What should I of done!?

lovebargainshatewaste

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

I don't think that there is anything wrong with correcting the grammar or spelling of another poster (provided it is not done in a nasty way) if the mistake was going to be sent in a letter or e-mail.

I've never worked in a customer services department, but I would have thought that a well presented letter/e-mail with correct spelling and grammar may well get a better result than one which was full of errors.

I can see where you're coming from, but you may want to consider doing corrections via pm, to avoid upsetting the poster by correcting them in public? Just a thought.

fluffnutter

For me it's not about picking up on individual issues - I just think it's a interesting topic for discussion and as such places like DT are a perfect forum to debate this. Is written communication important or are we all a bunch of old-fashioned grumps? Is our education policy and it's constant changing depending on political whim to blame? Do people have to accept that language is changing and the txtspk generation are moving the goalposts? Should we accept CVs and business communication punctuated by smileys?

Language is ever-evolving and we can't take a prescriptive view. Language is how people use it and no amount of opposition and conservatism will prevent that evolution. However, people still make assumptions about your level of education based on your eloquence - you're naive if you think you can LOL! and :facepalm!: your way through a letter to your bank.

All this, to my mind, is worthy of an interesting discussion. Unfortunately it can become too emotive a subject, people's sensitivities are offended and the debate reduces to mud-slinging and whining. It's a shame.

ERICS_MUM

Poor spelling, punctuation and the use of incorrect grammar is up to the writer, who might not know about these things for whatever reason or just not care as long as (they think) they can get their point across.

Some readers won't care about any such errors as long as they can understand the point being made.

Others are distracted by the poor grammar etc and tend not to take in what's been written.

It's not the end of the world, especially on message boards. I would love to write more elegant posts but I tend to dash off my views and submit without reading it through - something I would never do with a more formal written communication.

birkee

shellsuit wrote: »

My husband does that.

He doesn't mean to, he writes it as he says it and it's said like that because of our accent.

He's not thick, stupid, lazy or ignorant at all.

Does writing 'have' bring the bacon to the table? Does it make him a worse Father or husband?

No, it doesn't, so it really doesn't matter does it?

*sigh*

Not at all.... unless he wants to communicate with me, and I can't understand him. In his own little world, fine, as a Solicitors Clerk, too right it matters.

MamaMoo_2

Leory wrote: »

Perhaps the title brought you to this thread because you are nosey.

Hopefully you came to this thread because of the misuse of the word 'of'.

I can accespt bad grammar on threads, perhaps some posters are old and not privileged to an education available to people today. But, this annoyance is associated, mostly, with younger people. Are they too lazy to write ‘have’? Fine, then perhaps in some cases you can use ‘should’ve’ to shorten your sentences.
I actually think people are just dumb, as I get this in formal emails to me all the time.

Here is an example (not quoted names to save embarrassment!)


Look at that! Two times in two sentences!

Spelling mistakes? Fine, it can happen.
Grammar not correct? I sometimes get this wrong (feel free to spot mine in this).

Using a totally incorrect word? Not on!

Am I the only person to notice that 'of' was used incorrectly three times, not two, in those sentences?

birkee

fluffnutter wrote: »

'Twice' might have been more elegant but no matter; 'two times' isn't grammatically incorrect.

That aside, if someone believed that 'of' was correct (instead of 'have') then they're going to write it every single time they use that construction! It would be a bit weird to write 'should have' then 'should of'...! So why the surprise that they've used it twice?!

Once, we can get over, but not two of ten.

fluffnutter

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

..or just not care as long as (they think) they can get their point across.

This is the bit that fascinates me. I'm not some old dear (30s) but I've noticed a marked difference between the attitudes of people my age and those of people about 10 - 20 years younger. At my place we have a graduate scheme and we're keen to take on a lot of kids just out of university.

Now these are all bright, educated, eager little puppies but not one of them can string a written sentence together. Their spelling's atrocious, their grammar's appalling and heaven help them in charge of an apostrophe.

But, interestingly... not one of them cares. They're entirely the product of an education policy that sidelined grammar, spelling and punctuation in favour of 'ideas' and 'comprehension' and 'getting their point across'. The argument that's always used if they're picked up on their grammar is 'you knew what I meant so why does it matter?'.

I can't get my head round this. I think it does matter. My friend's a senior lecturer at one of the London university colleges. She's despairs at the quality of written language. She says it's so hard to teach properly because she finds herself devoting her time to fathoming out what people actually mean. Her students' ability to construct meaningful, eloquent, well-designed arguments is hampered by their appalling grasp of grammar. I think they've been failed by the education system, frankly.

Language and thought are so intrinsically linked in our neurology that if you can use language well, it actually enhances the way you can think and reason. Simply put, it makes you more intelligent.

shaun_from_Africa

There is one good thing about this thread.
I can guarantee that most of the people who have commented on here checked, double checked, and checked again to ensure that there were no mistakes in their post before they hit the "post reply" button. ( I know that I did.)

fluffnutter

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

There is one good thing about this thread.
I can guarantee that most of the people who have commented on here checked, double checked, and checked again to ensure that there were no mistakes in their post before they hit the "post reply" button. ( I know that I did.)

Me too! :rotfl:

gordikin

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

There is one good thing about this thread.
I can guarantee that most of the people who have commented on here checked, double checked, and checked again to ensure that there were no mistakes in their post before they hit the "post reply" button. ( I know that I did.)

....clearly tehy haven't though?


....so why is there a space after your first bracket and not before your second (x2)?:rotfl: