And notice where the interesting sentences are coming from.

 

Herb

 

________________________________

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Crow
Sent: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 3:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Mere HS teachers

 

Paul,

I absolutely echo your reaction to "mere"!

The sentence in question was written as part of a description of my
student's pet bulldog.

John

On 3/13/06, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Cynthia,

 

As a fellow HS English (and drama) teacher, I refuse to be "mere" and
hope you will hold such a high opinion of yourself, too. We are a breed
who have to be able to read a billion pages of student writing every
month (more or less) and help all the writers of those pages make them
better. I think there is nothing "mere" about that daunting task -- and
that's only ONE of our required tasks. 

 

Proudly,

 

Paul D.

 

P.S. I agree with your approach to this weird and interesting sentence.

P.P.S. I think the sentence is describing what is called a "burnside."
It's a mutton-chop/moustache combination like that sported by General
Ambrose Burnside of the Civil War era. Does anyone know if that's it? 

 

 


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