Correcting people's grammar - acceptable?

Pollycat

mgdavid wrote: »

If sensitive souls get upset or take offence that is their problem not mine.
To answer your question, to help them improve themselves - it may even help them do their job better, or perhaps get a better job.
Would have thought it obvious.

Maybe they don't need help in improving themselves.

Maybe some people feel that when texting and posting on an internet forum, using correct punctuation, spelling and grammar is not necessary.

My ex boss had a very good university education which showed in all business related written documents but his texts and non-business related communications were very different.
I very much doubt that you could have provided any critique that would have enabled him to do his job any better than he already was doing or to get him a better job.

The author of this thread specifically mentioned another thread on MSE which had annoyed him/her.

surveyqueenuk

I almost never correct. I often notice but really, what's the point in being pernickity if you can understand what that person means? Nobody is great at everything and that includes spelling and grammar. Besides, that person could be dyslexic or have other obstacles.

The only time I feel I have to say something is when I get an email saying something like "The meeting is been arranged for Monday". Sorry but HAS it been arranged or is it BEING arranged?

While I am on a rant, I've noticed many people saying things like "The kids need fed" or "The sheets need washed" over the past year or so. Is this some sort of Americanism?

consultant31

Mojisola wrote: »

It's also where the use of "could of" has come from and this is so common now that it's likely to become an acceptable use

Oh goodness, I really hope not....this is one of my pet peeves

lobbyludd

language usage and especially grammar change with time and across geographies. It is fluid, reflects the here and now only and is just an aid to good communication.

Those "rules" that we all spent so long learning were only the predominant guidelines in our part of the world at that time. They would not have been correct 50 years before, and won't necessarily be correct now. So, "correcting" someone else's grammar because it doesn't conform to those "rules" does feel petty, rude and pointless, and, to me, the opposite of good communication. If we can't understand what someone is saying, asking for clarification aids the flow of information better than pointing out an "error"?

Jacko_amz

I recently had my grammar corrected on a presentation I did at work, I put affect but I meant effect - I was grateful to be told.

However I do think there is a certain way in doing it, the person came to my office to politely notify me I had gotten it mixed up. Some people come across very rude and snotty when correcting others grammar - and as someone said above I think that is trying to put others down because of their own insecurities.

Slinky

Concerned75 wrote: »

If they want too rite poor grammar, let them get on with it. Not your problem and probably to lait for sum people....

Don't you mean prolly to lait?

Slinky

Jacko_amz wrote: »

I recently had my grammar corrected on a presentation I did at work, I put affect but I meant effect - I was grateful to be told.

I see this a lot, but usually the other way round. Effect when they mean affect, and often in what is otherwise very literate English. It can be surprising where that slips in.

Pollycat

Jacko_amz wrote: »

I recently had my grammar corrected on a presentation I did at work, I put affect but I meant effect - I was grateful to be told.

However I do think there is a certain way in doing it, the person came to my office to politely notify me I had gotten it mixed up. Some people come across very rude and snotty when correcting others grammar - and as someone said above I think that is trying to put others down because of their own insecurities.

But that was at work.
Don't you see a difference between someone politely and well-intentionally pointing out that you used the wrong word and someone on a public forum who -and I read the thread that the OP took exception to over a year ago - making a big fuss over something that there really wasn't anything to start this thread about.