Two years have passed since “Your grammar is showing,” the mini-English lessons created by Barbara Mirmow, was first published in The Times and Democrat.

After penning 105 lessons on the use of correct grammar and witnessing the difference in the community, this 32-year veteran of the classroom says she’s “very happy ... elated even.”

Started in June 2004 as a feature in the Monday edition of The Times and Democrat, “Your grammar is showing” added a special educational component the Orangeburg County’s Community of Character initiative.

“I know that everybody is not going to use perfect grammar all the time,” Mirmow says. “The British author, Somerset Maugham, once said that only a mediocre person is always at his best. We all make mistakes. So what? If you earnestly try to learn the correct way to speak and you use that way, then you’ll be all right.”

Through the use of clear, simple lessons, Mirmow offers helpful hints on grammar points to enable T&D readers to consider their use of the language and to develop better speaking habits.

Mirmow earned a bachelor’s degree in French and English and now holds a master’s degree in English. She taught for more than three decades in local educational institutions: Columbia High, Orangeburg High, Wade Hampton Academy during its first 13 years and Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College for her final 12 years in education.

She has been married to her high school classmate, retired attorney Edward Mirmow Jr., for 49 years. Edward practiced law for 37 years — two years in the Air Force’s Judge Advocate General Corps and 35 years in Orangeburg. The Mirmows have four successful children who are employed as an accountant, a teacher, a horticulturist and a doctor. They also have seven grandchildren and two dogs.

Since retirement from the classroom, Mirmow said she thoroughly enjoys reading, writing her grammar lessons and gardening, especially flowers.

Always passionate about the English language and grammar usage, Mirmow devotes a portion of her time to creating lessons that will inspire people to speak and write better.

“I want to share what I have learned through the years with those who perhaps just missed out on many points of grammar, but who want to catch up now,” she says.

Through her featured grammar lessons, Mirmow has done just that. Over the past 24 months, she has received more than 200 cards, letters and e-mails from as far away as the state of Maryland from those who appreciate her efforts.

Doris W. Thomas of Dundalk, Md. wrote, “I continue to receive your grammar columns and continue to enjoy them ... I hope this (letter) finds you still enjoying writing ... we all need the information.”

“So many people have called me, written me, stopped me in the grocery store, or given me a knowing smile in a restaurant that I wonder if I have really helped this many people. This is my sincerest wish,” she says.

One letter sent to her in December 2004 by then 88-year-old Penny Jeffords restated the following poem describing the parts of speech that had been featured in the newspaper:

“A noun is the name of anything: book or pencil, hoop or ring.

Instead of nouns the pronouns stand: their heads, her face, its pas, his hand.

Verbs tell the tale the noun begins: He runs, sings, dances, hops and wins.

Adjectives tell what kind of noun: great, small, pretty, white, brown.

How things are done the adverbs tell: strongly, quickly, poorly, or well.

Prepositions link the noun: We stayed at home, they went to town.

Conjunctions join the words together: Men and women, wind or weather.

Interjections show surprise: Oh! How pretty. Ah! How wise.“

“Children grow up talking the way people around them talk. No offense intended, but habits are hard to break,” Mirmow notes as a word to the wise on the examples people set for their young ones.

She recounted many times that she had taught students proper grammar only to hear them a few minutes later in the corridors of the school reverting to the same old ways of speaking.

Mirmow shared an anecdote to illustrate a positive point about those willing to put forth the effort to continue to better themselves.

“A good many years ago, I was teaching French in summer school. Two fellows appeared in the doorway and told me that they needed to pass French if they were to graduate high school. They had already failed the course in another school.

“Well, we labored all summer, and they honestly tried their best to pass. When grades were averaged, one was short two points and the other only one and half points. I made them a deal; I said, ’If you promise me never to take French again in your life, I’ll give each of the you a passing grade and you can graduate.’ We shook on it.

“Those two fellows went out into life and became two of the most successful students I had ever had in my 32 years of teaching,” Mirmow said. “The moral of this story is a person doesn’t have to be brilliant in grammar -- or anything else -- to succeed in life.”

“One does have to keep trying though!” she added.

Mirmow loves Orangeburg but is not blind to its shortcomings.

“Orangeburg is a beautiful city, where I have lived for 57 years, and I still love it! However, we have lost possible industries that considered our area because they could not find enough suitable workers to meet their needs,” she said, acknowledging that speaking and writing skills are not everything, but they are still very important.

Mirmow’s “Your grammar is showing” can be found in Monday’s editions of The Times and Democrat.

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