Pedontic presumably meant "pedontic." However, the word is really spelled "pedantic." Subtle. :)

I agree. Well and briefly put.

Hmm. Well, it isn't wrong to say something "runs slow," especially in my part of the country (Texas, but also the entire South). Really, it isn't wrong generally in English.

Adverbs are often made out of unmodified adjectives. Just using "run" as the example, I could make any of the following sentences:

For instance, I could say "This style of pants runs short, but this style of sweater runs big." (You will find that the pants are usually shorter than you expect, and the sweater somewhat bigger than its nominal size.) Or, "This play is running long." (The play is going over the intended time.) Or even, "Let the dog run free in the park." (Slip him off the leash and let him play as he pleases.)

The distinctions can be subtle. If the questioner would rather use "slowly," he will be understood, and it is true the word is the correct choice in the majority of situations (ex: "The sweat ran slowly down his tired face."). But as you pointed out, the case of the watch is pretty standard.

Hmmm. Well, since you appear to be indicating that the reader is to choose one option from the three given, perhaps you really mean, "...whether you prefer apples or oranges, green or blue, AND square or round"? (The reader could respond, "Apples, blue, AND square.")

"And" is a conjunction, and "or" is a disjunction. Conjunctions combine and disjunctions separate.

If you really mean for the reader to pick just one of the six things, you would write, "...whether you prefer apples, oranges, green, blue, square, or round." But it wouldn't make much sense unless you were under the influence of something quite mind-bending. :)

Hope that helps.

Irrespective?

It's a good thought, but I would guess the word they have in mind is "irregular." It's true that "regardless" has only a weakish negative feeling.

Weird. But all right, "tutee." Hmmph.

Just SAYING that word around a bunch of local cowboys will get you laughed at, however. lol

I found it, I found it, oh, I'm so happy. I know the reason why you should use "that" and the reason why you should use "which." Sarah has it right but she doesn't explain WHY it's right.

It depends on two things called "dependent clauses" and "independent clauses." But it's SO easy I can't believe there is this degree of trouble over it. Compare:

"I have a watch that runs slow." (The fact that the watch runs slow is essential to the sentence. The speaker could have other watches that do not run slow, or he could be answering the question, "Why are you in the watch repair shop?")

"I have a watch, which runs slow." (The speaker has a watch. He goes on to describe the watch, but the basic information is that he possesses a watch. We could remove the clause about running slow without doing damage to the essential meaning of the sentence.)

Essential = dependent = use "that" without a comma.
Nonessential = independent = use a comma and "which."

Anonymous, there are no exceptions. It's exceedingly simple. A word that begins with a consonant sound is preceded by "a." A word that begins with a pronounced vowel sound is preceded by "an." No need for the sturm und drang.

Anyone who studies is a "student," whether the person they study with is a teacher, tutor, rabbi, guru, master, preceptor, inculcator, or indoctrinator.

"Tutee" is a joke. (You did MEAN it as a joke, Don, right?)

I'd go with "graffiti artist" for the other.

Seems like a valid value judgement to me, Dave :) Well, OK, at least from where I sit.

I think Anonymous is on to it. It seems to be used largely by actors to portray lower-class characters. So naturally the lower class, thinking that they were being accurately portrayed, picked it up and started to use it.

What? Me a snob? Say it ain't so. :D

Speaking of the word judgment/judgement, I use the variant spelling, also considered correct. I think it looks more graceful, less stodgy. YMMV.