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Re: describing the minority as literate is a circular argument?
Subject:Re: describing the minority as literate is a circular argument? From:"Gene Kim-Eng" <techwr -at- genek -dot- com> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Mon, 16 Aug 2004 12:43:46 -0700
I suppose you could make a case that "good" grammar is grammar that has
been properly matched to the target reader and then consistently applied.
However, I prefer to stick to the idea that "good grammar" is grammar that
consistently conforms to the rules of "proper grammar," and that knowing
when to do that and when to toss the rules out the window to achieve the
desired result is one of the hallmarks of "writing well." To emply your
internet analogy, having a properly configured connection may not ensure
that your emails are worth reading, but if you don't know how to properly
configure your connection, you increase the risk that your emails won't be
readable at all. :)
Gene Kim-Eng
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bruce Byfield" <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
> But I would make a distinction between "good" and "proper" grammar. "Good
> grammar" is any set of rules consistently applied. "Proper grammar" is the
> grammar the elite at a certain period of time. I question the special
status
> given to proper grammar, as well as the contention that being
grammatically
> correct is syonymous (or nearly so) with writing well. That's the same as
saying
> that, because your Internet connection is properly configured, then your
emails
> must be worth reading.
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