Posts Tagged ‘John Igo’
John Igo, who is also known as Gemini Ink’s resident Grammar Guy, is back again to discuss the “ain’t” debate. He shares a history lesson to fully understand the scope of the word. According to Igo, in the 18th century there was a verbal battle between ain’t versus amn’t. Amn’t lost the battle.
If you remember back in April we introduced you to writer and educator, John Igo. He revisits us this month (and, on a bi-weekly basis from here on out) with grammar bites of knowledge. Do you have a grammar query you’d like Igo to discuss? If so, submit your questions to communications@geminiink.org.
Explain the difference between lay and lie.
Even grammar guru Igo admits he was confounded with the lay and lie issue, but he added the issue wasn’t just about lie or lay. The following are a few often misused words:
- lie
- lay
- rise
- raise
- sit
- sat
“They all have the same rules,” Igo said.
This week beloved writer and educator, John Igo starts contributing grammar blog posts. Igo, 82, is a San Antonio educator, writer, artist, photographer, producer, critic, and civic leader. A graduate of Trinity University, he has taught at Trinity, St. Mary’s Hall, San Antonio College, and the University of the Incarnate Word.
Igo has published 12 books on poetry, including the Third Temptation of St. John (National Society of Arts and Letters National Award), God of Gardens (Southwest Writers Conference Publication Award), and Alien (Poetry Society Foundation). In addition, he’s authored several books of prose and several produced plays.
He’s received many accolades throughout the years, including the Grothaus medallion for Distinguished Service to area libraries (the only non-librarian ever to receive it) in the 1980s, an Emmy in 1985 for his script Our Children: the Next Generation, being named Deputy Director General of the International Biographical Centre (Cambridge, England) in 1997, and having the distinct honor of being the speaker for the Advancing Equality for Women and Girls through Advocacy, Education, Philanthropy, and Research (AAUW) book review group each season for the past 54 years.
In 2007, the San Antonio Public Library honored Igo by naming a library branch after him. Since retiring from teaching grammar for 46 years and answering grammar-related questions on the radio for 20 years, Igo’s kept busy by working on a biography of Mendez A. Marks Jr, who attended Twain Junior High School and Jefferson High School, moved to New York, and joined the staff of the New Yorker.
Igo’s first post features the confusion with who and whom. Do you have a grammar query you’d like Igo to discuss? If so, submit your questions to communications@geminiink.org.
