Posted by Bill Sargent on August 19, 2009 at 10:30pm
Note to Nels: your reply to John Hartung's tent problem blog was sensitive, helpful, and inspirational.Here is my wife's grateful response to your stern refusal to let improper English go unpunished.Hi, Nels, it's Ann Sargent. As you may know, I retired not too long ago; I taught English in middle school, high school, college and graduate school during the past 25 or so years. I have also worked as a professional copy editor for a Chicago publishing house.So when Bill showed me your post, I was delighted to see that you're a champion of proper usage, spelling and punctuation. In keeping with your spirit of helpful correction, I'd like to assist you in reaching the pinnacle of proper English usage.Your spelling is flawless. Your post, however, has a number of comma errors; surprising, since you address this very issue. For example, names in direct address must always be set off by a comma ("John, if you...." and "John, do not....") In the second line of your post, the meaning is unclear because of the lack of a comma. Do you mean "on roofs, especially during setup....", or "on roofs especially, during setup...." This is an excellent example of your comment that commas give "a clear meaning to what you are trying to convey."When you start a sentence with "Also..." it must always be followed by a comma. Beginning a sentence with "But..." is colloquial and OK in very informal writing; however, it would have been better to have combined it with the sentence before ("...almost no commas, but I know....")One last comment; you use the expression "...you are doing good". Strictly speaking, this means that you are doing charitable works. The expression you want is "...you are doing well." I know your intent is good, and I'm glad to help. Please let me know if I can be of any assistance in the future.For those who didn't see it, Nels's post is as follows:John if you get 2-4 years wear out of any of the industry's canopy roofs, you are doing good. It is just the nature of the wear and tear on roofs especially during setup,storage and teardowns. John do not take this as a personal attack, but your use of the English language is atrocious. Check your spelling out or at least proof it. Also commas are very helpful for separating phrases and giving a clear meaning to what you are trying to convey. You use almost no commas. But I know your intent is good--just thought I would mention that. You are not alone. Most people these days cannot write a clear declarative sentence with proper spelling and punctuation--Aloha,Nels
Jorge, I love your posts. Ann is right. Your use of the language is great! It makes me smile as I read and it really gives a sense of who you are. I can hear you speaking. It's also wonderful that you are not being intimidated here by two old English teachers. Rock on!
Oops. Stupid me. I just realized that Ann is not an official Artfair Insider member. Bill is. So her corrective comments don't count. It is like I never was corrected for improper use of the mother language. Connie does not count, because mother God should never comment on her underlings unless it is in glowing fashion. Yes , I know about the proper and improper use of numbers versus the spelling of such. But,,,,,,,,,a guy only has so many keystrokes left in his puny little hand, so why not use a shortcut that everybody still understands. Four means 4. It does not mean 6.............There I have exhausted my use of periods for the week-----Aloha,,,,,,,Nels!
Two Ann "n' Bill. Id is zo refreshing thit enybuddy nows whit comas ar. I must 've bin in 1 when I wrote to Jim or is it John? The fact remains folks, we want to communicate in a fashion that is clear and concise so that there is no misunderstanding about want we are trying to obfustacate.
Jorge, this is Ann. Don't lose that accent, especially in blog writing; it's wonderful. I once lived in Germany for a year, and when I lost my accent, they told me I'd lost my charm! How many readers of this blog or any other actually HAVE a second language that they would dare to write in? Enjoy, and go on being the "hampion"!
Yes, I cut him some slack with the numerals. With blogs, I believe in self-expression free of the need to stress over grammar. English is a dynamic language, and I have no doubt that its rules and structure will change in a hundred years or so because of the ease of electronic communication. That's a good thing. However, when one comes along that offers so rich a field for correction in the very things it corrects, I can't resist. Bill and I just pick on Nels because we like him.
Yes, Ann, and while we are at it, numerals should also be spelled out unless they are over a hundred. Thus it should say "two to four" years.
Now, aren't we two old teachers, teaching the fourth graders grammar? But as you may recall as time went by we were encouraged to just get the students to put their ideas down on the paper, to hell with the grammar!
Thanks for helping us out here. Would you like to be the editor on all the posts? :)
Comments
Now, aren't we two old teachers, teaching the fourth graders grammar? But as you may recall as time went by we were encouraged to just get the students to put their ideas down on the paper, to hell with the grammar!
Thanks for helping us out here. Would you like to be the editor on all the posts? :)