Friends:
 
My students and I have been most appreciative of the lively
responses to my query about our problem with "BE supposed to"
and will write a proper thank you after we have a chance to
reflect on them further.  I have had to print them out, as in
this nonresidential college, our students are by and large not
yet on line.  But this has been a great incentive for speeding
that process!
 
Here's another question:  We have become especially interested in
usage issues and the varying considerations that enter into judgments
about "correctness."  We have read Strunk & White, for example
(still, apparently, the layperson's Bible?  anyway, it keeps
popping up in appeals to authority in the NY Times!), and
moved on to the usage manuals.  I will be assigning Joseph
Williams' fine chapter on "correctness" (from 10 Lessons . . .)
and Steven Pinker on "The Language Mavens."  Can you guide me/us
to other recent articles for the non-technical reader that are in
more or less the same class?
 
Thanks again!
 
Carolyn Kirkpatrick
York College/CUNY