<p>how inspired
That's pretty good for being off the top of your head. Do you write?</p>
<p>Yes, I rewrite Cat Stevens songs on webforums.</p>
<p>So far I haven't made much money, but I'm hoping to turn it around with sheer grit and determination. My grand-pappy used to say anything that's worth doin' is worth doin' right.</p>
<p>lol
I'm laughing so hard, probably because I'm really tired.
The fact that you remember the lyrics that well shows real aficion. You should put that on your college apps. And add knitting just for the heck of it.</p>
<p>I also remember the lyrics to six or seven songs by Journey and Bob Seger, but I wouldn't want to admit that in a college application.</p>
<p>Workin' on our night moves.</p>
<p>
[quote]
YOU SHOULD CONSIDER YOURSELF BRILLIANT.
[/quote]
You are only brilliant if other people say you're brilliant.</p>
<p>I read some posts of HSisoverrated, and I must congratulate him for devoting his time to bashing on someone who obviously just needed some space to uncoil and rant. So what if she's self-absorbed in one post/thread? We all have selfish thoughts. Rarely will you find someone who does something that won't EVENTUALLY self-serve.</p>
<p>^^ true. I think that many of the students here at CC think what the OP thinks.</p>
<p>I dont think most people on CC feel the same, considering 95 percent of posts have bashed the OP's, as they well should have.</p>
<p>I want to read the OP and comments, but I still have to write my short answers. It would suck to be the OP.
(what does op stand for btw?) I'm just using it as the main post writer.</p>
<p>OP is original poster I believe.</p>
<p>to the original poster, I understand how you feel. I am only a parent, but do get it. Applying to a number of schools, including safeties is important. Also, it is good that you are a realist. Always shoot for the highest, but undedrstand that you are not a failure if you don't get accepted to any specific school. I am going to pm you as well.</p>
<p>i am SO bleary-eyed right now and I can't believe I abandoned my essay to read through each and every post (yes, that includes yours, OP) I should get an award or something. I could so use a last minute award to put on my bragsheet, since that essay i abandoned is totally gonna suck. argh you people.</p>
<p>
[quote]
"She comes off as pompous and downright stupid, because, as smart as she claims to be, she can't use the correct grammar in a sentence."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Kyle, I don't believe that there should be a comma after "stupid".
/obnoxious grammar police</p>
<p>That is the only civil thing I have to contribute to this thread (because the OP's sense of entitlement has left a bad taste in my mouth).</p>
<p>
[quote]
Kyle, I don't believe that there should be a comma after "stupid".
/obnoxious grammar police
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's a subtle distinction that's been taught less and less in schools, but it's an important one. If you have a comma before an adverb clause starting with "because," you are placing the focus on the independent clause and adding the reason as extra information. But if you don't place a comma, the emphasis is on the reason itself, not so much on the independent clause. In other words, the difference is between restrictive and non-restrictive adverbial clauses.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Nonrestrictive: Ask me any time, as often as you like.
Restrictive: Ask me as often as you like.</p>
<p>In the preceding examples the adverbial elements are clearly restrictive or nonrestrictive, but in some sentences they could be either, the interpretation resting on the use or omission of a comma. The sentence You should water the plants as Jim suggested indicates that Jim though the plants needed water, but without the comma the sentence would imply that he suggested a particular way of watering the plants--say, twice a week from the bottom.
...
*I also read the novel (,) because a friend had recommended it.<a href="The%20comma%20makes%20the%20reason%20for%20reading%20the%20novel%20incidental;%20left%20unpunctuated,%20the%20sentence%20primarily%20concerns%20the%20reason%20for%20reading%20it.">/I</a>
[/quote]
</p>
<p>from Line by Line by Claire Kehrwald Cook, p. 115.</p>
<p>/even more obnoxious grammar police</p>
<p>(I'm able to reference this easily because I've had to explain this distinction many times when evaluating essays. And notice I didn't use a comma after "easily." =])</p>
<p>thanks for the grammar lesson...?</p>
<p>Lol. I am highly amused by this thread.</p>
<p>Funny article on the importance of comma placement (making elements of sentences restrictive and non-restrictive):</p>
<p>NPR</a> : Million-Dollar Comma May Aid Canadian Company</p>
<p>
[quote]
thanks for the grammar lesson...?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You're most welcome. =)</p>
<p>(I think this discussion has been derailed beyond hope...)</p>
<p>Coffee Anyone??</p>
<p>Normally I would refrain from arguing about grammar (don't want to be "that girl"), but this is a friendly tangent so it's okay. Also, THIS IS IMPORTANT (for the advancement of my English, obviously). So for the sake of genuine interest, I'm going to continue to derail this thread (sorry!!). haha.</p>
<p>Why is this a case of restrictive/non-restrictive elements? I think the issue is essential vs. nonessential elements.</p>
<p>"Because" is an essential element; you can't remove it from the sentence. "As smart as she is" is the nonessential element, so you enclose it with commas:</p>
<p>"She comes off as pompous and downright stupid because <strike>, as smart as she claims to be,</strike> she can't use the correct grammar in a sentence."</p>
<p>
[quote]
Why is this a case of restrictive/non-restrictive elements? I think the issue is essential vs. nonessential elements.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>The comma's placement before "because" is an issue of whether the reason following the word because is the focus of the sentence.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I didn't take the money because I needed it. I took the money because I wanted it.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>See how the "because" clause is essential (restrictive)? Contrast with:</p>
<p>
[quote]
I needed the book, because I had to do homework.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>True, "as smart as she claims to be" is a non-essential (non-restrictive) element of the entire adverbial clause "because." But the "because" clause is non-essential (non-restrictive) to the entire sentence.</p>
<p>Now that we've parsed this sentence's syntax more than anyone would ever want (though in a friendly tangent)...</p>
<p>(I think it's okay to derail the thread by now, as nobody can seem to add anything new/constructive, and it's gone on for 8 pages.)</p>