“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
Or
“You are never too old to learn.”
To which idiom you subscribed, probably depends on what kind of a dog you are … and possibly, how old of a dog you are. It’s a rarity that I use the canine species to prove a point or even consider one, but as I sit here at the ripe old age of … ≥ 35 ≤ 55 (that equation is for my ≥ 15 ≤ 25 year-old daughter who occasionally reads my blog and also thinks I have forgotten how to compute basic math) … I have been hit with one of those moments that Oprah labels an “Ah ha moment.”
I am a horrible speller. That’s right folks. I am a writer who for years has depended on the much-appreciated availability of spellchecker (yes, that is one word, as is legwarmers for those of you who still don’t believe me). Why am I a horrible speller? I really can’t say. Certainly my “condition” is not for lack of a good education, yet I find I struggle with certain words. Words, I have recently learned, that tend to follow some pretty simple rules, yet, I seem to have forgotten … for instance, did you know the only word in the English language that actually ends with “full” is full? All other words (careful, wonderful, plentiful, skillful, etc.) end if “ful.” Just one of those simple little rules that should be in the forefront of one’s mind rather than the back.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ~ C.S. Lewis
So, this not “too-old” dog is going to focus on one new “rule” this month … be it a spelling rule, grammatical rule, or finally figure out just exactly what a predicate is (that’s a joke people). And then later this month, I’ll do a follow-up post highlighting everything I learn, dedicated to the one and only Jane Straus, author of The Blue Book of Grammar and Education—a resource everyone should have as a shortcut on their desktop, writer or not.
“Irregular verbs require old-fashioned memorization—there are no secret formulas or shortcuts.”
Jane Straus (May 18, 1954 – February 25, 2011
This February is for you Jane. You and I—or is it you and me?
Cover image from Pexels’ free library.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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