L Milton Hankins Poet Rhyme

Grammar Police

“So, who appointed you the grammar police?”
“No one, that’s who!” may your sarcasm increase,
But grammar is important if you seek readership
For readers will pass over you if you don’t give a flip.
Basic language skills are essential for readable writing
Knowing when to use “its” or “it’s” is, frankly, inviting
Using “then” instead of “than” is always an off put
And with your reader gets you off on the wrong foot
“Either requires or,” while “neither requires nor”
I assure you prissy-perfect grammar opens the door
‘Tis true every writer makes the occasional mistake
But you will get high marks if the high road you take
Hone your grammar skills and your poetry will improve,
Readers will rejoice, you’ll have found your groove.

written February 2, 2022

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Bill Baker February 20, 2022 at 10:12 AM Working on it, Milt. Bill

Marikate Kingston February 12, 2022 at 8:55 PM Oh, Milton I fear I am still finding my groove. Thank goodness for Grammarly and spell check. It is a pet peeve of mine however when even famous people and recently an Olympic reporter say "So fun" or "Funner" or the worst, "Way funner" UGH!! The reporter exclaimed to the world the other day, "Mikala has broughten her A-game today" YIKES!

Terry Flood February 3, 2022 at 5:01 PM Scoose me guvvna, is it still okee dokee to do bad gramma for artistic effect, like wot I sometimes does. Being a proppa cockney, it kinda comes nattrel. I do entirely comprehend your well intentioned point though, my good fellow… innit. ;-) Terry Terry Flood February 4, 2022 at 7:14 AM The cash is in the post, Milt. It was used notes you wanted, wasn’t it? ;-) L Milton Hankins February 3, 2022 at 5:23 PM Absolutely, Terry, in my humble opinion; although, sometimes intentional gross violations of grammar should be put in quotation marks. I think you're safe whatever you do, Terry, because everyone knows you are a great poet, period! And, I mean that sincerely.

Rico Leffanta February 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM Countless secretaries have informed me that I don't know anything about English, but now I know that I don't know anything about spellcheck! Aloha! L Milton Hankins February 3, 2022 at 12:23 PM Spellcheck is never a good replacement for knowledge of English grammar because spellcheck can and does frequently get it wrong. Often spellcheck changes what I mean to say, so I have to override it.

Caren Krutsinger February 3, 2022 at 7:58 AM I am persnickety about its and it's. L Milton Hankins February 3, 2022 at 8:55 AM Good. Using them incorrectly drives me up a wall!

John Lawless February 3, 2022 at 3:38 AM ...and as Sr. Aloyisus said in third grade... you have less milk, you have fewer cookies".. L Milton Hankins February 3, 2022 at 8:59 AM Okey-dokey, John. I'm not sure I understand Sr. Aloyisus, but if he says so......

Gershon Wolf February 2, 2022 at 7:55 PM What the fuzz?! ~ Toody & Muldoon L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 8:34 PM C'mon, gw. I love prissy-perfect grammar! Good punctuation, too. What's with the ~~~~~~~s? So defund me! Ha!

I Am Anaya February 2, 2022 at 1:59 PM Laughs, perhaps "The Po Po" means nothing to Ya either! I am so grateful there are those of you who care! You and folks like you here are truly the masters! Right On! And all that. I AM here to learn. Thank you L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 2:14 PM Thank you so much, I Am Anaya, for your thoughtful response to my poem. I hope all of us are here to learn from each other because that makes the site so much better.

Sand Blown February 2, 2022 at 1:14 PM ....your wording says 'grammars police'... ...well in oldt'er days outhouses with bugs were common..and many a gramma-arse caught po lice.....to sum it....shit happens .....that's reality.....random : ) stans sand L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 1:25 PM I have no idea what you are saying, sand blown, so I'll leave it at that!

Andrea Dietrich February 2, 2022 at 1:09 PM Being a grammar teacher, I sure do love this!! I make mistakes . Everyone does, but we can see when someone does not "give a flip" and frankly, it's a real turnoff to me when people who call themselves writers do not really understand grammar. L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 1:23 PM I couldn't agree more, Andrea. When a person sets out to portray him/herself as a poet/writer, he/she needs to learn the tools of the trade. The tricks, too!

Tom Cunningham February 2, 2022 at 12:22 PM I agree Milton, yes we all make the odd mistake and that's why 'polishing' your work helps spot those glaring errors. There's enough online tools and on here too to nip those mistakes in the bud before you present your work for the whole world to see. Tom L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 12:27 PM I couldn't agree more, Tom. I have learned so much reading the poetry here on Poetry Soup. And, I must admit, I now pass over many poets because I simply cannot abide their lack of good language skills. Others I have started passing by because I have no idea what they are saying! Big words simply strung out on the page drive me crazy, but apparently that's a "going" thing because I see them winning contests!

Robert Gorelick February 2, 2022 at 12:20 PM Ain't that true! Once I couldn't spell poet--Now I are one! Agreed! L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 12:30 PM Ur durn tootin,' friend! I love that quote. A longtime friend who retired from years of teaching criminology often said of graduating from the university with a doctorate in criminology, "One day I didn't know what it was, and the next thing I knew I was one!" So true.

Ilene Bauer February 2, 2022 at 11:54 AM as a former english teacher, i am in total agreement, milton! L Milton Hankins February 2, 2022 at 12:15 PM Thanks, Ilene. As one who has championed good grammar all my life, I appreciate your insightful input. I must confess, I will stop reading an otherwise fine poem when I encounter a glaring grammatical error. Too bad that here on Poetry Soup one must be so careful about correcting glaring mistakes. I welcome correction...anytime!