English composition and grammar help

AI Thread Summary
A university student and English tutor, referred to as Evo Child, is offering assistance with English homework, paper reviews, and answering questions. There is interest in creating a dedicated forum for English help on the platform, especially to support non-native speakers and those needing assistance with technical terms. Participants discuss the potential benefits of such a forum, noting that many users could benefit from English language support. The conversation also touches on the challenges some students face in mastering English, including grammar and composition skills. Suggestions for where to post requests for help are made, emphasizing the need for a clear space for English assistance, separate from other subjects. The overall sentiment is positive towards establishing this support system, highlighting its potential value for the community.
Evo
Staff Emeritus
Messages
24,029
Reaction score
3,323
My daughter, Evo Child, is a university student and an English tutor, (her university pays her to tutor other students). She's been tutoring since High School (honors English).

She asked me if I thought anyone at PF would be interested in having help with their English. She will be glad to come here and help with homework, review papers, answer questions, etc...

We don't really have a set place for English help, so I told her I would let people know she's willing to help. So I am asking to see if there would be any interest and let people know she will be glad to help.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Me english does not need any help. Me not interest. Thanks yous.
 
That's a wonderful offer, and something from which people here could benefit. (Yes, I just turned that sentence around to be grammatically correct, even though it's not the normal way people speak. Oh, the pressure! :smile:)

I don't know if things have changed on this issue since I was a mentor, but we used to be fairly lenient about allowing these types of questions to be asked either in "Other sciences" homework help, or in the History and Humanities forum. If she's willing to stick around, maybe a HW Help forum for English could be created. I don't know of any university in the US that let's students escape without at least one course in English literature or expository writing, usually the latter, and usually in Freshman year.

Edit: I had another thought on the topic. Since the "official language of PF" is English, perhaps that even better justifies having a HW help forum for English. Students from non-English-speaking countries who wish to participate here might also appreciate having a forum where they can learn English, especially if they can get help with more technical terms than they might get in their courses.
 
I speakish not de Anglish so good. Fourword I be antipicating conecshion wid the beatifful yung gurl whose you refirs too. :-p
 
Moonbear said:
That's a wonderful offer, and something from which people here could benefit. (Yes, I just turned that sentence around to be grammatically correct, even though it's not the normal way people speak. Oh, the pressure! :smile:)

Actually, only uptight prescriptivists insist that sentences should not end with a preposition. For the rest of the English-speaking world, it's perfectly acceptable and correct usage.
 
I went to walmart today that was being renovated for months. I did not understand the reason behind the renovation, the old one was just fine. Needless to say, I was astonished to find a new department selling steaks, fish, apples and oranges. They even built a new bakery. It's great now, we like variety.
 
negitron said:
Actually, only uptight prescriptivists insist that sentences should not end with a preposition. For the rest of the English-speaking world, it's perfectly acceptable and correct usage.

Ending sentences with prepositions is a practice up with which we must not put!
 
Did someone post in the wrong thread?

EDIT: not you, Lisa!
 
A woman I work with started back to school to get her Masters degree. One of her classes had an online portion. She became so upset at the spelling and grammer in the posts that she had to schedule a special appointment with the dean just to rant.

Now she's teaching remedial English for grad students. :smile:

Now she really knows how dumb some of these people are! :smile:

She mentioned a John F Kennedy quote and one of the students asked if he was dead. When she gave a stunned reply of yes, the student complained that she didn't think it was right to quote dead people.
 
  • #10
It's possible that I might need some help with my English. How good looking is the tutor?

Don't hit me Evo, you know I kid around. Yikes here comes my wife.
 
  • #11
*Hands an ice pack to Jimmy*

I'm not sure who got you first, your wife or Evo, but somehow, I'm sure you're in need of that ice right now. :smile:
 
  • #12
Moonbear said:
That's a wonderful offer, and something from which people here could benefit. (Yes, I just turned that sentence around to be grammatically correct, even though it's not the normal way people speak. Oh, the pressure! :smile:)
I stopped using proper English when a guy I dated said I sounded like I was in a Shakespearean play. :frown:

I don't know if things have changed on this issue since I was a mentor, but we used to be fairly lenient about allowing these types of questions to be asked either in "Other sciences" homework help, or in the History and Humanities forum. If she's willing to stick around, maybe a HW Help forum for English could be created. I don't know of any university in the US that let's students escape without at least one course in English literature or expository writing, usually the latter, and usually in Freshman year.

Edit: I had another thought on the topic. Since the "official language of PF" is English, perhaps that even better justifies having a HW help forum for English. Students from non-English-speaking countries who wish to participate here might also appreciate having a forum where they can learn English, especially if they can get help with more technical terms than they might get in their courses.
I know from reading posts that many members could use help, but we've never had a single place they could go and know they'd get serious help.

Perhaps GD was not the place to ask this. :frown:
 
  • #13
negitron said:
Did someone post in the wrong thread?

EDIT: not you, Lisa!

I know :smile:...I saw it too, but it's been taken care of. Oops...I mean the care of it has been taken :rolleyes:.

So Evo, does your daughter have any experience with English as second language students?
 
  • #14
lisab said:
So Evo, does your daughter have any experience with English as second language students?
Yes she does, and that's something she would like to help with here.
 
  • #15
negitron said:
Did someone post in the wrong thread?

EDIT: not you, Lisa!

It was a metaphor. Or a simile. I forget which. I guess I'll ask EvoChild... :biggrin:

waht said:
I went to walmart today that was being renovated for months. I did not understand the reason behind the renovation, the old one was just fine. Needless to say, I was astonished to find a new department selling steaks, fish, apples and oranges. They even built a new bakery. It's great now, we like variety.
 
  • #16
Moonbear said:
Edit: I had another thought on the topic. Since the "official language of PF" is English, perhaps that even better justifies having a HW help forum for English. Students from non-English-speaking countries who wish to participate here might also appreciate having a forum where they can learn English, especially if they can get help with more technical terms than they might get in their courses.

I think that's a great point, Moonbear.
 
  • #17
Evo said:
Yes she does, and that's something she would like to help with here.

I would frequently help ESL students when I was in college...I often found their knowledge of grammar rules was more extensive than mine :redface:. It's quite different from teaching native speakers.

Kudos to her for volunteering!
 
  • #18
Evo said:
I stopped using proper English when a guy I dated said I sounded like I was in a Shakespearean play. :frown:

:smile: :smile: :smile: oh my goodness... "who doth pay unto this bill for yon expensive restaurant"
 
  • #19
I think my sister would be interested, I’ll tell her about that. thanks for sharing
 
  • #20
Moonbear said:
Edit: I had another thought on the topic. Since the "official language of PF" is English, perhaps that even better justifies having a HW help forum for English. Students from non-English-speaking countries who wish to participate here might also appreciate having a forum where they can learn English, especially if they can get help with more technical terms than they might get in their courses.

and I’m thinking that the mentor of this English forum will be fitted well to the one and only PFer, that will be ….:biggrin:
 
  • #21
berkeman said:
It was a metaphor. Or a simile. I forget which. I guess I'll ask EvoChild... :biggrin:
Hrm. I might have been an metaphor or possibly an allegory but definitely not a simile. A simile is the comparison of two objects unlike things often using the words "like" or "as".

Pretty as a picture -- simile

What waht wrote. Dunno. It's as poorly punctuated shopping experience account, as best I can tell. :smile:

As to the OP question, I think an English help section would be nifty keen.
 
Last edited:
  • #22
GeorginaS said:
Hrm. I might have been an metaphor or possibly an allegory but definitely not a simile. A simile is the comparison of two objects unlike things often using the words "like" or "as".

Pretty as a picture -- simile

What waht wrote. Dunno. It's as poorly punctuated shopping experience account, as best I can tell. :smile:

As to the OP question, I think an English help section would be nifty keen.

(I was kidding... The post was an artistic metaphor! Walmart metaphors are common in the literature, I hope you know.)
 
  • #23
Walmart started out small, and now they sell just about anything, it's an excellent metaphor.

What started out as an innocent little physics/maths forums now encompasses many disciplines in science. Now we are about to squeeze in an English help subsection.

Anybody finds it odd having to go to physicsforums for English help?

but still it's a great idea
 
  • #24
berkeman said:
(I was kidding... The post was an artistic metaphor! Walmart metaphors are common in the literature, I hope you know.)


I guessed that waht was on about something. I was examining the micro rather than the macro, though. Now, common in what/whose literature, and why do you hope I know that bit of supposed information?
 
  • #25
Evo chlid, here?:!)
Yes, we definitely need help!:smile:
 
  • #26
On the net I don't comment on peoples' spelling and grammatical errors unless it would be funny or have some other point. None the less, I see merit in this proposed forum. Too bad my wife won't be able to take advantage though. English is her third language.
 
  • #27
waht said:
Anybody finds it odd having to go to physicsforums for English help?

but still it's a great idea

Is it any odder than having to go to physics forum for dating advice? :smile:



GeorginaS said:
I guessed that waht was on about something. I was examining the micro rather than the macro, though. Now, common in what/whose literature, and why do you hope I know that bit of supposed information?


Walmart is in at least one movie. Haven't you ever seen the movie about the Walmart baby? (Where the Heart Is)
 
  • #28
Lisa! said:
Evo chlid, here?

No, Evo child there. *points in Evo's direction*
 
  • #29
BobG said:
Is it any odder than having to go to physics forum for dating advice? :smile:

not if we're going to be dating beautiful tutors
 
  • #30
She used to tutor math whizes in high school. They would tell her math was so beautiful, so logical, but they just couldn't get comp.
 
  • #31
BobG said:
Walmart is in at least one movie. Haven't you ever seen the movie about the Walmart baby? (Where the Heart Is)

Um, sorry, I'm not trying to be obtuse, but how does that support the contention that WalMart metaphors are common in literature? Or is there chain-yanking going on here? I can't quite pin this down. I'm a naive sort. :smile:

I used to tutor other kids in my classes when I was in high school and have volunteered as an adult literacy tutor for a number of years. It's more than surprising how many people make it out of school but have poor language skills. And given how important they are particularly in personal presentation when the only representation someone has of you are your words on paper (or pixels on a screen) I value it as a skill worth honing and information worth sharing. So why wouldn't someone appeal to an academically-inclined website for well-rounded assistance? You can't craft a solid research grant without those skills.

I've found similar situations, Evo, where people are math or science whizzes who can't seem to grasp the nuances or rules for written communication. Conversely, math is an all-out battle for me -- I can get it, but it takes quite a bit of doing -- whereas English soaks up naturally.
 
Last edited:
  • #32
GeorginaS said:
Um, sorry, I'm not trying to be obtuse, but how does that support the contention that WalMart metaphors are common in literature? Or is there chain-yanking going on here? I can't quite pin this down. I'm a naive sort. :smile:

When Shakespeare said...

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

... he was referring to buying generic drugs from Walmart at a much lower price than the name brands.

(His premise is false, by the way. People's perception of things is greatly influenced by the words used to describe it - something English speakers sometimes miss since our nouns have no gender. Likewise, the placebo effect will often result in Tylonel bringing faster pain relief than the generic acetaminophen medication.)
 
  • #33
I think it's a great suggestion for a new forum, not only to assist non-native speakers, but also to enable people to polish up grammatical errors from things like graduate application essays, etc etc.

It's a very generous offer from the Evo child to help in such a way. (I imagine there are some other members who could also help out.)

I don't think it would be good as a subforum in the homework forum, though, since that is under the name "Science Education", and such a forum will likely get hidden in there. Maybe as a subsection of GD? Hey, we could always replace P&WA :wink:
 
  • #34
BobG said:
When Shakespeare said...

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

... he was referring to buying generic drugs from Walmart at a much lower price than the name brands.

(His premise is false, by the way. People's perception of things is greatly influenced by the words used to describe it - something English speakers sometimes miss since our nouns have no gender. Likewise, the placebo effect will often result in Tylonel bringing faster pain relief than the generic acetaminophen medication.)

Wow, again, sorry, I'm entirely lost. waht wrote this:

I went to walmart today that was being renovated for months. I did not understand the reason behind the renovation, the old one was just fine. Needless to say, I was astonished to find a new department selling steaks, fish, apples and oranges. They even built a new bakery. It's great now, we like variety.

I don't see the first thing about generic drug purchasing in there.

berkeman wrote
(I was kidding... The post was an artistic metaphor! Walmart metaphors are common in the literature, I hope you know.)

I don't see generic drugs there either.

Let me try this avenue, then. Are you, Bob, suggesting to me that the "Walmart metaphors in literature" comment means that the word "Walmart" can be liberally substituted for stories containing a similar or parallel characters or places or objects who have a like definition for "Walmart's" business practises? (Okay, I can barely unravel that sentence. Good luck to you! :biggrin:)

I'll go with that, to a point. What that has to do with one lone movie, I don't know. I'm also not sure what that has to do with renovations and a bakery. But, I'll leave this alone and live with my lack of Walmart literary references. :smile:
 
  • #35
Stop it, stop it! My abs hurt. Owieee!

OMG, I'm ROTFLMAO. I need some popcorn...
 
  • #36
cristo said:
I think it's a great suggestion for a new forum, not only to assist non-native speakers, but also to enable people to polish up grammatical errors from things like graduate application essays, etc etc.

It's a very generous offer from the Evo child to help in such a way. (I imagine there are some other members who could also help out.)

I don't think it would be good as a subforum in the homework forum, though, since that is under the name "Science Education", and such a forum will likely get hidden in there. Maybe as a subsection of GD? Hey, we could always replace P&WA :wink:
So, I'm wondering where I should post this so that I get some serious responses? As was pointed out to me, GD is the last place I should have posted this, since most people needing help probably aren't looking in GD.
 
  • #37
Feedback forum would be the next step. Greg's on vacation though, I think...
 
  • #38
I was trying to be serious when I said I thought it was valuable, Evo. (Not that my opinion counts for a whole bunch.) Evidently I unintentionally amuse berkeman. I'm not sure if I should curtsy or smack him across the back of the head.

Anyway, Forum Feedback and Announcements seems as if it might be a good place for the suggestion. I think.
 
  • #39
GeorginaS said:
I was trying to be serious when I said I thought it was valuable, Evo. (Not that my opinion counts for a whole bunch.) Evidently I unintentionally amuse berkeman. I'm not sure if I should curtsy or smack him across the back of the head.

Anyway, Forum Feedback and Announcements seems as if it might be a good place for the suggestion. I think.
Yours was one of the serious responses, and I appreciated it. I don't know if feedback will reach the right people either.

I'm trying to reach the people that come here for help. A LOT need English help, but I don't want to spam the homework forum. Help with English hasn't been offered here before and in the past we referred them to forums for that, but it makes sense to offer it here.
 
  • #40
Evo said:
Yours was one of the serious responses, and I appreciated it. I don't know if feedback will reach the right people either.

I'm trying to reach the people that come here for help. A LOT need English help, but I don't want to spam the homework forum. Help with English hasn't been offered here before and in the past we referred them to forums for that, but it makes sense to offer it here.

Especially for ESL speakers (well, writers), having a forum with people familiar with technical terms from very specialized fields may be helpful. Evo Child may need some assistance in those cases.
 
  • #41
Evo said:
So, I'm wondering where I should post this so that I get some serious responses? As was pointed out to me, GD is the last place I should have posted this, since most people needing help probably aren't looking in GD.

I'm pretty sure just about everyone in GD needs help!

I'm just not sure what kind of help we need.
 
  • #42
lisab said:
Especially for ESL speakers (well, writers), having a forum with people familiar with technical terms from very specialized fields may be helpful. Evo Child may need some assistance in those cases.
That's what I was thinking, here they can get both.
 
  • #43
GeorginaS said:
Evidently I unintentionally amuse berkeman. I'm not sure if I should curtsy or smack him across the back of the head.

You could try a little of each and then go with the one that works best. :biggrin:

I think either here or feedback is fine (or you could put it in Philosophy...there are plenty of people posting here who REALLY need help writing coherent sentences). The silly banter just helps keep it toward the top anyway, so more of the people who could benefit can see it. :biggrin:

More importantly, we should figure out where the people who want to seek help should post their questions, at least until a final decision is made whether or not to create a whole new subforum for it somewhere.
 
  • #44
I never imagined that walmart would generate such responses like a tree of a fractal that grew from a single seed. If people got offended on the way, I'm terribly sorry.
 
  • #45
I remember about 5-8 GD threads were created in last 1 yr or so specifically asking for help in English and lots of people helped the OP very enthusiastically.

About 1 or 2 asked for help in translating another language poem/song meaning to English. I don't think they were received any attention or if OP was helped successfully.
 
  • #46
rootX said:
I remember about 5-8 GD threads were created in last 1 yr or so specifically asking for help in English and lots of people helped the OP very enthusiastically.

About 1 or 2 asked for help in translating another language poem/song meaning to English. I don't think they were received any attention or if OP was helped successfully.

Right, I remember some of those posts. Well keep in mind, I don't think what we're discussing here is translation, but rather refining a rough draft (of English) into polished, professional English.
 
  • #47
waht said:
I never imagined that walmart would generate such responses like a tree of a fractal that grew from a single seed. If people got offended on the way, I'm terribly sorry.

I just googled Walmart Fractal, and got a single hit. Amazing. o:)
 
  • #48
Moonbear said:
More importantly, we should figure out where the people who want to seek help should post their questions, at least until a final decision is made whether or not to create a whole new subforum for it somewhere.

How about right off the top level of the forums? "English and Translation Help"
 
  • #49
berkeman said:
How about right off the top level of the forums? "English and Translation Help"
That might look more like it's for teaching English than for composition and grammar help for students.
 

Similar threads

English Honorifics (or smth) for translation of a story
Replies
8
Views
1K
Can Kids with Violent Temptations Be Real?
Replies
3
Views
1K
How Did a Teacher in Laos Handle Plagiarism in a Communal Culture?
Replies
4
Views
2K
Need help from FUNNY people (creating a game for my students)
Replies
7
Views
2K
COVID Common sense question about COVID and quarantining
Replies
10
Views
2K
How to help an old lady (dementia / Alzheimer's)
Replies
6
Views
2K
What can I say about this dentist light lens?
Replies
2
Views
2K
Having extremely hard time letting go (serious viewers only)
Replies
14
Views
3K
I've been feeling lost as of late.
Replies
6
Views
2K
I feel like I worry more than necessary.
Replies
5
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top