h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I got a C at O'level in English language. Possibly because I have weird story structure and never conformed to the norm!

So, average. I worked at improving my understanding of language structure. I have always loved words and what one can do with language anyway so possibly my grade was irrelevant: I was going to iprove my English whatever I got. Having bought grammar books for myself years before the popularist 'Eats Shoots and Leaves' ever got popular. When it came out I did wonder what all the fuss was about. Get 'The Elements of Style' by William Strunk Jr or 'Mind The Stop'. They both helped me.

Something ~i did find doing GCSE spanish is how much about grammer we aren't taught in English. They tried to teach us grammer during spanish due to most of us not knowing the engish equivalent. GCSE english is analysing literature and writing for different mediums. A level is lookin at how engllish is obtained as children and how the language has changed over the years. Thgere is no aspect there where we are taught grammr. I don't think I have been taught any grammer since first school.

If you can write effectively and persuasively in your arguemnts you can get good grades without having a grasp of the language. I was taught to pass the GCSE.

I learnt more about grammer on h2g2 than I ever did at school. I don't remember anyone taking time to teach anything other than basic punctuation for sentances. And paragraphs. Not even at private boarding school do I remember getting any help on grammer. I know what nouns, verbs and adjectives are. Sometimes I wonder what an adverb is as I hear the word but don't really understand it. Sometimes I think I'll try to learn it, bearing in mind I now make my living with words. 'Lapsing into a Comma' doesn't ever go far from my side.

Some words I still can't spell. Sentences for one. Seperately (Separately) is another one. But I generally know which words I have trouble with which gives me the chance to look them up before I post. Sometimes I don't bother - on h2g2 it generally depends on how serious the conversation I am in is.

(This is not a joke I went to a grammar school and we were taught grammar. We had to analyse sentences in the 2nd form till they came out of our ears and our English teachers always explained or commented when we got anything wrong. Learning new languages was easy after that.

Bloomin' smileys. That was SUPPOSED to be a colon and a close bracket.

Certain words I do have to think about, but I have techniques for knowing them, something else that seems to be taught to seven year olds who then forget it.

An example is "There is *a rat* in separate".

Or "Never Eat Cake, Eat Salmon Sandwiches And Remain Young" - Necessary.

Two easy methods of spelling words that people commonly get wrong.

"An example is "There is *a rat* in separate".

Or "Never Eat Cake, Eat Salmon Sandwiches And Remain Young" - Necessary."

It's the a between the p and the r that I usually get wrong, got one for that? Sometimes I think the a looks wrong and change it to an e...

Necessary - one coat and two shows is the one I use.

Just realised what your stars are emphasising.

I never want to be separated from my parachute.

SoRB