[stufield]

"I think you can be confident that we all know the difference btw alumni, alumnus, alumna and alumnae. Instead of being helpful, as I am sure you intend it to be, it comes across as snide, condescending and detracts from your contribution."

No, I am not confident that "we all know the difference between alumni, alumnus". The fact of the matter is that few people who post on here DO know the difference, as the mistake is made repeatedly. So I simply took this most recent instance to point out the difference.

If you feel that the comment was snide, then you have no conception whatsoever of the meaning of that word. There was no snideness in what I said.

If you feel that the comment was condescending, then I suggest that is simply defensiveness on your part. The comment was not intended to be condescending, and I don't think it contains any condescension. The comment simply pointed out an error that is commonly made these days, but was hardly ever made a generation ago when more attention was made to language usage.

And there is a big difference between the improper use of "alumni" and other grammatical (not grammar) errors such as contractions. And that IS a condescending remark!

Whoever told you that it was impolite to correct someone's grammar in informal and informal situations was simply wrong, and besides which I do regard these postings to be educational, albeit informal. I, for one, have learned far more about what is really happening in and with the Fraternity from boards such as these (and others) than from reading the public-relations, contolled spin that IMH publishes on the website and in The Caduceus.