Poll: What are your feelings on the proper usage of spelling and grammar on Escapist Forums?
- Thread starter INF1NIT3 D00M
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I tend to get annoyed when people butcher the English language, or any other language I'm familiar enough with to recognize when it's being butchered. However I realize that my own English isn't always perfect either and we all make typos now and then, so I usually won't make a big deal out of it.
I don't correct people's grammar or spelling, but it makes me wince when I see it, and much less likely to read the post.
If someone's taken the time to write out a thorough post, their spelling is correct (or one of the common mistakes, or an Americanized version of a word) and their use of grammar is correct, if not flawless (as an English Lit student, I run up against obscure grammar rules all the time which make very little sense, so I don't begrudge people who don't know them) then I am very likely to read it.
If someone has a long post, but the grammar is awful, the spelling inconsistent and the syntax clunky, I may read it, but will probably skip the parts with the worst mistakes.
If someone has written a short post, but everything is correct, I am more likely to read it than a long post with bad grammar and spelling.
If someone has written a short post, bad grammar and spelling, I will usually ignore it as not worth my time to decode the mess of linguistics and read, which is a shame because some people I know make good posts, but then in the excitement of posting mess up.
I think everyone should make the effort to use proper English, both grammatically and in regards to spelling, if not only to improve the quality of this forum, then also simply for the benefit of other readers. You must always, in a public venue of any kind, remember you have an audience, and act for them, not yourself.
If someone's taken the time to write out a thorough post, their spelling is correct (or one of the common mistakes, or an Americanized version of a word) and their use of grammar is correct, if not flawless (as an English Lit student, I run up against obscure grammar rules all the time which make very little sense, so I don't begrudge people who don't know them) then I am very likely to read it.
If someone has a long post, but the grammar is awful, the spelling inconsistent and the syntax clunky, I may read it, but will probably skip the parts with the worst mistakes.
If someone has written a short post, but everything is correct, I am more likely to read it than a long post with bad grammar and spelling.
If someone has written a short post, bad grammar and spelling, I will usually ignore it as not worth my time to decode the mess of linguistics and read, which is a shame because some people I know make good posts, but then in the excitement of posting mess up.
I think everyone should make the effort to use proper English, both grammatically and in regards to spelling, if not only to improve the quality of this forum, then also simply for the benefit of other readers. You must always, in a public venue of any kind, remember you have an audience, and act for them, not yourself.
My POV isn't in the poll: as long as you can hold together a cogent argument, spelling ain't no big deal, except "loose" for "lose" really twiddles my nipple nuts. But that's just me, and I'll never use someone's poor spelling against them (well, not anymore).
I'm all for the preservation of the English language, however I don't want to feel like I'm in a bloody Grammar Nazi concentration camp. You have to allow some margin for human error, typos will happen. Nobody goes on the Internet to write English Essays.
I'm only a Grammar Nazi to myself. I think it's pretty rude to go around correcting other people's errors like an emotionally detached grade school teacher going on a red pen power trip. I've also noticed that people who do inevitably have their own grammar and spelling mistakes in their own post.
I don't think it would hurt if people proof read their words before posting, though. I'm not the only one who appreciates a legible post.
I don't think it would hurt if people proof read their words before posting, though. I'm not the only one who appreciates a legible post.
I always think it would be hypocritical of me to criticise people for split infiinitives, since I didn't even learn about them until I got to university, and by then it was so much a part of my speech that I can never stop doing it. (My school didn't really teach grammar so much...)KillerMidget said:
I learnt about it whilst perusing a site like TVTropes I believe, but even though I enjoy making jokes involving them, I still think it's a pretty archaic, and annoying grammatical rule - no one enforces it in their vocabulary, or so I'd assume.MelasZepheos said:
I always make an effort to use proper grammar and spelling, however, I'm also a very relaxed individual and sometimes don't fully edit myself. Simply because I feel that a forum like this would also be relaxed with minimal bad grammar for those times where you just don't care. It does kinda piss me off though when you have made a post or thread, and you find someone making a reply, completely disregarding the topic and tells you off for making a spelling/grammatical mistake. That kinda crap is really unnecessary and rude. There have been times where I've had those kinds of posts said to me and after double checking my post, I found there was nothing wrong with it. So some people really need to watch what they say before making comments like that towards people. Especially if they have no idea what they are talking about.
Anyway, unless you really can't understand what the person said, I don't make a fuss about it.
This should be a place to not have to worry about crap like that. Save it for professional letters, Resume's and Cover Letters. The places where it matters most. So yea, there are times where my grammar isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean I can't write properly. I just choose not to sometimes.
Anyway, unless you really can't understand what the person said, I don't make a fuss about it.
This should be a place to not have to worry about crap like that. Save it for professional letters, Resume's and Cover Letters. The places where it matters most. So yea, there are times where my grammar isn't perfect, but that doesn't mean I can't write properly. I just choose not to sometimes.
I think I've spent too much time on mmos to not get annoyed at poor spelling and grammar. It bothers me that I, who does not have English as my first language often appear to be better at spelling than many natives.
Reading poorly put together texts make me so tired these days that I can't even bring my brain to focus on them enough to decipher what they're saying.
I rarely tell people so, however. I just assume they have nothing important to say because if they can't even be bothered to write it properly I doubt they put much thought into it.
Reading poorly put together texts make me so tired these days that I can't even bring my brain to focus on them enough to decipher what they're saying.
I rarely tell people so, however. I just assume they have nothing important to say because if they can't even be bothered to write it properly I doubt they put much thought into it.
As has been said before, as long as it can be understood without causing a brain aneurism, I'm fine with it.
Try your best.
When you see someone is trying there best, dont be an ass if they make a mistake.
One thing i hate is when people don't reply to a the threads question and just comment on the OP's grammar.
When you see someone is trying there best, dont be an ass if they make a mistake.
One thing i hate is when people don't reply to a the threads question and just comment on the OP's grammar.
English should be used correctly in all situations. If someone ends a sentence with a preposition, I suppose I can get over it (ie: if someone says 'that's what I'm looking for', instead of 'that's for what I'm looking', I'll not badger them), but in almost all cases, I will correct them.
I like good spelling and grammar when I read things, makes it easier to read.
At the same time, I know its (in this case) a forum on the internet so I consider everything to basically be rough draft or free-thought, no editing. Not to mention that goes with some minor typo spelling errors and other little problems.
As forums go, though, I just care more about being able to understand you, rather than complete accuracy in every facet of the English language. I save that for judging papers and things people professionally write or for serious consideration.
At the same time, I know its (in this case) a forum on the internet so I consider everything to basically be rough draft or free-thought, no editing. Not to mention that goes with some minor typo spelling errors and other little problems.
As forums go, though, I just care more about being able to understand you, rather than complete accuracy in every facet of the English language. I save that for judging papers and things people professionally write or for serious consideration.
As I put it: There is a Grammar Nazi living in my head. Please don't make him angry.
I've used proper spelling and grammar all my life, and don't plan on changing that any time soon. But then, at age 4 I had no problems spelling.
I've used proper spelling and grammar all my life, and don't plan on changing that any time soon. But then, at age 4 I had no problems spelling.