It’s about time I wrote a lighter-style post, isn’t it? 

And yes, Ye Olde Grammarian is still in the land of the living!  I can’t believe that old curmudgeon hasn’t put up anything in this series since January!  This one was inspired by a piece I found through somebody’s Facebook link: “Apostrophe Now: Bad Grammar and the People Who Hate It,” by Tom de  Castella (BBC News Magazine).  I’ll use that piece as a take-off point for some remarks.

The article itself deals with the resurgence of emphasis on grammar in the British school systems, but it also hits on specific grammatical gaffes.  To quote: “Grammar is not just an educational issue. For some adults, it can sabotage friendships and even romantic relationships.”  The article cites statistics showing that bad grammar and bad spelling can be a huge turn-off in romantic first-contacts (ah, when two aliens meet, what miscommunication we may have … )  So make sure you don’t split your infinitives when you court that girl or guy of your dreams, or she or he might just split with you!  Same thing holds when you meet that alien blob that lives on Alpha Centauri!

Read the rest of this great article HERE (and find out who wrote it)