Compromise? I suppose it must be.
Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 7:45PM Something so bizarre happened to me today. I was writing something. No, that's not it; that's just the context.
I was writing something and it included some words such as, "A large number of people use 2 percent milk, but then pour it on Lucky Charms cereal."
Tell me what's wrong with that sentence, and I will give you a prize.
Here's the bizarre thing: I did it intentionally, and then I left it that way. I knew that, if I corrected it, my audience would stumble over the words and think there was an error.
Let there be no mistake, I would have won the argument before it had even started. But to what end? So the audience would have known I was better at grammar than they are?
This is a serious moment in my life. I decided it was more important for my audience to be comfortable than it was for me to be right. The message for them was not about grammar; it was about health*. I would have failed in my mission if I had obscured that.
* Actually, it was about money, but I thought Lucky Charms would be so much more fun.
Reader Comments (4)
It should be "A large number of people uses 2 percent milk" -- did I win the prize? Sorry for such a late response... it's been that kind of week. But you're right, really would have tripped up the average reader. Wait, am I wrong??
You are right, of course!
I was thinking about this today, and I still kind of hate myself for it. But it's good that I don't hold onto things for too long....
Yes, and thanks for reminding me to do the same. So what's my prize? :)
Starbucks, of course!