Co-worker’s bad grammar is a cause for concern
Dear Amy: I have a co-worker who has terrible grammar.
Sure, we all make grammar mistakes from time to time, but his is really bad all the time and people are starting to laugh at him or make glances to other team members about it when he makes presentations.
I believe English is his first and only spoken language (we all have our spoken languages documented in case a customer requires specific language help).
However, I don’t think anyone corrects him.
I don’t know him very well, but he is in my business circle. However, he is one level higher than me in the hierarchy.
I hate to see this guy be the butt of co-worker jokes and for people not to take him seriously. He seems like a good worker and is likable.
The only idea I have is to distribute or post a “common grammar mistakes” document and try to tie it in with an acronym guide for all staff members. It still could come across as a targeted message, however; he is the acronym king. Is there a better way to address this, or should I just leave it alone?
—Correct Co-worker
Distributing a list of “common grammar mistakes” might be a good idea for your entire team, certainly if you all interact directly with customers. However, I don’t think this cheat sheet would necessarily have a positive impact on the co-worker who has the biggest problem, because he may not even hear his errors.
Because you describe this person as a rung above you on your professional ladder, it might be seen as insubordinate for you to personally correct him (and of course you should never embarrass him by correcting him publicly).
You should share your concern with your own supervisor. Say, “I’m concerned about ‘Joe’ because his very poor grammar is undermining him with the team. I’m not sure how to help him, but I think somebody should. Can he be offered language coaching?”
Dear Correct: askamy@amydickinson.com Q: We have been so stumped for months. Who played “The Mentalist”? A:
Simon Baker played Patrick Jane, the crime-solving “mentalist” on the CBS drama from 2008 to 2015. You may also remember the Australian Baker from movies such as “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Margin Call.”
Q: Could the boy who played Chip on “My Three Sons” be Bud on “JAG”? Sure looks like him. Who played the other two sons? Are they still acting? A:
Patrick Labyorteaux, who played Bud on “JAG” (and has occasionally reprised the role on “NCIS”) was not even born when “My Three Sons” premiered on ABC in 1960. Stanley Livingston played the original youngest son, Chip Douglas. Tim Considine, then known mainly for his work in Disney productions such as “Spin and Marty,” played oldest son Mike. Another Disney veteran, former Mouseketeer Don Grady, was middle son Robbie. Fred MacMurray was their father, Steve Douglas.
When the series moved from ABC to CBS after five years on the air, Mike married and left the show. But the show still had three sons, with Steve adopting an orphan named Ernie, played by Barry Livingston, Stanley’s younger brother. Barry is the only one of the “sons” still acting, for example on the shows “The Orville,” “Bosch” and “Angie Tribeca.” Considine has focused on writing and photography, especially about automotive topics. Stanley Livingston has been a producer and director but is now reportedly retired.
Grady focused on music, including as composer of Phil Donahue’s theme song, before his death from cancer in 2012.
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The comedy aired briefly on ABC in the summer of 1972 and again in the summer of 1973. It focused on the patrons of a New York City bar that was run by Harry Grant (Gabriel Dell) during the 1972 run and a husband and wife played by Eugene Roche and Anne Meara in 1973. Among the other characters was Peter Panama (Vincent Schiavelli), who was the first openly gay regular character on a TV series, though one accused of fitting negative stereotypes. I have not found it on any platform or format.
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“Bud and Lou” starred Harvey Korman as Bud Abbott and Buddy Hackett as Lou Costello.