I’ve been a writer/journalist for 45 years, going back to working for the high school newspaper. My wife has been a teacher/educator for 35 years with an emphasis on English and English as a Second Language. She is a constant reminder of how little I know about the English language even though I write in that language every day.
She understands terms such as subject, predicate, preposition, adverb, adjective, and gerund (whatever that is), and she knows how to diagram a sentence. I haven’t a clue how to diagram sentences I write, or even if they are diagramable.
Most recently, she has begun scoring essays for a standardized testing service that includes evaluating how the writer “integrates interpretation of the text with text-based support.” Well, I’m happy for her because I have no idea what that phrase means much less how to do it.
One “rule” I vaguely remember from English is to never end a sentence with a preposition, which is something I am guilty of. It is something I don’t agree with. It is something I never steer away from. It is a rule that Mark Twain, my favorite author, also sought to violate as much as possible.
Twain has also provided me with my favorite quote: “It is a poor, uncreative mind that can’t come up with more than one way to spell a word.”
I never understand why the proofreaders here at the magazine don’t accept that wise adage.
PeterPowell Refrigeration Editor. E-mail him at peterpowell@achrnews.com.
Title: English (the forgotten languge) By: Ira Pickering Posted: May 3, 2009 12:07 PM
Mr. Powell,
Your life with an English teacher/scholar has touched a chord with me. You see, I too am married to and English teacher that knows the spelling of all words and the proper way to create a sentence.
We are about 15 years behind you and yours, however the realization of my inadequacies in the English language are very profound. I am more of the technical nerd, and am very care-free in the use of our language. I will say that I use the crap out of the “Poetic license”.
It is amazing to me how many people grow up using the English language and do not understand how to use it properly. Upon reading this commentary, my wife cited three infractions on the front page of The News. You can rest assured that there would be many corrections to these four paragraphs……if she knew I was writing them. I chose to use the “Poetic license” on this one, so I didn’t need her assistance.
English teachers are a wonderful asset to our form of communication. If we had more, and learned half of what they have forgotten, we would be able to express our ideas and thoughts much more efficiently, not to mention, it would be right! (How did you like that run on sentence?)
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By: Ira Pickering
Posted: May 3, 2009 12:07 PM
Your life with an English teacher/scholar has touched a chord with me. You see, I too am married to and English teacher that knows the spelling of all words and the proper way to create a sentence.
We are about 15 years behind you and yours, however the realization of my inadequacies in the English language are very profound. I am more of the technical nerd, and am very care-free in the use of our language. I will say that I use the crap out of the “Poetic license”.
It is amazing to me how many people grow up using the English language and do not understand how to use it properly. Upon reading this commentary, my wife cited three infractions on the front page of The News. You can rest assured that there would be many corrections to these four paragraphs……if she knew I was writing them. I chose to use the “Poetic license” on this one, so I didn’t need her assistance.
English teachers are a wonderful asset to our form of communication. If we had more, and learned half of what they have forgotten, we would be able to express our ideas and thoughts much more efficiently, not to mention, it would be right! (How did you like that run on sentence?)