I Can't Help It, Stuff Just Comes Out of My Mouth

The circumstances surrounding the incident are irrelevant, but today during one of my classes a student asked me how to spell the word "divorce." As an English teacher and would-be cultural emissary, and as an idiot who could never resist a "straight" line, I did what comes naturally to me. Older readers have probably already guessed what I did. As for the rest of you, do I have to spell it out?


During the ensuing awkward silence I was consoled by the fact that this particular group of students will never lose a spelling bee on the word "divorce." That's the kind of effect I have on students...

Agog

In a recent homework assignment, discussing the issue of "intelligent design" vs. evolution, one of my students (who really did an OK job otherwise) repeatedly referred to "God" as "Gog." [Before I continue, I'd like only to point out that students' opinions on any given topic are irrelevant to me, so long as they can express them coherently.]

Anyway, the first time I read "Gog" it brought a teacherly smile to my lips. By the end of her rather damning indictment of "intelligent design" (i.e. about 10 "Gogs" later), however, I was laughing so hard I had to run across the hall and share it with one of my colleagues.

We've all experienced it. If you repeat any word enough times, it loses all meaning...

A Real Downer

I'm just wondering if Brendan and I are the only two (semi-literate) people in the world who didn't realize that there are two R's in the word barbiturate? I've spent my entire adult life mis-spelling this word.

I haven't felt this low since the time when I was about 25 and I realized that the E comes after the U in Tuesday...