Berwick's story reminded me what happened in one of my jobs.

I worked in an office and overheard a young girl on the phone with a customer. I heard her say 'well I don't know nothing do I?' I exchanged horrified looks with a colleague. When she got off the phone I said to her 'thats a double negative' she said 'huh?' Well I said 'if you don't know nothing then you must know something' I got 'huh?' again and at that point I gave up. That was back in the 80's so it doesn't look like things have changed much.

Bev x

[phillips1]

Hi Bev.

My wife works in a school and the standards of English are appalling. Double negatives, misspellings and an astonishing lack of grammar. And the pupils are even worse!

Bobby xxxx

[Hidden in reply to phillips1]

I read this to my daughter Bobby, she works in a school too, she did not smile...........................

Peta.

xx

[phillips1 in reply to Hidden]

I hope she doesn't teach English, they are among the worst. I used to do a bit of sub-editing at one time and I sent a letter from one of the children's teachers back, all marked up in red pen. Sonny said teacher wasn't pleased. Ho hum.

Bobby xxx

[Toci]

It amazes me how much many people depend on (and trust) the spell check programmes. A secretary I know once wrote a report, undertook a spell check and made the suggested changes, then her boss found (at the meeting) that there was a 46 page report on the company's new penis. They had developed a new pen. No, she did not get sacked!