Prologue

[Adam Ricardo]

I lift the curtain on this column, “The King’s English”, not trying to achieve fame nor
fortune, but only trying to entertain myself. Writing and teaching are not my profession,
but I am really afraid of reading the South China Morning Post as well as teaching English
in Hong Kong, not because of my competence in doing so but bad writers and terrible
students are in the majority, who will, at the end of the day, spoil my English if I
frequently come across with their essays, to say the least.

I still remember that terrified experience in taking the so-called Advanced English Writing
in a renowned college has left me extremely depressed - not with my classmates, in whose
alacrity to learn I have always found inspiration and encouragement, but with an English
lecturer who claims that he has read 10,000 English books. I was very, very suspicious of
his alleged “10,000” immediately after I had found more than five mistakes in his
course materials which were written in his “ordinary” English.

Really am I not the person who is always trying to cause trouble, as that lecturer
mentioned it. Really am I not the person who is always trying to play truant, as that
lecturer remarked upon. Really am I not the person who is not trying to learn English, as
that lecturer condemned it. I must say: I am willing to learn; I am wanting to learn; I am
waiting to learn; I must ask: Are you qualified? Are you well prepared? Are you on your
best behavior to teach English? The only important point is that as the first-year English
writing course is not only for the English-majored students but also for thousands of
alumni in this college, I am so worried about my alumni. As the old English saying goes,
“ Garbage in, Garbage out”. “They will become what they eat”.

It has been with the about thoughts in my mind that I undertake to put my writings in this
column. I cannot promise, as some people can, that reading my column will mean certain
success in brushing up with their English; nor can I claim, knowing full well how
superficial such a claim is, that my essays are perfect guide to every aspect of the English
writing. What I can say, however is that no matter my essays will inspire you or you can
find out some mistakes from my writings. I will be over the moon as either you or I can
make a progress.

Last but not least, I use “The King’s English” as the name of my column. It does not
mean my English is up to standard of the King of England but is used in memory of my
two Masters: H.W. & F.G. Fowler who taught me the essential guide to written English. If
One day, my English can reach their standards, I will have no regrets for my whole life.
Now, I should like to reply to that lecturer who has been spreading his barefaced lie:
“Adam, this stupid guy, is not qualified to study English in our college”. Whether I am
qualified or not, I will not judge by myself. Only the readers will tell.

Adam Ricardo