Do grammar and spelling matter on a message board?

[Mark Chance]

Tom, Mark, NO ZOUP FOR YOU!

Henry, how mais oui make it up to ewe?

Rimshot, anyone?

 

[Tom Cashel]

Buh-doomp chsssshh!

 

[Mark Chance]

Buh-doomp chsssshh!

Thank you! Thank you! I'm here all week. Don't forget to tip your waitresses. Aren't they lovely?

 

[mythusmage]

C'est la vie!

C'est la guerre!

Say no more.

 

[Hypersmurf]

(Incidental side note: If you are going to correct someone on spelling and grammar in a post, YOU HAD BETTER BE 100% ACCURATE in your own; nothing trumps sanctimoniousness worse than hypocrisy.)

Heh.

Any time I post a correction, I always check the message through at least three times.

And I'm sure ninety percent of the typos I make still turn up in those messages.

It's gremlins; I'm sure of it!

I agree with Tom that, in a written medium, "we become language". I like that phrase.

I've always written so as to reproduce my speaking patterns. Particularly if I'm writing a letter - but not exclusively - I find I recite the sentences in my head, and insert ellipses, dashes, semi-colons, and commas to mimic the flow of the spoken word. A lot of people write very differently to how they speak; different word choices, different grammatical constructions, and so forth. I prefer to keep it "me".

A friend recently went overseas, and we've been keeping in touch by email - she made the comment that she could "hear" me in text form better than most people. That was... gratifying.

I've never met anyone from the ENWorld Community. All I have to "know" them by is what - and how - they write. To me, that makes it supremely important to ensure that what you type is what you want others to... 'grok', for want of a better word, of you.

So my vote is firmly in the "Spelling and grammar are important" camp.

Not necessarily that it's vital that they be formal. Not that it's even necessary that they be accurate. But that they should be exactly what you intend to convey, whether that be formal, casual, or even sloppy.

Sloppiness by accident is... well, 'unforgivable' is rather strong, but it comes close to expressing my feelings on the matter. Sloppiness by design is, presumably, in aid of some cause, whatever that may be.

-Hyp.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I'll tune out a poster with habitually poor spelling and grammar, sure, but I'm more likely to tune out an intolerable, pedantic prick.

Hey!

-Hyp.

 

[jdavis]

It depends...... well on a lot of things so I'l just leave it at that.

 

[howandwhy99]

I think both matter. I try my best, but forget half the time to reread before posting.

Thankfully, spellcheck operates in every reply box now.
(like underlining spellcheck...)


...and Threadnomancy

 

[jaerdaph]

Other: Grammar and spelling only matter in a post where you correct someone else's grammar or spelling. I've lost count of how many times I've seen someone calling out someone else on their grammar or spelling and make mistakes of their own while they do it. "Grammer" is a personal favorite I usually see in such posts.

 

[Odhanan]

Spelling and grammar have an impact on the way other posters perceive your opinions.

It's probably better to write something like "I like Call of Cthulhu because of its ambiance and the style of creepy game sessions I can run with it" rather than "Howwsome!!1! COC roxxorzzz!"