Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies has one of the better intros in a book that I've read recently. She starts it with two letters of complaint from her readers, who seem to have a grievance with her newspaper column's diction. In this case, the readers arrogantly inform Mrs. Casagrande that wrong is not an adverb! The writers of both letters are so convinced and self-satisfied with their correction, you can just tell.
But then Casagrande includes her response to both readers, saying simply to look the word up, and that they should find a small "adv." after its uses as an adjective. It's so glorious. Maybe I'm particularly susceptible to thwarting erudite grammar snobs, but I just love it. I love the fact that there is a certain type of person who requires a set-in-stone procedure for writing, but more importantly I love the fact that our author had the privelage of correcting two of those people!
It's refreshing to read these books where the authors are all about making writing your own; to not be afraid of it.
1 comment:
Were you as pleased with the rest of the first part?
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