Sue Shellenbarger writes for the Wall Street Journal and wrote a recent column on the proliferation of lousy grammar among all business communication, verbal and written. We've all seen the gaffes that make us cringe.
Well, wait a minute, maybe they don't make you cringe. I know there are many people who think that if you get it said--even though what you say is peppered with the word "like" and even though it defies traditional laws of grammar ("Him and I are going to the game together " is enough to send me to the crazy ward) they think it's OK. Twitter's narrow 140 character rule means, I guess, anything goes and no one cares if whatever message it gets out isn't grammatically correct.
Oh Dear. I do.
Maybe it's because I'm still basking in the auditory magic of Winston Churchill's words as he spoke them, which you too can hear if you can get yourself over to the terrific exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum where they are showcasing Churchill and his use of words.
Say it isn't so that no one cares. I think it matters if you want to be a good conversationalist. I love to hear the English language spoken by people who care about how they put the words together. And feel it is one of lie's pleasure to add words to their vocabulary.
Sue Shellenbarger tells of a business where employees who have to communicate to others in the company are told they should try to keep their use of language below the twelfth grade level so they can be sure they'll be understood. Oh, please tell me it isn't so...
Am I hopelessly dating myself?
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
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