Correcting people's grammar - acceptable?

Pixie5740

I do correct spelling in grammar when reviewing my colleagues' reports before they are sent to the clients, and my colleagues review my reports. I wouldn't do it on a forum as it's unnecessary and sometimes autocorrect functions are the real culprits. There have been occasions where I have typed the correct there/their/they're to use and my phone has inexplicably changed it.

I don't know if it's a Scottish thing but a lot of people say, "bet," instead of, "beat," which I find irksome and do sometimes enquire what the wager was if the person is being an !!!!. I've also noticed that in the North East of Scotland people use, "much," instead of, "many." For example, "how much people are coming?"

Many people write, "alot," when it's actually two separate words but this blog post helps put a smile on my face whenever I see an alot.

The Alot is Better Than You at Everything

Lily-Rose_3

pollypenny wrote: »

You know, I suspect that the pedantic ones, rude ones in fact, are not teachers at all, just show-offs. Teachers tend to know when to intervene or let things go.

Hmmmmm, I also wonder if all the claims that people on this forum make about their life, (and the career they supposedly have,) are actually true.

But maybe that's just me being cynical.

missbiggles1

Pollycat wrote: »

It's not become anyone's fault.

Many posters on here write 'so are you saying.....'
and that is clearly wrong as posters aren't saying anything, they're writing.
And 'what does the letter say'? The letter doesn't say anything - does it?

Do you intend to correct every one of those posts?

It was very clear what I meant - if you were unable to understand the meaning that's up to you.

That's always the excuse people make when when they make a mistake "Everybody knew what I meant" but why should people have to tease out a meaning when someone's written the opposite of what they acutually meant, as you did?

I think that people who use the wrong word is more of a problem than poor grammar and it's a problem that's growing because people can't be bothered and expect others to work it out for themselves so they say "crutch" when "crotch" is meant or "sideboards" when referring to "sideburns".

Georgiegirl256

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I think that people who use the wrong word is more of a problem than poor grammar and it's a problem that's growing because people can't be bothered and expect others to work it out for themselves so they say "crutch" when "crotch" is meant or "sideboards" when referring to "sideburns".

Where I come from sideboards is what we call sideburns though. So I think you've got to allow for regional differences.

I find it much harder to work out a post when people use 'there', 'their and 'they're' in the wrong context. Also 'no' and 'know'. I'm sure there are a lot more but I can't think right now.

missbiggles1

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Where I come from sideboards is what we call sideburns though. So I think you've got to allow for regional differences.

I find it much harder to work out a post when people use 'there', 'their and 'they're' in the wrong context. Also 'no' and 'know'. I'm sure there are a lot more but I can't think right now.

In some areas, people say "I done" or "you was" - that doesn't make them correct but I do agree it's not that clear cut with the issue of whiskers. I could've chosen a better example but it was the first to come to mind.

Georgiegirl256

missbiggles1 wrote: »

In some areas, people say "I done" or "you was" - that doesn't make them correct.

No it doesn't. However, sideboards is a perfectly acceptable alternative name for them and therefore is correct.

Lily-Rose_3

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I think that people who use the wrong word is more of a problem than poor grammar and it's a problem that's growing because people can't be bothered and expect others to work it out for themselves so they say "crutch" when "crotch" is meant or "sideboards" when referring to "sideburns".

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Where I come from sideboards is what we call sideburns though. So I think you've got to allow for regional differences.

I find it much harder to work out a post when people use 'there', 'their and 'they're' in the wrong context. Also 'no' and 'know'. I'm sure there are a lot more but I can't think right now.

missbiggles1 wrote: »

In some areas, people say "I done" or "you was" - that doesn't make them correct.

I have to agree with Georgie. You are wrong about this Miss Biggles.

From Wiki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideburns

And also the Oxford English Dictionary confirms there is more than one meaning.

http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/sideboard?q=sideboard

We always said sideboards, (I grew up in the Midlands,) we never said 'sideburns.' It IS a regional thing, and it's not incorrect.

Saying 'I want to go to there house,' instead of 'their' is wrong. Saying sideboards instead of sideburns is not wrong.

I get incredibly irked by someone saying that I am saying things 'wrong,' when I am not.

Like when I say 'tooth' I pronounce it to rhyme with 'fluff,' not ruth, and this woman I know ALWAYS sees fit to correct me. So arrogant and rude. I am NOT pronouncing it wrong. I am pronouncing it the way I was brought up to pronounce it! My mother and grandmother and great grandmother, and everyone who lived in my town pronounced it like this!

Millions of folk pronounce 'tooth' this way! Like millions of people say sideboards, and not sideburns. The same with the word crotch; if people pronounce it crutch, then that is their prerogative; it is not 'wrong.' It depends where they are from.

Same with the word 'debris;' I pronounce it 'day-bree' not 'dubree' and I get picked up on this too occasionally. Again, I am not pronouncing it 'incorrectly', so don't flippin' well tell me that I am!

Pollycat

Lily-Rose wrote: »

I have to agree with Georgie. You are wrong about this Miss Biggles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sideburns

We always said sideboards, (I grew up in the Midlands,) we never said 'sideburns.' It IS a regional thing, and it's not incorrect.

Saying 'I want to go to there house,' instead of 'their' is wrong. Saying sideboards instead of sideburns is not wrong.

I get incredibly irked by someone saying that I am saying things 'wrong,' when I am not.

Like when I say 'tooth' I pronounce it to rhyme with 'fluff,' not ruth, and this woman I know ALWAYS sees fit to correct me. So arrogant and rude. I am NOT pronouncing it wrong. I am pronouncing it the way I was brought up to pronounce it! My mother and grandmother and great grandmother, and everyone who lived in my town pronounced it like this!

Millions of folk pronounce 'tooth' this way! Like millions of people say sideboards, and not sideburns. The same with the word crotch; if people pronounce it crutch, then that is their prerogative; it is not 'wrong.' It depends where they are from.

Same with the word 'debris;' I pronounce it 'day-bree' not 'dubree' and I get picked up on this too occasionally. Again, I am not pronouncing it 'incorrectly', so don't blasted well tell me that I am!

Well, there you go, missbiggles1 - you're obviously not as perfect as you think you are. :rotfl:

moneyistooshorttomention

Sam_Fallow wrote: »

I don't like it when I read that people have 'brought' things.

For example...

Them, 'I brought a new car.'
My reply, 'Really? where did you bruy it from?'

Also, this...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StJ-OK4jiSY

I must admit that, with something like that, I would probably just act on the exact words they have used and (in all seriousness) might find myself saying something like "Wouldn't it have been better to bring your old car instead? - as it's so muddy here".

It's not a deliberate decision on my part. It's just that I tend to respond to the actual words people used - rather than the ones they should have used:rotfl:.

hollydays

missbiggles1 wrote: »

That's always the excuse people make when when they make a mistake "Everybody knew what I meant" but why should people have to tease out a meaning when someone's written the opposite of what they acutually meant, as you did?

I think that people who use the wrong word is more of a problem than poor grammar and it's a problem that's growing because people can't be bothered and expect others to work it out for themselves so they say "crutch" when "crotch" is meant or "sideboards" when referring to "sideburns".

Don't you mean " people who use the wrong word ARE " not "is"? :money:
Just teasing.