NocturnalLogic

[Joe]

x86 grammar: To boldly go where no man has ever gone before.

[rabbit]

Wrong. It's a simile. You can't put the word like there; its grammatically invalid.

First,

A simile is literary device that uses the words "like" or "as" to compare two ideas. [...] a simile allows the two ideas to remain distinct in spite of their similarities

Second, He's comparing two forms of the same thing, which means it's not even a simile, it's a comparison, in which case "like" is still grammatically correct.

[iago]

wtf is all this english shit dont we have an off topic forum

Only by name...

[Camel]

Linux users need to give up the animosity and save their hatred

The emboldened words split "save" from "to", hence split infinitive. (Though you may more generally be addressing parallel construction.)

I never thought of it that way, but I don't think that's correct anyways because 'give' hijacks the 'to;' it's certainly debatable.

Analogously, do you think people should write, "I will go outside and I will play basketball" versus "I will go outside and play basketball"? The former sentence has a slightly different meaning, after all.

You already answered the question, but I'll add that the former is also run-on sentence.

[Camel]

Wrong. It's a simile. You can't put the word like there; its grammatically invalid.

First,

A simile is literary device that uses the words "like" or "as" to compare two ideas. [...] a simile allows the two ideas to remain distinct in spite of their similarities

Second, He's comparing two forms of the same thing, which means it's not even a simile, it's a comparison, in which case "like" is still grammatically correct.

Your conclusions is erroneous; the definition you quoted agrees with my use of the word. The sentence compares the ideas of 'writing' and 'thinking,' which are similar yet distinct.

Even if you argue with that, we've already established that grammar is not pedantic, so your point is irrelevant in that regard.

Finally, the grammatical error isn't even conditional on it being a simile. The word 'like' can only be followed by a noun, where as the word 'as' can only be followed by an adverbial phrase. It may have been confusing that I even mentioned it's a simile, but the rule (see link below) usually comes with the word, since they're so closely linked.

http://trc.ucdavis.edu/bajaffee/SAS90B/Course%20Content/Grammar%20Syllabus/Like%20vs%20As.htm


QED

[Joe]

Camel smells like a camel.

I just followed "like" with an article, not a noun.

[Newby]

Finally, the grammatical error isn't even conditional on it being a simile. The word 'like' can only be followed by a noun, where as the word 'as' can only be followed by an adverbial phrase. It may have been confusing that I even mentioned it's a simile, but the rule (see link below) usually comes with the word, since they're so closely linked.

http://trc.ucdavis.edu/bajaffee/SAS90B/Course%20Content/Grammar%20Syllabus/Like%20vs%20As.htm
QED

Only correct because you linked to my school. :)

[Camel]

Only correct because you linked to my school. :)

Your school uses IIS; fail.

[Newby]

And ancient Solaris for their shells!