Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Don't read this if you think life's too short to worry about punctuation . I've been given a new job description and have been pretty disgusted by the poor punctuation and lack of consistency in it - considering it's been written by the Children and Families Department (ie schools) I'd have thought they could produce a document without any errors . I'm undecided about one phrase, though. Is the apostrophe in the right place? ...... to ensure consistent and appropriate provision of education and care which meets individual pupil's needs. I think it should be pupils'. If the word an was in there, pupil's would be right. Agreed? I'm tempted to send it back marked with all their errors and say I'll sign it when they correct them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Not sure I agree - sorry ! Doesn't 'individual' equate to 'an' - hence meaning one pupil - so pupil's is correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 But it's using 'individual' as an adjective isn't it? I would have said pupils' would be correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I think it needs correcting. Sad we worry over this, but facts must be stated correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstine Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 As the sentence could (and probably should, if they were unsure) have been rendered as 'the needs of individual pupils', then I think that you are right and they are wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Yes, it should be pupils'. Get your punctuation repair kit out and send it back to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I agree, it should say pupils'. I have been shocked by the badly written official notes that have been sent over the years by my daughters' grammar school. Now, have I done that correctly? Both of my daughters have attended the school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 25, 2013 Author Share Posted August 25, 2013 I'm glad you (mostly!) agree. Get your punctuation repair kit out and send it back to them! Love that . I've found 33 errors in an 8 page document. C minus, I think . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 Pupils' without question. You give them what for ANH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 definitely pupils'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 25, 2013 Share Posted August 25, 2013 I've found 33 errors in an 8 page document. C minus, I think . I have been shocked by the badly written official notes that have been sent over the years by my daughters' grammar school. Now, have I done that correctly? Both of my daughters have attended the school. Spot on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 I think their punctuation is incorrect - and I think that the sentence is badly worded. Kirstine's suggestion is better than the original A 'the needs of individual pupils' Alternatively, if they really wanted to stress their care to each individual, then they c/should have said "meets each individual pupil's needs" (the addition of the "each" means that the "pupil's" would be correct). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 OK, as there are others out there as sad as me about language, here are some more examples of their poor use of language . Under the direction of teaching staff and in accordance with the school's behaviour policy and staff training, support the decision made when an individual pupil needs to be removed from the body of the class and spend 'time out' in order to de-escalate unacceptable behaviour and what follow up action is necessary. There's a verb missing. Isn't there? eg restraining pupil's in accordance .... Punctuation repair kit at the ready! eg hill walking, sailing up to once or twice a week and morning pupil's activities/preventing injury; Er, since when was 'morning' a verb ? 'Monitoring' perhaps ? ... throughout the school year for example assist with learning of carols through a range of communication approaches at Christmas assist pupils in making biscuits to sell at school fairs etc. Where do I start . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 OK, as there are others out there as sad as me about language, here are some more examples of their poor use of language . Under the direction of teaching staff and in accordance with the school's behaviour policy and staff training, support the decision made when an individual pupil needs to be removed from the body of the class and spend 'time out' in order to de-escalate unacceptable behaviour and what follow up action is necessary. There's a verb missing. Isn't there? eg restraining pupil's in accordance .... Punctuation repair kit at the ready! eg hill walking, sailing up to once or twice a week and morning pupil's activities/preventing injury; Er, since when was 'morning' a verb ? 'Monitoring' perhaps ? ... throughout the school year for example assist with learning of carols through a range of communication approaches at Christmas assist pupils in making biscuits to sell at school fairs etc. Where do I start . This is dreadful! I am really hoping that this is, in fact, some kind of test and if you DON'T mark it and send it back, you fail on account of your inability to spot poor grammar. Surely......? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I stand corrected - I now agree with you all !! It is all so badly worded, it's difficult to tell if the punctuation is correct (that's my excuse!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 But it's using 'individual' as an adjective isn't it? I would have said pupils' would be correct. I agree... bugbear of mine too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 That is an appalling document. I would be tempted to send it back with corrections (as it is a revised description and I assume you already have the job!) together with another sentence at the bottom "assist in the grammar of the department" A polite letter drawing their attention to the errors might be an idea as presumably the same person will also be sending similar letters to parents. I think punctuation is very important. Sadly we may be losing the art with the texting and emailing generation. I am very proud that my daughters, both in their 20's, send gramatically correct texts and take after me regarding the preservation of the apostrophe Long live the apostrophe (used correctly) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I was going to start up a blog of photos dedicated to the mis-use of apostrophes and bad spelling/grammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Oh please do! Can we all contribute to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 I'd contribute . It might save me shouting "banana's WHAT???" or similar when I drive past an apostrophe/catastrophy sign . I only do that in my car . Sadly, that job description was written by the Children and Families Department (covering the whole of Edinburgh) and must have been sent out to hundreds of Pupil Support Assistants (as we're now known ). I'm biding my time to mention it to the Head Teacher - I don't want to sound like a total swot . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 I'd be getting my red pen out! I'll let you all know when I get the time to set one up and will welcome photos.... or should that be 'photo's' ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 How frustrating. I too would be tempted to correct it, add "ensure standards of grammar and punctuation are upheld", and return it to the sender. Reminds me of the time, many years ago, when a carefully written and punctuated batch of subject reports were checked by a member of the SLT and returned to me with a note attached reading "Please alter report for pupil x due to grammer." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 27, 2013 Author Share Posted August 27, 2013 Oh dear . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Off at a bit of a tangent, I'll admit, but this reminds me of a wonderful end-of-year report I read when I was at school. "The dawn of legibility in this boy's writing has finally revealed his utter inability to spell." Thankfully, it wasn't written about me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 28, 2013 Share Posted August 28, 2013 Off at a bit of a tangent, I'll admit, but this reminds me of a wonderful end-of-year report I read when I was at school. "The dawn of legibility in this boy's writing has finally revealed his utter inability to spell." Thankfully, it wasn't written about me. Very witty! It is very frustating when you are in a new job and not sure how much of a fuss to make of things. Unfortunately I don't always know when to hold back and when I started work for my current employer I set too, pulling apart their policies and asking for them to be corrected. I am now in charge of policy development. Not sure how that happened! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
