I'm on the cover

[Workshopshed]

I got a mention and my photo on the cover of the latest Model Engineers Workshop. Shame they spelt my name wrong but you can't have everything.

[kbalch]

Congrats!! Make sure you get a few copies to save…

Ken

[Workshopshed]

Article with photos came to 5 pages, I'm very happy an early Christmas present.

[Jon]

Impressive! I hope you're framing that and putting it on the workshop wall.

It's shocking how common grammatical errors are. They even misspelled my last name on my driver's license!

[kbalch]

Yep, I see language errors absolutely everywhere. Poor grammar and usage abound, sadly. Like so many fingernails on a chalkboard for me…

Ken

[DIYer]

Congratulations!

[C-Bag]

Way to go Andy, quite an accomplishment!

I just don't get grammatical errors in this day and age. It's why I have spell check on all the time! The bad thing is when I don't watch the corrections this silly iPad does. Looks sometimes like I had a stroke in the middle of the post

[mklotz]

I just don't get grammatical errors in this day and age. It's why I have spell check on all the time! The bad thing is when I don't watch the corrections this silly iPad does. Looks sometimes like I had a stroke in the middle of the post

Spell checkers are only useful for finding a subset of spelling errors - typos that produce a non-word. They're completely useless for correcting grammar errors such as misuse of homonyms (e.g., your and you're, there and they're). The more subtle errors (e.g., using 'that' as a pronoun for people, as in "those people that can't spell") can only be found if you've learned to use your native language correctly.

There's no excuse for not proof-reading what you've written and learning to spell and properly employ common words that you use frequently .

While what I've written applies to everyone IN HIS NATIVE LANGUAGE, I think non-native speakers who attempt to write in English should be given a huge pass. We admire their gumption in trying to learn and use what is arguably one of the most difficult of the western languages.

[C-Bag]

ouch! I resemble that remark.....I should have said spelling errors.

Grammar has always been a weakness of mine. Along with math.

[mklotz]

ouch! I resemble that remark.....I should have said spelling errors.

Grammar has always been a weakness of mine. Along with math.

Ah, yes, difficulties with math. It almost seems that it is a requirement for anyone engaging in the sorts of hobbyist pursuits discussed in online fora.

I attribute the innumeracy of the general public to two primary faults.

First the schools. When they teach at all, they fail to show how math is used in the real world. Students can't understand why they need to discuss what for them is a skill with little perceived practical use.

The second reason is more subtle. Most everything else to which students are exposed is "fuzzy". History can have different interpretations, art is in the eye of the beholder, literature has always been personal, and even language has many features open to personal interpretation. Math, on the other hand, is the first time they are exposed to something that has only one correct interpretation; no amount of argument or literary *****footing will change that. Many students can't deal with that level of absolutism; they feel their freedom is being constrained. As a result they retreat from the subject, never attempt to learn and end up being mentally paralyzed if they have to make change or double a recipe.