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English is a language which is being damaged by more and more people who know a little about how it should be used, but make simple mistakes. The purpose of these few pages is to offer a suggestion or two about how straightforward errors might be avoided. Unfortunately, it is like so many other things: the people who need this sort of advice the most are the ones least likely to take it. This section of the site is written from my point as a Toastmaster who cares about the use of the language and as a sometime preacher who cares about it too...

• April 2004: Because The name of books, my name, the reasons for other things. What more could you ask? More frequent updates, that's for sure.
• April 2003: Don't believe what you read It's possible to unearth lots of things from Google, but you can never be sure if it's a real Mark Twain quotation, or even a real Chinese curse.
• April 2003: The end of the line? Ian faces up to the fact he hasn't got anything new to say because everyone is still making the same old mistakes, but then finds he's writing about typos.
• January 2003: Manna from heaven A very simple concept, the food that the Israelites were given to eat while in the desert. Yet New Zealanders mess it up every day.
• December 2002: Latin abbreviations for beginners Hang your head in shame, Ian, for leaving it so long. Here are some new thoughts, explaining the troublesome trio of etc., e.g. and i.e.
• May 2002: Minding your Ps and Qs This month, a phrase rather than a grammatical error. Why do we ask people to mind their Ps and Qs? Is it anything to do with pints, whatever they are?
• March 2002: Yes, people really do this Yes, there are people who can't tell their than from their then There's a slim chance that this is a problem you have, and I talk about slim chances too this month.
• January 2002: Happy New Year This month sees Ian lacking clear direction but still finding things to say about a film synopsis and a young shepherdess.
• December 2001: Interesting Times The ancient Chinese curse springs into action in the last page of the year. We take a look at some other things Don Brash has to say and neither praise nor condemn his monetary policy.
• November 2001: Hey! These aren't opposites! Sometimes you will come across words that should be opposites, but are actually the same thing. On the other hand, you will also come across words and phrases which can have opposite meanings.
• July 2001: In the land of Nod A short piece about Nod and a longer piece about some words that are misused, as I touch the narrow line between morals and grammar.
• June 2001: Betwixt and between A short explanation on "between" and a longer piece about the balance between grammatical and political correctness.
• May 2001: Good and glorious and something else A few tips on adjectives and some thoughts on structuring your ideas for greater impact.
• April 2001: Weird calendars Just a few words popularly mis-spelt and more information about calendars and Friday 13th than you need.
• March 2001: To boldly go? Split infinitives - what are they? why are they bad? Should we care? How can we use them to gain revenue from our flatmates?
• February 2001: The Saxon Genitive When should we use an apostrophe before an S? When should we not do so? What has this got to with apples?
• February 2001: Round circles Tautologies - saying the same thing twice in two different ways. This isn't a good thing. However, some English tautologies might be acceptable in New Zealand.
• December 2000: Smooth as Silk? What makes a good simile better? What sort of apples does the District Grammarian like?
• November 2000: Thanks! I'm well Or at least I would be, if people still showed the adverb the respect it deserves.
• October 2000: Two or three Thoughts about the comparative and the superlative, along with connected mistakes.
• Special feature: Dave Barry American columnist and grammarian Dave Barry offers some words of wisdom.
• September 2000: Funny spelling There are some words that people can't spell correctly. Here are some funny words that shouldn't catch people out, but do.
• August 2000: Bring and buy Not just words to confuse, but something to eat too.
• July 2000: This affects the effects Two words that are not the same, but that doesn't mean you don't confuse them.
• June 2000: The power of adjectives There are two adjectives that have no power left. Why not use some others?
• May 2000: Criteria for excellence Singular or plural? Some suggestions
• April 2000: I or me? Do you know when to say I and when to say me?

Resources for membership building from District 72

• Designing your Personal Plan for Success Glen Murphy's instructions here are probably the key to keeping members after they have completed the Competent Toastmaster award.
• Quality Clubs Keep members Robyn Murphy offers advice on how to keep a high quality club: one that keeps members interest, therefor adding and keeping members.
• The Magic Words Kevin Flower takes the simple approach to keeping members, applicable to any organisation: it's easier to keep members than to get new ones. So treat them well while they're still here!

Want to join the ring? Go to The Toastmasters Ring Homepage. This Toastmasters Ring website is owned by Ian W Halliday, ATMG, CL. [ Prev | Skip It | Next 5 | Random | Next ]