I received this "informative" message from a student:
I’d like to make a quick comment about “RSVP.” RSVP is an abbreviation for a French phrase (possibly why no one understands it’s meaning) that means “please respond.” It indicates that you expect a response weather someone can or cannot attend. So in theory, when you put RSVP on an item, you expect a response from everyone on the prelaw mailing list. Something more like “Email us if you plan to attend” or something like that would be better. In reality, it probably doesn’t matter much as fewer and fewer people are aware of what RSVP means, but I thought if you were not aware, you’d like to know. Hope this is helpful.
I really really really wanted to respond with this:
Thank you for your feedback. What a great reminder regarding the proper usage of RSVP. By the way, in this context you should use the word "whether" instead of "weather." "Weather" and "whether" are homophones which means the two words are pronounced the same but differ in meaning. Unfortunately, unlike the RSVP rule, it does matter whether you use these two words correctly.
While his RSVP treatise is correct, people who use homophones incorrectly . . . really shouldn't throw stones.
9 comments:
Oh BYU--how I've missed you!
It's so wonderful to know that you have students who are looking out for you AND your grammar. That is real charity.
So, you didn't reply like that? Please RSVP and let me no as soon as you can
You MUST send that response. This is the the second story in as many weeks that suggests your students think way too highly of themselves and of the quality of their unsolicited advice!!
Love the response and it would be so so -- almost irresistably -- tempting to send it. Maybe you need to do it -- for all of the silent sufferers out there (like myself) who regularly put up with people drawing these kinds of antiquated, meaningless (and, in fact, totally unhelpful) distinctions.
(Also, loved the comment, Carrie.)
Oh K-dog, can I call you that? Um, there will be many a stone throwing at BYU. You read the local campus paper right?
This student is prelaw, right? If he isn't, he should be, because he is EXACTLY the type of person what should fill law schools around America. Typical.
Kitty, you need to do exactly what I have advised my friend who is a 4th grade teacher to do. Every year on the first day of school I encourage him to select what I fondly refer to as the "sacraficial lamb". The selected student is then berated until a flood of tears are produced, thus setting an example for the rest of the class. If you follow this recipe for success you will soon find that the students will not only stop correcting you, but will fear making eye contact or having the slightest interaction with you.
Karl and his grammar loving mind would love this.
HAHAHA - That is SO hilarious and SOOOO like a Prelaw student...ahh, the good ol' days! Kris Tina, you truly crack me up :-D
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