In the four months I’ve been a member of the Open Salon community, I have read some seriously good material; entries written on a skill level that exceeds that of any of the other writing communities I have been affiliated with. 

From the political commentary of many of those here, to the short fiction of folks like Torman and Scanner, to the humor of Kristy CC and Mister Comedy, to the poetry of Chicago Guy, Caroline Hagood, and femme forte, to the reminiscences of people like At Home Pilgrim and FusunA, there is so much quality writing that I spend far too many hours reading here and neglecting my own writing and conventional reading (books—remember them?)

But, old-school anal retentive that I am, I can’t help but notice the pervasiveness of elementary errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling across the OS landscape.  Let me be clear:  I’m not specifically referring to any of the folks mentioned above.  In fact, you would have to roam the ends of the earth to find a more beautiful and precise use of the English language than that found in Caroline Hagood’s entries.  I’m speaking in general.

A post with obvious errors is like a beautiful woman who has long, wavy, lustrous hair, flawless complexion, sparkling, lively eyes, and a divine figure sheathed in haute couture apparel—and who reveals two missing front teeth when she smiles.

You need to indulge this man rapidly closing in on sixty.  I learned the skills of the mother tongue for many years at the hands of Roman Catholic instructors:  the Sisters of Charity, the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and the Jesuits.  What they may have lacked in spontaneity and creativity in tutorial methods, they more than compensated for with a relentless discipline and dedication to inculcating the fundamental skills of using the English language.

I learned spelling and grammar in the days before Spell Check—heck, I learned them before the advent of the personal computer.  In those days, I was required to understand the rules of the language by memorizing the parts of speech, by diagramming sentences, by learning how to use a dictionary, and by incessant practice.  Perhaps, given this background, you can understand why fundamental errors in English usage make me reach for my blood pressure medication.

Allow me the liberty of pointing out three errors I see repeatedly on Open Salon (and, to be honest, on all “writing” sites.)

• § It’s vs. its:  This error, and its ilk, is quite possibly the most commonly abused mistake, and one that is easily corrected.  It’s is a contraction of it is.  Its  is a possessive pronoun, indicating that whatever follows the word belongs to the noun that preceded it.  The rule also applies to the similarly tortured misuse of you’re and your:  the first means you are, the second means something that belongs to you.

  Examples:  It’s a poor reflection on its author when an entry contains numerous grammar errors.

 It’s cold out:  you’re going to need your heavy jacket, hat, and gloves.

•   To vs. too:  This happens often enough that I’m becoming convinced it’s just a typographical error, but, for the record.  To is the first word in an infinitive, followed by the verb.  To run, to write, to correct others.  Too has several usages, including as a synonym for also and as an indication of excess:  too cold, too many.

  Examples:  It’s important to proofread your writing because Spell Check allows too many errors.

 I have to drive to the store, and I’ll be stopping at the library, too. 

•     Breath vs. breathe:  I’ve begun noticing this one only recently, but it’s definitely proliferating like rabbits in the springtime.  Breath is a noun; breathe is a verb.  A breath is what you take when you breathe. 

   Example:  I need you to take a deep breath; breathe slowly.

In this age of txting, IM’ing, and tweeting, the rules of grammar and spelling have taken hits unlike any in the previous three centuries of English usage.  You may choose to ignore my fixation with the rules of language as the obsession of a man whose time has come and gone.  Be that as it may; let me just say this.

You can present your writing to your peers as professionally and as perfectly as possible.

 Or, you can be the pretty girl with the missing teeth.

 It’s your choice. 

 If you enjoyed this, you might also appreciate this article in The New York Times.  If you didn’t, please come back in two days for Fiction Friday!

 © 2009, Kenneth M. Rhodes

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