English is pretty well accepted around the world as the language of commerce and politics. This article is not directed at people who have learned English as a second language, and who are able to make themselves understood in this foreign and difficult tongue. No, this article is directed at the citizens of the United States who are born here, who grew up (or are growing up) here, and who cannot read, write, spell or speak with any degree of intelligence. Also, be clear that I am not referring to those who have never had the opportunity to learn for whatever reason, or those who suffer from true learning disabilities.

Making mountains out of molehills, am I? I challenge you to begin, today, to pay attention to the following:

• Words on TV screens, billboards, banners, signs, the sides of buildings, buses, bus benches, newspapers, magazines, street signs, highway signs and even Freeway signs that are spelled incorrectly.
• The improper choice of words, such as: there for their; principal for principle, etc.
• People on talk shows, news interviews and other man-on-the street situations who cannot express their thoughts in a way that can be understood, and who can only say "Uh", "Ya Know", "Like I Said", "Uh, OK", "Uh, Yeah, Well", and other such grunts and monosyllables.
• Newsgroups and mailing lists here on the Net, and I'm not referring to people who type in a hurry and make typos. I am referring to people who can't spell in the first place because they keep repeating the same mistakes over and over, and people who have absolutely no understanding of grammar. I know that we have all read posts repeatedly, and still had no idea what the person was trying to say! I especially love those who take off on a person or idea with considerable passion, even flaming, but who couldn't spell their way out of a wet paper bag. It sort of takes the punch out of their pontificating!
• WEB PAGES --- yes, Web Pages with spelling errors and incorrect grammar. I can't believe how common this is.

Oh, well. Too late. Not On Your Life. Make the mastery of words your own personal little game. Introduce yourself to a good dictionary. Never use a word, or repeat a word, if you're not totally sure of its meaning. Look it up. Put your false pride and inflated ego out in the yard for a while, and let's beat this thing. Play word games with yourself. Read. It doesn't matter what: the funnies, comic books, Playboy Magazine, a children's book -- it doesn't matter. Just read. If you come across a word that's new to you, LOOK IT UP. Take a longer word, and see how many little words you can make from it. Inflated: In, flat, dial, dine, deft, Ted, led, Lent, lint, ate, date, lead, din, den, deal, tin, ten, late --- any more? Work simple crossword puzzles. There are untold numbers of things you can do to increase your word power, which improves your spelling, which helps your grammar, which makes you a better communicator. Just think "words"; my keys to power.

How did this happen? Are we suffering the consequences of generations of alcohol and drug abuse passed on through the genes?

To test your word power, and have some fun, visit Dictionary.Com
 

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E-Mail to Julia  may be sent to meyna@mindspring.com