J R-M - pernickity pedant?

I wonder if it is a peculiarly British trait to ridicule and apparently despise attention to grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary? The people I know for whom English is a second language are extremely particular about using it as correctly as possible, and ask to be corrected if they make a mistake.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has issued his instructions for the use of his staff in their work correspondence, not for people choosing to contribute to Gransnet.

There is nothing to be gained by sneering at people who wish to share their own high standards with others.

[ In Preview, two spaces following a full-stop appear to contact into one.]

Never under-estimate the joker in the pack, look at all the attention he has brought upon himself - sorry for any grammatical mistakes. The whole point is of course if what you have written is interesting, then it will hold the readers' attention (apostrophe?), whether it is official language or not. My pet hate is still, and always will be "KIDS" unless of course you are talking about goats, about which I know nothing.

Oh Justme...I hate that expression too! I always say 'children'. I especially dislike 'grandkids'....it sounds so common.

That's no excuse eazybee sloppy use of technology is not acceptable. There is a difference between using correct English and refusing to accept language because you simply don't like it. As for GN posters if you believe in standards you should apply them otherwise what use are they apart from providing a reason to criticise others?
By the way Preview probably contracts two spaces to one because that is the commonly used format today. So what some seem to be sayng is that JRM can use any old fashioned standards he chooses because of who he is. Watch out for what he chooses to pick on next (women's right to choose anyone?)

Watch out for what he chooses to pick on next (women's right to choose anyone?)

Exactly trisher . The preferred use of vocabulary and grammar are probably just the tip of this particular iceberg .

Indeed Trisher 'Watch out for what he chooses to pick on next (women's right to choose anyone?)'

a bit difficult this, with people like Boris and his 'partners' - apparently.

I am pleased to note that Yourself is banned and I presume that 'Myself' is banned too - it is a favourite of tour guides and certain other professions and it is irritating in the extreme when used in the wrong context, eg:

"If you wish to book a trip with myself, please see me after the meeting"
"The coach will arrive to pick up yourself at 8:00 am."
et cetera

I do think that there is a case to be made for the correct use of Plain English and sloppy grammar could be a reflection of sloppy work. But pedantry can be taken too far (see what I did there? )

Correction:
If you wish to book a trip with myself, please see myself after the meeting

He is a pretentious poseur, who, after the revues his recent book got is in no position to tell anyone how to write or research or do anything that requires putting pen to paper.

i must say if I worked for him I would enjoy winding him up with an endless string of trivial mistakes that would only irritate a pretentious bore.

Now where is my copy of Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage. I am sure I could find some minor grammatical solecism there to tie him in knots.

Has anyone seen the photo of Mogg in what seems like his fathers jacket. It enormously too big for him.

Some wag suggested that the tailor mistook his imperial measurements for metric.

The thing about Jacob Rees Mogg I like most is no matter how rude, obnoxious, libellous, vile the protests, comments, physical abuse or behaviour is thrown at him he remains the character some dislike so much about him, a GENTLEMAN, COURTEOUS.

He is not a politician to try and get his point over by abusing his opponent he will quietly debate his point. Ironically he is vilified because of that by people who are abusive in word and in deed toward him.

I watched his first time as Leader of the House of Commons on T. V and he was in command of his role from the start and knows probably more about Parliamentary Procedure than the Speaker. Bercow will either get more and more rattled or he will think twice before challenging him because of his own inadequacies. Time will tell.

When somebody says they do not like him / hate him because of his views for the most part they are saying they dislike/hate the Catholic Religion he chooses to follow, as do millions of others. The irony of that is MP's on BOTH sides of Parliament hold similar views because of their religion but the dislike/hatred of Rees Mogg singles him out.

Rees Mogg is Marmite but Hells bells there are politicians who do far worse and they are practical saints.

Practical saints oh my - examples?

Very true, JRM is unfailingly polite, even the rather abrasive
Jess Philips ( who I also like) gets on well with him.
He seems to be getting very thin, and I did wonder if he was
Completely well.

People are rarely all bad so obviously JRM has good points, but his pernicious political views are clouding the world my children are working in and my grandchildren are growing up in. His manners may be impeccable but that is small satisfaction.

I disagree with virtually all his views, but most of his rules for formal writing seem pretty reasonable to me.

Esq. is an interesting one. I was brought up in the forties and fifties to use it after a man’s name when addressing an envelope, e.g. George Jones Esq.. I can’t remember when I stopped using it, but I didn’t teach it to my children born in the early seventies.

I suspect his instructions are less about his grammatical preferences and more about his inner frustrations at the societal changes over which he has no control. This is one small way in which he can wrestle back some of that control - sad, really.

Even sadder watching hi with his poor young son, dressed as the stereotypical Welshman he imagined - will be intereting to see how he dresses him when going to the wild North.

Poor kid.

General point.

Rees Moggs views are based on his Catholic Faith and that is another point in question. The Catholic religion has similar opinions to other faiths such as Islam.

I am not particularly religious but I respect others are. Why is Rees Mogg singled out and villified?

Do posters believe ALL MP's should be subjected to this degree of persecution by the media/social media irrespective of their political alliegence if they hold to their Catholic Faith ?

If not why not why not.?

Does a Labour MP who is Catholic get such treatment? Are posters of the opinion there are no Catholic MP's in other parties.?

Or is it the old class warfare/hatred that singles him out because that's how I see it. If the answer is no it is not class warfare/hatred of an individual then it can only be you disagree with the Catholic Faith to which he / they hold dear.

I don't agree with his view or the Catholic view on many things but I wouldn't be abusive, vilify or physically harm anybody who is Catholic because of it. Rees Mogg is ' fair game' to some to be attacked physically, verbally and more to the point have his family and ' children' abused too.

Shameful and that is nothing to with the man's politics it is to do with decency, I would defend ANY politician.

I look at the similarities between Jacob Rees Mogg and Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron who was hounded out by a baying rabel because he too had a Christian Faith, it was pitiful, shameful to see him resign because of ' illiberalism ' ironically.

I really like Jacob Rees-Mogg. Yes, he's old-fashioned, privileged, rich......but he's got the morals I admire.

What are you on about POGS? JRM's faith hasn't been mentioned. I don't see any signs anywhere of him being vilified because he's Catholic.

I didn’t know JRM was Catholic - I don’t pay enough attention to the man. I just think he’s a boring prat myself

SirC

Of course it is his faith that is at the heart of his views.

If you don't understand that then that's your problem.

Hardly JRM’s turn of phrase,but I CBA to explain the Oxford comma rule to him,whereby one can,quite rightly, use a comma after and. That’s five minutes of my life I’ll never get back. Also,how long will it take before letters start arriving addressed Mr Fishpie Esq?

First I've heard that being a Catholic means you must use outdated language. All the Catholics I know (and I know lots!) aren't at all pernickety about grammar.

Speaking as a catholic, I do not share many of JRM's religious views, let alone his political views or pedantic obsession with good form, whether grammar, language, manners or taste in clothes.