June, as a former English teacher, I noticed your split infinitive in your first paragraph. I'm sure it was just a simple error, but it is one that irritates me. I hope you don't mind. I do enjoy reading your column!
It's so satisfying to hear that she enjoys reading a column in which I have repeatedly written, "There's no such thing as a split infinitive."
:-)
ReplyDeleteAs an NPR freak, I feel compelled to repeat my recommendation of the Nunberg interview I mentioned on Facebook, especially the last four minutes of it.
Thanks for putting that here, too! I appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteMaybe she's a former English teacher because she had the tendency to often correct non-mistakes.
ReplyDelete: )
ReplyDeleteI figured "former" was just because she was living in the Dark Ages.
Shows how often she reads your column if she hasn't figured that out!
ReplyDeleteI get a lot of this one, too: "Keep fighting the good fight against bad grammar and the erosion of our language."
ReplyDeleteI do no such thing. I don't fight "bad" grammar -- though I do try to help those who want help -- and I certainly don't bemoan the "erosion" of our language. I believe the experts who say it's not eroding, just evolving. Still, people assume I'm a member of prescriptivist police just because I write on the topic.
It's a weird feeling.