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um... no, my second grader knows the difference, she has been taught... there certainly hasn't been a change in teaching the difference between your and you're that I am aware of. I can understand an occasional typo, but in printed material.... unacceptable. I hope you promptly returned it!
Then she is the exception. In my professional life I got sick and tired of correcting bad English ..... and that was from kids with good degrees. My wife even went so far as to give all her staff a copy of the 'elements of style'. My English teacher even remarked that a number of young professionals had paid him to tutor them in English because they realised that their lack of understanding was hampering them in their careers.
Then she is the exception. In my professional life I got sick and tired of correcting bad English ..... and that was from kids with good degrees. My wife even went so far as to give all her staff a copy of the 'elements of style'. My English teacher even remarked that a number of young professionals had paid him to tutor them in English because they realised that their lack of understanding was hampering them in their careers.
was it not taught, or was it not learned? Big difference. I know the trend is to attack the education system, but you get what you put in. I'm sure that she and others in her class will still make the mistake, but it certainly has been taught! And it is corrected in my older childrens' writing. I completely agree with you that the English language is butchered in the professional world, even journalists can't seem to proofread a published article. My point is that I'm confident it was taught at some time, it's just laziness or ignorance, or plain lack of caring, not a trend at changing standards that are taught.
was it not taught, or was it not learned? Big difference. I know the trend is to attack the education system, but you get what you put in. I'm sure that she and others in her class will still make the mistake, but it certainly has been taught! And it is corrected in my older childrens' writing. I completely agree with you that the English language is butchered in the professional world, even journalists can't seem to proofread a published article. My point is that I'm confident it was taught at some time, it's just laziness or ignorance, or plain lack of caring, not a trend at changing standards that are taught.
You make a good point there.
Personally, I think that proper use of English has been thoroughly devalued by society. In a world of 'text-speak' and spell checkers, people do become lazy and that makes them question whether they 'need' proper English at all. Just look at some of the comments in the thread on writing in cursive. Many kids believe that computer and typing skills are more important than proper English. Of course, they are encouraged in this by school districts that discontinue the teaching of skills such as cursive, by adults who cannot spell or punctuate properly and who lack the skill or inclination to insist on proper English and by teachers who tolerate bad English. In my opinion, we are sleep walking into a world which is semi-literate.
I had a very pleasant chat with my former English teacher the other day (I left High School in 1973). He remarked, during the chat, that my generation was the last one to be 'taught' English grammar in the old fashioned way. What the OP is commenting on is the result of changing attitudes and standards in teaching the English language since then.
I'm not sure which "generation" you are, but all of my kidlings were taught the difference between you're and your; they're, there, and their; it's and its; etc... and they get all prescriptive about it too. Oh, the bloodshed!
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that so many people don't read books anymore. If you read, you unconsciously reinforce proper English and spelling. Video games and TV don't do that.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that so many people don't read books anymore. If you read, you unconsciously reinforce proper English and spelling. Video games and TV don't do that.
This.
I do think they not only need to read but should read quite a bit. I used to frequent the Kindle forum, a place for readers, and would see the same chewed up grammar. I often wondered, "Aren't you all readers? Why do you not know how to write correctly?"
I found out that many of them did read but many of them were reading what I call, "fluff books". (A lot of them were reading romance novels. Not a knock on romance novels but perhaps one could expand their little reading horizons.)
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