Let me spell it out for you
PUPILS will be marked down in exams for poor spelling, punctuation and grammar in GCSE exams from September – and about time too.
That might sound harsh and while I’m sure enough analysis of my writing will bring up the odd errant apostrophe, some of the spelling I see at times is laughable.
I don’t just mean the little mistakes that people make while they’re typing.
One of my pet hates is those who use a word thinking that it has a completely different meaning.
While frequenting one of MK’s watering holes, a friend text me to say he was running late but could I get him ‘any larger’.
I spent 10 minutes asking the barman for something bigger, but he didn’t seem to get it either.
And the amount of times I have seen people writing ‘loose’ or ‘looser’ instead of ‘lose’ or ‘loser’ drives me insane.
Do people not realise that they are different words?
Ask yourself, how would they spell the words in the sentence: ‘I tried not to lose my loose change?’
The new stricter rules for pupils are being enforced as part of tough new measures announced by Michael Gove, the government’s education secretary.
Ofqual, the exams watchdog, announced that pupils will be tested in end-of-course exams from summer 2014.
These kind of measures will help the next generation tighten up on their spelling and grammar.
And it’s not just text speak that needs looking at. In some cases this is simply a method of using shortcuts to convey meaning in a brief message.
But when these same words r used 2 write in essays, or even on Facebook or in emails, it looks childish and ill-educated.
See what I mean?
Maybe because of the job I do I have to take language more seriously, but I meticulously check every post or even tweet I send in case I have made a mistake.
Because I can be absolutely certain that someone will be there to pick me up on it.
I don’t want any mistakes appearing next to my name or being printed in the paper.
Surely spelling and reading should be two of the lessons that are drummed into us as children.
I understand some kids pick things up quicker than others, but if it is not addressed at an early age then poor grammar can only get worse.
I’m opening myself up to criticism of any future errors, but I’m prepared to take that extra second to check what I’m typing and think about it so that everything is right.
So, come on school children of MK, why don’t you give it a go too – and give your mum and dad a nudge while you’re at it.
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 15 C
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