Correcting people's grammar - acceptable?

maman

I'm disappointed (although not surprised) that, although the title of this thread is a straightforward question, anyone who believes it is acceptable to correct grammar in some form or another is being shouted down.

SailorSam

maman wrote: »

I'm disappointed (although not surprised) that, although the title of this thread is a straightforward question, anyone who believes it is acceptable to correct grammar in some form or another is being shouted down.

I think that only goes to show that the majority of people think it's wrong for anyone to correct innocent mistakes.

Jagraf

maman wrote: »

I'm disappointed (although not surprised) that, although the title of this thread is a straightforward question, anyone who believes it is acceptable to correct grammar in some form or another is being shouted down.

I think it's quite educational, it gives an insight into how our actions affect others.

Mupette

maman wrote: »

I'm disappointed (although not surprised) that, although the title of this thread is a straightforward question, anyone who believes it is acceptable to correct grammar in some form or another is being shouted down.

It just goes to show what assumptions people make, and how judgmental people are whilst hiding behind computer screens, some are just cowards and wanna be bullies

Jagraf wrote: »

I think it's quite educational, it gives an insight into how our actions affect others.

It is indeed an eye opener.

Pollycat

maman wrote: »

I'm disappointed (although not surprised) that, although the title of this thread is a straightforward question, anyone who believes it is acceptable to correct grammar in some form or another is being shouted down.

But is it really a straightforward question?

The OP sneers at a particular post.
Have you read that post?
I have.
I admit it wasn't easy but I did get the gist of the issue.

What - in your opinion - is this forum for?
To educate posters of the correct spelling of a word, point out a misplaced apostrophe?
Or to provide help, support, advice or disagreement to a particular subject/dilemma?

Mupette

Pollycat wrote: »

But is it really a straightforward question?

The OP sneers at a particular post.
Have you read that post?
I have.
I admit it wasn't easy but I did get the gist of the issue.

What - in your opinion - is this forum for?
To educate posters of the correct spelling of a word, point out a misplaced apostrophe?
Or to provide help, support, advice or disagreement to a particular subject/dilemma?

I've actually just gone over and read that, same as you it wasn't easy, and yes you can get the gist of it, I can't believe the OP thought that to pick that post to pieces, I assume they didn't actually read it. What would they make of another forum member on here who posts in bold (partially blind i think she said was her reason) and probably doesn't use the correct spelling or grammar.

I can only assume people like this have far too much time on their hands, love thinking they are better than others and its time they got a worthwhile hobby.

coolcait

Pollycat wrote: »

There is a difference between someone feeling an overwhelming or maybe uncontrollable need to correct someone's mistakes in public and doing it because you feel

or that you just feel it's being 'sloppy'.

Indeed.

We don't know why someone may make errors in spelling, grammar etc - unless they tell us.

We also don't know why someone corrects those errors - unless they tell us.

That hasn't stopped this thread being full of negative assumptions about people who correct errors, and their reasons for doing so.

maman

SailorSam wrote: »

I think that only goes to show that the majority of people think it's wrong for anyone to correct innocent mistakes.

Or maybe that those who shout the loudest get their way.... I've persisted in putting my point of view but I believe many people just scan the posts of those who go on and on about why it's fine to write any way you want and just lose the will.

Pollycat wrote: »

But is it really a straightforward question?

I was purely going on the title. 'Correcting people's grammar-acceptable?'.

Jagraf

Going by the title.

I agree that in a business context it is within the business interest to correct grammar.

In a personsl / social context I can see one reason only for correcting someone else's grammar, and that is to satisfy a person's own desire (for whatever reason).

coolcait

Jagraf wrote: »

Going by the title.

I agree that in a business context it is within the business interest to correct grammar.

In a personsl / social context I can see one reason only for correcting someone else's grammar, and that is to satisfy a person's own desire (for whatever reason).

Arguably any person who responds to a thread on a message board does so to satisfy that person's own desire.

In many cases, it's accepted that the post has been made from a desire to help - even if the recipient of the message says that it has affected them negatively.

Same thing in real life. Sometimes people react negatively to genuinely-meant attempts to help them. That doesn't mean that everyone around them automatically thinks that there was anything other than a desire to help.