Self-Introduction Part 1: The Grumpy Grammarian

As stated in my profile, I am a confirmed curmudgeon – which, for those unfamiliar with the term, refers to (according to The American Heritage Dictionary) "an ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions." I have a different definition, however. Curmudgeons are individuals (usually male) who have a penchant for noticing the foibles of the human race (themselves included) and thus develop a pervasive attitude of cynicism and skepticism about almost everything – a viewpoint that we make little effort to conceal. We do not believe in political correctness. We may be grumpy, but at least we aren't hypocritical and dishonest.

I've had a serious interest from a very early age in language and writing, though English is the only language in which I am fluent. Given that my talents in writing are limited and that writing is a very difficult way to make a living, it is natural that I became a teacher of writing and an editor. I've acquired considerable respect for people who write and speak well, while discovering that, unfortunately, most people don't respect the importance and power of language enough to care. That in itself has made me even more of a curmudgeon, and I believe that many grammarians and writers develop curmudgeonly traits.

True, some are gentler than I am with people who abuse the language and refuse to learn how to write and speak correctly. True, the reason I became nicknamed "The Mudge" (short for curmudgeon) probably has as much to do with my low tolerance for stupidity in general as it has to do with my annoyance with the way they mangle English. However, like anyone else, I base my impressions of individuals and of people in general almost as much on what they say and how they say it.

If I did not consider words and language to be important, I would not have spent a large part of my life studying and teaching language and literature. Yet that is not the only reason I am a "verbivore," grammarian, student and teacher of English – whatever label applies. Words hold endless fascination, mystery, and, I dare say, even magic. Difficult as mastery of language may be, those of us who study it inevitably discover that language is fun.

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People who share my views (and even those who don't) are cordially invited to visit my main website, The Grammar Curmudgeon. If you want to discuss language, literature, ESL, education, or any topics of general interest, you are invited to join our community by registering for the five message boards at that site. Registration is free; only a valid e-mail address is required. You are assured of complete anonymity (if you wish); nothing but your screen name is known to other users. I personally approve all applications to the boards as this approach gives me the option of removing troublemakers. So far, I have rarely had to do that. Participants have their disagreements (grammarians can be a feisty bunch), but I watch closely to ensure that courtesy and civility are strictly observed.