There

[Jemisa]

I suppose this is the right section for this - - its just a little niggle that I have & I know some others have it too.
Why is it some don't know what 'There' to use? i know there are several but did your English teacher let you leave before getting it right?

[Prudie]

I will be moaned at about this surely but would add in my opinion that most teachers these days do need degrees but only need a GCSE in English (unless they are English teachers). I bet a lot of teachers don't know what's right in the first place so how can they notice and correct mistakes.
PS Job rolls is my favourite, see at work all the time.

[factor-fiction]

Teachers already need to have GCSEs at grade C and above in Maths and English and have to pass special tests in English (and Maths and ICT). This is in addition to having a degree.
But maybe the bar needs to be set higher for teachers in respect of English, although I think even if every teacher had a degree in English it wouldn't lead to much of an improvement. Too many children rarely read books or newspapers and do not see the point of grammar and spelling. Also, rightly or wrongly, spelling is generally not penalised in GCSE exams and teachers in subjects such as Maths and Science are discouraged from correcting spelling and grammar apart from the spelling of technical words. If teachers corrected every spelling mistake the page would often be covered in red ink and would take attention away from the subject matter being covered.

[saxy_jag]

There seems to be a trend in some American forums for the use of 'alot' instead of 'a lot', e.g. 'I had alot of those when I was a kid.'.

As for teachers, I really feel we credit them, as a species, with far too much. Whilst there are some great ones out there, even they would own that they are certainly not the founts of all knowledge many people believe them to be. Whilst I would expect an English teacher to have personal high standard of English, I probably wouldn't expect that from, say, a Maths or History teacher. Saying that, my son once had a Maths teacher whose spoken English was so poor none of the class could understand what he was trying to teach.

[jomifl]

just think of going to a bing and bruy sale and it will all become clear.

[factor-fiction]

Sorry, this is a bit of ahobby horse of mine.
Another word pupils (sorry, students) can't spell is "know". When I mark exam papers, for every blank answer or answer of "don't know" I get ten answers that say "dont no".

[Jemisa]

Some times I think Co's spell things wrong on purpose. its a sales ploy. You are far more likely to remember them if Logo's are spelt wrong as proved by your posts.

Another one for you 'gotten' "I've gotten a new bike" this I think came from the USA but on TV its widely used, sounds soo awful.
Keep 'em coming, I'm enjoying this - - -

jem

[craft1948]

I had a very bad row with my daughter's English teacher at an open night. I mentioned that she always got very good marks for english, yet her spelling, punctuation, and grammar were atrocious. This 'teacher' yabbered on about 'freedom of expression' and then said it would take forever to correct all the mistakes which were made. I then asked if he was telling me that he didn't have time to do his job properly, and how was my daughter supposed to know she was doing things incorrectly if she wasn't told ........after that all corrections were made in red ink.

[factor-fiction]

Hi Jemisa- I cringe at 'gotten' but I understand it was used in this country in Shakespeare's day and he used it. The expression 'ill gotten gains" has been used in this country for many years I'm sure.