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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To point out that the word is 'being' not 'been'

152 replies

Thisvehicleisreversing · 07/07/2013 23:28

I've read a number of posts over the last few days where a poster has used 'been' when they've meant 'being'

It's annoying. So there.

OP posts:
VodkaRevelation · 10/07/2013 13:55

Is it that you use been because your fingers just type it SP or is it that you don't know the difference?

Been is not the same word as being so when it is used instead of being it renders a sentence senseless! If I found out I was making such a huge error I would be embarassed. I don't get this whole pride in not giving a shit about correct language use.

Typos are one thing. Consistent errors, especially when you find out you have been making a mistake are something else.

For those who are happy making such mistakes, would you mind if your child's teacher made them too?

LRDLearningKnigaBook · 10/07/2013 13:58

I'm not proud or happy about it, vodka, I'm just not proud of being judgy and ignorant about why people do make mistakes.

Personally, I am blessed with more than one braincell so don't fail to understand when someone substitutes 'been' for 'being'. It might give me a bit of a pause, but then I would work it out. Obviously, it's not ideal, and obviously, teachers and anyone trying to communicate clearly should try very hard to avoid this sort of error.

I used to be embarrassed whenever I made mistakes, and I still am sometimes. But increasingly I've realized that the sorts of people who make a big fuss about it aren't making a fuss because they care about me and want to help, or because they have a much better understanding of the English language than I do - they're doing it because they enjoy the process of putting other people down.

HelgaHufflepuff · 10/07/2013 14:00

This thread is really nasty.

Do these things seriously wind you up? I really would suggest getting out more or finding a hobby or something.

I don't think it's a nasty thread, and I'm usually a lovely person! Smile
OK, fair enough if you can't help being bad at spelling. Not everyone is good at it.
You can't seriously tell me that so many people are so consistently bad though. Oh and yes, people do get wound up by atrocious spelling.
I do. I can't explain. If being passionate about the English language makes me need to get out more then so be it. Grin
furiously checks own post for typos

MumnGran · 10/07/2013 14:12

I have no inclination to be judgemental but must admit to being driven to distraction by seeing words spelt incorrectly, and the use of atrocious grammar.

"sat" v "sitting"
"wernt"
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Whilst we are on the subject, when did 'fucking' become an adjective and pre-requisite for every third sentence?

minouminou · 10/07/2013 15:11

Do not get me started.

I don't usually point out mistakes unless it's a professional matter, but I'm having to bite my knuckles at one of my relatives on FB. This woman brays about her various high-level jobs and name/brand drops at every opportunity in what I can only describe as pidgin English.

I will, however, leap on teachers' mistakes at school. A recent example from a report is: "(MM's DS) has a lot of empaphy...."

You can tell when it's a typo and when it's either just laziness or a bad judgement call. When someone says it doesn't matter as long as the message is delivered, you have to explain that we have standardised English to stop the language fraying to the point at which that message will be difficult to decipher.

Dunno if it's true about Shakespeare having 30-odd different ways of spelling his name, but that's the example I use.

I can also spot classic dyslexic mistakes, and they get an instant pass.

HavingAnOffDAy · 10/07/2013 15:18

I have a friend who constantly & unfailingly confuses off & of when writing. Annoys the hell out of me HmmConfused

MumnGran · 10/07/2013 15:19

"Dunno" ??
Grin Grin Grin

minouminou · 10/07/2013 15:27

'Dunno' is in several dictionaries and is a well-known contraction of 'don't know'. ;)
I use it occasionally, online and in RL, to appear friendly.

LRDLearningKnigaBook · 10/07/2013 16:07

I can understand getting distracted or finding things hard to follow - I do think that is different and very understandable.

DuckworthLewis · 10/07/2013 18:38

What it boils down to, is that some people are better educated than others.

The (main) reason that they are better educated is due to a better start in life, being brought up with parents who value 'correct' grammar/spelling/punctuation etc. . .

This is entirely an accident of birth and nothing at all to do with that person as an individual.

Looking down your nose at someone who fate has not been as kind to as it was to you is unkind and says a lot more about you than it does them.

Shame on you.

DuckworthLewis · 10/07/2013 18:40

Frankly, I'd take a kind, considerate, compassionate, inspirational person over a sneery, judgmental, unkind one (albeit with perfect grammar) any day.

x2boys · 10/07/2013 19:18

I cant stand it when people ask me if I will borrow them something no I will lend you it and then you will have borrowed it!?

abbscrosswoman · 10/07/2013 19:20

I am not judging anybody but must admit that I find the incorrect use of 'was' irritating.

ie 'was you going to call me today ?'

usualsuspect · 10/07/2013 19:20

I really don't give a toss.

usualsuspect · 10/07/2013 19:22

I confused of and off today in a post on MN.

Bet some of you wet yourselves when you read it.

HavingAnOffDAy · 10/07/2013 19:30

I don't look down on that friend, or anyone else, actually. I just get annoyed at the misuse of the words.

Totally different than looking down on someone I think

usualsuspect · 10/07/2013 19:34

Oh well,you can be safe in the knowledge that you are oh so clever.

At least I know who to avoid on MN.

valiumredhead · 10/07/2013 19:34

I bet they are posting from their phone,I annoy my SELF with the number of typos I makeHmm

LRDLearningKnigaBook · 10/07/2013 19:37

Bingo.

There's always one.

I don't quite understand why anyone would want to post about what a pedant they are, secure in the knowledge they'll look a twit as soon as they slip up.

usualsuspect · 10/07/2013 19:40

My kindle does what the hell it likes. Puts in apostrophes,leaves them out.Changes words.

I cba to check every bloody post I make on here in case it offends some clever dick.

HavingAnOffDAy · 10/07/2013 19:44

I haven't slipped up

Off and of have totally different contexts, why wouldn't it be annoying to have them mixed up in sentences?

I don't look down on my friend for mixing them up, I just find it annoying. The same as I would if I was reading a book.

LaLaLeni · 10/07/2013 20:43

I've taught in 4 different educational institutions, including large classes of SEN students. I'm not talking about mistakes made by those who genuinely don't know they've made them, or typos. I see these mistakes from those with 'good educations' and no learning disabilities. In that context, laziness is an appropriate assumption. I do not judge people on this basis but I do wonder why they value their language skills so little.

Generally the people who make genuine mistakes don't mind being corrected if and when appropriate.

I'm terribly mathematical challenged and if someone corrects me then that's good - there's right and wrong in maths for obvious reasons. There's also right and wrong in English and although the reasons may seem less consequential, they are still important, otherwise why do we teach it in schools?

Whilst marking academic essays my superior told me to mark foreign students down for poor English but not those who had perfectly good English skills, yet chose to write in slang. I refused and marked them all according to academic guidelines. Some had quite obviously just submitted awful work and then not even bothered with spell checking. I'm not sure how that can be excused if someone professes to be serious about their education.

Language is no different to appearance as a signifier of intent, so we should arm ourselves with knowledge as much as we can surely? I think we're all able to tell when poor language/literacy is a product of poor education and when it's just laziness.

usualsuspect · 10/07/2013 20:47

I'm quite happy to admit to writing lazy English on a chat forum.

MuddlingMackem · 10/07/2013 20:48

I don't look down on people who misuse words, but I do find it irritating.

The current ubiquitous misuse which irritates the hell out of me is 'invite'.

Damn it! Invite is a VERB!! The word you mean is 'invitation'. Grrr!!

cardibach · 10/07/2013 20:58

I'm not being sneery or judgemental - I'm an English teacher, so noticing and correcting these things is what I get paid for and I like to think I do it sensitively. I just don't get 'I'm on a chat forum so I don't care' as a reason - I couldn't type something I knew to be incorrect (although I am a shit typist so you will see many, many typos) and I don't see that it is harder/takes longer to get it right. In the end, sloppy English helps nobody - how can those who struggle improve if there are no good role models?
THese things matter.