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Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2012 07:55:47 -0400
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: What's Wrong with This Picture?
To: [log in to unmask]

I was reading an article in the NCLE SmartBrief about research that purported to establish a link between texting and grammar skills.  The researchers concluded that the more students text, the weaker their grammar skills are.  A link in the article took me to an article in the L.A. Times with more details, including this little gem, and I quote:
The researchers had kids from ages 10 to 14 take a little grammar test. And it turned out that those who sent or received texts recently performed worse on the exam. Here's a sample of the questions, so you can test yourself -- or your kids -- to see how the text saturation has affected your grammar. 
1. During the flood, we (dranked, drank, drunk, drunked) bottled water.
2. Fortunately, Jim’s name was (accepted, excepted) from the roster of those who
would have to clean bathrooms because he was supposed to go downtown to
(accept, except) a reward for the German Club.
3. I don’t know how I could (lose, loose) such a big dress. It is so large that it is
(lose, loose) on me when I wear it!
4. (Its, It’s, Its’) an honor to accept the awards certificates and medals presented to
the club.
5. Worried, and frayed, the old man paced the floor waiting for his daughter.
(Correct/Incorrect)
The answers: 1. drank; 2. excepted, accept; 3. lose, loose; 4. It's; 5. incorrect (it should be "afraid").
(Source:  http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-texting-ruining-kids-grammar-skills-20120801,0,1365582.story)

Really?!  Three out of the five sample questions have nothing to do with grammar--they are spelling issues.  Furthermore, as any basic course in statistics will emphasize, one cannot infer causality from correlations.  If this is the kind of research that is informing our educators, God help us!

John

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