Isn't about time MNHQ started deleting posts that attack people's spelling and grammar?

Jeanne - why shouldn't it be?

What's wrong with aspiring to that? In just the same way that people who come on here to ask about maths issues do.

There seems to be a view that spelling and grammar don't matter, whereas - to quote your own example - other areas, like maths, do. Why is this? Why do we not value the written language, and not see it important to learn and improve, whereas in maths it's seen as important?

Aren't they kind of interesting though, ubik?

Sure, they're wrong, and I've just made another wrong 'un queen picked up ... but they're new coinages and they might take off, and people will develop false etymologies for them, and they'll become part of the language. Which is how language gets richer.

I think she was being subtle, Queen

I think most people do judge people whose response to an emotionally difficult post is to pull someone up on their use of English. It's often something that says more about the smug pedant than the op.
And as a particularly pedantic point, MNHQ could end up in some spectacular grammar debates.

ltk has hit the nail on the head for me. Ignore grammar and spelling (I'm not on about sensitive posts, or posters in distress) and standards will slip.

It is good to have standards. It isn't good to belittle anybody, whether that be for their grasp of the English language or for holding different opinions to what you do ignores subtlety

This is a link about the number of highly successful dyslexic people there are. Fascinating reading!

www.dyslexia.com/famous.htm

Do we have to put up with 'tow the line?'
Or 'suddenly on queue?'

I've stopped caring about the spelling / grammar mistakes because you never do know someone's reasons, and I'll work my way through something without paragraphs.

But hubz, bubz and mummies are BAD FORM.

Besides, why should it be about the highest common factor all the time?

There are loads of threads where people come and ask MN to help them understand secondary school maths. IME people on those threads are polite and interested, and often try to find ways for OPs who don't understand much maths to get to grips with what their children are doing.

That doesn't mean MN couldn't also support people who are maths whizz kids and I'm sure some people are. But very few seem to mind talking about the basics.

I used to be a spelling and grammar snob but I read a very long thread about people who really struggled with it and I stopped being so judgemental when I realised how hard it was for some people who, for whatever reason struggled with their spelling and grammar. It still bugs me but I'd never ever attack someone who needed support because they'd written ' could of'. ( even though I cringe inside).

I also have a friend who is dyslexic but is also highly intelligent and makes over £150k a year as a landscape architect, so it's really no indicator of how intelligent or successful ( or worthwhile as a person ) someone is.

And my irony metre exploded

Ah ha ha ha. And my irony meter just exploded!

Threads get derailed for all kinds of pointless shit. At least you might learn something from the pedants. Spelling and grammar keep this forum from sinking into textspeak. Maybe we should have a dictionary icon as a more gentle prod to proofread.

Is it really the 'lowest common denominator' to be unable to spell and to make grammatical typos?

Yes, I agree, it's good to keep learning. But it's not good if you set yourself up as the person in charge of deciding what the 'lowest common denominator' is and constantly putting people in that category while you're secure in the knowledge you're not in there.

Why should we sneer at having standards though? What's wrong with that? Why is it about lowest common denominator rather than highest common factor?

Haha, ok then.

I'm hardly going to make such an obvious grammatical error in my reply am I.

I'm still waiting to see where, in my first post on the subject, I was sneery (spelled correctly this time!), arrogant and mean.

I'm normally quite a reasonable poster. I've never pulled anybody up on grammar or spelling (unless they were goady little trolls). Yet you were quite awful to me. Do we have history that I'm unaware of? Or are you generally unpleasant?

I am unsubtle.

But we need standards dammit.

Yes of course, cunty. Which is what I said in my first post on this thread.

But no reason why people can't carry on learning when they leave school, is there? Communities like MN rely on people writing. So understanding how to write can only be a good thing, surely?

But to be clear, no I don't endorse PAs. I never said I did.

I am dyslexic. if someone corrects my spelling or grammar I don't think it makes me look small, i think it makes them look small.

someone did occidentally say earlier that they intended to ignite their MIL rather than invite their MIL!

It is done to make the poster feel small.

It's horrible and makes me cringe.