To think that grammar/spelling standards are not what they were?

[Meandmarius]

I'm mid 30's and have noticed that most of my friends/peers are able to distinguish between 'your and you're', 'where, were, we're' and using the words 'have' and 'of' correctly.
I've noticed that in younger generations there just doesn't seem to be the same standard anymore and I wonder why that is.
Not saying for one minute that my own sp. and grammar is perfect - it isn't. I just wonder if there is as much emphasis on it nowadays as there was back in the day..

YANBU. But it's in line with a general 'dumbing down' of language due to social media, txt spk etc. It isn't just happening in English.

It behoves those of us with standards to keep slagging off gently pointing out to people the error of their ways (their/there, you're/your, were/where, could have/could of etc.).

I think texting is to blame tbh I agree with hell, your there and were is primary school spelling I know people can find it difficult but if you know the difference please use it, but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter my spelling and grammar is shocking most of the time,

YANBU at all.

It's dumbing down and people can deny it all they want but it's happening.

I don't think it's to do with texting - I think it's because a lot of people don't read anymore because it's seen as 'sad'

I always read and my grammar isn't great I have had it picked apart on here

Completely agree, social media has a lot to answer for! I've noticed a lot on FB, there seems to be a real lack of understanding of those examples you mentioned, hell. One of the worst offenders is a cousin of mine in his twenties, a secondary school teacher
I'm not being judgemental as I know that some people do find it difficult, it just makes me feel a bit sad for some reason.

Maybe I'm just getting old

Maybe I'm just getting old

I am as well

shocking example of grammar in my last post

I was going to mention reading, grow. I remember at primary school, so much emphasis was placed on reading, we had regular books to take home and at weekends my grandparents would take me to a grand old library where we'd leave laden with books. I know a lot of my peers did the same (talking 1990's here).

I do wonder if reading and books are still top of the list at primary schools.

LOL, mrsjay

LOL, mrsjay

I am Scottish I would say that I tend to type on here as I speak I think a lot of people do maybe that is the problem

I don't think "texting" is to blame on its own. I think it's also the absence of learning grammar correctly at school. I'm nearly 30 and I don't remember having one lesson in grammar throughout my school years. I learnt about verbs and nouns and correct use of words from an old 1950's book my brother had in his room from which he was taught at school (he is 13 years older than me).

I think the older generation were taught better than us. We were all forgotten in the new national curriculum I think (might be wrong with that, but I remember something changed during the late 80's early 90's)

At least you're aware mrsjay. Reading lots always helps. Some people are not naturally word-oriented. I can relate to that because I'm not numbers-oriented.

In my last job, people used to come to me and ask for help with reports (senior people), wanting me to explain the difference between 'where' and 'were' etc. I was because these were all intelligent people and obviously hadn't learned those things. But also, I thought it was great that they'd come and ask rather than have a crappy piece of writing damaging their credibility at work.

As for here? I don't care about mistakes here. People are allowed to express themselves freely in an informal setting. Yes at some deep subconscious level, mistakes hurt my eyes, but an online forum ain't the time or place.

YANBU

And I'd be interested to know how many people who claim to be dyslexic actually are?

Very rarely now do you hear anyone say, "God I'm shit at spelling".

It seems to have been replaced by people saying, "I'm dyslexic actually".

I'm not belittling anyone who actually is dyslexic btw, just questioning whether it's become an automatic 'comeback' for a lot of people.

Very rarely now do you hear anyone say, "God I'm shit at spelling".

Ahem

Present company accepted mrsjay!

accepted?

I remember doing it at school (late 30s now) but I did make mistakes at times and they were corrected by my parents/grandma when I did.

I do the same with my children too. I've read some of DS's FB posts (try not to because they drive me mad!) and he is a bit lax with his grammar on there, as are his friends, but I know that he knows how to do it properly.

The thing is, it's not even about spelling is it? It's knowing the rules, knowing what it is you're writing/saying. Knowing the difference between your/their; you're/they're and there.

Dyslexia is REALLY difficult to get diagnosed My DD English teacher has tested her and dd doesnt meet the criteria or 'something' for it , DD is dyspraxic though so her spelling is just rubbish

I blame teachers for not correcting children adequately at primary school (stifles their creativity, apparently). Also, parents have to speak correctly at home, otherwise children think "should of" is correct. My children always complain that I use big words, but I really notice the difference between their speech and some of their peers'. This obviously filters down to their writing.

The thing is, it's not even about spelling is it? It's knowing the rules, knowing what it is you're writing/saying. Knowing the difference between your/their; you're/they're and there.

this you're and your is not the same and kids and adults need to know that

YANBU - and for those who say "it doesn't matter, language evolves". Fine, your choice - just don't come crying when you're not taken seriously in a professional environment.

I am a BINNER of CV's - a destroyer of hope and I'm happy with my decision.

www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2013/03/11/report-how-grammar-influences-your-income/

You might be right, but I'm not sure you have enough evidence. I know you're comparing your friends in their 30s to younger people to see the differences, but attitudes change as you get older. I certainly found I was more concerened about written presentation at 30 than I was at 20. So I'm not sure it's true that standards are dropping. It may just be that you're comparing people at different stages of their written language development.

I'm in my 40s, I wasn't formally taught grammar at school. Nevertheless I know the difference between they're/their/there etc. and I do care. Still doesn't stop me making mistakes. However, I find on the whole teenagers I talk to today are more knowledgable about the structure of English than I am. Obviously some aren't, but there are plenty of people I went to school with who were bad at English too.

I think you just see it a lot more writing from people now, younger people who doidn't pick up writing at school as easily and might, if they were older, have engaged in lots of avoidance techniques, will jump into social media despite not being so great at written English because it's more important socially to be able to communicate. So you will see more mistakes than you used to. Also, people spend less time proof reading because the communication is more casual. Until social media came along you probably wouldn't have seen much written communication from people you know socially. Now a lot of what might once only have been spoken is written, and it happens in a fast paced environment. So there isn't the same time for care. I also wonder if there is something about typing compared to writing that makes some of the mistakes more likely.

CVs with an apostrophe, eh?

That one's binbound then.

I think MN is a breath of fresh air because the spelling and grammar on here is mostly great. Isn't that the generational thing, though? Most of us must be late 20's upwards and I'm talking of the generations after that, the standards have definitely changed. Not just on social media but in newspaper articles written by younger journalists, mostly tabloids admittedly.

Of course, grammar isn't perfect on here and you don't expect it to be really. it's basically chatting and sometimes you write as you would speak/write a quick reply/post from phone while on the move etc.

I agree it's those other 'rules', there/they're/their etc that seem to be lacking with the younger generation.