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AIBU?

..to think people are over-pedantic here about spelling and grammar?

80 replies

furrycat · 27/09/2007 15:50

I am normally fairly pedantic myself about this (in books, newspapers etc) but this is where people come for a quick chat for heaven's (or is that heavens?) sake! If you have something to say, you should be able to say it without other people picking you up on your mistakes, or feeling you have to post again with a spelling correction.

OP posts:
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wheelsonthebus · 27/09/2007 15:52

i think you are either pedantic or not pedantic. I don't think you can be fairly pedantic

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Doodledootoo · 27/09/2007 15:54

Message withdrawn

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motherinferior · 27/09/2007 15:56

I think about this quite a lot. MN, to my mind, is a very interesting area because some people think of it as essentially a writing thing, a writerly medium if you want to be an uber-ponce and others don't. I was attracted to the site precisely because of the writing on it. I do realise not everyone feels the same way.

(and it's heavens' sake, I think. The heavens as plural, and then possessive )

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sugarmatches · 27/09/2007 15:56

I end so many sentences on MN with prepositions, something I would never do normally.

I just type it as it comes, like any great genius

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furrycat · 27/09/2007 15:57

You win wheelsonthebus!

OP posts:
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hunkermunker · 27/09/2007 15:58

I take it this was my "fewer" not "less" post that triggered this thread?

Might start a thread "AIBU to expect MNers to know when something is posted to a mate in jest"

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hanaflower · 27/09/2007 16:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

freakypenguin · 27/09/2007 16:05

wheelsonthebus!

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Twiglett · 27/09/2007 16:08

should that not be overly pedantic?

I think those who profess to liking grammar and spelling and enjoy a good pedantic moment deserve everything they get in return when they fark up .. like me with my 'less children' rather than 'fewer'

I like that there are more clever people than what I am here

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edam · 27/09/2007 16:14

I quite enjoy a bit of pedantry. Makes a nice change from M&T parking, or breast v. bottle, or AIBU.

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haychee · 27/09/2007 16:15

I hate the spelling and grammer critics. They disregard the message in the post and focus on the fact that you are thick and cant spell!

People need to remember that,

  1. posters type quickly so as to reply to a previous poster before the conversation moves on.
  2. Not everybody is perfect at everything.
  3. Some Mners may not be using english as their first language.
  4. some mners are not so lucky to have excellent educations.
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Kathyis6incheshigh · 27/09/2007 16:16

Agree with MI.

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Doodledootoo · 27/09/2007 16:20

Message withdrawn

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SenoraPostrophe · 27/09/2007 16:20

I know there are threads criticising certain word usages (I know, because I usually post in favour of non-standard use fwiw), but do people really pull people up on spelling in the heat of a debate?

I haven't seen anyone do that, other than in jest. Because it is funny when someone writes a brilliant, passioned argument and misplaces an apostrophe. but that's the only time it's funny. at other times it's deadly serious.

otoh there is never any call for text speak.

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CountessDracula · 27/09/2007 16:21

wot mi doez say innit

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SenoraPostrophe · 27/09/2007 16:22

"init" has one n, I think you'll find, countess.

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Twiglett · 27/09/2007 16:23

that's just plainly common CD

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Bink · 27/09/2007 16:23

I think about this too.
I may not exactly agree with MI . I think solecisms (get me) at the grammar/spelling level are not enormously more than cosmetic ... what I love about this forum is the rhetorical pedantry - watching the bad arguments getting taken to pieces in such marvellous witty style.

But there I do expect MI would agree with that too, so we can all be happy.

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SenoraPostrophe · 27/09/2007 16:24

haychee - where has someone disregarded the message and criticised the spelling and grammar instead? I've honestly never seen it (unless the post in question was completely unreadable) and I'm on here waaaay too much.

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wheelsonthebus · 27/09/2007 16:28

I have a spelling checker.
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot see.
Eye ran this poem threw it.
Your sure real glad two no.
Its very polished in its weigh,
My checker tolled me sew.
A checker is a blessing.
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when aye rime.
Each frays comes posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o'er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.
Bee fore a veiling checkers
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if we're laks oar have a laps,
We wood bee maid too wine.
Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
There are know faults with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.
Now spelling does not phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped words fare as hear.
Of witch won should be proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaws are knot aloud.
Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse
Buy righting want too please.

(not my own work sadly)

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MrsBadger · 27/09/2007 16:28

sorry, Senora - most commonly cited with a double n, also on the OED site

(I am a pedant, hear me roar)

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wheelsonthebus · 27/09/2007 16:29

sorry - i should have done that as a link but am cr** at links

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haychee · 27/09/2007 16:29

Oh it has happened to me, frequently. I know ive rattled a few cages here with my diverse opinions and think thats why they do it. Is only a certain few, but it does happen. Usually late at night and when im typing fast and tired my keyboard skills go a bit haywire.

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StealthPolarBear · 27/09/2007 16:32

The pedant threads that are started are normally in AIBU. Usually they mention "I hate it when people write/say...". Is this any different to "AIBU to not like it if my DC's teacher has her nose pierced?" or "AIBU to hate socks & sandals?"
The pedantry ones get people jumping in to tell them off though, I know the others will have people saying yes yabu, but on the pedantry ones there are people saying threads like that shouldn't even be started- WHY?

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motherinferior · 27/09/2007 16:33

Can I just say that in today's Guardian (natch) the spell checker has not caught a typo that renders 'whose' as 'whore'.

Sorry to derail from your It's All About Me, haychee, obviously.

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