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Barry has the most extraordinary ability to speak in English than all but a small handful of students ...

Since this sentence has generated a mild pile-on, I feel free to weigh in. (No pregnant-lady jokes, please.)

The construction "most (adjective) than (object)" does not exist in English. We use "more (adjective) than (object)." An unfortunate plurality have perpetrated the dreadful "different than," but to there let us not go.

President barry soetoro: islamist.

I find your A+ report for Little Barry’s English Delivery to be inappropriate and deficient. I have heard him speak and his awkward cadences, choppy delivery, inappropriate mid-sentence inflections, strange pauses and rising pitch at the end of most sentences make it very hard to listen to him.

Exactly

Should be “a most extraordinary” rather than “the most extraordinary”

I had an extraordinary English teacher in high school, Roy Barker. We all feared his red pencil. I dedicated one of my books to Roy.

John / Billybob

Miss Sweeney:

I find your A+ report for Little Barry’s English Delivery to be inappropriate and deficient. I have heard him speak and his awkward cadences, choppy delivery, inappropriate mid-sentence inflections, strange pauses and rising pitch at the end of most sentences make it very hard to listen to him. It appears he has not yet mastered American English, perhaps because he spent his formative years in foreign lands with two different foreign fathers. I urge you to reconsider your evaluation on little Barry’s Delivery and, although the final decision is entirely up to you, I strongly recommend you lower the grade to D.

Sincerely, Principal Snodgrass

you are generous I say F-

Thanks for your entertaining and informative dialogue. I always enjoy your writing. Spot on!

Hello, Congressman. This sentence makes no sense:

“Barry has the most extraordinary ability to speak in English than all but a small handful of students who have ever attended this school.”

Maybe it’s missing the adjective “other,” yes?

Sorry to be grammer police, but I respect your writing.

(I used to be an old scold English teacher in a previous incarnation. i before e, you stupid clod!!!)

D-

I’m feeling generous today.

Thanks...excellent article.

This is by no means a new subject for my FR colleagues. but perhaps it is a more effective way to raise the subjects. Sometimes the best way to approach a stuffed shirt is with a sharp pin.

John / Billybob