Would you correct someone if they used your and you're in the wrong context?

[Namast3]

I see it every day in emails.
I see it on mumsnet.
I get sent messages on dating apps with your instead of you're.
A good colleague of mine repeatedly uses your in the wrong context in professional emails.
I really struggle to understand why it's so difficult to differentiate...

It is almost impossible to correct someone's SPAG without looking like a dick. I would say the only exceptions are if you're very close to someone or they've asked you to proof a document.

I rarely bother, even though it makes me itch! As pp have said, it's usually unfair to correct people (unless they're being pedantic). I might, though, if I know the person well and it's for a professional purpose. (its and it's annoys me, too!).

That said, as a proofreader/copy editor I also know that it's almost impossible to proof your own stuff (good ol' Murphry's Law)

My DH always sends reports back to the engineers in his firm if they use incorrect English. They want clients to think they are professional and not shoddy. If someone can write a technical report, they can surely use spell check and learn the correct use of “your” and “you’re” etc? I don’t have friends who cannot spell. Both my DC can spell and one has a job where incorrect use of English simply wouldn’t be tolerated. I think people can learn but it takes schools and colleges to correct them and context is everything!

No. It's not my job to pint out errors to people.

In Dunelm there were Bath Mat's, I eye rolled but wasn't going to start advising the staff or anything.

Point even.

Mistake like that tells you a lot about the person. But if you were to correct it that will tell you a lot about yourself.
Leave it be
Laugh and move on

Lots of people have English as their 2nd language @Lemonweightloss, I find that it's the monoglots who do it.

I wouldn't correct it, no. It just makes people feel shit about themselves or think that you are a prat.

If I'm approving something at work that's going to be sent on, then yes. Anything else, no - although my eye would be twitching.

It's absolutely awful and extremely annoying. I'd love to to point it out, but obviously that would make me 'a twat'. If I'd made such an error, I'd be grateful to have it highlighted, instead of insulting the person who had noticed it.

I'd not correct them, no.

@Yourinmyspot

This doesn’t bother me, it’s when someone says brought instead of bought. I do have to stop myself being sarcastic. One friend always puts gud instead of good which I hate too.

I’m not one to correct people though as my spelling and grammar isn’t the best.

I was just thinking exactly the same. Brought and bought don't even sound the same.

@halfsiesonapotnoodle

It's absolutely awful and extremely annoying. I'd love to to point it out, but obviously that would make me 'a twat'. If I'd made such an error, I'd be grateful to have it highlighted, instead of insulting the person who had noticed it.

You’d be grateful if someone pointed out you’d make a grammatical error?!

Give over! No one would. Or 99% of people wouldn’t

I wouldn’t correct - I know the grammar very well but still sometimes type it out incorrectly . I’m sure I’m not the only one .

It makes me wince every time I see it, but I'd sit on my hands. It's unpardonably rude to correct someone's grammar unless they've asked you to proofread something.

I have stooped to doing it on MN once or twice, in the heat of battle, but in those instances I knew very well it was rude (and the other party was giving it both barrels as well!)

It's clear what is meant so it's just nit-picking.

@Icantremembermyusername

I'm a grammar pedant. So I notice and inwardly seethe but don't say anything. Why hurt their feelings? If I was doing an official observation or asked to proof read a report, I would nicely mention it. It doesn't impede understanding but does irritate.

This ^^ for me as well.

No. It’s really rude.

If it bothers you just correct it in your head while you read it and move on.

In a written communication on a process capacity, yes. It doesn't show a great grasp of spelling and as a customer would lead me to question where else attention to detail was lacking.

And autocorrect turned my comment into rubbish. It should have said, "In a professional capacity"

Important work/business related - yes
Conversation - no.

Most of the time its auto correct - which at the best of time has a mind of its own. Like when I type in Danny - it always comes up as Fanny.

People know damn well what is meant and if it makes peoples 'teeth itch' I should imagine they have some kind of OCD issue.

If something is going out officially then yes I say something. If its MN or whatever then I dont sweat it.

I work in my 2nd language. You can tell who is correcting you as a help and who is trying to put you down.

I would always correct my Dc.

If it was in a document that was going to be sent out by my department to members of the public, I might say I'd noticed a typo, so they could change it before it went out.

Anything else I probably wouldn't unless they had specifically asked me to check for typos/ mistakes.

I have to proof read reports, the grammatical errors jar me. I correct them, and I correct my kids. If it was a dating app I'd swipe.

No. It's not my place to educate others (unless they're my children) and in any case, some folks are dyslexic.

There are so many important things in life that deserve our attention.. this is not one of them.