Poll: Should People Use Correct Grammar And Spelling In Forums?
- Thread starter Code Monkey
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It's Web 2.0. There are plenty of opinions out there waiting to be expressed; if one is expressed with such poor spelling or grammar or punctuation that it's a miserable chore to decode, rather than waste my time I'll move on to the next opinion. Sorry, but this is supposed to be my leisure time and I don't want to spend it cleaning up after someone else's mess.
Wall o' text? Next.
You can haz grammerz? Next.
LOL u tiip puur? Next.
Something I could find in a decent newspaper? Got my attention.
It's just that simple.
-- Steve
Wall o' text? Next.
You can haz grammerz? Next.
LOL u tiip puur? Next.
Something I could find in a decent newspaper? Got my attention.
It's just that simple.
-- Steve
A message to all of the grammar Nazis: Rise up! Rise up and spread the proper language of your upbringing!
I believe that people should at least make an effort.
Don't be a spelling/grammar nazi, some people aren't perfect at their spelling or grammar, but at the same time I don't condone syntax genocide, I shouldn't have to put effort in to understand what the hell you are saying, as we are both meant to be speaking the same language.
Don't be a spelling/grammar nazi, some people aren't perfect at their spelling or grammar, but at the same time I don't condone syntax genocide, I shouldn't have to put effort in to understand what the hell you are saying, as we are both meant to be speaking the same language.
Its okay in text messages and AIM, but it is not okay when you have all the time in the world to say what your trying to say.
I have some spelling difficulties because I missed out on some school due to events that don't need to be explained here. I also grew up in an area where saying "me and my friend" was normal and I didn't find out that it wasn't grammatically correct until I went to university. That would be Cambridge University, England, by the way, where I studied mathematics. So I consider myself walking proof that a person's spelling and grammar are more of an indication of their early education than their intelligence, and the quality of a person's education is usually determined by the wealth of their parents, so judging a person by their spelling and grammar is actually just a form of financial snobbery.
QED
With that said...
I do think people should at least try. It can be very hard to understand what someone is saying if they don't at least use full stops and read through what they've written before they post it. There are some people who write posts that wouldn't be understandable even to them if they were to come back and read it a year later, and I can't be bothered with deciphering that sort of writing.
QED
With that said...
I do think people should at least try. It can be very hard to understand what someone is saying if they don't at least use full stops and read through what they've written before they post it. There are some people who write posts that wouldn't be understandable even to them if they were to come back and read it a year later, and I can't be bothered with deciphering that sort of writing.
Yes, definitely yes. I mean the occasional few grammatical errors are to be expected, I certainly make them, however when I see posts with blatant poor grammar and punctuation, it makes me wince. If you have something you believe intelligent to say and the topic warrants a proper debate; show courtesy in your post and have it spellchecked, otherwise why should anyone bother reading it?
What has become quite an irritation for me personally is people forgoing paragraphs; seriously attempting to read one thousand words all clumped together is headache inducing and frankly not worth the effort. I have also notice the increasing lack of spacing between commas, however for some reason what immediately grabs my attention is the word "ridiculous" spelt with an accursed "e". I am no grammar Nazi however that really irks me.
What has become quite an irritation for me personally is people forgoing paragraphs; seriously attempting to read one thousand words all clumped together is headache inducing and frankly not worth the effort. I have also notice the increasing lack of spacing between commas, however for some reason what immediately grabs my attention is the word "ridiculous" spelt with an accursed "e". I am no grammar Nazi however that really irks me.
I voted "You Are a Dumbass." Just because it amused me.
But really, as others have said, it depends on the people your communicating with. On a forum like 4chan, the posts are not as well thought out as they are on the Escapist. So it doesn't make as much of a difference if you say u or you or somethin' like that.
While here, on the Escapist, replies to threads are {generally} made by people willing to take time out of their day and give a legible and intelligent answer.
So, my answer is: it depends.
But really, as others have said, it depends on the people your communicating with. On a forum like 4chan, the posts are not as well thought out as they are on the Escapist. So it doesn't make as much of a difference if you say u or you or somethin' like that.
While here, on the Escapist, replies to threads are {generally} made by people willing to take time out of their day and give a legible and intelligent answer.
So, my answer is: it depends.
I should've voted "you are a dumbass" because it's so obvious.
If you don't try than it's hard to understand. Sure, errors are acceptable but it needs to be legible. Only text speak I'm fine with is lol,rofl,lmao,roflmao and w/e, and 3 of them are the same thing.
If you don't try than it's hard to understand. Sure, errors are acceptable but it needs to be legible. Only text speak I'm fine with is lol,rofl,lmao,roflmao and w/e, and 3 of them are the same thing.
To be honest, I don't really care if someone uses proper English or leetspeak on most topics.
However, if we are discussing an intellectual matter, and you want me to take you seriously, I would suggest you try and cut out the texting language that has unfortunately pervaded our language.
Besides, practice makes perfect, why not constantly hone your skills of grammar when you can. Why would you ever want to speak (type) in a manner that makes you look less intelligent when you don't have to? Lastly, the whole "well I feel more relaxed" is crap. If you get out of the habit then you will feel more comfortable actually typing the real language.
However, if we are discussing an intellectual matter, and you want me to take you seriously, I would suggest you try and cut out the texting language that has unfortunately pervaded our language.
Besides, practice makes perfect, why not constantly hone your skills of grammar when you can. Why would you ever want to speak (type) in a manner that makes you look less intelligent when you don't have to? Lastly, the whole "well I feel more relaxed" is crap. If you get out of the habit then you will feel more comfortable actually typing the real language.
As an English major, the answer to this is obviously going to be "Hey guys, use a bit more grammar from time to time. Please?"
The problem is I don't ask for constant proper grammar or spelling. I have no hate for folks who mind concluding sentences with prepositions, or making obscure but functional use of sentence fragments. It honestly depends entirely on how well it works in application.
"I was left without enough solid ground to stand on. Oh crap." Those are both incorrect. The former having ended on a preposition, and the latter being a sentence fragment. Regardless of the fact that there are errors, I see no problems with that type of incorrect-usage. It's stylistic, but still very easily comprehensible.
The problem is whenever even the minimum amount of effort is applied. Phrases like "c u wen u gt 2 teh place w/ 3d n mal w/ my $" is so much harder to read than "See you when you get to the place with 3D and Mal with my money." I'm not asking that everyone have the proper spelling for "onomatopoeia" or "silhouette", or that everyone follows the basic grammatical intricacies of period placement around quotation marks.
I do, however, want people to put breaks in multi-paragraph writing so that I can figure out where thoughts end and begin. I expect writers to observe even the most minor of grammatical concepts to make thoughts even remotely clear. I also hope that people don't spell "you" and "see" out of laziness rather than just mistaken spellings.
Really though, it's about application. If I have to edit your post just to read it, you need to work a little more on grammar and/or spelling. If I need to take a deep breath and give up on your writing because it's near-incomprehensible or just plain difficult to read, then I'll just stop.
I guess all I ask is a minimum amount of effort.
EDIT
Granted, on a forum, "Who the hell cares?" doesn't have to be a bad thing. Though I will say that laughing at someone who makes a request to adjust your grammar would be rude regardless. Maybe it's rude to ask in the first place, but hatred begets more hatred.
No need to be rude, just say "No." and move on.
The problem is I don't ask for constant proper grammar or spelling. I have no hate for folks who mind concluding sentences with prepositions, or making obscure but functional use of sentence fragments. It honestly depends entirely on how well it works in application.
"I was left without enough solid ground to stand on. Oh crap." Those are both incorrect. The former having ended on a preposition, and the latter being a sentence fragment. Regardless of the fact that there are errors, I see no problems with that type of incorrect-usage. It's stylistic, but still very easily comprehensible.
The problem is whenever even the minimum amount of effort is applied. Phrases like "c u wen u gt 2 teh place w/ 3d n mal w/ my $" is so much harder to read than "See you when you get to the place with 3D and Mal with my money." I'm not asking that everyone have the proper spelling for "onomatopoeia" or "silhouette", or that everyone follows the basic grammatical intricacies of period placement around quotation marks.
I do, however, want people to put breaks in multi-paragraph writing so that I can figure out where thoughts end and begin. I expect writers to observe even the most minor of grammatical concepts to make thoughts even remotely clear. I also hope that people don't spell "you" and "see" out of laziness rather than just mistaken spellings.
Really though, it's about application. If I have to edit your post just to read it, you need to work a little more on grammar and/or spelling. If I need to take a deep breath and give up on your writing because it's near-incomprehensible or just plain difficult to read, then I'll just stop.
I guess all I ask is a minimum amount of effort.
EDIT
For stuff like this, I guess it's all a personal taste thing. I would like to point out that fully functional and proper grammar has its place. I wouldn't advise writing with the "Who the hell cares?" mentality when you're writing an essay or filling out your resume. Proper grammar and spelling does imply both professionalism and effort. When dealing with works to be judged by your peers and used by individuals, then you want to appear professionally.ssgt splatter said:
Granted, on a forum, "Who the hell cares?" doesn't have to be a bad thing. Though I will say that laughing at someone who makes a request to adjust your grammar would be rude regardless. Maybe it's rude to ask in the first place, but hatred begets more hatred.
No need to be rude, just say "No." and move on.