Forum Topic

Society attempts to stem decline in standards of the spoken and written word

Re: article of front pageIs anyone willing to admit to being on the name and shame website? I read an offcial communication from the American Embassy yesterday relating to the security problems for next week's G20 summit and its use of the apostrophe was appalling.

Penny Crocker ● 6396d12 Comments

Sad isn't it.I wonder where the problem is, lack of proof-reading, or slack proof-reading by someone who is no better at English.I am waiting for the day when TV licensing send out a letter misspelling licence. And  what you say goes beyond the differences in US/UK spelling and grammar.I am really annoyed for a recent post on this forum in which I misspelt targeted. I spelt it with three "t"s. The final consonant is only doubled if the final syllable is stressed. Hence , fit to fitted, benefit to benefited.

Alan Brainsby ● 6396d

Suddenly it has become more difficult to post!If more of those explanations were given instead of just a list of words to memorise for a single spelling test then I think spelling would improve.100% in spelling tests looks good on the school record on Parents' Evening and may give a brief boost in self-esteem to those who achieve it. However without successfully transferring this knowledge to long-term memory the effect is short-lived.I wonder how many children can't spell those same words the following week or even the following day?Bring back dictation!

Philippa Bond ● 6395d

I suppose part of the problem of giving explanations is actually understanding them. In the example I gave there are the "technical" terms of stress, syllable, and consonant. These need to be explained.For young children learning by rote might work as by natural absorption they may formulate the rules themselves. For older children, and maturer learners then explanations should work.One reason non-mother tongue English foreigners seem to speak better English is because they have never heard bad or colloquial English.The great advantage of correct English is that it should be understood by most other English speakers/readers without them having to stop and contemplate/correct the spelling, grammar, etc.Imagine the problem if electricity wiring colour code wasn't strictly obeyed. brown for live, blue for return, green/yellow for ground.One could say that the maximum penalty for ignoring that rule is death by electrocution!

Alan Brainsby ● 6395d

I believe that if more emphasis was given to children to read books instead of going home and playing the latest game or watching the television, then spelling, grammar and understanding the written word would improve. I am not advocating that children shouldn't play the latest games or watch television in the least, before I hear an outcry. A lot can be learnt from books and knowledge can be subconsciously taken in whilst reading.

J Smith ● 6395d

There was a letter in today's Independent that might cause a wry smile.....>Dizzy spellI am in shock. I wrote to my local MP to offer my services as a proofreader. After 10 minutes of browsing his website, it was clear I could help him. I have just received his reply, which read, "I hold strong views about those who are more interested in spelling than the contents – probably a class war thing with people using language to perpetuate class bias!". I need a lie-down.Colin TurnerShepshed, Leicestershire

David Fox ● 6395d

I agree with all of you.We did learn by rote when I nwas little but when I went to grammar school, we had an hour a week of basic grammar lessons which everyone hated but the net effect was that we could write good English. Both my kids are bright but have always struggled with grammar because it's never been taught or even corrected in their books. I correct them and they get cross but I think it's important and if you spell and punctuate correctly these days, you stand out from the crowd.

Penny Crocker ● 6393d

Yes, and Andy Reed was talking out of his posterior.When will the left ever leave their class warfare nonsense?

Graham Weeks ● 6393d

I agree. Education is the way out of poverty anyway so class warfare doesn't need to come into an argument about it.

Penny Crocker ● 6393d

I'm with the minister on this one. More often that not a superior knowledge of grammar is used by the well-educated but dull-minded to try and establish some intellectual dominance over more intelligent but non-academic people. There is a tendency amongst many people, myself included, to fall back on technical precision due to an inability to produce creative brilliance. My job involves lots of writing and an ability to produce output which is tolerably well written. Most people aren't occupied in this way during their working lives but I wouldn't presume my contributions are any more valid than theirs simply because I make fewer spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. The correction of another contributor's posts on a forum such as this is appallingly rude and I've never come across anybody who does this and has the ability to make insightful comments on other matters.

Andy Jones ● 6391d

I think the BBC website has a new low with 'Schoolgirl rapist shot in attack '

Graham Weeks ● 6391d

I saw that item too.My initial reaction was that I never got raped by a schoolgirl, well I wouldn't call it rape.Then I thought does it mean a serial rapist who specializes in schoolgirls?One could then think the worst: an armed misogynist prepared for a possible assault by a young nymphomaniac.The reality of the article is somewhat different:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/7973598.stmAn earlier article relating to this item was headed up:Man, 37, guilty of city car rape which is also interesting. I suppose there is consistency.It will be interesting to see what happens to the quality when the BBC moves to Manchester. Regarding BBC reporting I was reading an article about the increasing incidence of TB in this country. The article clearly stated that TB was a virus!Of course this what one might expect from an under-funded public broadcaster.Oh yes, TB is increasing in the UK.

Alan Brainsby ● 6391d

The Beeb 'an under-funded public broadcaster.'?With the money they pay to the likes of wubbish Woss?Privatise the lot and scrap the license fee!

Graham Weeks ● 6391d