Growing up in Canonsburg in the 1950s, I frequented our small community library. The librarian was an elderly retired English teacher. One day she asked a young girl if she needed help.

"No," Sally said, "I'm waiting on Jane."

Drawing herself up to her full height of about 4 feet, 10 inches, the librarian peered over the circulation desk and said, "Where is Jane, I don't see her." Then she said, "Sally, you're waiting for Jane."

I've never forgotten what she said. I think about the librarian when I hear the same mistake being made today.

-- RICHARD NORWOOD, Mt. Lebanon

When I was in the 11th grade, I had a very professional English teacher named Miss Trembly. She taught us that it is improper to say, "I graduated from [name of school]."

She told us: You cannot "graduate" yourself. The correct way is to say, "I am a graduate of [school]" or "I was graduated from [school]."

Yet today, almost everyone says, "I graduated from ..." What happened?

-- FRED ZELESNIJK, Aliquippa

When I went to school, I graduated from high school. Now I see "graduated high school" being used. Am I old-fashioned and not keeping up with the times?

I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to express my revulsions. Or is it you giving me that opportunity (as I see it written so often)?

-- MARJORIE H. JONES, Ohio Township

I can't stand smart-alecky people who use big words like grandiloquent!

English teachers ruined the first half of my life, and some journalists are ruining the remainder.

Goodness! In just two recent columns, Tony Norman used these doozies: immolate, eclectic, dismissive, anthropomorphic, paternalism and innocuous.

My morning Post-Gazette should be accompanied by toast and coffee, not a dictionary! Who the heck do they think reads this daily? Bill Buckley wannabes?

The only time hifalutin prose is appropriate is when the story concerns an individual who uses it. Perfect example of future headline: "Fustian Forensic Scientist and Former Coroner Is Exculpated After Interminable Litigation Desists."

-- ROBERT BILLER, Fombell

Back in the 1960s, my eighth-grade grammar teacher asked this question on a test: "What common phrase of encouragement is grammatically inaccurate?"

The answer? "Put your best foot forward."

He explained that "best" is one of the three forms of the adjective "good." Good is used when modifying a single noun; e.g., "the PG is a good newspaper." Better is used to compare two nouns; e.g., "the PG is better than the Tribune-Review." Best is used when you compare three or more nouns; e.g., "The PG is the best newspaper in America."

Therefore, unless you have three feet, the proper phrase is, "Put your better foot forward".

In honor of my former teacher, I tell people who use the popular form of this phrase that it's inaccurate. They usually tell me where to put my third foot.

-- JAY LYNCH, Upper St. Clair

My greatest irritation with word usage is people who get irritated with word usage.

Now some uppity woman doesn't like the way I pronounce Shih-Tzu ("Give the Dog a Break," March 19)! If I ever see a comma on a birthday cake, I'll finger it off ("Icing a Cake With a Personal Greeting? Splurge On a Comma, OK?" March 7)! A guy is upset because people pronouce the month "Feb-YOO-ere-ee" instead of Feb-ROO-ere-ee ("Forget April. THIS Is the Cruelest Month ...," Feb. 27). Well, I pronounce the days of the week Mondy, Tuesdy, etc., and even delight in writing Wednesday as Wensdy. It's so fun!

Nobody says Wed-NES-day! Why not be perfectly correct and pronounce North Versailles as North Ver-sigh?

All I gotta say is: Git over it, younse, and git a life!

Love your column for a laugh.

-- LARRY WALKER, Finleyville