Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Ask and You Shall Recieve ... Eventually

I am more than just an English instructor. I’m a bitch, I’m a lover, I’m a child, I'm a mother, I'm a sinner, I'm a saint, and I am also the IDEA Center coordinator on my campus. I know it sounds like a creative gig, like I am paid to sit in lotus position and beget one brilliant idea after the other, but IDEA is an acronym for Individual Development Educational Assistance. Basically, I run the center which offers the students more personalized help. I mostly help students with writing skills, study skills, boyfriend issues, and time management.

But, lately, the fact that I am the campus time management go-to person seems to make as much sense as hiring Ashton Kutcher to be a marriage consultant or Mel Gibson to run anger management courses.

Since school started this quarter, for some reason, I have been terribly unorganized. That, my friends, is why your much-appreciated requests for particular grammar lessons have up until now gone unaddressed. But I would like you to know that they haven’t been forgotten. I’ve been storing them in my cheeks like a chipmunk.

So starting with my next blog post, I am going to cover the following:

Hyphens for Mykuljay at Perception Is Reality Corner

When to capitalize north, south, east and west and when to capitalize planets for Stephen T. McCarthy at Stephen T. McCarthy's STUFFS

Supersede/Supercede for my friend Jennifer

Presume/Assume for my friends Emily and Travis

While you've got me focused, any other requests?

26 comments:

Kelly Polark said...

Congrats on your new position, lady!

I still don't know if you put a comma before writing "too" at the end of a sentence. Just give that a quick line shout out! :)
THank you for your expertise!

Shelly said...

If you've got anything in your bag of tricks to rid 8th graders of their fear of commas, I'd love hear it.

Mark said...

They are keeping you pretty busy. You should demand more money. I'm interested in the supercede/supersede thing, I thought it was just two different ways to spell the same word. Like realise/realize.

Though if there's a post in "realise" then go for it too.

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

>>..."While you've got me focused, any other requests?"

Yeah. Can you play "Ain't Misbehavin'"?

~ D-FensDogg
'Loyal American Underground'

Terra Shield said...

Using semi-colons? I currently only use it to give a winky smile like this ;)

Naina Gupta said...

I think you should cover apostrophes, since very few people know how to use them (or maybe that is just the people I know)

Also I think the "and I/me" is worthy of a post for the same reason as above.

Jessica Bell said...

Yep ... Tell Stephen that he's allowed to capitalize every single word because that's how I imagine he speaks in "roil" life. ;o)

Dylan Fitzgerald said...

GAH! Yes please! Use of subjunctive. As in, "Yesterday, she said that later this week she ___ buy six pairs of shoes."

Will or would? HELP!

DWei said...

No requests from me but don't worry, we understand your lack of content. We all get busy. :)

the late phoenix said...

um...can i set up a personal session with you some time? i've got a boatload of problems to sort out, could take all day.

signed,
meredith brooks

Felt Family said...

Do I have any grammar questions? No, I'm good. Or am I well? I don't know! Please tell me if I am WELL or GOOD, because really I just feel confused!

anthony stemke said...

Great that you are involved with IDEAS.
Always enjoy reading your posts.

JDC said...

Since you said you spent some time in Aus, which spelling for colour do you prefer (color for americans i guess).

Michael J. said...

Hooray! You didn't forget. Besides hypens what about the plain Jane comma? I had a philosophy instructor in college and by god she would red line nearly every comma I put in as - unnecessary. And this was a philosophy paper?? HELP and I will send large sums of money in unmarked bills. :-)

Michael J. said...

Oh lord I have another one Prof'....... And you other writers please don't laugh.

Do quotation marks go OUTSIDE the punctuation mark or INSIDE?

He said, "It is so damn cold outside." Or...........outside".

James Garcia Jr said...

I have no requests for you other than that you continue to stay cool, rock on and be bad-ass!
Sorry I haven't been around as much. Life is crazy, you know!
Have a great weekend!
*waves*

-Jimmy

Amie Kaufman said...

I have a feeling you've done ellipses before, but if you haven't, that's my request!

Deniz Bevan said...

I like the capitalisation idea. Hmm, other stuff... Darn, I'll probably think of something two days from now, in the shower. Oh wait, I know. Ellipses. I use them a lot. Might as well make sure I'm using them correctly...

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new position and love the musical reference to start the post :)

Theresa Milstein said...

As if you weren't busy enough. Good luck balancing everything.

I can't think of a question at the moment. If I do, I'll be back.

Mary Aalgaard said...

What's easier, solving boyfriend issues or comma splices?

Glynis Peters said...

Oh my blog is full of my nightmares today. Well, not all are nightmares. ;0

You are busy, how do you find time to write?

Crystal Pistol said...

I have issues with commas and quotation marks and periods when writing dialogue. I make a mess of things. I really do. ,",. :)

Al Penwasser said...

Is it okay to use apostrophes after a decade number (i.e., 70's, 80's, etc.). I always thought apostrophes showed possession. And the 70's NEVER possessed me! Well, despite those platform shoes and powder blue leisure suits.
So THAT'S why Ashton never returns my calls!

Rockinrule said...

My older sister studied to become a preschool teacher. Is it a rewarding job?

Anonymous said...

I'll read your posts, promptly forget them then send off what I write to my editor. I try, but my brain has other things on its mind.