Grammatical error?...Grr.?

Question

Okay, so, I was making door signs fir the toilets at work (perk of the job...not) which said this:

"Attention!

Please always ask the receptionist if you require to use the toilet.

This is in case you are needed to provide a urine sample prior to your appointment."

I work in a private health clinic.

However, on MSWord, it stated "require to use" as a "grammatical error" and so I changed it to the option on there which was "require using".

So the sign now reads:

"Attention!

Please always ask the receptionist if you require using the toilet.

This is in case you are needed to provide a urine sample prior to your appointment."

Anyway, this girl comes in and says the sign is "grammatically incorrect" because it should be "require to use" not "require using" and I told her that it was my initial clause but MSWord said otherwise.

She's so picky and I do not like her anyway.

I then told her I don't think it even matters which is correct as it just means the same, anyway.

Am I correct?

Answer 1

It sounds fine to me.  Sometimes those stupid programs can say that there is a mistake when there isn't at all.

Haha to the first response.

Answer 2

haha well yer they do sound the same..i mean im not a word smith or anything and if i walked into your clinic i wouldnt even notice it was grammatically incorrect.but yer u are right its the same thing really

Answer 3

Require the use of.

Answer 4

Don't worry about the Microsoft Grammar Checker. It is full of mistakes. It is only referring to the passive use, i.e "this car requires washing" which is the same as "this car requires to be washed". The checker doesn't realise that there is also an active use - require + To + infinitive which is what you have used. I personally would use the word "need" so type in "if you need to use the toilet" and see if the Grammar Checker picks it up! If it does, just ignore it.  

Answer 5

I think it should say "if you require the use of the toilet."

Answer 6

Why don't you just use the term " Attention ! Please ask the receptionist if any patients require the use of the toilet " so much easier.

Good Luck.X :-)

Answer 7

...Sorry, you are worng hun...in the context of application it should read:  Should you require to use...

Answer 8

laugh it off and don`t forget......MSWord is American grammar based and not English.

she`s obviously anal and can`t find any-thing better to do with her day than p_ss people off.

smile , you did your job...!   :>)

Answer 9

The first one sounds better.

You could change it to

Please ask the receptionist before using the restroom.

you could keep the door locked so they have to ask you.

Answer 10

so you put out on the first date?

Answer 11

I would've thought 'If you require the use of.'

Also, shouldn't 'fir' read 'for?' lol

Answer 12

just tell her its the usa version of MSWord and thats the usa grammar so it automatically corrects it.  

Answer 13

leena where you been girl, you bored of bb lol

tell her to f**k off and stop being so picky or write the poxy signs herself lol xx

Answer 14

I would have put "require to use" - it sounds better!!

I have my grammar checker switched off as it always picks up my grammar!!

Answer 15

You tell a ripping yarn - that is correct.

Answer 16

It should be 'if you require the use OF the toilet' not 'require to use' or 'require using'. Sorry both of you are wrong.

Answer 17

To me they both mean the same thing too :)  

Answer 18

i agree with you if you understand what it means does it matter if it is gramatically correct cus after all the point of grammer is to aid understanding and if u already understand is they a point in it being correct? (god i made some gramatical errors in that)