GRAMMAR COPS: Judith dePonceau of Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, writes
to us after learning of the retirement of Jim Kilpatrick, long-time
author of The Writer’s Art.

Judith writes, “Like many older people, I was taught grammar
through eight years of school, and mastered the art of diagramming
sentences. Our beautiful precise language is being lost in ways
that make for lack of clarity, and confusion. That leads to slower
reading and comprehension.”

“Present day English teachers were taught by English teachers
who didn’t know the rules, and even some of their teachers had
started to lose correct usage.

“What we need is a grammar corps made up of writers and teachers
older than 60, dispersed into the schools to teach the
teachers.

“Why can’t we be like France and have a national standard of
proper usage, with ‘language police’ to discourage misuse?”

As the writer of this column for the past decade or so, we can
verify that the “language police” are out there, waiting to pounce
on any error. Despite reading on this subject quite a bit over the
years, we have our idiosyncratic errors. Is it affect or effect?
Persuade or convince? That or which? We look them up every time,
but can’t seem to remember them.

By the same token, we have to agree with Judith. The state of
English language is deplorable. Grammar, punctuation and the simple
written word are lost arts – even among many supposedly
well-educated people.

So watch your P’s and Q’s when you write to us! (Or, is it “Ps
and Qs”?)

JIM OWENS: Jim Piscitelli of Bradford can vouch for Jim Owens’
pitching ability as he used to umpire when Owens was on the mound.
“He was a great ballplayer. One of the fastest pitchers I ever
saw,” Jim says, adding that Owens “never cussed” like some of his
colleagues did. Jim was an ump in the Bradford area for many, many
years. Jim tells us he’s reached the ripe old age of 99. Pretty
amazing, we must admit.