LETTER : Ignorance has the last word

Monday 23 June 1997 23:02 BST

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: May we return to the matter raised by Walter Roberts ("Grammarians Weep", 14 June), about which I have a question: are there any people who, having been taught to speak grammatically, then decide arbitrarily to ignore the rules they learnt and make up their own, and follow the example of those who have not had their advantage? I think not.

The people whose speech is lamented by Mr Roberts (among others) are unfortunate enough never to have been taught the rules in the first place. If we are invited to see this usage as a "rich and fascinating phenomenon" (Letters, 16 June) and adopt it, then ignorance has the last word. A bleak prospect indeed.

SHEELAGH FLAWN

East Preston, West Sussex

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

LETTER : Ignorance has the last word

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering