RE: Active versus passive (WAS Displays versus Appears-Which One? )

["DeGuzman, Kathi" <Kathi -dot- Deguzman -at- Nextel -dot- com>]

Herm wrote:

    " ... I believe I read my share (and more) of both well-written and
badly
written books. (I read so many, growing up, that this is almost a
mathematical/probability fact.) I believe I managed somehow, even as a
highly impressionable youngster, to discriminate between the two and
recognize good writing as such."

I agree with Herm. I read a lot! (no TV for me, just books!) I have always
(since I was a dorky kid in junior and senior high) read alot. In fact, I
remember well that when most kids were outside running around in the
sunshine, my best girlfriend and I were laying on the grass on the side of
my house, reading. We both read different types of books and we weren't
reading to share the tales with each other. We just liked to read. And
surely, since then I have read some very well-written books, so some very
horrendously written books. 

I can remember my mom, who was a librarian, constantly correcting us if we
swithched "I - me", or the "well &  good." I hated it when she corrected me.
But it must have sunk in. I guess that some of my ability to write well and
recognize good writing is because of the "hands-on" training (reading and
being corrected by mom). But, when I was growing up, we studied grammar.
Throughout grade school all the way to creative writing in high school. Our
English classes taught us how to spell and how to speak/write using correct
grammar. I think it was called "Roberts Rules of English" or something like
that. I cringe when I read or hear someone who does not use proper grammar.

That said, my husband grew up for the first twelve years of his life in
Italy. Speaking Italian. When his family moved to the states, English
grammar was not focused on in his schooling experience. Therefore, sometimes
when he speaks English, he uses Italian grammar. I do my share of cringing
with him too, and in fact he appreciates (most of the time) if I correct his
grammar.

I was helping my step-daughter (who is in the 4th grade) write her English
essay and when I asked her if she knew what "determined" a paragraph, I was
appalled (not at her, but at her earlier training) that she did not. I know
I have my work cut out for me in teaching her how to write well thought out,
grammatically correct prose. If it is not being taught in the schools, it is
left up to the parents to teach. Otherwise you end up having children using
incorrect grammar.

Just sharing some thoughts .... happy holidays!

Kathi Jan DeGuzman
Senior Technical Writer
Kathi -dot- Deguzman -at- nextel -dot- com <mailto:Kathi -dot- Deguzman -at- nextel -dot- com> 
 When I hear somebody sigh that "Life is hard," I am always tempted to ask,
"Compared to what?" ~ Sidney J. Harris
<http://www.cybernation.com/victory/quotations/authors/quotes_harris_sidneyj
.html> 



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