This paper provides information on black English to be used by teachers as they score errors and miscues on the oral part of informal reading inventories. The information is presented in order for teachers to understand items spoken in black English that are equivalents to standard English and that when spoken would indicate understanding of the material rather than mistakes. Background information on the use of black English as a viable language is given. Aspects of black English that are explained and for which examples are given are pronunciation, the consonant clusters, the "r" and "l" sounds, consonant reversal, and diphthong simplification; grammatical endings; verbal forms; and question formation. Nonstandard features also found in other dialects are briefly noted. (MKM)