Editorial: They should learn to talk proper!

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

I get really upset when they say on the TV news that "less people are able to afford to buy their own home these days".

Yes, it's a shame that home affordability has become such a big problem in New Zealand ... but that's not what's making my blood boil.

It's the incorrect use of the English language, and the fact that telly journalists who should know better are perpetrating it.

Here's the correct version: "Fewer people are able to afford to buy their own home these days". Fewer and less - constantly mangled up.

There are countless crimes against correct language and grammar, so it was heartening to hear about The Apostrophiser, an anonymous linguistic hero who, in the dead of night, goes around shops and businesses correcting their misspellings - usually with the addition or removal of an apostrophe.

This grammatical Banksy goes about righting wrongs in Bristol, UK, of all places, but his fame has spread far and wide.

Now Whanganui has its own grammar vigilante in former teacher Margi Keys who - armed with chalk, marker pen and duster - is getting local signs back on track.

This worthy crusade is gaining momentum and others are picking up their pens, or whatever, and saying: "Enough!"

And there's so much to work on - wandering apostrophes are, of course, a major blight, and don't get me started on the misused and abused comma.

However, I fear that Margi, Mr A, myself and the others may be flying in the face of the old adage - "Never fight a battle you can't win".

In a world gone mad with texting, abbreviations and acronyms, where people make up their own words on the spot and even the TV presenters can't get it right, what hope is there?

Do they even teach grammar in school these days?

The young may well inherit the earth ... but they may not inherit a correctly composed past participle.