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Original poster

Find It Hard Not To Correct People

116 replies

tigercub50 · 18/12/2018 23:55

I think I am turning into my DM, as she is very hot on grammer (or is it grammar?!), spelling etc. I have got into trouble a few times on Facebook etc as I have (unintentionally) offended people who are dyslexic. A lot of the time though it isn't dyslexia or learning difficulties but just laziness or ignorance. I just can't seem to help myself! Yesterday I saw a pic of a Facebook friend at her Christmas party - her DH had captioned it "X's Xmas Due" instead of "Do". I commented that since he had written due, I thought he was saying that she was expecting again. I noticed today that the comment had been removed & the caption now read "X's Christmas Party". I felt bad! But as I said, I just can't seem to help myself. I wonder what some folks actually learn in school. Does anyone else get bothered by stuff like that? Misused apostrophes are another one!

OP posts:
Original poster
tigercub50 · 19/12/2018 00:40

I really wasn't meaning to be rude - I thought they might find it at least mildly amusing. Zoomzoomzoomzoom0 you could be right.

OP posts:
Topseyt · 19/12/2018 03:28

The sort of things you mention do irritate me enough that I can barely be bothered reading the rest of what that person has written. From that point of view I get what you are saying.

I wouldn't tackle them over it on social media though. It is too direct and it would be all but impossible not to be offensive. People will take it personally because you have tackled them directly, so it IS personal.

Better to bite your tongue.

Seniorschoolmum · 19/12/2018 04:34

I correct things in only two circumstances - documents that will be sent to customers, and my ds’s homework.
Other than that. I steer well clear.

And even the stuff to customers has to be done with a certain amount of tact Smile

floribunda18 · 19/12/2018 04:39

Starting sentences with "but" is a bit of a no-no.

Have you ever learned the difference between formal and informal writing?

hiddeneverythin · 19/12/2018 04:39

Also, you shouldn't really use, "got", "get", "nice" or "a lot", as there are so many better words you can use instead.

Bloodybridget · 19/12/2018 05:35

Terrible grammatical errors, mixing up homonyms, malapropisms and lousy spelling all make steam come out of my ears. I don't comment on them on MN because it's somewhat rude and also because it would get me flamed.

WaterBird · 19/12/2018 06:50

OP I understand where you're coming from.
I have a few friends who never, ever capitalise a single word in their texts.... it gets really annoying. I find it hard to read but I don't correct them. I don't understand why people don't though... it's like having a conversation in writing.

ILiveInSalemsLot · 19/12/2018 06:58

People make silly mistakes or predictive text messes things up. If I look at some of my posts and messages, they’re full of errrors for one reason or another and part of my work for years involved report writing and proof reading.
I always spot errors in posts too.
It’s just pointless correcting people though. It’s either a silly mistake or the poster might not be educated but you’re not going to make much of an impact to that by correcting a post here and there.
You’re just going look mean and twattish.

WaterBird · 19/12/2018 07:04

I got really frustrated with my own Word Predictive and turned it off in my settings. It has been very helpful, especially because my family and I speak a second language (though primarily use English) and occasionally add a word in that language.

BehemothPullsThePeasantsPlough · 19/12/2018 07:08

By common practice MN thread titles are written in sentence case not title case, (as is the norm across most internet fora). HTH

WaterBird · 19/12/2018 07:12

That is quite funny. Didn't realise that as a newbie as used to start rambling thread titles like:
I Don't Know What To Do: Advice Please
Have learned.

ShepherdsPipeCarol · 19/12/2018 07:14

I totally understand your frustration. It really jars to see mistakes of that kind.
However, since unsolicited advice never goes down well, I don't comment.

Birdsgottafly · 19/12/2018 07:17

"The sort of things you mention do irritate me enough that I can barely be bothered reading the rest of what that person has written."

So because someone struggles with literacy, what they have to say can be ignored? People with LD's etc have had that happen to them for Centuries. It's time it stopped.

My eldest DD is Dyslexic, she also has ADHD. She often posts on SM when she gets chance in work. She works in a stressful environment within a residential MH service. She doesn't proofread, so she makes mistakes.

In equal measures, those that struggle themselves and those of us who don't struggle, so have good comprehension reading skills, can understand her. So I don't understand the issue.

You are being unkind. It isn't a joke, or amusing. It's like using Scarcasm or 'Banter', in inappropriate times. E ery one just thinks that you're a knobhead.

Birdsgottafly · 19/12/2018 07:21

"It really jars to see mistakes of that kind."

Then you have an issue with comprehension, but like an issue with Grammar, it doesn't really matter. We usually manage to work out the gist. So don't let it worry you.

Jellyonawonkyplate · 19/12/2018 07:58

I'm with you, OP. I know it's unkind but it just really, really annoys me. I'm afraid I do think people are a bit thick if they can't differentiate between their, there and they're and social media has just amplified it.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 19/12/2018 08:02

I mean this with a bit of festive kindness but I find “correctors” on social media (and IRL) come across as smug, superior dickheads.

I’m sure you’re not so do try and harness your natural compulsions Wink

Knittink · 19/12/2018 08:10

You really can help it, you know. I'm a language teacher. Part of my job is correcting people's grammar and spelling, but they are my students. I don't correct other people, because it's rude (and you know it). People who do this are just trying to make themselves feel superior (and often don't have a particularly good grasp of grammar themselves).

LadyRochfordsFrostedGusset · 19/12/2018 08:12

I really don't pull anyone up on SPaG errors but it does irritate.

I've noticed lately, particularly in debates online, so so many posters that cannot distinguish the singular "woman" from the plural "women". It seems to be becoming prolific, ironically in debates about gender/sex. Now that's depressing. The strange thing is you hardly ever see "man" and "men" mixed up.

Knittink · 19/12/2018 08:14

I'm afraid I do think people are a bit thick if they can't differentiate between their, there and they're and social media has just amplified it.

Maybe some of them are unintelligent, although people can be very intelligent in other areas while still being poor at grammar and spelling. Either way, why does that make some people feel the need to be rude to them?

BitOutOfPractice · 19/12/2018 08:15
LadyRochfordsFrostedGusset · 19/12/2018 08:17
olivertwistwantsmore · 19/12/2018 08:19

BumDisease - Interesting! I had an English teacher who absolutely would not tolerate it, same as starting a sentence with however so it's a rule I've always stuck by.

A lof of (especially older) English teachers have very fixed ideas about grammar. Their 'rules' are not always right.

BitOutOfPractice · 19/12/2018 08:19

Could you make sure you do it grammatically correctly please @LadyRochfordsFrostedGusset. We don't want to jangle to OP's delicate nerves Wink

I love your name by the way!

LadyRochfordsFrostedGusset · 19/12/2018 08:21

Thank you - oh yes I made it a bit Spanish looking...

Here's a Berocca Xmas Grin. Autocorrect truly hates that word.

MrsJayy · 19/12/2018 08:22

How would you tell the difference between learning difficulty and lazy? You can't and you choose to be an arse on facebook over a spelling mistake you can help it because non arsey people usually just "like", emoji or comment positively and move on to the next status not you though you are there tutting and correcting your friends people you are supposed to like.