Grammer gaffes cast bright minds in dim light

Charter schools are overrated.

That was the motion recently debated in the Intelligence Squared series, a forum that "allows listeners to eavesdrop on the brightest minds," debating a range of current issues.

Arguing for the motion were (not was) two professors. Arguing against the motion were (not was) the founder of an education reform organization and a former commissioner of education.

During their 50-minute, 30-second debate (broadcast by Minnesota Public Radio on March 9), the four distinguished scholars, researchers and educators made a total of 17 grammatical errors.

Not counted were debatable errors such as using data as a singular word. (Data is the plural form of the Latin singular noun datum, but data is commonly used in the singular, as in "The data's not valid" and "The data is not the issue.")

Can you identify and correct their 17 grammatical errors in the numbered sentences below?

Finishing in last place was Speaker A, who in arguing against the motion made seven errors — two dangling modifiers, three errors in pronoun usage and two errors in subject-verb agreement.

1. When we talk about charter schools, we forget the fact that it was created and pushed by teachers.

2. There's things in place ...

3. Having actually worked with real superintendents ... , these are people who dedicated their career ...

4. There's some states that don't provide transportation.

5. There are also public schools who coach kids out and who coach kids in.

6. I may be one of the ones that are ...

7. Having actually lived with people who are concerned about their future, charter schools are an approach ...

In second-to-last place was Speaker B, who in arguing against the motion made six errors — three in pronoun usage and three in subject-verb agreement.

1. There was a whole bunch of people ... that desperately wanted something different.

2. These issues that we are talking about is what we are obsessed with ...

3 & 4. Across the country [are] people like myself, thousands that are literally part of an effort ...

5. There's bad apples everywhere ...

6. These and millions of other data points is what makes up the charter movement ...

Tied for first place were (not was) Speaker C and Speaker D, who in arguing for the motion made two errors each. Two of their four errors were in subject-verb agreement and two were in verb forms (specifically, the past tense used in place of the past participle).

1. The systematic research has showed ...

2. There is many forms of school choice ...

3. There's only five countries that perform better than those two states.

4. I first became involved in charter schools ... soon after they were first began.

The real winner of the debate, however, was moderator John Donvan of ABC news. He had a perfect score of zero errors. Bravo.

Stephen Wilbers offers training seminars in effective business writing. E-mail him at wilbe004@umn.edu. His website is www.wilbers.com.