AboutAnne Benington Expertise I can answer questions about English grammar, style, usage. I can also help a writer assess the development of an essay, its unity, concrete support of topics, introductions and conclusions. In addition, I can discuss "writing the research paper" in all aspects of its development. Finally, I can assist in development of creative writing assignments. I will not totally proofread and correct a paper, but I will point out areas of concern and ways a writer can discover weaknesses and how to correct them.
Experience 20 years teaching high school English including 10 years teaching AP English literature; four years teaching college composition
Education/Credentials BS St. Mary of the Woods College, Indiana
MA University of Notre Dame, Indiana
Post graduate work: University of Michigan, University of Pittsburg
Awards and Honors Crystal Apple Outstanding Teacher of the Year award--1995--Awarded yearly to four teachers in all schools, public, private and parochial, in the Middletown, Edgewood, Madison school dictricts, Ohio. Archdiocese of Cincinnati Innovative Teaching Award 1996. Teacher of the Year Award, Fenwick High School, Middletown, OH, 2002,
Expert: Anne Benington Date: 6/29/2008 Subject: say/tell/speak
Question QUESTION: Hi
Can I use all of them?
I haven't heard a single word you were saying
I haven't heard a single word you were telling
I haven't heard a single word you were speaking
thanks
ANSWER: Hi Luke,
Yes, all of them are acceptable, but the second is rarely used.
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: HI
Why the second one is so unusual?
Is it possible for you to tell me the difference between these three?
thanks
Answer Hi Luke,
We use the verb "to tell" when we are relating a story or giving information. The verbs "to speak" and " to say" are more general. So we might say, "I haven't heard a single word of the story you were telling," but we would not just use the verb alone. The verb "to tell" is used more infrequently than the other two. It is not wrong to use the verb "to tell" but it is not that common in spoken English.
