Do you believe it to be rude to correct someone's grammar and spelling in posts here and other places? Or do you think it can be used to help another? Is it arrogant? Can it be done without any arrogance?
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Correcting Another's Grammar and/or Spelling
- Thread starter ChristineES
- Start date
Koldo
Outstanding Member
Occasionally, i don't see any problem at all.
If the mistake is done repeatedly, then it is worth mentioning.
Otherwise, it may be just a typo.
As long as I can understand what another person is saying, then I don't try to correct their grammar or spelling, but if I'm genuinely confused as to what they're saying due to errors in grammar or spelling, I'll point it out and possibly ask that they rephrase their points to make sure I don't misunderstand them before responding.
I'm not a fan of correcting people's grammar, spelling, or punctuation in arguments to "score" against them, though. I think that's usually condescending and unnecessary (unless they do it first, of course
).
I'm not a fan of correcting people's grammar, spelling, or punctuation in arguments to "score" against them, though. I think that's usually condescending and unnecessary (unless they do it first, of course
).
I think it can be done without arrogance, especially if one has a friendly or playful relationship with the other person. How it comes across would affect whether or not I think it is rude.
In most cases, I would lean toward it being rude or at least unnecessary.
Especially if the correction seems to really have been done as an attempt to make the other person look small in a debate, or if used as a distraction from the gist of a person's post. In those cases, it comes across to me as a childish finger-pointing tactic of a person trying to side-step something they can't, or don't want to answer, and leave an impression like...well, obviously the other person is stupid for the mistake...(as if we don't all make them.)
In most cases, I would lean toward it being rude or at least unnecessary.
Especially if the correction seems to really have been done as an attempt to make the other person look small in a debate, or if used as a distraction from the gist of a person's post. In those cases, it comes across to me as a childish finger-pointing tactic of a person trying to side-step something they can't, or don't want to answer, and leave an impression like...well, obviously the other person is stupid for the mistake...(as if we don't all make them.)
Twilight Hue
Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Dis time out not goona use spell chuck. ;0)
I remember a time a person corrected me once. Never forgot her lesson and correctly spelled that word from that point on.
She was a very nice person and I did not mind the correction at all. Turned out she was an English teacher.
The word was receipt. I used to spell it with i before e and forgot the c. :0D
I remember a time a person corrected me once. Never forgot her lesson and correctly spelled that word from that point on.
She was a very nice person and I did not mind the correction at all. Turned out she was an English teacher.
The word was receipt. I used to spell it with i before e and forgot the c. :0D
When people grammatically misuse specialized terminology that demonstrates ignorance of a subject, I correct them. For example, every so often, someone who is generally ignorant of Neopaganism will speak of something called "wiccanism." I will tell them there is no such thing as "wiccanism," there is the religion of Wicca whose adherents are called Wiccans.
Otherwise, I generally don't bother. If someone's post is truly so garbled as to be incomprehensible, I usually just ignore it completely. If something in it actually catches my interest, I will ask them to correct their post using proper English grammar so I can actually comprehend the content enough to know what exactly it is they're asking or wishing to discuss. Unfortunately, in this world of lazy chatspeak and shorthands, this comes up more often than I would like it to. Not so much on this forum, thank the gods.
Otherwise, I generally don't bother. If someone's post is truly so garbled as to be incomprehensible, I usually just ignore it completely. If something in it actually catches my interest, I will ask them to correct their post using proper English grammar so I can actually comprehend the content enough to know what exactly it is they're asking or wishing to discuss. Unfortunately, in this world of lazy chatspeak and shorthands, this comes up more often than I would like it to. Not so much on this forum, thank the gods.
Oh, I just remembered something. There are times when it may be crucial for a person to correct another person. I know this is going to sound like a joke (it's rather funny) but this really did happen within the past few days.
My husband is a carpenter. He had a young guy working with him that is also subcontracting work from the same general contractor.
It came to my husband's attention that this guy had been sending emails of work updates to the general contractor, and that he was referring to caulk, and caulking with a 4 letter word that sounds similar, but is a slang word that is used for the male sex organ. The guy really thought thought that was how it is spelled.
(I think this is a good example of a time that it really is a service to correct someone.)
My husband is a carpenter. He had a young guy working with him that is also subcontracting work from the same general contractor.
It came to my husband's attention that this guy had been sending emails of work updates to the general contractor, and that he was referring to caulk, and caulking with a 4 letter word that sounds similar, but is a slang word that is used for the male sex organ. The guy really thought thought that was how it is spelled.
(I think this is a good example of a time that it really is a service to correct someone.)
I had a worker who misspelled a tenant's unusual last name, "Shmunk" as "Shmuck".
This demanded correction.
I once had a client who wanted an IRS form K1 for a partnership she was in. But
she asked me for "KY". I explained that we don't supply that. A good laugh was
had by all.
This demanded correction.
I once had a client who wanted an IRS form K1 for a partnership she was in. But
she asked me for "KY". I explained that we don't supply that. A good laugh was
had by all.
esmith
Veteran Member
I use a spell check program when I write. However, one must proofread prior to posting. Sometimes spell chick doesn't catch the grammatical errors when you right, or spells the word correctly but as in this sentence the grammar is incorrect when it corrects there spelling? Of course you ever read something that was written in say the 1700 by supposedly a educated person.
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Nyingjé Tso
Dharma not drama
Vanakkam,
I don't find it rude, it depends how it is done ^^
Like Westy said, a friendly emote can help to avoid misinterepretation
I used to always ask to people on english forums to correct my mistakes if they wanted, it's a great way to learn more ! It's a sharing of knowledge, then it's a good thing.
But I had some people sometimes bluntly using mispelling or grammar errors to mock me or point it out in a hostile manner : "tss you don't even know english properly!", "LOL learn to write english moron !" or using those errors to say personnal attacks. This is not a good thing at all. :/
Aum Namah Shivaya
I don't find it rude, it depends how it is done ^^
Like Westy said, a friendly emote can help to avoid misinterepretation
I used to always ask to people on english forums to correct my mistakes if they wanted, it's a great way to learn more ! It's a sharing of knowledge, then it's a good thing.
But I had some people sometimes bluntly using mispelling or grammar errors to mock me or point it out in a hostile manner : "tss you don't even know english properly!", "LOL learn to write english moron !" or using those errors to say personnal attacks. This is not a good thing at all. :/
Aum Namah Shivaya
ratikala
Istha gosthi
dear christine ,
being a hopeless dyslexic I frequently miss spell .
some people kindly overlook it , I assume that they deem the content more important than the speelling and grammar , ...so thank you guys
usualy I will notice that another has spelt it another way and adjust , but grammar I havent got a clue , I write as I speak and that will just have to do .
there have been some people here who have attacked me for my spelling and grammar and have done so in a rude and condecending manner , laughingly it has only been when they are loosing an arguement that it suddenly becomes a problem !
I dont know how one can correct anothers mistakes in this type of format which is much like conversation ? it could be done politely and without arrogance , but it could come across wrongly , and I wonder is it realy that important ?
I teach some arts and creative skills , and am at present working with someone who teaches reading to children with learning difficulties creating a program of creative learning , I pride my self in trying to bring out the best in a persons ability however good or bad it may be , I strongly beleive that it is important to allow a person to express them selves to the best of their ability and to give them confidence .
to me a willingness to understand is a more valuable skill than grammar in the greater scheme of things . some people will dissagree with me I am sure , but thats ok that is just my values in life speaking .
personaly I think the subjects we are discussing here are more important , and that we should be tollerant of one another , for instance there are many english as a second language speakers here and I have witnesed some people use that as an excuse to treat them as idiots when in truth they are to be admired .
personaly I have learnt to egnore the condecending attitudes of some , so their rudeness is wasted on me , but I do feel for some others as it can be very hurtfull .
correction, ...would it be helpfull ?
I dont know , ....to some maybe ? ...for instance acidental spelling mistakes which happen all the time in the hindu dir ...... 'brahma' , 'brahman' where there are two different meanings , many times the reader knows by the context that a simple slip has been made yet there is a temptation for some to correct for the sake of it which I consider rudeness .
one could politely ask did you mean ....? ... but this is a rare occurance .
being a hopeless dyslexic I frequently miss spell .
some people kindly overlook it , I assume that they deem the content more important than the speelling and grammar , ...so thank you guys
usualy I will notice that another has spelt it another way and adjust , but grammar I havent got a clue , I write as I speak and that will just have to do .
there have been some people here who have attacked me for my spelling and grammar and have done so in a rude and condecending manner , laughingly it has only been when they are loosing an arguement that it suddenly becomes a problem !
I dont know how one can correct anothers mistakes in this type of format which is much like conversation ? it could be done politely and without arrogance , but it could come across wrongly , and I wonder is it realy that important ?
I teach some arts and creative skills , and am at present working with someone who teaches reading to children with learning difficulties creating a program of creative learning , I pride my self in trying to bring out the best in a persons ability however good or bad it may be , I strongly beleive that it is important to allow a person to express them selves to the best of their ability and to give them confidence .
to me a willingness to understand is a more valuable skill than grammar in the greater scheme of things . some people will dissagree with me I am sure , but thats ok that is just my values in life speaking .
personaly I think the subjects we are discussing here are more important , and that we should be tollerant of one another , for instance there are many english as a second language speakers here and I have witnesed some people use that as an excuse to treat them as idiots when in truth they are to be admired .
personaly I have learnt to egnore the condecending attitudes of some , so their rudeness is wasted on me , but I do feel for some others as it can be very hurtfull .
correction, ...would it be helpfull ?
I dont know , ....to some maybe ? ...for instance acidental spelling mistakes which happen all the time in the hindu dir ...... 'brahma' , 'brahman' where there are two different meanings , many times the reader knows by the context that a simple slip has been made yet there is a temptation for some to correct for the sake of it which I consider rudeness .
one could politely ask did you mean ....? ... but this is a rare occurance .
Ouroboros
Coincidentia oppositorum
Since I'm not a native English speaking person, I've been corrected more times than I can remember. Generally, I let things go and won't correct any error I see. But occasionally (yes, I started the sentence with a "but"), the error is so bad that I can't help but to point it out. One of my pet-peeves is "infanite". It just looks so ugly. If it's arrogant or not... well, it depends. If someone is really obnoxious , arrogant and argues scientific matters, I might point out dumb mistakes just to take him or her down a notch. Basically, the message is "if you're rubbing my face with supposed 'scientific' facts that aren't, then at least try to spell basic words correctly." (I'm very arrogant too, btw.)
I make typos of various sorts in almost every post, and I have a degree in grammar (sort of) and taught it for years. My policy for correcting grammar/spelling here is based on frequency. If someone makes the same mistake twice, or even three times (in a thread), I usually won't say anything. But if someone is consistently making the same grammatical/spelling mistake, I might point it out. And I'd hope someone would do the same for me (for a time, I was on another forum as well as this one, and found out I had been spelling a scholar's name wrong for years; I was glad someone pointed it out).
Also, there is context. It is grammatically correct, for example, to say "it is I" when answering the phone or door or whatever. But unless you have the stereotype "upper class" british accent, it just sounds awful.
Additionally, I might inquire as to the meaning of a sentence, clause, or word that I can't understand because of some error simply because I want to be sure I am comprehending what is being said.
Terrywoodenpic
Oldest Heretic
I found the above on another site
It is very strange but you can read it as quickly as normal writing.
Breathe
Hostis humani generis
On the forums, yes.
At home, I'll correct children's nonstandard English. Sometimes my wife's or even parent's, but that's usually if I only want to annoy them; usually it's with a double negative or something.
I correct my kids' (and occasionally wife's) grammar because I don't want them to speak like the locals here (and we're all locals) who sound scummy to me.
Spelling, my wife is dyslexic, and my kids are young.
Besides plaguing, I only do it IRL for some friends and family with formal letters &c so they don't look a bit daft.
But doing it here (or seriously) especially with adults (to score against them anyway -- ha! Why listen to you, you used "your" instead of "you're"!), is douchey.
At home, I'll correct children's nonstandard English. Sometimes my wife's or even parent's, but that's usually if I only want to annoy them; usually it's with a double negative or something.
I correct my kids' (and occasionally wife's) grammar because I don't want them to speak like the locals here (and we're all locals) who sound scummy to me.
Spelling, my wife is dyslexic, and my kids are young.
Besides plaguing, I only do it IRL for some friends and family with formal letters &c so they don't look a bit daft.
But doing it here (or seriously) especially with adults (to score against them anyway -- ha! Why listen to you, you used "your" instead of "you're"!), is douchey.
Secret Chief
Veteran Member
I'd never want to offend.
Besides, what's the point, when so many are Americans?
Besides, what's the point, when so many are Americans?