[oliver klosoff]

some people get angry coz they feel superior to others

i dont care about spelling or grammer coz in australia we use slang and i write how i talk

i laugh at grammer police they have issues!

But you don't write like you talk: your last sentence reads as one when you would clearly say it like it has a semicolon in the middle. I use slang too. I just write it properly so my slang is clear.

Ever considered, that perhaps some arent native speakers? Some of you, are bloody arrogant to be honest. Perhaps this thread should've been about, why on earth people are so narrowminded, to care about spelling on a international forum ?


Written on mobiledevice.

Spelling is often off for non-native speakers, but you can still tell when they're being lazy or not. European speakers usually care more about grammar. I think it's because so many of them grew up with languages that have straight-forward grammar. They learn it inside and out, unlike native English speakers. I met a guy from Quebec a few years ago who kept expressing how astounded he was that uni-lingual anglophones on average had very little knowledge of grammar.

Asian speakers make different mistakes. For example, Japanese people often confuse 'L' and 'R.' I'm not talking just about pronunciation; they confuse the letters. I found a government map in Tokyo pointing out the location of the "Cathoric Church."

Anyway, my point is that yes we do consider whether people aren't native speakers. It's easy to tell and unless they're talking through Babelfish their primary issue is just that they don't know the word for what they want to say. I don't pick apart people's grammar most of the time either. There's no need in most cases, but it quietly hurts my brain to see people confusing "its" and "it's" all the time.

[ImmaTakeYour]

Those who write like that example could at least try to be understood Typos happen to everyone all the time, I often write abuto instead of about and notice it only after I posted my reply, which means most of my posts are edited.

That's one of my specialities, too. No matter how many times I proofread a post, I'll fail to see the glaring typo... until about two picoseconds after I've submitted it.

[elliot mudd]

Really? Most of the time it comes down to people looking for flaws in people, and then, that they enjoy pointing them out to feel less concerned over their own flaws. It is simple human psychology. Especially when trying to make sense out of a 9 year old's wall of text. What people forget is that they ARE children and should be given more leeway in that department. Simple helpful suggestions help a lot.

I bold most, because some people are genuinely going to try to help out of a concern for the other person's bad grammar. If english is not their native tongue then it is nice to correct them politely imo. However everything in moderation.

Pretty much. To adapt from Oscar Wilde, trolling someone's grammar or spelling is an adequate substitute for wit.

[K J S]

People complain about spelling and grammar for the same reason they'd complain about flashing lights worn on clothing or shouting over the phone; it's taking an interactive medium and making it annoying to interact with. No one likes wearing an itchy sweater, or eating food that tastes bad. Why would they enjoy writing that bears obvious flaws? The mistakes can be small, but that doesn't make them stop being a nuisance. People have varying degrees of patience for it, but considering that the internet is a mostly text-based environment, keep in mind that these small mistakes may have been grating them, all day, every day, and they're simply at the end of their nerve.

There's also the simple matter of correction, which can also come in big or small amounts. If someone puts their shirt on backwards, it's not that out of line for you to say "hey, your shirt is on backwards". A mistake is seen, and someone corrects it; this is often seen as a good thing, based on the idea that now it can be undone and prevented in the future and now we can move on with things better for everyone. This can vary with the individual case from polite mention to screaming at someone because a hair was combed out of place, but more often than not I see people being oversensitive than the other party being too aggressive. People do not like being corrected, but personally I don't have much empathy for their annoyance. Would it be better for everyone to politely shut up and let everyone do everything wrong? Deal with it and learn from your mistake. You'll never be bothered about it again if you stop making it. Amazing, that.

As for native vs non-native speakers, I find it's usually the natives who are most at fault. This is likely because they didn't "learn" a lot of words they use from a book or classroom, but just heard it from the environment around them and got a rough idea of its proper spelling and context, whereas someone learning the language has to look up the word for what they want to say, and in the process see the word's proper spelling and use. These people are less deserving of the more aggressive attacks, but in the end you're just dealing with the same jerk who shouldn't be taken seriously in the first place. Who they're targeting doesn't change that. For simple correction, I have no more empathy than for native speakers. If you're learning a language, I'm not going to care much how insulted you are that someone is telling you how to speak that language.

Edit: Eh, probably full of my own errors on this one. That's what I get for typing this late.

[Kortniie Dumont]

What's wrong with semi-colons? I use them often; it's nothing to do with proving a point, I just like having an array of punctuation to choose from. Edit: whether or not I use them correctly is, of course, another matter entirely...

It seems that the use of the semi-colon is on the way out...you rarely see them online.
In addition, I use dot-dot-dot very often...it seems to me that it expresses a full stop well, as in speaking, when used on a forum. [edit] I'm not trying to say a semi-colon is a full stop. It's not.

In real life, I'm kind of a purist when it comes to grammar and punctuation. I have a fully equipped antique letterpress print shop using hand set metal type. It's been a long time hobby. It is a very slow process, and attention to detail is something that I feel is the sign of a well designed piece of typography. In the practice of traditional printing, there is no excuse for poor punctuation. I'm still learning after 30 years of my interest in the hobby. It's different to me however on forums where our expressions tend to be like we speak, and because of the fleeting nature of these communications, I find it's perfectly OK to break all kinds of rules...

[Tyrel]

It seems that the use of the semi-colon is on the way out...you rarely see them online.
In addition, I use dot-dot-dot very often...it seems to me that it expresses a full stop well, as in speaking, when used on a forum. [edit] I'm not trying to say a semi-colon is a full stop. It's not.

I use both frequently because I think they give a reasonable impression of how I speak IRL: the semicolon as a sort of halfway house between a comma and a full stop, and the ellipsis signifies my tendency to trail off and generally be vague!

In real life, I'm kind of a purist when it comes to grammar and punctuation. I have a fully equipped antique letterpress print shop using hand set metal type. It's been a long time hobby. It is a very slow process, and attention to detail is something that I feel is the sign of a well designed piece of typography. In the practice of traditional printing, there is no excuse for poor punctuation. I'm still learning after 30 years of my interest in the hobby. It's different, to me, on forums where our expressions tend to be like we speak, and because of the fleeting nature of these communications, I find it's perfectly OK to break all kinds of rules...

That's really rather cool. There seems to be something of a resurgence in actual printing and fine books lately, which I think is a nice counterbalance to all of the newfangled electronic malarky we have these days. I don't think I'd have enough patience to do it myself, though; and I suspect that I'd never meet the standard for even the Grauniad's famous typesetters. Mind your ps and qs!

[loste juliana]

I've only brought it up a few times, and it was because I genuinely had no idea what someone was trying to say. Also when someone wrote that they would like to see herpes in Skyrim instead of Harpies. That one needed to be pointed out.
I see it a lot where someone writes one thing, and someone else disagrees. But it seems they can't really argue their point because they just fall back on correcting grammar and spelling. "Clearly you're not worth listening to because you wrote their instead of they're".

[Elisha KIng]

In a written medium, the way you write is one of the few ways you have to make a good impression and to make people take you seriously.I would think that people would want to make a good impression, rather than coming across as uneducated or incoherent. But, then, I went to school before the whole "ignorant = cool" trend came about. Still don't understand that one.

I often use my hillbilly grammar to drive home a point I'm trying to make.

also, I use separated lines to keep things clear..

..and uhh,




to express a pause in my thinking..







..which of themselves can be rather lengthy



And smileys! Gotta use them smileys to convey the juicy details of my mood <-- people's exhibit "A"

[Hazel Sian ogden]

I use both frequently because I think they give a reasonable impression of how I speak IRL: the semicolon as a sort of halfway house between a comma and a full stop, and the ellipsis signifies my tendency to trail off and generally be vague!


That's really rather cool. There seems to be something of a resurgence in actual printing and fine books lately, which I think is a nice counterbalance to all of the newfangled electronic malarky we have these days. I don't think I'd have enough patience to do it myself, though; and I suspect that I'd never meet the standard for even the Grauniad's famous typesetters. Mind your ps and qs!

...and b's & d's...and lower case els, cap eyes and with many san-serif fonts, the 1. These can be very similar, and often it takes a magnifying glass and many hours to properly sort out a font that careless redistributing has resulted in the "l's" the "I's and "1's" having been put in the wrong compartment.
Letterpress printing does not even require electricity. It can, but I have a couple of presses where I have romantically printed by candlelight. It is experiencing a resurgence, and the escape from that which is electronic is a major reason why it is pursued by a great many hobbyists and those who choose to attempt to make money at it (letterpress wedding invitations and the like).
It's a very tactile process, as are the results.

[Marguerite Dabrin]

I often use my hillbilly grammar to drive home a point I'm trying to make.

also, I use separated lines to keep things clear..

..and uhh,




to express a pause in my thinking..







..which of themselves can be rather lengthy



And smileys! Gotta use them smileys to convey the juicy details of my mood <-- people's exhibit "A"

So we've noticed...I do the same thing, but if I did it like your 'extremes', I fear I would be accused of copying....

[ezra]

I think the only typing error that will set me off is using irony wrong. More so if you're a writer or are studying English Language or Literature.



Irony annoys me so much.

[Chad Holloway]

I shall now present exhibit A, EpicFail.

/thread.

[Sxc-Mary]

You actually wrote GRAMMER, wow.

Text is the only means of communication on an internet forum. When someone consistently types using bad punctuation and grammar, it's like someone babbling in real life.

Let's be honest, all over the internet, people who actually type using good punctuation and grammar (and are also coherent in their messages) are the good posters. Do you find moderators or admins who type any other way?

I make mistakes, but I try to correct them using a spell check which every internet browser has.

Some months ago there was someone who said he wanted to create a video game (lol, not you Eternal Darkness) but his posts were riddled with mistakes. As if I'm taking him seriously when he can't even string basic sentences together.

Does this make me a grammar Nazi? No. That's someone who goes out looking for spelling mistakes. Like I said, it only bothers me when someone consistently does this.

LACK OF COMMAS AND FULLSTOPS - now that makes me rage!

EDIT: And considering I've just woken up I've got a big feeling I've made a lot of mistakes.

[Kayleigh Mcneil]

Salidin I did not mean writing like that when I started this post although "Skyrum" hilarious.... I meant writing with run-on's and such. But I like where this post has gone it has been a free flowing convo, you guys make a lot of good points. Oh and have fun trolling me for writing convo in a post about grammer....

Haha...
IMO, widely used abbreviations and acronyms are perfectly acceptable.

[jason worrell]

Why do so many people care about punctuation and grammer for forum post?? These aren't essays... they are supposed to be free flowing conversations. But if you have a post that isn't pretty much edited by your college english professor people always troll the heck out of you. This coming from people that use twitter and text where its basicially pigeon english?? I just don't get it.

Listen. I saw someone try to write "teatyas" instead of "tedious" the other day. It's not too much to ask that people at least spell check their words.

[Roberto Gaeta]

Because being online isn't an excuse for being lazy and [censored] [censored].

That's it really. For me, trying to use correct grammar and spelling is a sign of respect to the other forum users, an attempt to make your posts as easily understandable as possible. Since making mistakes every now and then is understandable and unavoidable I won't [censored] about every little mistake I find, especially because I make plenty myself, but it really isn't too much to ask to just install a spelling checker in your browser. Hell, sometimes I even google words I'm not sure about. And people who don't even bother with capitals and fullstops piss me off.

[Carlitos Avila]

Pnoresllaytihsismyvreyforitavueknidoftpye...
Howmnayouttrehesugtlrgewtihtihs?

[Rudy Paint fingers]

In a written medium, the way you write is one of the few ways you have to make a good impression and to make people take you seriously.

Proper use of grammar and punctuation is what separates us from the thousands of other gaming forums you find online. I think it's especially important in forums where a lot of the posters are looking for help or advice since people are more likely to take you seriously if you take the time to write a post in good English.

It's obvious that someone who writes like this:

"can u plz help me im stuck on a quest in skyrim and i cant finish it"

won't get the same replies as someone who writes like this:

"Hello, I'm stuck on the introductory quest for the Thieves Guild, I'm supposed to do [some part of the quest] but I can't find the NPC anywhere. Can someone tell me where I can find him? Thanks in advance."

The replies also usually reflect the writing style of the original post so if you're looking for good replies then you should present your question according to that.

My English is far from perfect but it's definitely good enough to use on the BSF.


EDIT: Is it just me or is the argument of whether it's spelled "Grammar" or "Grammer" becoming more popular then "Spelled" vs "Spelt"?

[Louise]

Because I want to be taken seriously and sound somewhat mature?

Everytime I see textspeak on the forums it tells me your lazy, you don't put any thought into what your typing, and it tells me to ignore whatever you wrote.

[ShOrty]

EDIT: Is it just me or is the argument of whether it's spelled "Grammar" or "Grammer" becoming more popular then "Spelled" vs "Spelt"?

Spelt - "Her name was spelt S-O-P-H-I-A"
Spelled - "I spelled it like instructed"

Did Papa do well

[Nick Pryce]

Because I want to be taken seriously and sound somewhat mature?

Everytime I see textspeak on the forums it tells me your lazy, you don't put any thought into what your typing, and it tells me to ignore whatever you wrote.

*cough* you're *cough*

[Robert Jr]

Spelt - "Her name was spelt S-O-P-H-I-A"
Spelled - "I spelled it like instructed"

Did Papa do well

I have no idea, I think that it's just a spelling difference between American and British English.

[Kelvin]

I have no idea, I think that it's just a spelling difference between American and British English.

From what I'm seeing they are both words in the Enlglish language:
Spelt - A past tense and a past participle of spell.
Spelled - Write or name the letters that form (a word) in correct sequence.

...Actually depending on how I searched the defintion they both came back the same.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/spelled
Spelt seems to be the American version, even though I use it a lot and never go pulled up for it's use

[Penny Courture]

Spelt - "Her name was spelt S-O-P-H-I-A"
Spelled - "I spelled it like instructed"

Did Papa do well

I have no idea, I think that it's just a spelling difference between American and British English.

Well, actually...

Spelt (Triticum spelta) is a hexaploid species of wheat. Spelt was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times; it now survives as a relict crop in Central Europe and northern Spain and has found a new market as a health food. Spelt is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related species common wheat (T. aestivum), in which case its botanical name is considered to be Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta.


I am officially a wise-ass.



Me luvs da wiki. Makes me look all wordy and stuffs..

[Melung Chan]

Well, actually...

Spelt (Triticum spelta) is a hexaploid species of wheat. Spelt was an important staple in parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to medieval times; it now survives as a relict crop in Central Europe and northern Spain and has found a new market as a health food. Spelt is sometimes considered a subspecies of the closely related species common wheat (T. aestivum), in which case its botanical name is considered to be Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta.


I am officially a wise-ass.



Me luvs da wiki. Makes me look all wordy and stuffs..

I avoided that meaning on purposes

Ha you're a wise donkey with long ears!
Ass - Any of several hoofed mammals of the genus Equus, resembling and closely related to the horses but having a smaller build and longer ears, and including the domesticated donkey.