Grammatical correctness
In an article in this week's New Yorker, Louis Menand starts with a book review and ends with a wonderful meditation on "voice." What exactly is a writer's voice and how does it come about?
But the book review! I am stunned that Menand can use such a generous voice to describe such literary crimes. According to the review (and I must admit I have not read the book), a recent bestseller claims to be a call to arms for grammatical correctness -- but itself contains numerous grammatical errors.
I have long wanted to write a book that encourages people to communicate information quickly and effectively by getting them to turn off the internalized curmudgeon who always complains about their grammar. Such a book would probably be assailed by self-proclaimed paragons of grammatical correctness -- and I would respond that the approach has certainly worked for many of my students.
As Menand hints, however, sales figures for books on grammar have as much to do with attitude as value. Some people are upset that other people can't use grammar well -- and as today's politics proves, beating up on the other side is always more fun than trying to improve your ownself.
Join the discussion at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/johnclaytonoutreach/
But the book review! I am stunned that Menand can use such a generous voice to describe such literary crimes. According to the review (and I must admit I have not read the book), a recent bestseller claims to be a call to arms for grammatical correctness -- but itself contains numerous grammatical errors.
I have long wanted to write a book that encourages people to communicate information quickly and effectively by getting them to turn off the internalized curmudgeon who always complains about their grammar. Such a book would probably be assailed by self-proclaimed paragons of grammatical correctness -- and I would respond that the approach has certainly worked for many of my students.
As Menand hints, however, sales figures for books on grammar have as much to do with attitude as value. Some people are upset that other people can't use grammar well -- and as today's politics proves, beating up on the other side is always more fun than trying to improve your ownself.
Join the discussion at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/johnclaytonoutreach/
