Well, Since YOU Mentioned It

We all have our things.

When he’s driving, my husband is- how do I say this- extremely sensitive to the driving habits of EVERYONE else on the road. As a result, even though the other drivers can't hear him, he gives- what should I call them- suggestions to his fellow drivers.

My sister is in the design industry, so when we go somewhere, she often notices things that I wouldn't, such as the layout, choice of flooring, and colors. (I’m usually like, “Where’s the bar?”)

I imagine that Rachel Zoe walks down the street mentally fixing people's outfits and that the Super Nanny can’t shop at a supermarket without silently criticizing the parenting skills of the mom who just gave in to her toddler’s tantrum and bought the Sponge Bob cereal.

I, of course, am very grammar sensitive. I see and hear grammar errors everywhere. In fact, I just cringed because someone said, “There’s too many pages.”

Me in my head: There ARE too many pages.

I really do try to keep this stuff in my head. There is a fine line between being helpful and coming off as a know-it-all asshole. Sometimes, an unsolicited correction will slip out of my mouth, but I do try to keep my grammarness to myself unless, of course, I’m teaching or blogging.

For example, there’s a sign that is plastered to the door of the staff lounge at my work that says, “Open door slow.” Every morning, when I walk in, I shake my head as I silently lament the lack of the ly, and get on with my day.

So, if I worked at the place where the following memo was distributed, I would have noticed the spelling error, but I would not have been the person to make the spelling correction:

I found this on jezebel.com, and the comments reflect the controversy of whether it was insensitive or respectful to make the spelling correction.

Well, as I said before, I wouldn’t have initiated it, but, you know, since someone else already did, might I just add:

I wouldn’t capitalize the word dear, co-worker or friend.

I would put a period after There is not going to be a service held.

I would capitalize thanks and put a comma after it, put an apostrophe in don’t, put a period after necessary, and a colon after point.

And, if I were the deceased, I would be pissed that there wasn't going to be a service held by my "dear" friends and haunt the office. First stop, swap the regular morning coffee for decaf.

* Luckily, however, not all people are as seemingly cold as the people who work in the aforementioned office. Theresa Milstein from the blog Substitute Teacher's Saga has dedicated herself to an important cause. Click here to see how you can help.

And, James Garcia Jr. at Dance on Fire generously awarded me the Circle of Friends Award. Thanks, James.