Definition of Border

[Jean Sewing Machine]

I know students hate to see red ink on their papers, but how else are they supposed to know WHY we are saying "NQTY"? I use green at times, it send the same message, you need to focus on THIS part of your writing. I teach English As A Second Language at the college level, I deal with this daily.

[Denis]

How about when some people think the plural of 'you' is 'youse' ? You hear this more in spoken english but I have seen it written in forums.

[KerriS]

You should see the stuff my sister has to sift through when grading high school papers. I would need a crate of red pencils to correct the students' work.

Well, there is something I really don't understand
My elder daughter spent her 11th year at Wolcott High school in Connecticut. She was mediocre in english before she went there, and not really much better in written english after she got back home. Of course her spoken english had really improved after that year.
In Wolcott however, she was the best in the year in her age group in english(!!).. she as a foreigner had the top marks. I just couldn't understand.
When I asked her, why she didn't get better marks in english back here, she told me, that none of her mistakes has ever been corrected by a teacher, neither in english nor in one of the other subjects. She asked her teachers to correct her mistakes, but she just got "no, no, it's all fine" as an answer.

Are orthographic and punctuation mistakes no longer corrected in high school? Or was it just politeness to a foreigner?

Please, don't get me wrong. I don't want to offend anyone or criticize the US-school system.. I'm just curious.

[toggpine]

Denis,
I have heard that, but mostly from the folks in the Eastern portion of the US, and apparently Canada. I think it is similar to the y'all in the south. It attempts to include everyone present.

Irritating and yet fascinating, this language thing!

[KerriS]

Irritating and yet fascinating, this language thing!

absolutely.. and much fun too.. I just love language.. written or spoken..

[toggpine]

Sadly, I don't think so.
I haven't yet encountered the school system beyond Kindergarden with my own child, and they are pretty lax about correcting spelling and grammar at this point. They want the right sounds written down, so elefant is as good as elephant for now. It will be interesting to see how our school district does things.
In some of the bigger public school districts (like Sis's), it seems they are more worried about the kids self-esteem than preparing them to be successful. While we shouldn't crush their spirit, we also shouldn't allow an "Everything is fine. There are no mistakes." attitude either. What's going to happen when they walk out those high school doors and that's not how the real world works?
I don't know the specifics of your daughter's school in Connecticut, but it could have gone either way. How scary that the child who received English as a foreign language, was the top in her native speaking class! Yikes!

[Cat n bull]

Are orthographic and punctuation mistakes no longer corrected in high school? Or was it just politeness to a foreigner?

Please, don't get me wrong. I don't want to offend anyone or criticize the US-school system.. I'm just curious.

Here in NC they do not correct spelling or punctuation. Ever. I find it BAFFLING.

How in the world could it POSSIBLY be considered detrimental to a child to show them the correct way to spell, speak and write? If it's wrong it's WRONG.

They make sure the kids get math correct, why is spelling such a challenging thing?

When my daughter was in 5th grade and in gifted classes her teacher (she was new) made a comment about her spelling. I said well what do you expect? For 5 years whatever way she spelled it was acceptable, did you think correct spelling was just going to spontaneously appear in her head?

[auntiemern]

This is so funny to me. I want to apologize if my use of the English language has offended any one. I know I have the habit of using words like cuz and gonna. Will try to keep the text correct. And thanks for the heads up ladies. The thing is, even some of the adults on here have no concept of the English language, or how to use it correctly.

[Divine Daisy]

Do you know............ I skip over mistakes like this because I always worry that I would be thought of as a snobby English woman. However........as it has been raised...and something I see ALL the time everywhere is beginning a sentence with 'so' or 'ok' This truely does my head in lol. Spelling mistakes are different, I am dyslexic myself and have trouble with spelling but the misuse of words is not good. I loath the use of K to replace C in words too.

English is a beautiful language and without wanting to be snooty it is a different language from American English......also beautiful, just different.

Having said all of this I have endless respect for those who's mother tongue is not English and yet do so incredably well with their spoken and written English. I know I would never dare to be part of a French or German forum!

I would at this juncture like to give you my 'Merrycan' accent............ 'Ya sur do luk purdy when ya angry lil missy'


Yes, I am afraid you all sound like John Wayne to us British lol

I am off to the hospital now to visit Mr Daisy before you all lynch me!!

[cyndiofthevortex]

The only problem I struggle with is when to use "lie" or "lay." Anyone want to explain that one to me?