Typo Hunt Across America

A very merry Bastille Day to all of our readers. In the spirit of the day, you may find this to be relevant, the first League-inspired correction on a French sign. As far as I know, anyway. Our Continental friends face an additional burden that we in our language do not. Not only must their subjects and verbs agree, but their nouns and adjectives as well.

The League has also lately inspired folks in a very different quarter (quartier?). A professor wrote to tell me of the concept of a “grammar safari” now being incorporated into a course at Florida Gulf Coast University, and shared the links to two videos being used to promote the class. If any FGCU students lurk among this readership, don’t forget to sign up for CRN 81706 with the Registrar.

To round off the day’s distractions, a final recommendation. We could do worse than to follow the philosophy outlined by Michael Quinion in this recent episode of the Minnesota Public Radio Grammar Grater show, regarding the use of “preventative” versus “preventive.” There is an mp3 of the show, and a text summary for the aurally impatient. I think Quinion’s careful analysis speaks pretty closely to what we at TEAL believe about similar orthographic issues. Any strongly felt dogma should be traced back to its origins.

I believe I know now the direction that this modest site should take to keep its mission vibrant, and I will be working to steer our worn boots upon that shining path. Until then, fix a gimlet eye on the grammatical calumnies that taint your streets, and be wary.