Mr. Ryan, my English teacher at San Marino High School, gave me an F on my first English paper. I finished the semester with an A, but have been cursed with a schoolmarm affliction ever since.
I point out glaring grammatical mistakes directly to the people who make them. This includes CEOs, marketing directors, the City of San Francisco traffic sign department, and restaurant owners.
In the latter case, it was misuse of the word ‘everyday’ and the phrase ‘every day.’ I sent an email to the CEO of a tony department store after seeing the interior restaurant listed as “Open Everyday” appear on their Web, menus, and signage. I told him that I would never go to an ‘everyday’ restaurant, as I don’t consume common food. Or hang out with common people. No response.
I was forced to remove two Baghdad By The Bay Cool Points because of the City of San Francisco’s “Parking Everyday” signs.
So what does this have to do with breaking rules?
Know ‘em before you break ‘em. Get a copy of the AP Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law before you go public with your ignorance. The new edition notes “The entry on illegal immigrant has been replaced by one on illegal immigration . . . to allow for use of the word illegal to refer only to an action, not a person.”
Assault weapon and assault rifle are now defined in the weapons section — a weapons section? New entries include Asperger’s syndrome, brain dead/brain death, disabled/handicapped, doughnut, ethnic cleansing, face-life, mahjong, phobia, swag, wacky and swing states.
The Curse
I believe the Chinese curse is still upon us. May you live in interesting times.
Here at The Writing Loft I help writers get to the point, improve their craft and style. Grammar is not on my agenda. However, I recently read that readers at Hollywood studios reject solicited and unsolicited scripts alike due to BAD GRAMMAR. "Unbelievable ignorance is rampant," lament the interns.
Please. Do not blame your teachers. Blame yourself. If you have any grammar issues or thoughts that you’re not certain will be understood, tell my monkey. I’d love to let my schoolmarm out.
And now, The Bysimple
One more thing. I have a problem with the likes of Toys R Us, thru, and lite. There is one word I saw recently that is acceptable. The “bysimple” is a new design for an everyday piece of equipment. It deserves more than a passing grade to cool. Check it out on YouTube.
Until next time, make your words matter.
