Q Talk

[insomniac2]

Imaoldhippie and Effie54--I CARE!

I am so tired of sloppy talking/writing. I believe it's worth the effort to improve.

[Zernia Rose]

@Patriot3 " Spinster?" i haven't heard that one in a while.

[Zernia Rose]

@tends2dogsYes, grammar, spelling, and cursive writing are taught in varying degrees across the country.  Mandatory state testing takes away valuable time for instruction.  I am certain that you  can find out what is being taught in your local school district by going online. Each district creates its own curriculum. A national curriculum would be helpful but that will not happen anytime soon.   There are national standards  for each disciplinei including grammar at all levels, traditional writing, mathematics, etc. that some districts adopt.  The least controversial standards were those created for mathematics.

[CalminHeart]

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@depglass wrote:

I don't particularly care about these specific "errors," but I am concerned about the gradual deterioration of the English language in general.  I am a compulsive "proof reader" while listening to TV.  What bugs me most is subject-object agreement.  "They sent that letter to both Sam and I."  It's Sam and me.  Take out the named person, "they sent that letter to me": not "they sent that letter to I. Too picky?  All I can say is a couple English teachers in heaven are smiling down on me.  Eventually we will all be communicating and spelling at a first grade level.

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My dad has a PhD and taught English his whole life. He's smiling now too.

[Patriot3]

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@Zernia Rose wrote:

@Patriot3 " Spinster?" i haven't heard that one in a while.

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@Zernia Rose   LOL, shows you how old I am

[Spurt]

@september 

And one more thing, there's always the internet and all they have to do is type "define this word" and it will even give the pronounciation by voice.  How hard is that.....???

It seems some of the hosts dont care about preparing for a show..(some rely too much on the vendor, and the host adds nothing to the product presentation---which seems a bit "dangerous") as you said this is a very competitive field and they get hundreds of applicants whenever QVC has a opening...and considering the fact that QVC has dismissed hosts in the past, if I was a host I would certainly make sure I was properly prepared......OR QVC might go with what they experimented with on Q2 and just have the vendors present their products without any hosts---seems like Qurate would save a lot of money on salaries!

[Sooner]

An example of to me is "a couple of pencils" is now often "a couple pencils."  No, the pencils are not a "couple". It is a couple (TWO--unless they are dating and I don't know) of pencils.  Not a couple, who happen to be pencils, went to the movie last night.

Also you could advise people that advice is not the same thing.  

[KKJ]

Speaking of couple, so many times I'd read in newspapers, etc., "the couple are"..... No, it should be  "the couple IS....."

It's one couple.

[Johnnyeager]

Spinster?  LOL!

Old Maid.

And the dreaded "Confirmed Bachelor."  Or "He Never Married."

[geezerette]

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@depglass wrote:

I don't particularly care about these specific "errors," but I am concerned about the gradual deterioration of the English language in general.  I am a compulsive "proof reader" while listening to TV.  What bugs me most is subject-object agreement.  "They sent that letter to both Sam and I."  It's Sam and me.  Take out the named person, "they sent that letter to me": not "they sent that letter to I. Too picky?  All I can say is a couple English teachers in heaven are smiling down on me.  Eventually we will all be communicating and spelling at a first grade level.

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Then there's the opposite:  "Me and Sam".  "Me and Sam are going to the post office."  (To mail your letter.😉)

Or what's even worse to my ear:  "Me and him".  "Me and him are going to drive my crazy!" 😵‍💫