Spelling and grammar mistakes!

[Taz]

My pet hate is silent k's. Can somebody explain why we need them

 

[RickRob]

I don't now.

 

[pdk42]

On a serious note, I'll take a small bet that if you plotted the correct use of grammar and punctuation on this forum (or any other) against age, you'd get a pretty good correlation showing that the older people are, the more likely they are to write the language correctly. The reason of course is clear - people are no dumber than they used to be, so it must be that they're not being taught properly. It's odd really since the exam pass rate is better than ever.

I honestly think it's technology. It started with texting. Abbreviations and incorrect spelling made its way to MySpace. Instant Messenger. Facebook. Instagram. Snapchat. Twitter. We know so many people, and interact with folk we'll never meet, and it's all self-reinforcing. People care less too. I read through a post and find an error, I correct it. Many just don't bother.

But I take your point, the educational system does not seem to have a strategy to combat this truncation of the language and lazy approach to communication. Employers have an issue with it though, hence the recent adverts on the telly about how to present yourself to someone who might give you a job, with the girl talking through her application letter in text and emoticon speak.

Trouble is, what's the solution ?

Technology doesn't help, but it doesn't get a lot better in formal docs either. In my job I get to see reports, sales responses, marketing material etc that is riddled with basic grammar and punctuation errors. When I point it out, I'm usually met with a mix of annoyance ('"bloody pedant") or incomprehension. My wife is French and she is horrified at the poor state of English teaching in England compared to French in France. The rules of English are pretty simple (simpler than French) and yet so many people seem to leave even advanced education (I'm talking about University) still making basic and easily correctable errors.

 

[thepits]

None of it really bothers me as long as the sentence can be understood. The only thing that does annoy me intensely is, "Could of" instead of, "Could have",

now that really is the mark of a Pedant

Also, people who don't start sentences with a capital letter

Edited for the pedant

:wink:

 

[Dewi]

/\ /\ /\ Ta la! I feel lots better for that :lol:

 

[Geezah]

Pacific/specific what the heck does an ocean have to do with clarifying a point...or butter for that matter!

 

[thepits]

Pacific/specific what the heck does an ocean have to do with clarifying a point...or butter for that matter!

Or Gravity? :?

 

[Wyldie85]

'I don't know what your doing'

'It isn't even you're turn'

Incorrect people, on both counts.
Use these properly!

Hate it!!

 

[thepits]

The problem is that some people just ain't been learned how to write proper.

I'm ok - I went to a good school ........ it was approved.

 

[ric19]

 

[Bad_Pritt]

Let's eat grandma. vs Let's eat, grandma.

Grammar saves lives.

 

[Jasey]

None of it really bothers me as long as the sentence can be understood. The only thing that does annoy me intensely is, "Could of" instead of, "Could have"

now that really is the mark of a Pedant

Also, people who don't start sentences with a capital letter

And those that forget about punctuation .

 

[exdos]

And those that forget about punctuation .

The starting of a sentence with a conjunction; especially as an opening sentence. :roll:

 

[Jasey]

And those that forget about punctuation .

The starting of a sentence with a conjunction; especially as an opening sentence. :roll:

What's road layout got to do with anything .

 

[exdos]

What's road layout got to do with anything .

I also dislike the lack of use of the question mark; i.e. "?", at the end of a sentence which asks a question. :roll:

 

[thepits]

and :wink: for thoughs of us that want to make a difference this is essential reading

 

[Bing]

What's road layout got to do with anything .

I also dislike the lack of use of the question mark; i.e. "?", at the end of a sentence which asks a question. :roll:

:lol:

Pedant. Love it

 

[StevenH72]

"Would of" rather than "would have" bothers me.

Basic misunderstanding of our language. I've ruled out job candidates for it.