(yes, today’s title is pure poetry isn’t it?)
I’m not an unreasonable person. I’ve never chained myself to a tree or picketed working conditions. I live in France, so I could totally get away with that sort of thing, but my point is-
There’s really only one thing I am completely, totally adamant about. I will never, EVER use the word ‘sneaked’ in any of my manuscripts.
Maybe the day will come when some will try to get me to bow to pressure….
“But everybody’s doin it!!?”
“Too bad.” Creepy crosses her arms, her chin lifted in defiance.
“It’s grammatically correct!”
“Pfft. According to who? - Who in their right mind said “hey, just for shits and giggles- lets say that ‘sneaked’ is the correct form of the past tense and past participle of ‘sneak’! It’s awkward and will having people tripping over their words until the END OF TIME! Mwa ha ha!”
“You’ll never change it.”
“Well, I’m going to give it my best shot. It sounds wrong, dammit!”
“It isn’t.”
“It’s like my mouth is having a spasm.”
“It’s not.”
“Yes it is. Just looking at the word creeps me out. What the hell is wrong with ‘snuck’? It flows better.”
“Well that’s not for you to decide.”
“Maybe not, but sometimes…” Creepy gazes out into the sunset and nods. “…you just have to fight for what you believe in.”
Hahahah, I'm jiggling in my chair. LOLOL, you crack me up. Loved this. Brightened up my mornging you did. Now I'm going to sneak away into a corner and giggle some more. And you can tell everybody about me sneaking into a corner and giggling some more - ;-O xoxo
ReplyDelete'Jessica snuck into the corner and giggled like a wild cat' There.:p)
ReplyDelete*cackles* bahahahaha
ReplyDeleteHaha. I snuck out a laugh while I was reading this. Okay sorry about the bad pun, it's early. :)
ReplyDelete:) I'm going to have to read over my manuscript now, to see if I have too many incorrect sneaked(s). :D
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes grammar should change. For exampled: snowed is just an awkward word. It should be snew.
It snew!
See, it's natural! :D
Both sound awful, I think i'd try and find a different word altogether!
ReplyDeleteHAHA I absolutely agree! This could be the start of a movement....!
ReplyDelete...'my mouth is having a spasm.' That's great! So true. I'm glad someone else has issues with formidable opinions on grammar. I've been shunning the 'grammar' topic. I'll have to rethink it.
ReplyDelete"It's like my mouth is having a spasm" Girl you crack me up!
ReplyDeleteHow do you feel about dreamt vs dreamed? That one gets me all the time! Damn computer-generated red squiggles!
ReplyDeleteSneaked just sounds wrong, doesn't it? What about sank verses sunk?
ReplyDeleteSnuck? ; j ...Next thing you know its "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"
ReplyDeleteHey, why don't we change "thought" to "thunk"?
Someone else had a post about this not too long ago -- it seems that 'snuck' is now usable in correct english writing. Great post.
ReplyDeleteI agree there are times when snuck sounds sooooo much better!
ReplyDeleteThis is very serious business and I have to say I agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteSome would jump in wild agreement, others would roll over in their grave.
ReplyDeleteI just knocked my chair over here...Yes! YES!
Hmmm...I wonder if I use sneaked or snuck. I never really thought about it (don't hate me!)
ReplyDeleteYou're right! People actually used "sneaked"???? Word vomit!!!
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope I don't use this word. Please, oh please, don't make me make the mistake that makes one have "spasms of the mouth."
ROTFL
Nice!
~JD
Until this moment, I never really gave it a thought, I don't much sneaking around so I'm not sure what I've done in the past. Funny and yet serious blog.
ReplyDeleteCD
Loved this - a very funny post that actually has a point. I feel the same way about certain words though, although they may be grammatically correct, they just sound too wrong to use.
ReplyDeleteI am with you. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I'm sticking with "snuck".
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law uses "squoze" instead of "squeezed". So did my husband until I said, "What did you say?"
When in Paris, we came across a street lined with SWAT cars. I asked my husband what he thought it was. A Parisian passerby joked, "Probably getting ready for a protest."
Where do I sign up to get on board with this movement. Loathe "sneaked."
ReplyDeleteoh guinness, i am totally with you on this!
ReplyDelete"sneaked" just sounds so WRONG!
i have never used it and never will, for all the reasons you listed!
"snuck" works perfectly and sounds just right.
ahahahahah...this is hilarious.
ReplyDeleteand I totally agree :)
Haha! Love this - love the title. There are some words that just piss you off, aren't there? For me, it's 'gift' as a verb. For example:
ReplyDeleteI will gift you that sweater.
ARGH!
LOL yes grammar IS important! Yay for the Grammar Nazi! And I don't care if half the world wouldn't know grammar if it hit them on the head with a Strunk & White.
ReplyDeleteGo you! Stick to your guns. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm on board with "snuck." Someone else mentioned dreamed vs. dreamt. In manuscripts I used "dreamed." But in my diary I kick it with the old-school "dreamt."
ReplyDeleteAnd one of my I-can't-decides: dove vs. dived?
I'm with snuck!
ReplyDeleteNow what's your opinion on full stops & speech marks... *lol* having that debate on my blog at the moment - sadly few are rising to the challenge..
So, what are your thoughts about swum and swam?
ReplyDeleteSo right. Can you imagine saying "That one sneaked up on me"? How dumb does it sound? Take to the streets! Protest for snuck. Take THAT spellcheck.
ReplyDelete“It’s like my mouth is having a spasm.”
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what to say about that...but I knew I had to say something! :)
I've always used "sneaked"... my mom was a grammar pusher... I can't help it!
ReplyDeleteCrazy about how words change, though.. apparently "backpack" became a verb sometime before my older daughter hit kindergarten (she is now finishing 2nd grade). Parents around here all say, "You can backpack that to me tomorrow", meaning, send something to school with my child (for example, a Girl Scout permission slip) that is supposed to go home in another child's backpack. For some reason, that one bugs me...
I absolutely agree with you. Snuck sounds so much better, regardless of whether or not it's grammatically correct.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever used the word "sneaked" in any of my writing ever. You're right, "snuck" flows better. The irony is...while writing this comment, there are currently red lines under "snuck" and not under "sneaked." Making "snuck" to be seen by the computer as incorrect. Ahh, the irony of it all. Interesting thoughts though. Write on!
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever used the word "sneaked" in any of my writing ever. You're right, "snuck" flows better. The irony is...while writing this comment, there are currently red lines under "snuck" and not under "sneaked." Making "snuck" to be seen by the computer as incorrect. Ahh, the irony of it all. Interesting thoughts though. Write on!
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU! I don't like how it sounds, but I always thought it was correct even though I've had people tell me otherwise. Whew!
ReplyDeleteNow if you'll excuse me, I have to regain composure because I was laughing too hard.
LOL. Too me snuck sounds right. I use it when I write 1st pov.
ReplyDeleteLove your first line in the contest. My fingers are crossed you make it to the next round. :D
Sneaked is such a fun nonword. It's dying to be used!
ReplyDelete*giggling* You are SO RIGHT! There are a half dozen of these words that they suddenly changed the rules on, I think... seems to be a conspiracy of idiots who THINK they are simplifying, but they really are just making words sound dumb...
ReplyDeleteYES! You tell 'em Creepy. Sometimes you have to tell the red squiggles to go snuck themselves. But quietly, when no one is listening. Did I just write that?
ReplyDeleteIt's about time I snuck over here- and I'm so glad I did! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! I couldn't agree more!! That is one word that should not be used and will not by me!!!
ReplyDeleteSnuck kicks sneaked every time. No one (in their right mind) says sneak. No one. It's just wrong. This was both hilarious and honest.
ReplyDeleteFollowing you!
Ha. I do use the word sneaked but it does seem to sound wrong.
ReplyDeleteBe strong!
ReplyDelete