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Hello!

well not really, dronze. i pop in and shut down my computer within 4 min. sometimes, i even have to force-shut it, since my mom is not supposed to know.

Hi! smile

I agree, just ignore dronze. We all have different opinions in life. This should not be a reason to quit the guild. We have a lot of other people in the guild who enjoy chatting and do not really make a big deal out of spelling. I am a teacher, and I believe spelling is important but I also believe that having good relationships with each other in a forum is more important.
Just my little opinion. smile

As a teacher, what grammatical mistakes have I been making in my sentence structure? I did pretty well as far as English was concerned. But I was put in this substandard school from late grade two. All the way until my sixth year of schooling was over. I know my paragraph form is messed up. That was something that kept me from getting decent grades in speech.

actually you can, as long as it is a reply. it depends your writing style.
ex. Although many cars create air pollution for the environment, it is a great necessity for the average American, who travels to work in the suburban areas. But such, as statistics, have shown, has led to an increase in obesity....
etc, etc.
it's not that you can't use that word, but it is really hard to use. in fact, it took me a whole 8 minutes to think of such a use. that's why they tell amateurs not to use the word "but" and not to develop the habit of it unless you use that particular style of writing.

@ lance: my own opinion is that your sentences are too choppy and need better transition. i'll revise what you write as an exampleL

original paragraph:
As a teacher, what grammatical mistakes have I been making in my sentence structure? I did pretty well as far as English was concerned. But I was put in this substandard school from late grade two. All the way until my sixth year of schooling was over. I know my paragraph form is messed up. That was something that kept me from getting decent grades in speech.

my first revised version:
You being a teacher, what grammatical mistakes have i been making in the structure of my sentences? I did fairly (don't use pretty...that's elementary school talk) well, as far as my English grammar (you're comparing grammar to grammar, not grammar to the English language) is concerned, (make important use of commas) but i was put up in this substandard school from the last of my second grade of elementary school up until the end sixth grade (omit needless words!). I know my paragraph form is [messed up]* because it was something that had (tenses) kept me from getting decent grades in my speech class (you compare grades to a class, not to your speech. your teacher does not stalk you every moment of your life and grade what you say).

*find a different word...it's more kiddie talk if you speak this way...perhaps use the word "unorganized"? i don't know, you choose, since you're the writer.

revised version without the parenthesis:
You being a teacher, what grammatical mistakes have i been making in the structure of my sentences? I did fairly well, as far as my English grammar is concerned but i was put up in this substandard school from the last of my second grade of elementary school up until the end sixth grade. I know my paragraph form is [messed up]* because it was something that had kept me from getting decent grades in my {speech class}.**

**suggestion 2: speech class? i thought there were only ELA and English history classes.....you're so lucky if you have a class designated for speech....i want that class. if you do have it, then ignore this comment, if not then you should change it to English class(es)

I always put commas in the wrong place or forget them altogether. I keep getting in trouble for it.