In the Mailbox
T.S. Causabon's online review of Ten Ways to Tighten Your Prose: A Systematic Approach to Improvement by Susan Ioannou contains a double inaccuracy.1. Causabon writes: "Ioannou encourages writers to begin sentences with gerund phrases."
Not true. In the passage referred to, Ioannou says nothing about how to begin a sentence. Instead the point is to urge writers to "Dramatize the moment slipping by," using a gesture such as "Twisting her handkerchief'" Ioannou makes this intention clear: "The added gesture shows, not tells. The reader can see time pass." Causabon has misread the passage.
2. Causabon complains that Ioannou "relies on a level of knowledge about formal grammar that many high-school students simply won't have. Ioannou uses 'active voice' and 'passive voice' without defining the terms, for example, and uses 'pluperfect' as though everyone knows what it means."
What a sad (if inaccurate) comment on the state of English teaching today, particularly in conjunction with Causabon's own lack of grammatical knowledge. In the example quoted, "Twisting her handkerchief, she headed down the lane," Causabon wrongly identifies "twisting" as a "gerund," when in fact it is a present participle.
Susan Ioannou
Table of Contents
Volume III Number 11January 31, 1997
Book Reviews
The Pink Hare.
- Jeanne Willis. Illustrated by Ken Brown.
- Review by Naomi Gerrard.
- Preschool - grade 2 / Ages 3 - 7.
- Review by Naomi Gerrard.
- Cookie Count & Bake: A Cookbook and Cutter
Set.
- Debora Pearson. Illustrated by Jane Kurisu.
- Review by Leslie Millar.
- Preschool and up / Ages 3 and up.
- Review by Leslie Millar.
- Paper Fabric Book
and Fun Kit.
Fantastic Jewels. - Jane Fleetwood-Morrow and Jaclyn Shoub. Illustrated by Bill Kimber.
- Review by Harriet Zaidman.
- Grades 2 - 7 / Ages 7 - 12.
- Review by Harriet Zaidman.
- Paper Fabric Book
and Fun Kit.
Fabulous Doll Fashions. - Jane Fleetwood-Morrow and Catherine Heard. Illustrated by Bill Kimber..
- Review by Harriet Zaidman.
- Grades 2 - 7 / Ages 7 - 12.
- Review by Harriet Zaidman.
- The Victorian Home.
- Bobbie Kalman. Illustrated by Barbara Bedell.
- Review by Gary Robertson.
- Grades 2 - 8 / Ages 7 - 13.
- Review by Gary Robertson.
- Rosemary for Remembrance.
- Sonia Craddock.
- Review by Joan Payzant.
- Grades 4 - 7 / Ages 9 - 12.
- Review by Joan Payzant.
- Falling Through the Cracks.
- Lesley Choyce.
- Review by Irene Gordon.
- Grades 7 - 10 / Ages 12 - 15.
- Review by Irene Gordon.
- Take My Words: A Wordaholics Guide to the English
Language.
- Howard Richler.
- Review by Mark Morton.
- Grades 8 and up / Ages 13 and up.
- Review by Mark Morton.
- Almonte's Brothers of the Wind. R. Tait McKenzie and
James Naismith.
- Frank Cosentino.
- Review by Thomas F. Chambers.
- Grades 10 and up / Ages 15 and up.
- Review by Thomas F. Chambers.
- Science Lessons.
- W. H. New.
- Review by Deborah Mervold.
- Grades 11 and up / Ages 16 and up.
- Review by Deborah Mervold.
- The Day Marlene Dietrich Died.
- Rachel Wyatt.
- Review by Deborah Mervold.
- Adult.
- Review by Deborah Mervold.
Video Review
- Resolving Conflict Creatively.
- Negotiation, Conflict Mediation.
- Review by Gary Sova.
- Grades 7 - 12 / Ages 12 - 17.
- Review by Gary Sova.
e-mail:
cm@umanitoba.ca