English Grammar and Spelling

[Lonely Tylenol]

Someone pointed out to me that it probably is worse... because it is summer.

None the less, why restrain yourself? So long as you aren't insulting, you are probably actually helping the poster, who may be an non-native speaker, or who may be simply ill-educated (regarding the language in general, or the local culture on this board).

Cheers, -- N

Because there would be ten or twelve posts each day in which I correct people, and I'd develop a reputation as some kind of mad editor. I suspect it would annoy people more than it would enlighten them. The majority of the errors could be prevented by using a spell-checker (Firefox has one built-in these days), or a dictionary, so it also seems like with a very small effort on the part of the posters the language around here could be tidied up by a significant amount.

Anyway, summer. Right. Good point. Soon the perpetrators will be shuttled back to the institutions at which they are failing to learn to write proper English, and won't have time to make so many posts.

 

[Nifft]

Because there would be ten or twelve posts each day in which I correct people, and I'd develop a reputation as some kind of mad editor. I suspect it would annoy people more than it would enlighten them.

So only hit one or two each day. If you can bottle all of it up (and vent here), surely you can also bottle merely some of it up (and thus have proportionately less to vent)?

Cheers, -- N

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

So only hit one or two each day. If you can bottle all of it up (and vent here), surely you can also bottle merely some of it up (and thus have proportionately less to vent)?

Cheers, -- N

But what if it's like eating just one chip? If I open that door I may not be able to shut it again. I mean, last week I added someone to my ignore list because I couldn't stand to read his awful prose anymore.

 

[Nifft]

But what if it's like eating just one chip? If I open that door I may not be able to shut it again. I mean, last week I added someone to my ignore list because I couldn't stand to read his awful prose anymore.

Eh, do as you will.

I'm just thinking that if people don't ever get feedback, they might not know there's anything wrong. Their failings are obviously not your responsibility -- I'm just saying it might help them, and it might take the pressure off of you, particularly if you actually help someone.

Cheers, -- N

 

[the black knight]

When enough people make a grammatical mistake, it's not a mistake anymore.

That's how language changes.

Don't use that as an excuse, though.

Be conscious of the language you use.

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

I am a linguist and a teacher of English. As a linguist, my training leads me toward descriptivism, rather than proscriptivism. That is, I am trained to observe the language people use, not to tell them what language they should use. As an English teacher, I cringe when my fellow ENworlders (who are, on the whole, highly literate) use badwrong language. It is my job to correct the language use of twelve-year-olds, but I believe that it is rude to call people on their language use in a discussion thread on any other topic.

This thread is about language use and when I see you screw up my language, I'm going to come here to complain about it.

Don't mix up "lose" and "loose." They're easier to keep straight. You can "loose the hounds." You can "lose three levels to a wight." "Lose a game of chess." "Tie a loose knot.

*"pwned" is not a word. Niether is *"1337."

We all make typographical errors sometimes. That's why there's an edit post button.

People using English as a second language deserve some slack. Don't pick on people. English-only posters make some of the most egregious errors. Leave the high-horse in the stable.

If you know you don't know how to spell a word, look it up or spellcheck it. Don't expect others to guess what you intended. We have language so we don't have to guess what others are thinking.

If you must type in computer shorthand, please do so in moderation. Most people will get that "BTW" means "By the way." if you write "OTMFCtM," please don't expect anyone here to divine that that is supposed to mean "Other than my favorite class, the monk" unless you've already spelled it out at least three times in the thread where it appears.

Jargon is appropriate in context. Folks on ENWorld know what you mean by "medium base attack," "d12," and "arcane spells." They shouldn't also be expected to keep up with "LD50," "SDAIE," or "POG."

I see what your saying but some people jsut dont care. Im not going to edit a message board message. I too like english and wanted to study it in college. But to be perfectly honest unless Im getting a grade or paid im going to do the simplest thing possible, and be as lazy as possible while allowing my message to still make sense.

 

[Jeysie]

But to be perfectly honest unless Im getting a grade or paid im going to do the simplest thing possible, and be as lazy as possible while allowing my message to still make sense.

Urk. This sort of attitude drives me nuts. My general sentiment tends to be, "If you're too lazy to write properly, then I'm too lazy to bother paying attention to what you wrote." (Or at least it would be if I didn't let my intrinsic sense of curiosity get the better of me. Sigh.)

I suppose it's a matter of respect. If I care enough to communicate in a given situation at all, then I care enough to attempt to communicate properly. Otherwise you're basically saying, "I don't consider talking with you worth more than my least effort." Which is... rather insulting.

Peace & Luv, Liz