25 replies to this topic

[Kyouma]

So the sentence was, "Where's best to post my account pricer?"
Is that sentence grammatically correct? Please don't just post a one-word yes/no, try and back up your answer.

Edited by Kyouma, 29 September 2011 - 10:52 PM.

[ShadowLink64]

The sentence "Where is the best place to post my account pricer?"
.. can be written: "Where's the best place to post my account pricer?"
... and considering that a lot of people change "Where's the best place" to "Where's best" (google shows 91,700 search results for people using "Where's best" in ways that obviously refer to places), I think it's correct.

[Inkheart]

Here's my take, for what it's worth.

Person A: PM me when you're ready to trade.

Person B: Okay. When's best for you?

I'm sure most can intuitively see that the sentence "When's best for you?" is just a shortened, more implicit form of the sentence "When's the best time for you?"

Whenever we use the word "when", we are obviously referring to some point in time. I believe that the very same can be said of "where".

Thus, "where's best" is equivalent to "where's the best place", and my sentence carries this implied translation: "Where's the best place to post my account pricer?"

I do understand that it was a rather unorthodox way to say it, but I firmly believe that it's grammatically correct.

[likerobots]

"Where's best to post my account pricer?"

words can be shuffled around and replaced
"When is best to eat my girlfriend?"
"When's best to eat my girlfriend?"

it's not common, but it is grammatically correct.

[Junsu]

I'm pretty sure we call agree that this case really depends if the "place" is understood or not.
And I would say it would not be understood as there are multiple ways to see this sentence.
A simple test would be to ask yourself, could "place" mean different things or different "places"?
Could "place" be replaced with something that changes the meaning? The simple answer to both of these questions would be Yes.
Additionally, "account pricer" is extremely vague., making the "place" you seem to want to imply even more questionable.
Are you posting a thread for account pricing? For a program that prices accounts? For an account already priced?
This relates as the what "account pricer" means changes what "When" is referring to.

And being a total bitch, I will now refute previous claims.
For SL64's post, a lot of people doing something one way does not make it true.
For Inkheart and likerobots who argue with basically the same argument, which I prove true with the beginning of my argument, but you can see how only "time" works in that certain spot and how "time" has no other meaning. The problem with their claim is that it involves suddenly assuming that "When" and "Where" act the same way.

[Pilot]

inaftRapist

[Boggart]

I don't think it's correct o.o There's no subject (which should be "place") and it's missing an article ("the"). Sure we all know what it means and people might use it, but technically I don't believe it to be correct. Like people who use the word "ain't"; yes it's a common word but technically, "ain't" ain't a real word.

[Waser Lave]

The most important question which nobody has yet asked is, "who cares?".

[iargue]

I'm positive it should be

"In which forum should I post my Account Pricer Script?

[Inkheart]

I don't think it's correct o.o There's no subject (which should be "place") and it's missing an article ("the"). Sure we all know what it means and people might use it, but technically I don't believe it to be correct. Like people who use the word "ain't"; yes it's a common word but technically, "ain't" ain't a real word.

It should follow, then, that you don't believe the sentence "When's best for you?" to be grammatically correct either. Is that your stance, Bog? Are you willing to go there? : )

I'm positive it should be

"In which forum should I post my Account Pricer Script?

Poetry would never have gotten off the ground if language were forced to be that rigid.

[Waser Lave]

Poetry would never have gotten off the ground if language were forced to be that rigid.

Not to mention the sketchy use of capital letters and wrong usage of the term 'forum'. Perhaps they could class it as post-modern poetry, you can get away with anything by classifying it as post-modern these days because nobody has a clue what that even means.

[Boggart]

Well "when's best for you" implies that there has been a previously discussed subject and informal. If it were speech it'd be grammatically correct, otherwise it's still missing a subject without a proper context given.

Similar to how the shortest sentence in the world is "Go" when spoken. However, the word "go" in itself is not a complete sentence and thus not grammatically correct. The OP's sentence did not have a previously explained context and I doubt it was speech, so I still hold my stance

but again, I don't think it really matters

[Junsu]

It should follow, then, that you don't believe the sentence "When's best for you?" to be grammatically correct either. Is that your stance, Bog? Are you willing to go there? : )

Refer to previous post.

Poetry would never have gotten off the ground if language were forced to be that rigid.

Based on the assumption that poetry requires correct grammar. False.

Similar to how the shortest sentence in the world is "Go" when spoken. However, the word "go" in itself is not a complete sentence and thus not grammatically correct.

Its correct because it has an implied you.
"(You) go".

[Bone]

Wait, people think grammar actually matters?

[Inkheart]

The problem with their claim is that it involves suddenly assuming that "When" and "Where" act the same way.

when (adv): at what time.

where (adv): at or in what place.

With definitions that similar, it's hard to imagine that they don't.

[Narcissa]

"Where's best to post my account pricer?"

Where's = where is

So, the sentence would read as "Where is best to post my account pricer?" I don't belive this to be proper English (not necessarily grammatically wrong but..)

The best option would be, "Where's it best to post my account pricer?"

[Boggart]

Yay people are joining me in No's! *cheers*

[Kat]

whiny bitch fit over grammar? jesus.

Edited by Kats, 30 September 2011 - 03:19 PM.

[Narcissa]

Yay people are joining me in No's! *cheers*

only because I love you bb.

[Waser Lave]

Yay people are joining me in No's! *cheers*

You're Asian, what do you know? Your language is like children's drawings!

[Boggart]

It is so not

Ching Chong Ling Long Ting Tong. Does that look like children's drawings?!

[Waser Lave]

It is so not

Ching Chong Ling Long Ting Tong. Does that look like children's drawings?!

I stand corrected, it sounds like baby talk.

[Junsu]

They actually do look like children's drawings...

when (adv): at what time.

where (adv): at or in what place.

With definitions that similar, it's hard to imagine that they don't.

Glad that we have the definitions.
Time can only be interpreted in one way: a particular period.
Place can be interpreted many ways: house, car, lamp , place in time, forum, website, browser, folder, desktop, and so on.
Can you see the ambiguity?

[leurz]

The sentence is grammatically correct. Question words, such as when, where, and why, can remove the need for a subject. You don't really need a subject anyway. In this case, the subject-stand-in is "Where", the verb is "is," and then "best" is an adjective which clearly modifies "where." Then we have an appropriately constructed infinitive phrase. The capitalization and punctuation is correct, and there are no agreement issues. It is grammatically correct.

That said, It's an awful sentence. I would agree with Boggart and iargue that it would get rid of the ambiguity to add something like place, or forum, or board. It's not strictly grammatically necessary, but would make it sound less dumb. Also, there's a politeness conflict that makes it not only awkward, but annoyingly so. If you wanted to be British about it, "Where's best" should really be "Where would be the best place...," or you could keep the apostrophe and go with "Where's a good place...." We could just cut the crap and go with "Where should I...."