Comments on: Crucial Conversations about Grammar https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/ VitalSmarts is now Crucial Learning Sat, 27 Nov 2021 13:09:01 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 By: Donna Bitely https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-7930 Sat, 27 Nov 2021 13:09:01 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-7930 How do you have this conversation with someone who is dealing with early dementia?

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By: evoc https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1785 Sun, 02 Oct 2016 19:53:01 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1785 In reply to Ann I..

Read children’s books. Read a variety of books. Read aloud so you can hear the way proper grammar sounds.
Listen to news on the radio, and watch news on the television. Read newspapers, magazines.
Play grammar and language games on the computer, or on your phone.
Commit yourself to changing this and you will.

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By: Ann I. https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1784 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 23:23:52 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1784 In reply to Pat Bellace.

I am so grateful to read your post on this grammar issue and you are absolutely correct. I feel your post was directed it me and it is difficult to change this grammar thing around, like you said “is deeply embedded in a person’s brain.” How do one change this if it’s not Dyslexia. Any help?

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By: Ken Bussey https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1783 Sat, 28 Jul 2012 03:20:14 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1783 When I was in college, Pat Bellace was one of my professors. She was a “hard” teacher, but one of the best I ever had. I will always be thankful for the “hard” teachers I had. Pat, wherever you are, thanks.

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By: editor https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1782 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:46:43 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1782 @PreferAnon You’re right. We have to shorten the questions we receive to save space, so the question you read in the newsletter and on the blog might be slightly different than the question we received.

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By: PreferAnon https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1781 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 20:12:53 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1781 As the initator of this particular question I’d just like to add a few comments. First, the crucial conversation went very, very well and I thank Vital Smarts for their help! Second, the use of “their” was simply the best way I thought of to use and not reveal whether the individual is a man or a woman. Granted, the way it is written now is much better! Third, and possibly most important… Our friends at Vital Smarts have (slightly) altered my question. Mostly shortened it up and I would guess they shortened it up to save print space, which is to be expected in this venue. So my point is that what we read in the questions given, is not always exactly what was originally written.

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By: Kathy Mackintosh https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1780 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:42:14 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1780 I agree with the suggestions that a learning disability is a strong possibility. While having someone available to review written materials/e-mails might be an option, a more empowering one would be to make tools available that help this employee make these improvements on their own. Use of a speech-to-text program such as Dragon Naturally Speaking would take care of the examples you’ve described and allow this employee to take responsibility and ownership of their work.

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By: david martin https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1779 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:31:32 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1779 i have seen many bad comments here from people that say that its a bit complicated for them, actually i have found that the best way to correct and improve your grammar is just to keep practice, and if you can, so try also talking with people during the day…

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By: Jim Zien https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1778 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:03:49 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1778 Does anyone on your team have suggestions for holding a crucial conversation with an employee regarding THEIR [should be: HIS or HER, as THEIR is a plural possessive!] grammar and spelling in written communications?

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By: Eleanor Mallony https://cruciallearning.com/blog/crucial-conversations-about-grammar/#comment-1777 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:52:28 +0000 http://www.crucialskills.com/?p=882#comment-1777

Pat Bellace :As a former English professor (in the private sector now for 25+ years), I would like to add a note of caution. Grammar — correct or incorrect — is deeply embedded in a person’s brain. The origins are what we heard in childhood, and the patterns have been reinforced a million times over by the time a person reaches adulthood. In this case, very poor early schooling may also have been an issue. Not to recognize the difference between rough and ruff is not just a spelling issue. It’s a fundamental word recognition issue. Very simply, it is very, very difficult for an adult to change these things. You are asking the person to “rewire” his or her brain. Certainly the issue should be addressed. Certainly help and tools should be offered. BUT in the interests of the organization, it might also be helpful to identify someone who would be willing — discretely and with confidentiality — to review this person’s written work before it is sent out.

Your last sentence says a lot about the idea in business that educated, trained administrative assistants or secretaries are not needed any more. After many, many years, I finally have a job wherein I go over the letters my boss sends out and fix them before they go out. Too many employers want to “cheap out” by cutting secretarial/clerical jobs.

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