Nonstandard usage

Nobody likes homework, but sometimes, it is inevitable especially to avoid mistakes/embarrassments in writing.



The word 'learned' is very rarely used in the passive voice except in the nonstandard usage to mean instructed or taught; but I notice such a usage in one of the three articles by Luke Teoh (Sept 3: Don’t pronounce everything! Sept 17: Grape Britain? Gedoutahea! and Sept 18: Don’t be afraid to elide) appearing in Mind our English.

That has prompted me to write the following e-mail.

Quote

Associate Editor
Editor of Mind our English
The Star

Dear Sir,

Luke Teoh has indeed written three eye-opening articles in your column, first of which was ranked number one in the TOP5 MOST VIEWED STORIES ONLINE on its day of publication.

Sept 17: Grape Britain? Gedoutahea!
It's a shame that some of us in Malaysia with a very impressive command of spoken English tend to speak as though we were addressing a public meeting. It shows that we have not been learned to understand an informal style of speech.

Reproduced above is the first paragraph of the second article. I am rather surprised to notice in the second sentence therein, the nonstandard usage of the word 'learned' in the passive voice.

There must be a good reason for such usage which, will, hopefully, be disclosed.

Thank you.

Unquote

The following self-explanatory reply has been received:-

Quote

Sorry, that was an error in editing. The word "been" should not have been there.

Thank you for pointing it out.

Best wishes,
Associate Editor
Editor of Mind our English
The Star

Unquote