I couldn’t quite put my finger on why I was struggling with this prompt, until I realised that it was asking me to make judgement calls about other people, which I don’t feel I’m in a position to do. It’s not my place to criticise anyone, not least of all for their use of language or grammar. My own English education was severely lacking. I was not properly taught the rules of grammar, punctuation or spelling. I wasn’t taught how to write well either. If I’ve made any headway in this regard, it is entirely due to my own persistence and autodidactism. I am fully aware of how bad some of my first forays into writing were, and so, I would never want to lecture anyone on their poor use of language. Nor do I believe in pulling anyone up for their misuse of speech. I’m from a working-class background. Language in my own household was rudimentary and basic. None of my friends are eloquent speakers, and nor am I. Don’t get me wrong here. I love poetry. I love to hear people who have command of the English language and who can make the most mundane of things sound lyrical, but I have no wish to turn into one of those awful pedants who criticise people for their mispronunciation. In any case, words are just the window dressing for true meaning. It is the intention of speech that matters. The heart. The soul. The love. That’s what I listen for, and while it’s sometimes hard to locate, ultimately it’s what matters.