"POOR ENGLISH."

Auckland Star, Volume LVXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1937, Page 20

"POOR ENGLISH."

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATION.

CANDIDATES IX AIDITING

Severe strictures on the quality of English u>od by >onu' candidates in an auditing paper at the recent university examinntion was made by the examiner. Mr. A. M. Seaman, of Auckland. "A very grave defect i- the poor standard of Knglisli generally, and the obvious inability of very many candidates to fxprceft them.-elves dearly and concisely." Mr. Seaman reported to the council of the Now Zealand Society of Accountants. "To those seeking* to enter a profession where the preparation of reports bulks largely, facility and clarity of expression form a part of one's equipment almost as important as technical knowledge itself. Had I marked down on this score, the percentage of pa&.-es would have been appreciably lowered. All allied defect is wcakne.-s jn spelling, for even the stress of examination should not pro'articals,' 'agrgreement, , 'uniniissiorf,' 'proceedure.' "asset t>, , 'cxplainations,' or 'ittinnery,' which were among the more common mistakes.

Mr. Seaman also said that some candidate.* made a muddled use of the words "affect" and -effect. , ' "principal" and "prineipje". Thus state of affairs was all the more deplorable as the candidates had already passed the matriculation examination. Xo doubt similar defects in English would have been noticed by examiners in other subjects, which should be a matter of concern lor the university authorities.