It’s another radio station in another city in the overwhelming and terrifying process known as a book tour. I’m a first-time author on a very controversial subject—grammar snobbery—just beginning to realize I’m in way over my head. | ChangeThis Save to disk HELP JZ Hide Show menus Beyond Snobbery Grammar Need Not Be Cruel to Be Cool By June Casagrande I No I í I U I X I I Not using Adobe Acrobat Please go to http content reader NEXT ChangeThis It s another radio station in another city in the overwhelming and terrifying process known as a book tour. I m a first-time author on a very controversial subject-grammar snobbery just beginning to realize I m in way over my head. The radio show host wants to know my thoughts on all those people out there who don t even try to use or to learn proper grammar. Everything about my host tells me that he is by nature a democratic and diplomatic kind of guy. But between the lines I think I catch the scent of something else the passion of the people who see my grammar column in their local newspapers and send me e-mails saying As a fellow grammar and usage Nazi . or Keep fighting against abuse of the language In my columns I don t fight abuse at all. I don t bemoan others crimes against English or wail about how it s going into the crapper. I m not a grammar or usage Nazi. I m not a snob a snoot or even a stickler. I m not fellow anything to them at all. Just because I write a column offering help to people who want to use better English doesn t mean that I would impose good grammar on others. Short of coughing and fanning the air in the presence of a cigarette smoker grammar provides the easiest way for an American to get off on and get away with looking down on others. I No I I U I X I I 2 12 ChangeThis I m just giving information to the people who want it with nothing whatsoever to say about the people who don t. But grammar is exclusive with a capital exclude. It s like a secret handshake between a few who like to think of themselves as a select few. The first thing a person learns about grammar may be that cat is a noun but the second thing he learns is that this knowledge immediately elevates him above everyone who doesn t share