Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication
"Why else would they open a large play area for children, hang up a sign saying 'Giant Kid's Playground', and then wonder why everyone else stays away from it? (Answer: everyone is scared of the Giant Kid.)" (Truss 41)
It is funny how misplacing one apostrophe can change the meaning of a sentence. It just proves that knowing how to use an apostrophe isn't just for English majors or, in the words of Truss, punctuation "sticklers." Knowing how to use apostraphes, and correct grammar in general, is for everyone so that they can communicate more clearly. Using grammar and apostrophes incorrectly can lead to misunderstandings and making the writer look like a fool.
It is funny how misplacing one apostrophe can change the meaning of a sentence. It just proves that knowing how to use an apostrophe isn't just for English majors or, in the words of Truss, punctuation "sticklers." Knowing how to use apostraphes, and correct grammar in general, is for everyone so that they can communicate more clearly. Using grammar and apostrophes incorrectly can lead to misunderstandings and making the writer look like a fool.
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Recent Comments
Dennis G. Jerz on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: #1 is a regionalism. People he
babs on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: There are many grammar mistake
Babs on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: I read that saying this food i
Kayley Dardano on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: I just want to say that I thin
Chelsea Oliver on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: hahaha - Giant Kid. Whew, that
Dennis G. Jerz on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: Great comment, Kaitlin. I don'
babs on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: There are many grammar mistake
Babs on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: I read that saying this food i
Kayley Dardano on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: I just want to say that I thin
Chelsea Oliver on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: hahaha - Giant Kid. Whew, that
Dennis G. Jerz on Using Correct Grammar is Essential in Communication: Great comment, Kaitlin. I don'
Great comment, Kaitlin. I don't expect everyone to be perfect all the time, but I do hope that this book, and EL150 in general, will help us develop the good habit of thinking twice when we spot a problem, and looking up the rules when necessary. (We'll have to do some skill-and-drill, but as I said in class Friday, I'm far more interested in generating the good habit of thinking and talking about issues of grammar and punctuation, since as English majors we have a special obligation to know this material and interpret our special subject area for the benefit of the general public.)
hahaha - Giant Kid. Whew, that makes me laugh over and over again.
But you're right an apostrophe is just a simple little thing, but the poor guy gets thrown around so much he's probably going through an identity crisis.
One of the parks in our town was made when I was in third grade and they had kids design it so they called in The Kids Kreated Kingdom. (At first the idea was cute, because kids spell things wrong, but then people noticed that not only is an apostrophe missing, but that the abbriviation, The KKK, was probably not the greatest thing for kids. The name has since been changed.)
I just want to say that I think that this is important for any language and we shouldn't let English get behind in the world. We need to keep these strict rules in order to keep the language the way it is.
I read that saying this food is healthy is grammaticaly wrong. It means that the food itself is healthy and not rotten. The correct word is healthful. Meaning that the food is full of health for me. I need to find it in writing for my principal. Where do can I find it on the internet? This is the least of the grammar mistakes made in my school. In fact this one is not nearly as important as the rest.
There are many grammar mistakes that seem to be throught our school, and over the years it has not changed. We were thinking of working, school wide, on one grammar problem a month. These are the ones I notice the most. Where do we find confirmation for the teachers that don't agree?
1. It needs painted. (no "to be")
2. Let it there, instead of leave it there.
3. I'm going to bring it to Mrs. Johnson.
4. It's so fun. (this one drives me nuts!!)
5. Where's it at? (preposition at end of sentence
6. Can I go to the bathroom? I don't know can
you?
7. getting you & I mixed up
Thanks,
Babs
#1 is a regionalism. People here in Western Pennsylvania say it all the time, but it sounds funny to me since I'm not from here. #2 is probably the same.
I'm not sure I see anything wrong with #3, unless "bring it to her" is short for "bring it up when I speak to her." Same with #4, which is imprecise, but common enough in casual speech.
#5 and #6 are both features of informal spoken English. You might be interested in looking up the difference between prescriptive grammar (which is a series of rules about the ideal way people should use a language in formal, ritualized situations) and descriptive grammar (which is a study of how people actually use English in everyday situations).
I cringe when people write "Sally and me went to the store" or "That's a gift from Herbert and I," but that's because people regularly *speak* that way.
Babs, I think that the healthy/healthful food distinction is probably overly pedantic, but I sympathize with your frustration.
Just because people say "comprised of" when they mean "composed of" doesn't mean that we should change the dictionary definition of "comprised," but we should educate our students that the "comprised/composed" mistake is completely avoidable, since "made of" is a perfectly good synonym, and people only use "comprised of" when they are deliberately searching for a fancier alternative to the familiar, and more common, synonyms.
And getting something like that wrong in such a situation is like wearing a big sign that says "I'm trying to use big words to make my writing sound more intelligent."
Nevertheless, I'd rather have my students speaking up in class and using informal speech, regionalisms and terminal prepositions included, than having them sit with their lips sealed shut for fear of uttering an ungrammatical statement in class.