Today, I had a very kind and well meaning email from a French gentleman who usually enjoys my blog posts. He had noted that my spelling and grammar was detracting from his concentration on my words….this time not really appreciating any wisdom!
Well, I must admit it was a poor show by me – and just in case you feel the urge to go and find the offending post, and rub salt into a wound, I can assure you that the clumsy words and typing have been corrected. I am sure there will be other errors both past and future, but this post did cap the lot…..and by some measure!!
One of the things I love about my posts is that you get me in ‘full flow’. The hawk eye of a school teacher has long since passed. The error of split infinitives, incorrect sentence structure and correct grammar that slows reading is not at the mercy of a red pen and mark of: ‘could do better’.
On the occasion referred to though, I could and should have done much better. I had clearly not checked my work.
One of the wonders of language is the complexity of correct structure but even if poorly used people can make themselves understood for the more usual things of life. I admit to not being the best at language having only a smattering of French, Spanish and German. When one does try though, people are really helpful and eventually it is possible to make oneself understood.
An interesting and valuable lesson – sometimes in the rush we can slip and fail to check our work. Now in most cases isn’t that little extra time, that little extra effort, that extra little time for reflection well worth it?
So, on this occasion a Frenchman knew ‘his onions’ and if you think I should have known mine, the answer is, yes. So I can confirm in this case that I do – the wonderful specimens in the picture are indeed shallots. So that’s…your….lot!
My best wishes,
Peter
