Some times when I read some blogs or Facebook comments I want to scream. When I was teaching school, I used to correct people's grammar. I was so use to doing it all day at school, that I didn't realize I was doing it. My mother would nudge me and I'd be so embarrassed.
So, I'm providing this public service message:
- Do we not know that there is a difference between your (belonging to) and you're (you are)?
- Do we not know when to use you and I? If I see someone use "he gave it to she and I again, I'm going to hurt some one. Seriously!!! It's so easy to know when to use I or me - just leave out the other person and see how it sounds. You wouldn't say he gave it to I (or he came with he) would you? (yet, I read that someone did something to, or for, or with she and I all the time) I is a subject, me is an object - easy. Please don't fall into the trap of using the reflective of me when you aren't sure of whether it is I or me by saying myself. You can only use myself if you are doing it to or with or for your self. Someone or something else can't do something to myself, now can they?
- Do we not know what a participle is? I get a little crazy when people don't conjugate verbs correctly - it makes me want to scream. He has went? Really?
- And how about if I was instead of if I were. It's a conditional people!
- Oh, and speaking of it, how about getting its and it's right. (hint - its is possessive, it's is a contraction of it is)
There are so many more, but these seem to be the most common, blatant transgressions I've been noticing. And don't let anyone tell you grammar isn't important - unless you don't mind sounding obtuse. My favorite website for checking the finer points of grammar is the Purdue OWL.
It is my "Go-To" for all things English grammar. Easy to use and very thorough.
So, kind readers, please take pity on English teachers (and others), try not to offend their delicate ears and make them spend their last days in the funny farm. Check your grammar - please, pretty please with a cherry on top.
P.S.
Please feel to spout off if you have a grammar faux pas you'd like to get off your chest.
8 comments:
I thought you might feel my pain, Honora!
As a former English teacher...I feel your pain....however, I am guilty of using colloquialisms, and sometimes they are worse than bad grammar! ;P
xoxoxoxo,
RJ
Ricki Jill,
I understand that. When we first moved to Texas, yeas ago, I was so shocked when highly educated people opened their mouths and out came some of the worst language I'd ever heard. Not the 'fixin" part, but the "fixin to have went"! I get colloquialsms. In fact I find them quite charming. I just can't abide bad grammar!!
Thanks for commiserating with me.
Too and to are a big bug of mine. Also "most" unique. Nooooooooooo! It's either unique or it's not.
However, since I spent close to 17 years in Texas I still say, I'm going to cut something "half in two." Drives my hubby crazy!
Thank goodness I have him to edit my posts. The only time there's something wrong is when he doesn't edit. I failed comma.
One of my favorite books on punctuation is Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation. Very funny.
Going to go check out Purdue Owl...
And don't give me any heat about ending sentences with an ellipsis. It's become my trademark because I am truly never, ever done talking.
Oooops. Your link is broken.
Preach on! I was APPALLED when I learned earlier this year that cursive writing is no longer being taught in the school curriculum because it is no longer necessary. What??!!! The teacher said, "U R welcome to now join in the computer age."
As for me and mine we even text in full sentences. :)
Laura-
Some information you can impart to this ignorant teacher can be that a student who writes in cursive, has at least 3 points higher on the SAT's than those who print!
Having taught in both public and private school, I find that teachers in union controlled public schools are, quite often, less likely to be bothered with teaching basic subjects that prepare the child for the next grade and for life, than the more glamorous subject that make the teacher "look good". So often I found them lazy and using excuses that those old things like spelling, grammar, or basic math facts, are "old fashioned and are not relevant. I found that they would say these things because they really didn't know them themselves. I've had younger teachers ask me to explain phonics. Some didn't even know they weren't teaching it! Almost unbelievable, but, sadly, true.
I am all for teaching them to write on computers, but not until they have mastered penmanship.
LOL scroll up....I commented :D
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