Today is “English Language Day at the United Nations.” It is celebrated on April 23, the date traditionally observed as both the birthday and date of death of William Shakespeare.
As a writer, observing the occasional improper use of words – in all their forms – can rankle. I suppose that is true of most professions. Best of intentions aside, there are countless little things that separate those who really know their craft and those who think they do or simply pretend.
I still recall one of my high school English teachers taking umbrage with the spelling of “mens’ room” versus “men’s room” on signs at school. Men’s is the proper spelling. The use of s’ is for nouns ending in s. A minor example, for sure, but the lesson was clear: words matter. How they are spelled matters. How and when they are used matters, even on a dull bathroom door.
Winston Churchill, who earned his living as a writer, once prophetically remarked: “Words are the only things that last forever.” That makes their intent important and how they make you feel even more so.
Which brings me to my point, finally. I bristle each time I hear members of our governing parties at both provincial and federal levels refer to “our government” when talking up their accomplishments and plans.
It really isn’t “our government” as in theirs*; they should not possess it so. Instead, it should be “your government” because it belongs to each of us. We elect them to represent us, work hard on our behalf, and hopefully make things better for everyone.
That is not to say I doubt their earnestness, sincerity, and motives. I don’t. I think they are well-intentioned.
Getting it right, however, is important just as the speaker at my undergraduate commencement learned when he began his remarks and addressed us by the name of another university! We rightly booed.
Sadly, for him there was nothing he could do in the moment to recover in the eyes of a packed audience of hyped-up graduates, their classmates, family, and close friends all gathered to celebrate a significant and memorable milestone.
Members of our governing parties, whatever their political stripe, still have time. They can begin today.
* ”theirs” is a third-person plural possessive pronoun. Writing it with an apostrophe is incorrect.
Note: The Nobel Prize in Literature 1953 was awarded to Winston Churchill “for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values.”