(The Blog Formerly Known as "Countdown to 30" and "30 is the New Twenty")

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Beware Bad Grammar!

I have to admit that I am a bit of a grammar snob. I am always on the lookout for mistakes. I love to to find an error in the newspaper or book. It just comes with being an English geek. Usually, I keep these errors to myself, but I've noticed a common trend recently: the bad email. Emails littered with poor grammar, random misused commas, and the run-on sentence. It shocks me. These emails come from well-educated, intelligent people. It really looks bad to send something like that. Especially if they are business emails. I don't think people should write eloquent prose, but learn where the comma goes! Proofread. Spell check. It's simple. ARGH. This is what motivates me to teach. I don't care what kids want to do when they grow up, they need to know how to write a well-written letter or email. When I worked in an office, I was shocked at how many people lacked these skills. They are so important. I don't advocate that people know how to write a sonnet, but a clear, well-written memo is a must! My Dad is a great example. He's not much of an English geek, but he can write a letter. He knows where the comma goes! He can spell check! Please proofread. Just for me. Please.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

"I love to to find an error in the newspaper or book." ~Michelle

>I love to to find an error

>to to

A word, clause, or phrase or a group of clauses or phrases forming a syntactic unit which expresses an assertion, a question, a command, a wish, an exclamation, or the performance of an action, that in writing usually begins with a capital letter and concludes with appropriate end punctuation, and that in speaking is distinguished by characteristic patterns of stress, pitch, and pauses b: a mathematical or logical statement (as an equation or a proposition) in words or symbols - formally known as a coherent sentence - means absolutely nothing these days. Especially on the internet.

Communication is always changing.

You haven't become wiser. You've just gotten old.

Internets. Serious business.