Importance of spelling/grammar

[RubberDucky451]

I know a lot of you have a huge respect for grammar and punctuation. I strive to spell everything correctly but my grammar is so-so.

How annoying is it when someone speaks or spells something wrong?
Is speaking incorrectly worse than spelling?

I would summarize bad spelling as the easiest way to look stupid. (Ok, one of the easiest)

 

[Claverhouse]

And I'm Supposing The Title Is Intentionally Ironic

Let's just say:

I know a lot of you have a huge respect for correct grammar and punctuation. I spell strive to spell everything correctly, but my grammar is only so-so.

How annoying is it when someone speaks or spells something wrongly?
Is speaking incorrectly worse than spelling badly?

I would summarize bad spelling as the easiest way to look stupid. (Ok, one of the easiest).



Yes, I am a bastard.


Claverhouse

 

[Android]

Re: Importance of spelling/grammer

I used to be really bad with this, but I've gotten better (at least at not pointing it out or correcting everybody). It's not so much that I put a high importance on spelling and grammar.. it's just that when there are mistakes I can't help but notice them. The worst thing is when people use the wrong words.. like spell instead of still. It's almost like my brain is hit with a static shock for a split-second which interrupts my thoughts.

 

[RubberDucky451]

Re: And I'm Supposing The Title Is Intentionally Ironic

Let's just say:

I know a lot of you have a huge respect for correct grammar and punctuation. I spell strive to spell everything correctly, but my grammar is only so-so.

How annoying is it when someone speaks or spells something wrongly?
Is speaking incorrectly worse than spelling badly?

I would summarize bad spelling as the easiest way to look stupid. (Ok, one of the easiest).



Yes, I am a bastard.


Claverhouse

Ah, damnit. I never proof read

 

[Anthile]

Re: And I'm Supposing The Title Is Intentionally Ironic

As a non-native speaker, my spelling/grammar is rather poor. English has always been my best subject in school but without practice I forgot a lot and had to work hard to reach a readable result. When I look back to my first postings here I can barely read them myself.

Because of all this I don't mind it as long as I can comprehend it. But if you write poor German, the gods themselves will not be able to save you

 

[didyouknow]

Re: Importance of spelling/grammer

How annoying is it when someone speaks or spells something wrong?
Is speaking incorrectly worse than spelling?

I wouldn't say annoying; it's more distracting than anything. I automatically twitch when I see a very obvious mistake.

It depends. If you accidentally replace a word with it's synonym it can get very irritating. For example: "This room is quiet." replaced with "This room is quite." is a small change in spelling but it completely changes the meaning of the phrase.

Just so you know, it's 'grammar', not 'grammer'.

 

[Invoke Ninja's True Power]

punctuation I don't care about so much as long as its understandable but being slightly AS, mistakes in grammar can really throw me off. I also have trouble with a lot of accents in spoken language

 

[Devercia]

I am a stickler for grammar, but could not care less about spelling. There are simply too many words in which the worst interpretations of their spelling became standardized.

 

[Miss Led]

Capitalization is imperative. I don't mind one or two errors. I make them as well, and even moreso on this forum because I haven't downloaded the spellcheck program (a downloadable spell check program?...weird!)...

Anyway, I think there is a make or break line that shows at least a modicum of effort was used. If a person shows egregious disrespect for spelling and punctuation I find it annoying. I don't really care about grammar. I have no way of knowing if someone is a native speaker, so I don't expect it.

 

[Wisp]

Agreed. All caps is awful. All lowercase is still bad, just not quite so much.

Punctuation. helps. a. lot.

 

[walfin]

As a non-native speaker, my spelling/grammar is rather poor. English has always been my best subject in school but without practice I forgot a lot and had to work hard to reach a readable result. When I look back to my first postings here I can barely read them myself.

Because of all this I don't mind it as long as I can comprehend it. But if you write poor German, the gods themselves will not be able to save you

But your English really is quite good. Amazing for a non-native speaker (then again, English and German are kissing cousins).

I don't know if "native speaker" has as much relevance nowadays though; English isn't my native language but it's my first language since I speak it far more than any other language (although sometimes I speak something else at home).

Oh, and since we're on the topic of spelling: are the Americans here annoyed about British spelling? Or vice versa?

 

[shoeless]

i used to be a complete grammar nazi. then i met one of the most intelligent guys i know in real life, and when i would text him i was horrified at how bad he was.

that was when i realized: grammar/spelling/punctuation is NOT an indication of intelligence. at all.

and now i just don't care, and don't properly capitalize myself, because i'm a lazy intp.

 

[Jaico]

Incorrect spelling ticks me off more than incorrect grammar. Most of the time, sites have spellcheckers - so there usually isn't even a good excuse to misspell words.

That, and misusing their/they're/there. Urgh....

 

[Cogwulf]

I can forgive people for phonetic spelling, but when people misspell things completely I get annoyed. Bad grammar annoys me as well.

This reminds of a while ago I was in Ikea and saw some writing on the wall in pencil, it said "Jens got gonaria"

 

[James Black]

A person's spelling, punctuation, and grammar, always affects my views of said person. Poor spelling is a sign of one of three things: stupidity, laziness, or a reminder that English isn't everybody's first language. Although, I often find that those who speak English as a second language write better than the average English-speaking population.

 

[Cogwulf]

those who speak English as a second language write better than the average English-speaking population.

The fact that that is true fills me with despair.

 

[Devercia]

The fact that that is true fills me with despair.

Not for me. Speaking/writing as a native is like combing ones hair. Doing so as a non-native is an academic effort.

 

[Morel Panic]

I see spelling/grammer as being either hit or miss. When I write, I either don't bother checking at all, or I check until I'm reasonably sure everything is right. I prefer to "hit", but sometimes, I just don't have the time/motivation/clarity of thought. Sloppy language has a place, but in my mind; sloppy, half-baked language will always be directly associated with sloppy, half-baked thoughts.

So if anyone wants to know how well I thought something out, just look at my grammer.

 

[RubberDucky451]

I see spelling/grammer as being either hit or miss. When I write, I either don't bother checking at all, or I check until I'm reasonably sure everything is right. I prefer to "hit", but sometimes, I just don't have the time/motivation/clarity of thought. Sloppy language has a place, but in my mind; sloppy, half-baked language will always be directly associated with sloppy, half-baked thoughts.

So if anyone wants to know how well I thought something out, just look at my grammer.

That's an interesting way to put it. This may be true in my writings too. Thanks for your insight

 

[Agent Intellect]

Grammar and spelling doesn't bother me at all, but I hate when people don't use punctuation. This is the internet, and people are going to use 'internet slang' - people need to learn that humanity sucks and just get used to it. I've always found those that get all bent out of shape about other peoples grammar and spelling to be a lot more annoying then even the people that spell 'you' with just a 'u' and 'your' with 'ur'.

 

[Inappropriate Behavior]

Yeah, I always see correcting someone's spelling or grammar as being rather dickish.

I don't use spellcheck but I'll consult dictionary dot com or google for words I'm not sure about. Typos slip through sometimes too. I rebelled against grammar lessons in school. It started with diagraming sentences which I saw as a pointless exercise and thus hated it. I distrusted grammar lessons from then on out. I try to use it correctly but my knowledge of it is lacking.

 

[Anling]

I try to use proper grammar and spelling, but I was in an age group when the teachers were testing out the idea that such things were pick up by osmosis. I learned about english grammar by taking foreign language classes.
As long as I can understand what the person is saying, I don't notice problems very much. I only care about the mistakes if it makes understanding the ideas more difficult.

 

[kantor1003]

If you get distracted by spelling/grammar mistakcse, the fault lays in you, doesn't it?
I, for one, am not a native english speaker....but even I will often find myself being distracted by silly misspellings and/or strange grammar. Luckily, my english isn't too good, so I don't notice all that many syntax errors...not here at least... but I can't imagine how stressful it CAN be for a native.
It is stupid really, to get caught up in such things, because I kinda doubt any of us will come to spelling/grammar heaven anytime soon.
So, let us try to be logical beings:P We have a situation that is unchangeable. If this situation bother us, we must adapt to it. I hate to adapt usually...but in this case it is perfectly legitimate. Language is used to convey something, if someone successfully get his idea across (with or without mistakes), it shouldn't be a reason to get upset.. Even how hard it might be...for some at least.

 

[Ermine]

Incorrect spelling and grammar are pet peeves of mine, but I usually keep it to myself unless it's grossly wrong or if they ask for my advice.

I personally strive to use correct grammar and spelling, but I'm lenient with others, especially online with so many non-native English speakers.

 

[nickgray]

Hmmm, I can be a bit of a grammar nazi in my native language, probably 'cause there are tons of people who write and spell Russian like 2nd graders.

 

[Eljua]

I find I have a habit of overusing certain types of punctuation in sentences, for example, I tend to use commas like full stops based simply on how I talk as a person. If I find myself speaking a sentence with a slight pause, I'll use a comma to represent it, whether or not it's necessary grammatically. While I try my utmost to make sure my spelling is as perfect as I can make it, I more often than not fail in some respect. Should another person do precisely the same mistake I do, however, I find myself becoming less and less interested in what they're saying.

I also find the bastardisation of my language to upset me greatly. Improper use of the English language both speaking and writing fill me with a sadness that can only be summed up in most people with excessive use kittens, puppies and fire.

 

[nemo]

I don't mind so much when others make mistakes, but I get annoyed at myself when I do. I don't like it a lot if people don't space their paragraphs though. The huge blocks of writing just give me a headache. I used to type badly on the internet, just because I thought it was 'cool'. *hides head in shame*