Date:    Tue, 2 Jun 1998 02:43:12 -0700
<br>From:    Bill King <wfking[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GOTNET.NET>
<br>Subject: Re: Grammar Not Just For the Classroom
<br>
<br>This sounds bogus.  Yes, it is possible that at Random House a group of
<br>people on the elevator would chirp in, but would all of those people on the
<br>elevator be editorial staff?
<br>
<br>I doubt it.
<br>
<br>This sounds contrived.  First of all, the "Has everybody got their floors?"
<br>simply doesn't ring true as NY elevator operator lingo.  Maybe it's changed
<br>since I lived there.  I won't bother going over the rest of the story because
<br>the other examples are bogus as well.
<br>
<br>I could make a bogus sangwich outavim.
<br>
<br>Now here's a classic line from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's
<br>west elevator main lobby ca. 70', 80's -- "Take a ride!".
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>Bethany K. Dumas wrote:
<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>