Correcting Another's Grammar and/or Spelling

[esmith]

I must admit that my grammatical use of the US English language is not perfect. However, I at least spell words correctly (use spell check) and make a serious attempt to use the correct word or phraseology. To me, submitting a written report or statement reflects directly on me, and if there are errors in the submission it shows that I am either lazy or lacking in my education. When English is not ones primary language, I have no problem with that persons written submissions. However, if English is your primary language and you allow misspelled words or incorrect word usage it tells me that you are either lazy or really do not care how everyone sees you. When one allows these mistakes to occur in their non-job related correspondence it has a tendency to leak into their professional writings. So, should you correct someone? I say no, I just diminish what they have written because to me it shows that it is not important to them.

 

[Caladan]

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?

I think it is needless to correct each and every typo. But I do find it insulting when occasionally I discuss with a native English speaker in their own language and together with being rude they make a sloppy use of the English language, it projects very badly on them in my eyes, and I find that many times the two correlate.
I think that in an English speaking forum such as this, where even most of the non native English speakers make a good use of English and make an effort to be clear, there is a limit to to how much attention I can give to people who don't make an effort to arrange their posts in a constructive way. I come from a POV that in an English speaking forum, for the most part I need to be free from struggling to understand posts. I come here for leisure after all.
And no, I'm not really talking about people who have poor English, I can accept that it's not a language they have mastered yet, but when it's combined with trolling it makes them look very stupid and my patience begins to run low.

Bottom line is, I expect people to make the basic effort to make clear posts, so that I can understand each point they are trying to make. But I'm not bothered because of casual typos.

 

[dawny0826]

If I can read it - I don't really sweat it.

I'm infamous for grammatical errors. I type quickly which doesn't help in the error dept. I'm constantly going back and reading through my posts to catch errors, after I've posted. I type/post and then proofread.

We're all human.

 

[gnomon]

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?

I don't mind minor corrections or an attempt to better mechanics.

Someone correcting me over incorrect grammar mandates such as split infinitives, double negatives, regional usage (ain't is a word), ending a sentence in a preposition and other myths of correct grammar are annoying. When you are Southerner with a Southern dialect and a usage of the language that doesn't adhere to some arbitrary standard it becomes annoying when "grammar Nazi's" attempt to make you speak or write better.

Correcting a misspelling is okay but in a forum often seems entirely unnecessary due to the fact that a misspelling might be less of incorrect usage on the posters part but a failure to see a typing error. Once a post is quoted in response numerous times it often seems futile to go back and correct an error when that simple error has been repeated in the quoted responses.

Just be nice about corrections and avoid patronizing someone. Also avoid telling people they are misusing mechanics when the case just isn't so. Once again, like telling someone to never end a sentence with a preposition. The meaning of a statement is just fine with a preposition at the end.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I'm not the best with my writing or my speaking. I ramble. I jump from point to point with little continuity. I commit numerous grammatical errors. These patterns have been presented to me many times, and I do my best given the time I have and the attention I can give. With many forms of communication over the internet or on social media, I'm at a distinct disadvantage with how comfortable I am with using words to communicate ideas, requests, or grievances. I accept that I'm not as good as my position(s) demand, and I work on it as best as I can, but I can communicate better non-verbally than I can verbally or with the written word.

If I don't match people's expectations, or if people think this reflects badly on me, I figure that's their problem. I'm open to correction if they offer it. It would suck if they refuse to correspond with me on certain levels if I don't live up to their expectations, but that's life.

 

[BSM1]

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 think it's spelled R E C I P E.

 

[Ouroboros]

I think it's spelled R E C I P E.

LOL. Now we're getting into correcting each other in this thread.

Both recipe and receipt are existing words. They mean different things though.

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm not the best with my writing or my speaking. I ramble. I jump from point to point with little continuity. I commit numerous grammatical errors. These patterns have been presented to me many times, and I do my best given the time I have and the attention I can give. With many forms of communication over the internet or on social media, I'm at a distinct disadvantage with how comfortable I am with using words to communicate ideas, requests, or grievances. I accept that I'm not as good as my position(s) demand, and I work on it as best as I can, but I can communicate better non-verbally than I can verbally or with the written word.

If I don't match people's expectations, or if people think this reflects badly on me, I figure that's their problem. I'm open to correction if they offer it. It would suck if they refuse to correspond with me on certain levels if I don't live up to their expectations, but that's life.

A revolting ode to Mystic's wordsmithery

You've excellent spelling & grammar
compared to the others who yammer.
And you offer clarity,
but also hilarity.
Rare qualities which will enamor.

If you want to improve, you should seek out a writing teacher / coach / mentor.
A highly educated (too much so) friend is taking a writing course, & really enjoys how his style is improving.
I know, I know....all you need is spare time to work it in. I give advice....I don't solve problems.

Consider how fortunate you are.
"Correct'm" rhymes with "rectum", which didn't fit into this limerick.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

the grammatical error on that shirt is deliciously ironic.

 

[Revoltingest]

the grammatical error on that shirt is deliciously ironic.

It must be too sophisticated for me to spot.
What's the error?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It must be too sophisticated for me to spot.
What's the error?

I can't remember the term for it, but it's akin to a split infinitive. To be correct, it should be "I'm correcting your grammar silently."

 

[Revoltingest]

I can't remember the term for it, but it's akin to a split infinitive. To be correct, it should be "I'm correcting your grammar silently."

Pbbbbbbt! It's perfectly fine to put the adverb before the verb.
And in this case, the shirt sounds much better than your construction.
Perhaps it's a Canuckistanian thing, eh?
But I'm right cuz I have more posts than you do. In your face! In your face!

 

[Rakhel]

the only time I correct a spelling error, and it's not really a spelling error so to speak, is when someone incorrectly states that AR is the postal code for Arizona and AK is the postal code for Arkansas.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Pbbbbbbt! It's perfectly fine to put the adverb before the verb.
And in this case, the shirt sounds much better than your construction.
Perhaps it's a Canuckistanian thing, eh?
But I'm right cuz I have more posts than you do. In your face! In your face!

I agree it's a much clunkier way to phrase it and that it does "sound wrong", but the rules are what they are, and even if we have good reasons to break them, that doesn't mean we're not breaking them.

I remember an example I got from my parents; I'm not sure where they got it... whether it was from an English teacher, a movie or somewhere else, but the correct way to say "I won't put up with this!" is "this is something up with which I shall not put!"

Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but it does correct the grammatical errors.

Now... personally, I'm more a fan of effective communication than I am of grammatical correctness. Some rules of grammar help us be understood; some get in the way. I'm perfectly happy to break the rules that get in the way, but I like to be conscious of the fact that I am breaking them and make it a deliberate choice for good reasons.

 

[Debater Slayer]

I can't remember the term for it, but it's akin to a split infinitive. To be correct, it should be "I'm correcting your grammar silently."

Both constructions seemed fine to me, so I looked it up to make sure (since I slightly prefer the one on the shirt).

According to this page, both of them (i.e., placing an "adverb of manner" before the verb or after it) are correct.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Both constructions seemed fine to me, so I looked it up to make sure (since I slightly prefer the one on the shirt).

According to this page, both of them (i.e., placing an "adverb of manner" before the verb or after it) are correct.

Hmm. Maybe I'm wrong. In the infinitive form ("to silently criticize"), it would be incorrect; I thought this rule carried through to other conjugations.

 

[Revoltingest]

Hmm. Maybe I'm wrong. In the infinitive form ("to silently criticize"), it would be incorrect; I thought this rule carried through to other conjugations.

I'm silently laughing at your (incorrect) pedantry.

 

[Revoltingest]

And I see that you're less subtle when you find humor in others' errors.....
[youtube]2Fbt1fVfi-g[/youtube]
Laughing Penguin - YouTube

 

[Revoltingest]

I agree it's a much clunkier way to phrase it and that it does "sound wrong", but the rules are what they are, and even if we have good reasons to break them, that doesn't mean we're not breaking them.

One cardinal rule of grammar is that is something sounds bad, it's to be avoided, ie, "wrong".
Plus, grammar evolves. I probably dislike this as much as you do.

I remember an example I got from my parents; I'm not sure where they got it... whether it was from an English teacher, a movie or somewhere else, but the correct way to say "I won't put up with this!" is "this is something up with which I shall not put!"

Like a German Yoda speaking English that sounds!

Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but it does correct the grammatical errors.

Now... personally, I'm more a fan of effective communication than I am of grammatical correctness. Some rules of grammar help us be understood; some get in the way. I'm perfectly happy to break the rules that get in the way, but I like to be conscious of the fact that I am breaking them and make it a deliberate choice for good reasons.

Me oft break rules for effect too. But rules more flexibly than you be thinking.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

A revolting ode to Mystic's wordsmithery

You've excellent spelling & grammar
compared to the others who yammer.
And you offer clarity,
but also hilarity.
Rare qualities which will enamor.

If you want to improve, you should seek out a writing teacher / coach / mentor.
A highly educated (too much so) friend is taking a writing course, & really enjoys how his style is improving.
I know, I know....all you need is spare time to work it in. I give advice....I don't solve problems.

Consider how fortunate you are.
"Correct'm" rhymes with "rectum", which didn't fit into this limerick.

Thanks for the limerick.

I have a few friends and colleagues who are writers that I occasionally send my writings to. They're very sweet when they rip apart my work, so I appreciate how much they try to let me know how much I need to improve if I want to write articles, books, or show reviews. I've adjudicated before, and have given feedback, and I also need to use verbal communication skills, so I have a working knowledge that is enough to get me by at this level. But since I'm looking to do more, my writing skills need to improve.....a lot (according to what I've been told).

One professional told me that I have a style that is "cute and teddy-bear-like" (in a panel review I was given face to face), and that it will appeal to audiences who like that kind of writing. But I needed to do some re-vamping if I wanted to be taken more seriously in the professional community.

I dunno. Maybe I've just been scarred for life. LOL j/k