Grammar

[notb665]

I have wanted to know this for a long time, could someone help me? (I think ninebob is good at this kind of thing, but I'll have anyone). heh heh

Is it:

"I hope you don't mind me writing"

or

"I hope you don't mind my writing"

or a re-word of the whole thing.

Thank you!

 

[oilman]

Normally accepted as "I hope you don't mind my writing" but would be perhaps, better as "I hope you don't mind my writing to you" as this is unambiguous.

 

[ninebob]

I generally like to think that I'm good at this kind of thing (was it this that gave you that impression?) but I have to admit this is an odd one and I can't be 100% certain.

"I hope you don't mind me writing" is grammatically fine, but for some reason it just sounds a little wrong when read aloud.

Otherwise I agree with oilman - the second option could be interpreted as an apology for bad handwriting - confusing, possibly, in a typed letter!

Personally, I would go with his suggestion of "I hope you don't mind my writing to you".

 

[paulbrown]

Out of the two I would say the second was the correct one.

"I hope you don't mind my writing"

Personally I would prefer a take on oilmans suggestion,

"I hope you don't mind my writing to you"

I would replace the hope with "Trust or Trusting, though.

"Trusting you don't mind my writing to you" or "I trust you don't mind my writing to you".

It may just be me, but I "hope" sounds as if you are unsure and possibly lacking in confidence. (I don't mean any of you personally) I only mean in the context of the thread.

 

[notb665]

Thank you. Much appreciated.

Yes ninebob, it was.

 

[SteveStrat335]

The point is, if it's "me writing", it's about the person.

If it's "my writing" then it's about the content.

Blimey, didn't anyone do English at school?

 

[keyplayer]

Unless you live up north, then they could be both the same ie the latter.

 

[notb665]

The point is, if it's "me writing", it's about the person.

If it's "my writing" then it's about the content.

Blimey, didn't anyone do English at school?

No, I didn't do English grammar at school, and this still galls me today. Well, I remember two weeks of it when I was 6 years old (1981) and then it suddenly stopped. I have taught myself when needed the bestest what I could, but there are gaps.

I also had to teach myself long division.

 

[gcol]

I also had to teach myself long division.

I was good at maths at school but never understood how to do long division. I remember being taught it when I was 9 or 10 and the teacher just glossed over it. I've never been able to do it and not once was this a problem in high school - we never had to do one long division problem. However, I'd like to learn how to do it, so if anyone can explain it then I'd be grateful. Either that or it's down to Google. Cheers.