I don't write for Professor Higgins. Deal with it

[MelissaBaby]

It's usually he and I?

I get that people butcher the English language so improper grammar in dialogue can be overlooked, I do it all the time, but I think its a fine line between slang and a speed bump of 'wait, what?"

But people write as they choose to.

People will have a conniption if you say "conniption".

 

[MelissaBaby]

My experience with trailer park dialect is extensive.


Dialect note: there are people around Cincinnati, Ohio ( and a couple parts of Indiana and Pennsylvania) who call bell peppers mangoes and it hurts my soul.

Also hotpot instead of casserole. I know it exists. I know it's correct regional dialect. It still sets my teeth on edge when I read it or hear it.

I've heard "hot dish" in that context but not "hot pot".

Hot Pots are those electric single serve coffee mugs most frequently seen in college dorms and prisons.

 

[Erozetta]

I've heard "hot dish" in that context but not "hot pot".

Hot Pots are those electric single serve coffee mugs most frequently seen in college dorms and prisons.

Hot dish! That's what it was.

Hot pot is also a Chinese dish where hot broth is used to cook the ingredients right at the table.

 

[PapaRomantic]

I have never once heard a human being utter the words "Him and I" in any context.

Just sayin'.

Come to Kansas. Won't take long for you to hear it.

 

[Gamblnluck]

I wish there was a way to get some of these grammar Nazis to at least move their lips when they read.

Inane comments related to the proper use of pronouns when the content is obviously in character dialog and not the narrative (that's what those two little apostrophe-looking characters signify), are the only ones I ever get tempted to delete.

I know that Him and I went to the pool is incorrect if written in the first person narrative. It is not incorrect if written to illustrate that is the way that a character speaks.

I put a lot of effort into the development of my characters, and how they talk is fundamental to that development:

“I didn’t axe them to give me a blow job. Day did it on der own,” Thadius said defensively.

Hank chuckled and said, “Her and Shirley do like to give ‘em.”

If that grammar bothers someone, maybe they should go read "Pygmalion" one more time. Just stay away from mine.

I found a little colloquial dialog works well, but too much turns readers off as it is difficult to follow. You have to find a fine balance.
In one of my recent chapters I had the mother of a character go off in Cajun English and then suddenly drop it to continue her speech. It made both my writing and the reader's efforts much easier.
In narrative, I have to be more careful. One of the things my editor and I disagree on is the use of contractions. I don't use them too much in my own speech. Often I will say, "I will not do that." instead of "I won't do that" The first to me is more emphatic. I had to read rules of grammar on line to see his point. When I was in school contractions were used sparingly. (except in dialog)

 

[alohadave]

I've heard "hot dish" in that context but not "hot pot".

Hot Pots are those electric single serve coffee mugs most frequently seen in college dorms and prisons.

Hot pot is also an Asian dish with thinly sliced cuts of meat and vegetables cooked at your table in hot broth.