grammar/spelling

[msnaughty]

Am i being unreasonable in thinking that, it's ok for someone to point out spelling/grammar mistakes if its done in a helpful/kind way. But if its done just as a put down because they dont agree with what someone said then its silly?

YANBU, I find it depressing, a sort of here we go again. I make spelling mistakes on here, but I'm not at work, so the odd one is fine so long as my meaning is clear. However, assuming that your are talking about MN, I find posts with loads of spelling / grammar mistakges really hard to read so I tend to skip over the them.

Pedants corner is my idea of hell. DH is a pedant, I get him to proof read job applications.

It depends what the situation is, if they are reviewing your work for mistakes then it's necessary (should still be done in a polite way), if they're doing it to put you down, then it's just rude.

What is the particular context?

yes i agree, i think as long as it can be read thats all that matters. i agree when its work and that sort of thing it need to be pointed out/corrected. when i do my volunteer work i have to ask how to spell loads of things. as its stuff thats beig posted out to people

I think its fine in work but on here its ridiculous and really arsey to correct someones spelling and grammar unless they're asking ie or should that be eg baby names.

I think it's rude on here, we all make mistakes/typos/ridiculous auto corrects etc. UNLESS the OP is specifically about grammar or spelling, in which case all bets are off, eg

"AIBU in thinking my inlaws are chavvy because their rubbish at spelling?" would certainly get a pendants response. And quite rightly so.

I am dyslexic and constantly have people on public forums correcting my spelling. whilst I don't mind if its done as constructive criticism I do hate it when people are rude and take the piss out of me. I actually have a learning difficulty and can't see if something is right or wrong.

Agree with everyone else on work, yes it is completely OK. Mind you I've always had really good managers so it hasn't felt like a put down. It is accepted that it is a fresh pair of eyes plus they are reviewing content. They have asked me to proof read their work also.

Just spotting all the mistakes in my posts above, aagh I can't win.

Those who hang out in Pedants' Corner are normally a very friendly bunch.

That's totally different from using put downs about grammar and spelling on a thread (and I don't think those who do that are the same posters as those in the Corner).

Sorry if I've offended anyone, its just not my idea of fun.

I don't think it's very kind to pick people up on it if it isn't relevant.

But I've read misspellings on here and haven't actually had a clue what the word was supposed to be.

And sometimes grammatical inaccuracies can change the meaning of a sentence, or impact on how easily text reads.

But I wouldn't pick someone up on it in a cruel way. In fact, it sometimes does irritate me beyond belief, but then I tend to just leave the thread alone. Unless I have something useful to contribute, then I just try and ignore how it makes me feel!

im the same 'beesnees' i have dyslexia so i just cant see it so to me it looks right. although sometimes i can see something is spelt wrong and i try my best to work it out but no matter what im just not getting it. so i spell it how i think ad hope someone knows what in trying to say.

only time i dont like it is when its picked on to imply a person is thick. i feel the same way when i see people making comments about not being educated. if its a child with learning difficulty its kind of ok. once its an adult the assumption is made your stupid/thick/ or did not bother at school.

also when there is a disgreement so the other person then throws in grammar/spelling as an insult. stick to the subject!

I agree completely with that last post, msnaughty.

YANBU. Constructive criticism is always better than piss taking, whether you're talking about spelling or anything really.

Spelling and grammar are hugely important, but as has been mentioned, some people are Dyslexic or have other learning difficulties. People make typos, spelling mistakes, grammatical errors all the time. Pointing them out is just irritating and pedantic. UNLESS critical meaning has been lost, in which case, why not be NICE about it?

I do think that on a public forum, where the written word is the MO, then people should make the effort. For example, I really dislike when people write a long post with NO PARAGRAPHS. I'm more than likely not going to read what you have to say, if you show such little regard for how you communicate to your reader.

Also: I absolutely, really, bloody, fucking HATE text speak. I think that goes without saying on Mumsnet though doesn't it...

msnaughty I would not cope without my predictive text! even that can't figure out what I am trying to spell sometimes lol. But I am the same, sometimes I know something looks wrong but don't know how to spell it. I ask my hubby for some stupid spellings from time to time and he finds it hilarious

to categories for me - mistakes that are obviously mistakes and text speak - I will always take the piss out of text speak because it's lazy and vile

obvious mistakes, in some contexts (eg slagging of immergrunts (sic) who can't speek Inglish) deserve the piss taking out of them

just silly mistakes - ignore

Grammar I don't notice because I am shite at it

I have a learning disability that makes spelling and 'writing' hard and grammar a complete minefield HOWEVER I actually find it use full to have some things pointed out and I certainly don't get offended or play the 'disability' card when it happens

see TWO not to ... and it turns out to be 3 anyway

Depends on the nature of the mistake - if its clearly a typo / common error which is understandable and trivial, I don't see the point in being pedantic (unless the OP is moaning about poor grammar or similar!). Similarly if it's evident that someone finds spelling difficult, it's rarely constructive to pull people up about it (bollocks, I have no qualms about doing it in real life with a smile and a laugh, but on forums it sounds stabby and nasty!)

If it's an autocorrect or typo which vastly changes the meaning / ends up saying something completely ironic or funny, I think a bit of mickey taking is fair enough e.g. the typo on a thread about supervision in baths, where a poster claimed to have just stopped supervising her 45 y/old son in the bath - that's worth a bit of fun

If it's on here, don't say a word. It's completely unnecessary to point out random spelling mistakes which may or may not be typos.

Unimportant.

YABU spelling words correctly is not the most important thing in life.
Someone might be worse at spelling than you, or indeed be dyslexic, but be a whole lot better at something else.
btw I have a proofreading company...

Yanbu.

I answered a post from someone recently who had made a mistake with the spelling of one particular word several times. She used a ph when the word is actually spelled with an f.

I answered her point and offered the advice I was able to give, then said btw this particular word is spelled with an f. I just thought she might like to know!

If someone pointed out a mistake to me like that I would be grateful because it would save me from doing it again.

I agree. However, I find it incredibly difficult when a poster is disagreeing with me being unpleasant and spouting nonsense not to point it out. The bitch in me wants to say, "see you must be thick, you can't even spell, that means you are wrong". I fight the urge but have to admit it is there.

beesnees: i ask my kids how to spell thing :P i once put an esay on another parenting site and asked them to help me with the spelling and grammar :).

mrsterry: why would it mean someone must be wrong because they cant spell?

What if someone is calling you thick and then spells it incorrectly?

Is it ok then?