A Word on the Words

THIS week I won’t moan about woeful ways with words or pathetically puerile punctuation. Instead, I wish to praise a woman who, for me personally, is a hero.

It is many years since I left Carnoustie High School but I cherish memories of Mrs Law, my inspirational English teacher.

She kindled my lifelong love of language and nurtured my desire to read – I’ve devoured a book a week ever since. She used to say all life’s pleasures were available in books.

I have regretted many times that I didn’t seek her out after I became involved in journalism to pass on my heartfelt thanks.

Though Mrs Law possessed a poet’s mind for delicious words, she also had a sergeant-major’s standard of discipline when it came to punctuation.

Both those things now seem to be missing in young people.

They don’t grimace at a misused apostrophe, they fail to appreciate the beauty in a finely-turned phrase.

I don’t even know Mrs Law’s first name, but I often wonder if her ilk yet stand before a blackboard.

I fervently hope there are still teachers trying to nurture a passion for piercingly expressive prose and respect for the technical rigours of the language in their pupils.

Steve is giving a talk at Dundee Literary Festival on October 23, see literarydundee.co.uk

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