professional person say "Irregardless." Instantly this is what I thought:

Don't get me wrong, I am well aware that Merriam~Webster added it to the a Dictionary. What choice did they have? The word now flies out of more peoples mouths probably more so then the slang word "ain't" now of days, which was also added to the dictionary!

The proper word is "Regardless" no matter what the dictionary says, which technically, pay close attention to exactly what the dictionary 'does' say!

Irregardless defined:"Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead."

My thoughts are as follows, if you want to look and sound professional, you won't use the word irregardless. Dress for success, strive for success, and speak, talk and think it, and you will get there. "Regardless" of what gets in your way!

Think before you speak, and always choose your words wisely. After all, they represent you.