Helping Mylotters with their English
@allknowing (130066)
India
September 4, 2011 12:49am CST
Many myLotters are eager to improve their English but guidelines do not encourage this. There should be some change made here. I often get the urge to help but hesitate for the same reason. For example one does not use one's hands for eating but fingers are used. They are not utensils but cutlery that is used while eating food. I could go on and on but.....
4 people like this
9 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
4 Sep 11
I am English but I would never offer my services in teaching it to others as I am so aware that I don't know enough about it myself.
Often someone will ask why such and such a thing is said like it is, instead of in another manner and I have no idea what the 'rule' is so I could never explain it. I just know that it feels right to say it so I do.
Did you see this interest?
http://www.mylot.com/w/lists/13_552526/default.aspx
You might want to add something there.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
4 Sep 11
There is no violation involved if the users ask to be corrected and guided, as you can see in that interest. It is when we 'target' those who are doing their best using English that they are unfamiliar with, that we cross to the wrong side of the fence.
3 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
4 Sep 11
If someone gives wrong information on other issues no one asks that they be corrected. It should apply to this area as well I feel. This is just a suggestion. There is no binding on anyone but it is a gesture that can certainly help.
2 people like this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
4 Sep 11
To the extent that you are able to I suppose you could and some cases are crystal clear. When it comes to English Grammar there are definite rules. Just as we share and learn about other issues here and even correct if someone has given wrong information I thought it would be in order if this area could also be covered.But at present it is a guidelines violation.
I would be forever grateful if someone did that to me. As learning is a never ending process and I would not mind where it came from.
2 people like this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
4 Sep 11
I guess we all need to help each other and not to feel offended when aids are offered. Ironically, people who used half baked English excel better than those who are proficient in this language. I myself is not good in this language but as long as I have all the grammars in the right order and others can understand my written words, I need not worry as we are not expected to write journalistic English here.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
5 Sep 11
myLot is a place to share and learn which helps all of us in our life and improving one's English could be yet another area but unless one points out our mistakes how is one to know that there are mistakes? And this is what is not allowed here. I would be happy if they pointed out my mistakes because as for me I will never stop learning whatever be it and it matters little who teaches me. My pet Preiti has taught me a thing or two!
@crossbones27 (48417)
• Mojave, California
4 Sep 11
You know they don't care. I think that is how you get by in life stop caring
2 people like this
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
4 Sep 11
Just a little bit of educating....handful of eatables,from hand to mouth, eating by hand------ the expressions have gained much prominence and acceptance in the English language scenario.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
5 Sep 11
What you see in my topic is related to when someone has food at the table.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
5 Sep 11
What happens when what you are correcting is actually an acceptable usage of the word or phrase? For example, you said that you are not eating with your hands but rather your fingers. For the most part this is technically correct. However, your fingers are a part of your hand not to mention that depending upon what you are eating often times your palm is also used, so saying hand is just as acceptable as saying fingers. It is the same with cutlery versus utensils. Cutlery are a type of utensil, just as a fork is a specific type of cutlery or eating utensil.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
5 Sep 11
One can always have an exchange of opinions purple - which could turn into a healthy discussion.The one who points out should be prepared to accept others' views and stand corrected if necessary. My main point here is that we should be allowed to point out if we come across anything that could be corrected and start a healthy interaction there. All of us will stand to gain.
1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
5 Sep 11
Alright, you have just proven your point very well!
You did not argue with me, even though I pointed out the fact that I believe that either usage would be correct. Instead, you remained focused on the fact that we can all learn from our interactions with each other. If you had disagreed with me and pointed out why you believed you were right, then I think that would have also proven the exact same thing, because I do not think you would have been offended, rude or upset in your reply. I actually agree with you on this, and I was trying to show how it could be done within the Guidelines and without any controversy or anyone getting offended. An exchange of ideas, even when the parties do not agree on the subject matter, is definitely a healthy debate, in my opinion, as long as everybody remains appropriate and respectful.
You did not argue with me, even though I pointed out the fact that I believe that either usage would be correct. Instead, you remained focused on the fact that we can all learn from our interactions with each other. If you had disagreed with me and pointed out why you believed you were right, then I think that would have also proven the exact same thing, because I do not think you would have been offended, rude or upset in your reply. I actually agree with you on this, and I was trying to show how it could be done within the Guidelines and without any controversy or anyone getting offended. An exchange of ideas, even when the parties do not agree on the subject matter, is definitely a healthy debate, in my opinion, as long as everybody remains appropriate and respectful.@allknowing (130066)
• India
5 Sep 11
. I hope Admin will visit this discussion and give us a green signal and then we can have a nice session on the utensils and hands! 
@allknowing (130066)
• India
4 Sep 11
If you have seen in my topic I have not mentioned names. You too could contribute.This way we are not offending anyone but do take part in an activity that could help many here.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130066)
• India
5 Sep 11
It is not just you but all of us together. Unless someone points out we would not know if we have made a mistake and that is what is not allowed here. I want that to happen and so all of us including me could benefit. 
@allknowing (130066)
• India
7 Sep 11
It depends how it is done. It is an interest by itself and here when one correction is made there will be several others who would also benefit by it.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Sep 11
hi allknowing . but all the guidelines say is not to make fun of those who are trying to learn English,it does not say we cannot
offer help if we do so in a kind way,not making the other feel
bad just offering help in different ways if they wish it. I have often said to those who talk about problems in using English I am always open to help if they wish to private message me. Just as long as we do not come off being critical and snobbish, there's nothing wrong with offering help if they ask. But fingers are on hands and I am an English major, I have often said I too use my hands to eat chicken, the fingers being already understood.I am born In America and am an American using English all my long life,. Sure to be really really correct you can say you use your fingers but hands are also acceptable. I would not just jump in and be critical of those who have English as a second language as that's not the way to go about helping someone.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
5 Sep 11
No one will know the kind of mistakes they have made unless someone points them out to them. It is this I feel could be allowed. All of us would benefit from it including me. Having been brought up in an environment where we were taught to use right words at the right place I thought this could be an example. But much water has flown down the bridge since my last English class (lol) and I suppose one could adopt or adapt to whatever is 'in'. And talking about English being the second language for some given the right environment they could excel here.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
4 Sep 11
I have already covered what you want to know in my comments above and repeating is not encouraged here.
1 person likes this
@sjvg1976 (41131)
• Delhi, India
5 Sep 11
Hello allknowing,
I have a point here to say that i am not good in ENGLISH and i think my English has been improved a bit since i joined MYLOT but its not that it improved as someone taught me to write here but by writing responses and reading responses it got improved.And i feel i am not violating guidelines by doing it.Am i allknowing???
I have a point here to say that i am not good in ENGLISH and i think my English has been improved a bit since i joined MYLOT but its not that it improved as someone taught me to write here but by writing responses and reading responses it got improved.And i feel i am not violating guidelines by doing it.Am i allknowing???
@allknowing (130066)
• India
6 Sep 11
If I point out your mistakes then I will be violating the guidelines.
