Is this too pedantic?

[abcdeeebygum]

An employee in my small friendly team always writes "hope your well?" at the start of all her professional emails to clients and freelance staff. She's a gem and absolutely first class employee who I greatly value, and we get on well on a friendly level. Shall I just ignore it? I can't think of a way to raise it without coming across as a pedant- probably because I am one!

@abcdeeebygum

A 50/50 split opinion on this! Surprised 50% of you think it's not an issue in a professional context!

But how to raise it?!!

Perhaps the 50% who don't see it as an issue don't (or rarely) use email in a professional capacity. In casual or internal communication, it would jar but I wouldn't say anything.

As a client, if I received that repeatedly, I would consider it unprofessional and I might rethink the relationship (obviously depends on the service you offer). A once off could be a typo but if it's all the time, it really doesn't look good.

I agree with pointing it out but referring to it as a typo or auto-correct and maybe say that it can happen so easily when typing.

No idea how to tackle my friend who always thinks we should “defiantly” have a coffee and that we “defiantly” need a good catch up.

Actually that now makes sense during COVID 😂

I agree with pointing it out but referring to it as a typo or auto-correct and maybe say that it can happen so easily when typing.

It’s a bit difficult to blame the above. Not even the mighty autocorrect can change the grammar.

Are you saying that "your" and "you're" mean the same thing then?
they don't

I trust she isn’t.

@Janegrey333

*Are you saying that "your" and "you're" mean the same thing then? they don't*

I trust she isn’t.

Well the post I quoted said "Pulling other people up on their usage for rules that aren’t part of accepted correct grammar is a really special kind of social awkwardness"

Which implies that the OP's colleague hadn't made a grammatical error.

@lazyfecker

No idea how to tackle my friend who always thinks we should “defiantly” have a coffee and that we “defiantly” need a good catch up.

Actually that now makes sense during COVID 😂

I can’t think of any time I have used ‘defiantly’ in a text message, but autocorrect will choose that over definitely if my fat thumbs choose the wrong letter! So annoying!

OP please correct it. It’s annoying to read basic spelling errors in official communications.

@Janegrey333

I agree with pointing it out but referring to it as a typo or auto-correct and maybe say that it can happen so easily when typing.

It’s a bit difficult to blame the above. Not even the mighty autocorrect can change the grammar.

Is you’re/your grammar or spelling? I would have said spelling as it’s literally an incorrect spelling for what you are trying to say, rather than using ‘My brother and myself’ for example.

Or is it both? I’m just musing...!

@Janegrey333

I agree with pointing it out but referring to it as a typo or auto-correct and maybe say that it can happen so easily when typing.

It’s a bit difficult to blame the above. Not even the mighty autocorrect can change the grammar.

Yes I know. But no harm in giving her an out.

(Worse example would be ‘Please send the email back to myself’)

How can posters excuse errors in their posts as being down to writing in an informal way?! Surely no one makes an error just because they are not writing formally? You either know or you don’t.

Is you’re/your grammar or spelling? I would have said spelling as it’s literally an incorrect spelling for what you are trying to say, rather than using ‘My brother and myself’ for example.

Or is it both? I’m just musing...!

I think it’s a grammatical error. One is a possessive pronoun and the other is a contraction.

One needs to understand why one or the other is used.🙂

@NameChange84

I’ve experienced exactly this.

I dealt with it by always replying,

“I’m well, thank you. I trust you’re well too?”

And

“Recovered well from the tummy bug thank! I hope you’re doing great and your family too.”

It wasn’t rude or pedantic, but he figured it out eventually.

No idea how to tackle my friend who always thinks we should “defiantly” have a coffee and that we “defiantly” need a good catch up. “I agree, it’s definitely overdue!” isn’t getting through!

I've found that this is because a lot of people misspell it as "definately" and autocorrect changes it to "defiantly". No less annoying, but it explains why they've used a totally different word!

@ninninannonoonoo the pp you are quoting was replying to the comment about splitting the infinitive, not the incorrect use of your/you're.

Just ask her to leave 'hope you are well' out completely. It's unnecessary.

I think it's important enough that you should explain it, once. I'm sure you'll do it gently. If she still doesn't get the difference , at least you've tried.

I don't really get the posts saying to ask her to ditch the whole sentence. If I were her, this would annoy and confuse me way more than a simple error being pointed out. I'd think I had a weird micromanager of a boss if they randomly forbade me from wishing someone well! Just be direct, she'll probably be glad to know and keen to get it right.

In this situation, I would ask the writer of the email to humour me and write it the old fashioned way.

It's one of the few perks of getting older that I use shamelessly.

[quote Trinpy]@ninninannonoonoo the pp you are quoting was replying to the comment about splitting the infinitive, not the incorrect use of your/you're.[/quote]
Ah, OK that makes sense.

With no other references such as a quote or an @ I read it as being in response to the OP.

With no other references such as a quote or an @ I read it as being in response to the OP.

My quote function was not cooperating and I omitted to use @ninninannonoonoo. My apologies for the latter.

As to the quote function: does anyone know if there a lag on using a quotation as there is on some other sites? Mine sort of “hazes out” periodically and loses its bold quality. It’s annoying.

@Janegrey333

With no other references such as a quote or an @ I read it as being in response to the OP.

My quote function was not cooperating and I omitted to use @ninninannonoonoo. My apologies for the latter.

As to the quote function: does anyone know if there a lag on using a quotation as there is on some other sites? Mine sort of “hazes out” periodically and loses its bold quality. It’s annoying.

Testing.

Not playing ball now. Ah well. There must be a restriction for some reason.

@Janegrey333

Not playing ball now. Ah well. There must be a restriction for some reason.

Apology not necessary!

Your quote posted at 1647 looks fine.

I know you can't use the "quote" function if you are trying to quote someone who is already quoting something else IYSWIM.

I was once corrected in a similar context. I was embarrassed but it was done well, quickly, informative. I was grateful. It's the equivalent of walking around with your dress in your pants.

The difficulty is that we are all working from home, and so the opportunity for a casual throwaway comment whilst wandering past her desk or getting a coffee are gone. When I raise it it will need to be done via email probably.