Date:    Mon, 1 Jun 1998 07:52:48 -0400
<br>From:    "Bethany K. Dumas" <dumasb[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UTK.EDU>
<br>Subject: Grammar -- It's Not Just For the Classroom!
<br>
<br>>From the Metropolitan Diary column in today's NYTimes:
<br>
<br>-----
<br>Dear Diary:
<br>
<br>Visiting an editor at Random House, I stepped into a crowded elevator and
<br>found myself pressed close to the control panel. "Has everybody got their
<br>floors?" I asked.  After a moment's silence, a young female voice from the
<br>rear said, "His or her." "I beg your pardon?" I said. "His or her. It's
<br>'Has everybody got his or her floors?' Your pronouns don't agree." "And
<br>shouldn't it be 'his or her floor', not 'floors'?" a young man piped up.
<br>"Each of us gets off at only one floor." "And wouldn't it be better to
<br>say 'Does everybody have?' rather than 'Has everybody got?'" a third voice
<br>chimed in. I stood corrected -- and red faced. But I was glad to know that
<br>good grammar is alive and well.
<br>
<br>RICHARD CURTIS
<br>-----
<br>Bethany
<br>